Welcome to WriterBe!

Hello Readers & Writers,

Welcome to WriterBe,

A writer's journey.

Some introductory background:

I love to write! I've been doing it since I was old enough to hold a crayon. (I still have my very first 'story'. It was about a bird. I was four.) As a kid, I wrote stories about my neighborhood.

During my teen angst, I wrote poetry, lots and lots of poetry! In high school, I won a national essay contest and went to university on an English scholarship.

A few years later, I changed my major to molecular biology and had a career as a biologist on the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, followed by biotechnology in the San Francisco Bay Area. During that time, I wrote mostly nonfiction; long and boring scholarly articles for research.

Now, I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, just outside of Seattle, and I'm writing for the pure love of story again!

What to expect:

I'll share the progress of my writing and what I'm reading.

First the write progress:

Since June, I've sent 3 short stories, 2 poems, and 2 children's book proposals out to editors. I'm currently writing on 7 more stories across 3 genre. I'm never sure which story I'll write on on any given day. It just depends which story and character are speaking to me at that time. My favorite stories to write are modern fairy tales, but I also enjoy concocting humorous sci-fi stories, relationship tales with unique twists, and nonfiction green articles.

Last night, I wrote a new chapter on my latest modern fairytale. Tonight, I'm working on a nonfiction piece.

Now the reading list:

Why the reading info? It's simple, if you want to write, you must read! So, I consume lots and lots of story in books, magazines, newspapers, movies, and tv.

Today, I finished reading a great young adult novel, Bones of faerie by Janni Lee Simner. I loved the way the author constructed her world in this one. I also finished Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith. This one ties a Celtic myth to modern vignettes - terrific!

Tonight, I treated myself to a trip to our local independent bookshop. Here are the titles for future reads: Bedtime Stories for Grown-ups, Fairy-Tale Psychology by Sue and Allen Gallehugh, Tooth & Tongue, 15 Fairy Tales, by Bret Fetzer, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I also found 3 books by Michael Chabon; The Mysteries of Pittsburg, Werewolves in Their Youth, and A Model World. Finally to satisfy the eco-geek in me, I picked up Orion, Permaculture, and Communities magazines.

Next week, I'll be frequenting the library!

Until next time, read and write on!

Julie Ann