Author Archives: Laurel Leigh

About Laurel Leigh

Laurel Leigh, M.F.A., is a writer, teacher, and editor and freelances internationally. She is a co-founder of Dogpatch Writers Collective and author of the blog Dear Writers. She also loves looking at everyone else's gravatars. www.LaurelLeighWriter.com www.DogpatchWritersCollective.com http://DearWriters.com

by Laurel Leigh | May 19, 2012 · 7:57 pm

Coffee Shop Writer

Dear Writers,

Why do we write in coffee shops?

We come, us collective writers, expending time, probably gas, cash for high-priced drinks. We set up our tools of trade at little tables with uncomfortable chairs. We cringe when other patrons talk too loudly, laugh too loudly, or, god forbid!, talk to us. We peck away at our tablets under the too-dim/too-bright lights in the too-hot/too-cold room. I don’t really think I write better to “Pink Moon.” Continue reading →

8 Comments

Filed under Howling at the moon, Notes from the coffee shop

Tagged as chai, coffee shop, writing

by Laurel Leigh | April 11, 2012 · 10:30 am

Four of Everything!

I love the idea of four! Four elements in nature, the four humors of old, four score and seven years ago, my doggie has four legs.When developing a piece of writing, a writer might consider four aspects that come into play, at the onset or eventually.

Audience – Who is the audience for the material?
Concept – What is the vision of the piece, its message?
Form – How is the message of the piece presented? As a poem, in novel form? Furthermore, within the larger categories of form, what specific genre and styles are used?
Format – If published or presented, what is the packaging? Hard-cover printed book, e-book, online post, etc.

from http://www.particleadventure.org
/fundamental.html

A writer may decide the first aspect to which she relates is concept, asking herself what is the truth she’s seeking and message she’s delivering in creating a piece. For an editor, or from a publisher’s standpoint, the paramount question is, practically, about audience. Who’s going to buy the thing so we can all get paid? Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Howling at the moon

Tagged as audience, editing, four elements, publishing, writing craft

by Laurel Leigh | March 21, 2012 · 1:39 pm

Writing as Calculus by Jilanne Hoffmann

Here’s a wonderful post, actually a follow-up post to Jill’s trials with her son and his school writing assignment.

Spotted Writing Stunts

Dear Friends,

The other day I walked into a coffee shop wearing a T-shirt I bought a in Port Townsend on a self-designed writing retreat. The barista read my shirt, said, “I don’t get it.”

“Instead of hiring someone to do it for me,” I said.

“Okay, but is that bad?” she wanted to know. Continue reading →