http://amispencer.com/blog Your words can speak volumes, but only if you write them...and write them well. Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:05:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've told you all how much I loved Amy Paturel's Essay Writing e-course. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about writing personal essays and getting them published. If that's you, now's your chance to win access to Amy's course for free. The contest deadline is April 15, ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/04/12/improve-your-essays-with-amy-paturel/ One night, when I was home from college for winter break, I was driving home from some outing or another. Over the song coming from my radio, I heard fire sirens in the distance, but didn't think much of it. As I crested a hill near the house my family ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/04/02/creativity-corner-sirens/ I've mentioned before what a fan I am of critique groups. No matter what form it takes, I think a critique group is essential for the growth of a writer, and I'm extremely lucky to be a member of not one, but two, very different yet equally helpful groups. Not ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/03/29/creating-a-critique-group-that-works/ I have to admit, I'm a sucker for a good cookie. In fact, I'd have to say that cookies are one of my favorite treats. Especially warm, straight-from-the-oven chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies. Mmmm...my mouth is watering just typing that. I'm sure many of us have childhood memories of baking ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/03/26/creativity-corner-cookies/ A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about phone calls. This week we're writing (or writing about) letters. In middle school and junior high, I had several pen pals. Going to the Post Office to get the mail was always exciting because I never knew when I might get another ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/03/19/creativity-corner-letters/ I'll admit that I've had some difficulty with follow-up in the past. I usually assume that if an editor or client doesn't get back to me, they're just not interested and I move on. Now that I'm trying more diligently to build up my freelance clientele, however, I've had to ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/03/16/follow-up-on-that-lead-now/ It may be the warmer weather we're experiencing or just the spring fever I've been feeling lately, but I can't get enough of fresh flowers. Since the calendar flipped to March, I've been anticipating the telltale sign of daffodil and crocus stems pushing up through the dirt. It's way too ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/03/12/creativity-corner-flowers/ As a transplant who lives hundreds of miles from my family and some of my best friends, I spend a lot of time on the phone. Both mundane statements and monumental announcements are made in the same manner -- via telephone call -- because I don't have many other options. I ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/03/05/creativity-corner-phone-call/ During the essay class I finished recently, the instructor impressed upon us the importance of finding a critique group to join. I've been part of a nonfiction critique group that meets monthly for more than two years now and it's the best thing I've ever done for my writing, so ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/03/03/want-to-improve-your-writing-join-a-critique-group/ It's Friday: time for another {Creativity Corner} prompt. This week we're writing about fruit -- citrus fruit to be exact. Think oranges, lemons, limes. You know what I mean. I love fresh apples in fall and berries in the spring and summer, but my favorite fruit fills the winter gap and ... http://amispencer.com/blog/2010/02/26/creativity-corner-citrus/