About Me

Editor

Writing Coach

Teacher

Classes

Workshops

My Articles & Stories

Reviews

Links for Writers

Contact Form

How To Booklets -
COMING SOON!

Home

 

Visit my Blog for writing prompts,
thoughts about writing,
and more!

National Novel Writing Month WINNER!

FROM THE EDITOR: Waiting at the Crossroads

How is it that we've come to meet in this place? What draws us here? Our passion for writing, for taking words and merging them into something meaningful and true? Our need for community, among the crowds of those who don't feel or understand our need to write?

All of the above?

No, relax, please! This is not a test. My mind is sometimes full of questions. My mother often told me as a child that I asked too many questions. I believe our inquisitiveness walks hand in hand with our love of writing. I often feel that I'm waiting at the crossroad; waiting for someone of like-mind to happen along.

Maybe you are that someone?

I wrote my first story in the fifth grade, my first poem the following year. How embarrassed and delighted I was when my sixth grade teacher read one of my stories to the class.

I was an extremely shy and sometimes withdrawn child. I lived in my fantasy world and never wanted to leave. Part of me still believes that, super heroes, Santa Claus, dragons, unicorns, and all the enchanted lands that somewhere outside the stories.

After college, I wrote off and on. I finally landed, right-side up, in the computer field, after trying my hand at teaching in the public school system. I have worked as a software engineer and technical writer for 20 years. Fiction and poetry flowed through my mind, but rarely to my pen. About five years ago, I began keeping a journal.

Encouraged to be writing again, in a more creative manner, I searched the Internet for inspiration. I took a couple of online fiction courses and joined an online writing group.

Participating in these writing activities inspired me to continue with my fiction writing.

I've returned to my poetry and my fiction, in the midst of turning out nonfiction articles. Currently, I'm seeking a home for one book, several articles, and a writing series, INSIDE A WRITER'S MIND. I'm currently at work on four series: a crochet-related soap opera, a fantasy, a dark SF piece, and a one in the realm of the supernatural. Through the years I've published in many small publications, most recently in the March 2002 issue of Fear of Writing ( http://www.fearofwriting.com ).

I'm planning on joining a local writing group and attended my first writing conference in May. Recently, I joined the National Association of Women Writers (NAWW) and am a Regional Representative for Virginia.

I've edited several other newsletters through the years. One focused on women's spirituality, one crochet-related, and now, this endeavor.

I hope you'll journey with me as we explore what writing is to the writer and how the writer explores the universe with words.

Waiting at the crossroads,

June

Letters to Writer's Crossing

June,

This is a wonderful newsletter. You are so imaginative and fun. Thank you for putting out this newsletter!

Lin Barnett

Dear June,

The road to publication is through interaction of other writers and the journey through the imagination of the heart. A universal blend of writing opportunities, and good information have been offered through the paths taken in Writer's Crossing. My thanks to the editor, June, for giving us all an experimental ride into the future of Writer's Crossing.

Julie Jennings, author of VILLA MANCHEZ

Dear June, Thank you for creating Writer's Crossing and sharing it with the world. You got my creative juices flowing with your imaginative ideas. I am also looking forward to entering the contests at some point in the future. Your dedication to the writing craft is a wonderful thing to witness and I am so grateful that you are sharing your talents with the world and inviting others to do the same. Thank you!

Francesca Cumero

Feature Article:
Into the Future: Vision of a Writer's Future

© 2002 P. June Diehl

When I was twelve, the 21st Century was the distant future. Now, standing in the newness of another era, I wonder what is before the world of writers.

Will the Internet become a true writer's tool? Will we turn in mass to self-publishing? How will we use the Internet to achieve our dreams, our goals?

Come with me while I cruise through the coming years. Hop right into my 73 Chevelle SS and journey with me. We'll be making several stops along the way, but for now, if you?re wearing a hat, hold on to it as we begin our trip.

It's 2005. We'll pull up to the crossroads here and have a look at what might be coming. Most publications will be available on the Internet. Writers are encouraged to submit by email. In fact, some publications will only accept submissions by email.

Let's journey forth, to 2010. What awaits us here? College and university professors branch out and provide valuable services to writers who can ask research-related questions, in addition to surfing for answers on numerous websites. Library and research information abound, some of it free of charge, some offered at a modest cost to the user.

Back into the car! Next stop: 2017. A new form of website has appeared, giving potential readers a taste, literally, of a forthcoming novel, story, poem, or nonfiction work. This new form of website works like an interactive brochure, giving vital information, plus offering the author's work for sale to the reader as a downloaded book complete with visuals and musical score.

Internet companies spring out over the Internet, supporting the visual and musical needs of the writer. Have a poem about snowflakes? Now you can make your work come alive for your readers, incorporating animation or shorts, music, and other sounds to enhance your work. You can create work that impacts not only the imagination, but the senses as well. Call in your readers with the latest in virtual reality. Let them truly experience your work from the inside.

Let's travel a little further to see what might be offered. The year is now 2024. This is our last stop into the future. Some things are better left to your imagination, as I don't want to spoil all your fun!

Editors and publishers have dramatically increased in number as the demand for new ezines rises. They search the web for writers who might benefit their publications. Search utilities have advanced, along with the Internet, and can find very specific information on any website. Editors and publishers can leave their logos on a website, to which the writer can respond, if interested in having their work in that publication. Querying is a thing of the past for writers, as editors and publishers must quickly accept an author's work, or find it being published elsewhere.

What do you think of my vision of the future? A writer's delight? Fantasy? Well, maybe. Then again, maybe not! I don't know what the future might bring, but I do know that writers will write and publishers will publish, no matter the way this might be achieved.

So, get those pens and keyboards ready. For the future awaits you. Keep learning, keep writing!

Inspiration: Flowing from Spring into Summer

Flowers. Yes, flowers. This time of year always makes me think of flowers. They are everywhere I go. They bud, bloom, mature, and die in their own time, one type replacing another, through the cycle of life.

Spring and Summer are about living and growing. What are you doing to grow your writing career? How do you water your words into articles, stories, and poetry? Where are you, currently, in the cycle of the writing process?

Email your answers and they'll be included in a future edition of Writer's Crossing.

Writing Organizations

The National Association of Women Writers is a rather young, yet powerful and growing organization. The motto/mission is: "Where women unite to write. As women writers we seek to encourage, teach, inspire, motivate, and entertain."

The NAWW was awarded "One of the Best Top 10 Sites" from Writer's Digest.

Visit http://www.naww.org and discover the benefits of membership!

Whether you decide to join or not, subscribe to the free, weekly newsletter.

NOTE: I'm one of the Regional Representatives, so please let me know that you've joined from reading about NAWW in Writer's Crossing.

Excited about a writing group or organization you'd like to promote? Write me a one page blurb and submit it to me at:
writerscrossing@hotmail.com

Calling All Writers!

Writer's Crossroads is currently looking for the following:

1. Submissions for the Feature Article section. Subjects might include: Your writing journey, how to articles, creativity, forms of literature, ideas for getting published, elements of writing, the writing process, etc.

2. Articles that inspire: What motivates you to write, to keep writing? What challenges have you overcome?

3. Ideas for the monthly Writing Contest.

4. Poetry Contest: See July Writing Contest.

5. Short Story Contest: See July Writing Contest.

At this time, Writer's Crossing pays $25 for an article used as the Feature Article. Payment is made on acceptance. All copyrights remain with the author. Writer's Crossing is granted a one time right to publish selected articles that are submitted, both in the newsletter and online.

Please send all submissions to:
writerscrossing@hotmail.com
Or to the address in the Contact Information section below.