WWWP Highlights

         Last night was our twice-monthly writing critique night. One of our group was missing in action, so it was a bit more sedate than usual, but extremely productive, as always.

         Here are some of the highlights:

• ClickClickClickClickClickClick. The sound of pills shaking against the inside of a plastic pill bottle. Three of us sat up on our back haunches and begged, unblinking, expectant and transfixed. (A member of our group just got off painkillers, and we were sure she was shaking one out for each of us.)

        Oh, those were toothpicks being shaken out, for the appetizers? Awww. Oh,
        well.

• "Change the focus of the piece to your children, take out the 'essay' parts, and this would make a wonderful story." Too often we look at a piece and box it in, thinking it would not be suitable for a particular publication/contest. Repurpose it. Retool it. Tweak it, then send it off.

• The power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Two years ago, my students each hung up their dream in our classroom. There were clouds hanging all over the place, swinging on fishing line. My dream was up there, too: "I dream of being a published writer." That was in September. In December of that same year, High Hill Press accepted my picture book manuscript. Coincidence? I think not.

       This year, all five of the WWWP's are going to be in the Chicken Soup for the
       Soul Parenthood anthology. We're going to do book signings (they will be the
       most raucous book signings ever!) and we're going to be fierce. Have any of
       us been accepted yet? No. But it will happen...

       Have any of you had first-hand experience with a self-fullfilling prophecy? I'd love to hear about them...