Published: Romancing the Throne

By Laurie Epps

Within the past year, I became a single parent. I usually don't use my blog to divulge something so personal, but it is relevant to my column published this week by Angela Ruth Strong. She has a great little blog about recovery and bouncing back post divorce. I find her blog both encouraging, and uplifting. When she approached on Facebook about writing about my story, I jumped at the chance to maybe encourage someone else on the journey. I'm still in the trenches with some of the emotions that go with it, both good and bad. But I hope this will touch someone's life along the way. We are not going to be defined by what happened to us. My career is taking off, and I think it has been one of the positive dividends of my husband leaving. 

My girls and I remain three beautiful and talented women whether he is here to see it or not. Please be encouraged. There is life after divorce. To check out my column, click on my link to be connected with Romancing the Throne.

Agatha: The Pirate Kitty

By Laurie Epps

June is National Cat Adoption Month

When my kids were small, I used to make up stories about our beloved cat, Agatha who also was a swashbuckling pirate. These stories have never been put to paper, and changing the few stories I did have into a poem was more than challenging. So feel free to add additions, contributions, etc in the comments section below.

ARRGH and AHOY Matey!

Writing is Work

By Laurie Epps

Going out with friends is not only a way to relieve stress and experience life's joys, but it can also make for some powerful moments to capture as writers. Think about these moments. Remember that exact moment in time. While your friend was talking, did you stare at the flowers on the table because of some bad news? What color were the flowers? What kind of flowers were they? Zoom out, did the rest of the world seem blurry? This is where you start. Capture that vignette and time, and expand on it.

This week, in Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg talks about recapturing those moments as a starting point for our writing. So buckle up, and join the conversation.

Maybe the Reason

Intro By Laurie Epps

June is National Cat Adoption Month

For the cat lover, where would we be without them? However, if a cat goes to a shelter, they have a much higher mortality rate than dogs do. In this economy, so many animals, both cats and dogs, are needlessly being killed. So if your family is looking to adopt an animal, please go to your local shelter or pet fair. To find them in your community, log onto: http://www.petfinder.com/

The Show Must Go On

By Laurie Epps

As writers, we have to show the world inside our heads, but conveying that in written form can be tricky. They should feel for our characters if we are writing fiction, or empathize with our cause if writing for non-fiction. 

Most of all, we don't want to have our reader sitting there, and feeling nothing what so ever.

But how do we achieve that? Today, Natalie Goldberg talks about techniques that will enhance a response from our reader, good or bad. So get out your copy of Writing Down the Bones, and buckle up. Let's talk about writing.

Published: Par Avion: A Traveler's Guide

By Laurie Epps

On the map of my heart, Paris will always remain for me the city of dreams. My experiences there punctuated my life, and I will profoundly be forever changed because of my determination to live there and digest the delights of the city. 

Not only did I have the fortune of experiencing another culture, but I also found myself as a person while I lived there. To date, when things get rough, or I feel a loss of myself, I close my eyes a daydream of my days as a young woman there.

A Cat's Dream

Intro by Laurie Epps

June is National Cat Adoption Month

What do cats dream about? People have speculated that very question since the ancient Egyptians when they were worshipped and admired. (As any cat lover will tell you, this is how it should be.) Today's entry is very special to me, it comes from my daughter who likes to say MEOW.

A Writer's Love and Dreams

By Laurie Epps

A great boost of self esteem. That's what most of us need as writers, but what maybe we haven't considered is that perhaps we aren't open to the very thing we think we need so much. So break out your copy of Writing Down the Bones, and open your heart and mind. Spill those moments onto the page, and let the conversation begin.

Cat Poetry

Intro by Laurie Epps

June is National Cat Adoption Month

As a cat lover, I can tell you that you never seem to be able to find that darn cat when you want him, not that he would answer anyway. Many writers love the precociousness of our furry felines. We love to make up adventures of where the cat is, where the cat is going, what does he do when we're at work or sleeping, anyway? With that same jovial spirit in mind, June's columns are respectfully dedicated to our four legged and mysterious friends, the cat. Here to kick it off, is my friend and columnist, Kenneth O'Shaunnessy.

Parts of a Writer

By Laurie Epps

There are so many little details that make up a writer. What do you look for? Today, we will talk mainly about personality traits that you can come to expect. If you're a writer, this may make you laugh and giggle a little at yourself. I know it did for me.

So get out your copy of Writing Down the Bones and dig in. Time to join the conversation. I'd love to hear your feedback.