Dana Sitar's Blog, page 34

Introducing Friday Features

I want to tell your story -  #FridayFlash has been a great writing exercise for me for a few months, and NaNoWriMo was a fun experiment. But what both have taught me most of all is that I am not a fiction writer. I'm certainly not a novelist. My writing always takes a turn at [...]

Book Review | I Wore the Ocean in the Shape of a Girl by Kelle Groom

A Memoir of Family, Death, Confusion, Grief, and Loss This review was originally written for SevenPonds, and may not be republished without permission. Author Kelle Groom draws on her award-winning poetry-writing skills to craft this haunting memoir. With little concern for chronology or tense, she leads the reader through a story instead guided by a series of ideas [...]

Friday Flash Weekly Writing Prompt

this week's prompt: Write a 20-line poem telling the story of a memorable moment in your life. ~from Writer's Digest's "A 12-Day Plan of Simple Writing Exercises" Here's the deal: Friday Flash is a weekly writing exercise shared by thousands of writers worldwide. For me, it has become an invaluable routine that strengthens my fiction [...]

This Week in Words | Flourishing in Freedom

Update This has been an absolutely exceptional week for this writer. Embracing the freedom of truly working for myself has made me not only made me happier, as expected, but it has also made me  far more productive. I am utilizing the time that used to be filled with an hour commute and 8-9 hours in the [...]

Remember the Wisconsin Union Rallies?

I worried that Wisconsin would forget, as everyone so easily does, all of their anger before the opportunity to recall Scott Walker came along. A year later, their passion is still strong. Over 1.5 million signatures are expected to be filed next Tuesday to force recall elections against Governor Scott Walker, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, and [...]

Who Do You Write For? — My Trick for Getting to Know Your Audience

One of the top tips we've all heard for selling anything is Know your audience. Know who you're trying to sell to; understand what they want and how to give it to them. That audience is a very vague idea, though. We can only guess what they're like and what they think of what we write. [...]

Friday Flash Weekly Writing Prompt

this week's prompt: Write a setting based on the most beautiful place you've ever seen. ~from Writer's Digest's "A 12-Day Plan of Simple Writing Exercises" Here's the deal: Friday Flash is a weekly writing exercise shared by thousands of writers worldwide. For me, it has become an invaluable routine that strengthens my fiction writing skills, [...]

S2P | Act Like Big Sh*t — Getting to the Job You Want

This article is part of the Stage to Page series. "You're a writer," the conversation always begins, "what do you write?" I've always had trouble answering this, because, really, I will write anything. Also, in an attempt to portray myself as a professional, I try to pick out those things that I get paid to write, [...]

This Week in Words | Back Home for Now

Update – This Month in Words It has been so long since I have posted from my own desk in my own room that this familiar place seems strange to me now. Namely, the calm and order here feels strange. Stefan and I landed back in California on Thursday. He's ready to get back on [...]

Announcing: The Comic Project!

Among the plans I have made for 2012 is the book project that I have been growing increasingly excited for since the idea struck sometime last November. I have spent the past weeks brainstorming and preparing to roll it out after the 1st – feeling the compulsion to set the official start date at the [...]