tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3217787360161324962011-09-19T10:31:01.371-07:00Labor, life and love as a freelance writer.Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.comBlogger611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-40625769860818794622011-09-19T10:31:00.000-07:002011-09-19T10:31:01.379-07:00

I'm wishing I had more time to devote to my fiction and poetry lately. I know my online friend, Gina Conroy over at Writer Interrupted knows what I'm talking about! But, I have been doing a little bit of writing here and there. I have a new homeschool blog over at Homeschool Redux and I have been doing some writing for our business blog at Journal in a Box. In fact, Journal in a Box is one big

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-37927365366773718182010-08-15T13:23:00.000-07:002010-08-15T13:23:47.931-07:00

So there I was, doing some research for my latest novel, looking up some info on the 1940's and some other things I want to include in the novel when I stumbled upon this blog: Hawkins Strongbox. Now, this is some fun and intriguing work and it has me excited thinking of all the fantastic possibilities for authorship in this technological age. I've seen and heard of ideas like this before,

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-51170560872164418352010-07-12T11:52:00.000-07:002010-07-12T11:52:43.871-07:00

I am getting more and more excited about this novel that has been brewing in my head. I've put some scenes onto paper and am working on character backgrounds and plot points. This is the fun part, the interesting part. The part where I am finding out who I am writing about and how their story unfolds. Next will come the hard part. Sitting down and writing and putting it all together into

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-84624622659127162232010-07-04T11:44:00.000-07:002010-07-04T11:44:13.590-07:00

The whisper of an idea for a novel came to me about eight years ago, during the time that I lived in Las Vegas and pieces of it have been floating around in my (strange) cranium for that many years. The other night, after reading the last chapter of The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee, I was inspired to actually begin putting together this novel that I have been playing around with for that long

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-72859835710971345792010-06-29T12:52:00.000-07:002010-06-29T12:52:10.508-07:00

I'll admit there has been very little real writing going on around here as of late. For a multitude of reasons. One of them is one year of age, teething, and sitting on my lap right now. Also, I had a great arrangement with a good friend to keep my kids one day a week so I could devote that day to writing, but that didn't work out because I didn't stay disciplined and because she went out and got

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-64895950194452801982010-06-28T22:49:00.000-07:002010-06-28T22:49:58.731-07:00

I'm looking for something new to read. I just finished Burr by Gore Vidal and loved it! You'd think with all the books I just finished unpacking a few days ago that I would have a ton to read. My problem is that there are a lot of hardbacks which are hard to read in bed and all of the paperbacks are Koontz. (They are hand-me-down's from my mom and she has a bit of a Koontz fetish.) While I do

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-19097264042358154092009-09-02T11:42:00.003-07:002009-09-02T11:53:01.902-07:00

Our family was setting some family and personal goals recently and I have set this personal goal for myself: I WILL enter the Writer's Digest Poetry Contest coming up this December. The deadline for entries is December 15, so I have set myself the goal of making my entries ready by the end of November. I wrote it down on our personal goal sheet and I am setting it in stone here in this forum. I

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-42368875547680900392009-08-23T09:49:00.000-07:002009-08-23T09:51:52.331-07:00

Here is a poem I wrote for my online poetry group:favorite thingssunshine smiles and gumdrop kissescowboys and indiansand fairy tale wishesdinner by candlelight, walks on the beachlying in bedwhen he is in reachgrimy hand messes, crumbs on the floormuddy footprintsand jam on the doorspills on the stove, oven disastersalways more stuffto clean up afterthese are a few of my favorite thingsmy prince

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-82756417438536634952009-08-06T13:31:00.002-07:002009-08-06T13:51:08.582-07:00

Even though the April Poem A Day Challenge is long over, Robrt Lee Brewer is still throwing out a weekly Wednesday prompt over at his Poetic Asides blog: http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/His prompt from yesterday was "something you've been through." Here is my day late submission:Five YearsHe asked her to dance and askedfor a Ferris wheel ride. He told herhe was interested in settling

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-80014609699304398932009-07-28T13:58:00.004-07:002009-07-28T14:14:21.387-07:00

Here are some small stones I have recently written (somewhat in the style of Fiona Robyn):clear blue eyesengaged in a smilesparkling at river’s edgetiny forms,motionlessexcept forbarely discerniblechest heavesbreathe, little ones,breathemoment captured in time:four smiles surroundone smile – with no hair above itshe was lovely baldcrescendo rising, risingclosed eyes and a slight smileappreciation

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-70453814632466716002009-07-28T08:00:00.003-07:002009-07-28T08:05:57.002-07:00

Well, here is a new one! I have been asked to help develop and write a treatment for an idea for a television show. This is something I have never done. I am doing some research on the process and on what should be included in a treatment (title, logline, synopsis). Have you ever written a treatment? Do you know the process? Do you know anything about registering with the WGA? Any information

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-81392161782147829582009-07-21T09:34:00.003-07:002009-07-21T10:19:32.834-07:00

Well, after a bit of a "maternity leave", I'm back on the hunt for new freelance projects. I'm reworking my writing resume a bit and submitting on new fronts. Internet magazines seem to be the up and coming craze. It will be interesting to see the direction that they take. Here are some that I have come across recently: a handful of stoneshttp://www.ahandfulofstones.com/First and Last Sentence

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-61905531575120000902009-04-30T21:44:00.001-07:002009-04-30T21:46:24.079-07:00

Whoa! What?!? Day 30? It's over? Where did this month go?Today's prompt was, appropriately, a farewell poem. I came up with two:good-byewas something never saidyou were there and thenyou weren’ti wasn’t even awareat firstsuddenly – awkwardly –i realized you weregoneabscondedwith a piece of my heartdoes this mean younever meant to go?or that you meannever to return?--------------------------------

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-61755449024174478612009-04-29T20:03:00.001-07:002009-04-29T20:05:58.243-07:00

Okay, I am finally done with my catch-up game! Here is my post for the prompt to write a poem beginning "Never (blank)."Never sleep with snakessome may think it goeswithout sayingbut it seems that manyneed a warninggetting all chummywith viperscould lead to some seriousbodily harm

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-47154091234970288952009-04-29T19:47:00.001-07:002009-04-29T19:50:43.151-07:00

I'm not proud of it, but here is my sestina for Day #28. I wasn't going to write a sestina (since the two-for-tuesday prompt left an option for writing an anti-sestina poem), but then this idea came up and I ran with it. I'd like to rewrite it, but that's the beauty of the PAD Challenge - first drafts are the whole idea! :-)The GirlOnce upon a time she dreamedof fairy tale princesses and

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-85220620119903026442009-04-28T20:02:00.000-07:002009-04-28T20:03:22.875-07:00

The prompt for day 27 was a poem of longing:not knowingthe life that was therenow suddenly gonewhy so soon?now I’ll never knowthe color your eyes heldthe length of your nosethe feel of your breath on my neckthe sound of your tiny voice

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-22865333984460078872009-04-27T22:41:00.000-07:002009-04-27T22:42:48.862-07:00

what?i love you, he saidi love you, too, she saidneither one of themhad a clue what the other wastalking about

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-72102707628757953352009-04-26T13:16:00.002-07:002009-04-26T13:19:48.632-07:00

Still playing catch-up. The prompt for Day 25 was to write a poem about an event. Here is the best I could come up with - it is based on a song I heard earlier today and that really seemed to hit home today.30th Birthday“I've done some growing upand I'm still growing upso I know I'll never beas smart as I once wasthat was back Back when the world was flat andmama and daddy didn't have a clue…Lord

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-82365096956683085652009-04-26T08:17:00.000-07:002009-04-26T08:20:46.539-07:00

Okay, I am really having to play catch-up. The last few days have been something of a blur. Here is my poem for day 24 - the prompt is a travel poem.leavingheat radiated from the pavementsweat trickled down the end of my noseas I walked down the asphalt roadI felt the rubber at the bottomof my Vans sink into the blacktopmy back was sticky and wetthe backpack was getting heavydragging me down with

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-34811456151317553562009-04-24T22:35:00.001-07:002009-04-24T22:36:57.192-07:00

Still playing catch-up after a crazy and hard day. The prompt for yesterday was a poem about regret. Here is my offering:Looking BackThe gravel crunchesunderfoot as onward I go.Ahead the road is shroudedin fog and mist – I can’tsee what lies beyond.Behind me the road liestwisted and bent,the sunlight streamsthrough golden coloredleaves, casting shadows here,revealing sunny patches there.Looking

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-6812400477555183272009-04-23T22:47:00.002-07:002009-04-23T22:50:03.522-07:00

After a bout with the stomach flu, I'm playing catch-up again. Here is a poem for yesterday's prompt to write a work related poem.WorkupI was ready for a new workdayMy car just wasn’t workingBut I had to get to workSo I phoned a co-workerTo see if my schedule could be reworkedI forgot she was a workaholicShe spent thirty minutes complaining she was overworkedI tried to think of another

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-42185599108038533752009-04-21T09:02:00.000-07:002009-04-21T09:03:36.805-07:00

Here are my haiku attempts for the day:Saguaro blossomsOn green upstretched arms restingA precious rare sight--------------------------------------------Grass now fertilizedGrows greener every dayBrown desert beyond--------------------------------------------Freezing in the nightCold winds blowing all day longTurned hot overnight

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-27558908797466623962009-04-20T15:51:00.003-07:002009-04-20T16:18:08.669-07:00

Yay! I'm all caught up now! Today's prompt was to write about rebirth:Easter GiftA small bulb is planted.And we wait.Quite suddenly a small green growth appears.All those waiting are delighted.We could almost watch it grow.One day to the next it is measurably taller.It grows, grows until we wonder if it will reach the ceiling.Then, overnight, two red flowers make their glorious appearance.On

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-79413325789582941792009-04-20T09:36:00.002-07:002009-04-20T09:37:19.428-07:00

Still playing some catch-up. Here is the poem for yesterday's prompt to write an angry poem:I Was AngryI was angry.Twenty-two years old?A skateboarding accident?A bump to the head?How ridiculous!How stupid!How could this be?No one dies of skateboarding…do they?I was angry with myself.Two thousand miles and abrand new baby kept me here.I should have been there.I should have been by the sideof his

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-77363768724283499552009-04-19T22:58:00.002-07:002009-04-19T23:11:16.405-07:00

I have fallen a little behind in the challenge, but according to the rules I have until the end of the month to catch up, so here is my day 18 post. I will catch up on today's prompt and get back on track tomorrow. :-)The SpeakerShe spoke in quiet tonesand delicately explainedthe intricacies of her day.She talked of workingthe earth, of houseworkperformed and even ofa musical interlude whichshe

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-11072046111504614882009-04-17T21:54:00.002-07:002009-04-17T21:57:57.495-07:00

A couple of nights with no sleep and several long days in a row has left me with very little brain power. Today's poem is short, sweet and to the point:All I want is some inspirationthe pen is drythe pencil is stillthe paper looms white and empty

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-76491040507773143242009-04-16T15:46:00.000-07:002009-04-16T15:47:27.690-07:00

Oh no! The month is more than half over!Prompt for today was to write a color poem:Deep RedBleak brown skydust blowing thicksuffocating allDark blue nightgathering all aroundclosing inDeep red heartfalling, falling, fallinggathering speedHeavy purple bruiseshowing through makeupsilencing othersCold black wordsquickly pouring outkilling will

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-87046970153971457672009-04-16T15:43:00.001-07:002009-04-16T15:45:51.361-07:00

Looks like I forgot to post yesterday's poem here. Here you go:The prompt was so much fun. It was to take a poem you like and change one word in the title, then write a new poem based on the new title. I posted three yesterday!After I Didn't Apologize to the Well by Mahmoud DarwishI Didn’t Apologize to the CityI didn’t apologize to the cityFor leaving so soonI didn’t look back as I drove awayBy

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-51053091750294232812009-04-14T13:40:00.004-07:002009-04-14T13:48:38.153-07:00

The challenge for today's "Two for Tuesday" prompt was to either write a love poem or to write an anti-love poem. I ended up writing one of each.Love HurtsBeforeI knew you –brick by brick thewall went up aroundyour heart. For a few yearsI labored in vain to tear at thebrick with a small plastic knife. Onceyou handed me a sledgehammer and Iknocked a couple bricks off of the top. Butyou got scared

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-9082730051006837942009-04-13T20:45:00.001-07:002009-04-13T20:46:42.567-07:00

Wow. Already to day 13. Before I know it, the month will be half over. Okay, here is my contribution for today:Gramma's HobbyThe once long, thin, beautiful fingersperfectly formed for piano playingwere by now wrinkled and evenhorribly bent by rheumatoid arthritis.And yet, she patiently took the timeTo show me exactly how to holdthe yarn and hook and explainedhow to read the instructionsand

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-87464711874977925512009-04-12T22:08:00.002-07:002009-04-12T22:12:30.647-07:00

The prompt for today was to start with "So we decided to"So We Decided to Buy B.B. King Ticketsand it was one of the first joint decisionsI had ever really had to make.I’d always made my own way.I decided to wear my reallytall black heels and when they canceledthe B.B. King concert we decidedto walk up and down the boardwalkand my feet were killing me so we decidedto just sit on a bench and

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-3340981569760621652009-04-11T09:12:00.002-07:002009-04-11T09:21:04.165-07:00

A childless, husbandless Saturday morning have made for some great quiet contemplation, reading and writing time! Yay! And the rain made a fabulous addition to the morning - accentuating my mood perfectly.So, here are my two contributions to the PAD for today:What To Do?what to dowith the leftovers of you?a cardboard boxis all that remainscontents of our lifethat were not mineone straw hattwo old

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-79479001483116164862009-04-10T16:20:00.002-07:002009-04-10T16:21:41.311-07:00

Different MeaningsThe word Friday used to mean somethingdifferent back when my alarmwent off five days a week.Back when the last half of that daywas mostly spent goofing offand chatting with the other goofers.Back when the day was celebratedwith end of week trips to McMullan’s pubto congratulate each other on making it.Now the day means more morningcuddles, fixing breakfast together,playing

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-28256056650676319212009-04-09T10:52:00.001-07:002009-04-09T10:54:44.181-07:00

Today's prompt was to write about a memory:The BikeI.One time I was taking turns riding the bike with two friends – who were sisters -and we were riding in the circular concrete drivewayof the business next door to my house. Suddenly a car veered into the driveway. Our parents watched from my front porch as the car came straight toward us girls. I was on the bike.I pedaled and they ran. One of

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-29882467648736215472009-04-08T12:47:00.001-07:002009-04-08T12:48:11.353-07:00

For the prompt write about a routine:MorningsPad, pad, pad, pad, padof little feet on the carpetall the way across the living room.A tentative “Mom?” then, sometimes,a louder “Mom!” to awakenthe sleeping bear. Good morningsare exchanged and the little figureclimbs up into the bed.Sometimes we snuggle back downunder the covers and fadeback into dreamland.Other days she is fully awakeand no amount

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-69353793894699681132009-04-07T19:10:00.000-07:002009-04-07T19:11:18.008-07:00

Here are my posts for the day. Both are based on real life experiences from today's activities. :-) The two for tuesday prompt was to write a clean poem and/or a dirty poem.Kids running in the cedar smelling chipsGreen slides of every size and twisted shapespiral down to well-worn holes in the dirtBlue metal poles that hold them upcovered with bright yellow canopiesParents help little ones up

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-23381421427220815072009-04-06T08:39:00.001-07:002009-04-06T08:41:16.222-07:00

I wrote a poem shortly after putting Nicole to bed last night. This morning when I read Robert's prompt I thought that the poem I had written fit beautifully. So, here is today's post - rather early! :-) Maybe I'll even write another later!She’ll Never Knowjust how beautiful she is.I lie next to her just aftershe has fallen asleep.She has these gorgeousfull, wine-colored lips.Her nose is so

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-16233600254259454542009-04-05T20:46:00.000-07:002009-04-05T20:47:46.336-07:00

Another long day away from home left me brain dead. Or just brain tired anyway. So here is my hastily written contribution to today's PAD.Yeah RightSometimes a landmarkisn't all that helpful.As for instance when thelandmark offered is"Turn by the big Mormon church."when you are in downtownSalt Lake City, Utah.

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-50904936616482344712009-04-04T21:55:00.002-07:002009-04-04T21:56:43.973-07:00

We had a long crazy day, so I got the prompt late. This was all I could come up with...but I got it done today!CookieThe old man we brought homeYou were for me, but you weren’t a “kid” dogRight away you were mom’s dogEventually you tolerated my presenceAnd over the years you became just one of the familyAs you watched other animals arrive and leaveI imagined the speech you gave them –“I’ve seen ‘

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-50491738739058558502009-04-03T14:28:00.001-07:002009-04-03T14:38:10.032-07:00

I had a ton of ideas floating in my brain for today's prompt, but in the end, this is the one that won out:The Problem With This Windis that I feel it will sooncarry me off to the Land of Oz.And I do not have time todayto deal with overly happylittle people or maniacalgreen women with flyingchimps or blissful good fairieswith annoyingly lilting voices.I just do not have time to messwith three

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-26835828898744069722009-04-02T15:08:00.002-07:002009-04-02T15:12:02.861-07:00

I struggled at first today with the prompt, but in the end two ideas presented themselves, so again I went with two poems:Today?In the mountains for a picnic.A beautiful day.I follow the other girls -doing my best to fit in.Will today be the daythey will finally accept me?Someone spots a good hiking trail.We all rush in one direction.The girl in front of me tripsover a large stone.“She pushed me!

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-67014657008929706192009-04-01T22:27:00.004-07:002009-04-01T22:29:32.595-07:00

April is National Poetry Month. There are all kinds of ways to get in on the celebration of that fact. My own personal contribution will be a repeat of last years Poem-A-Day Challenge at Robert Lee Brewer's blog (check out my cool completion badge here on this page!). Robert is posting a prompt every day during the month of April and the challenge is to complete at least a first draft of a poem

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-14210895210874895322009-03-16T21:34:00.000-07:002009-03-16T21:36:20.292-07:00

I've never heard of this before, but it sounds very interesting. Write an entire novel in three days and have the possibility of a publishing contract for that novel? Sound crazy? Well, more than a few people have accomplished the feat. Here is the link to all of the info: http://www.3daynovel.com/

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-11155642689380223902009-02-04T23:13:00.007-07:002009-02-04T23:43:41.909-07:00

To paraphrase an old saying - "When the going gets tough, the con men come out of the woods." Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in much of the media doom and gloom regarding our economy. (I'll have to save all my thoughts on that for another blog.) But, should the down trends continue, I think it only inevitable that the trend toward scamming and conning will continue as well. The unfortunate

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-39010718633814871672009-01-28T14:07:00.003-07:002009-01-28T14:31:22.465-07:00

As I have mentioned, I'm coming off of a long writing dry spell. One of my long term goals over the years has been to write a novel. I've attempted to start and gotten bogged down quite a few times. Over the last few months the idea that there has to be a better way has continually come to mind. I consider myself a character-based writer. I think up characters. I write about characters. I explore

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-42290847148654519362009-01-26T13:21:00.002-07:002009-01-26T13:26:15.568-07:00

Here is a poetry contest that I thought some of my regular readers would be interested in. The contest is sponsored by Writecorner Press. Poems must be a maximum length of 40 lines, the entry fee is $5 for the first poem and $3 for each additional poem and the awards are a $500 first place award as well as some $100 editor's choice awards. The winning poem and editors' choices will be published

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-82120543185955266182009-01-25T09:40:00.004-07:002009-01-25T11:09:06.511-07:00

It has been about six months since I posted anything on this blog. I can completely identify with my fellow blogger Gina Conroy calling herself a Writer Interrupted. Six months is a long interruption. My writing has not been totally interrupted during that time. But this blog unfortunately was. Since we have an active three year old living with us and are expecting a new born in May, I imagine

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-85182734600903564242008-07-22T19:19:00.003-07:002008-07-22T19:42:50.388-07:00

For the last month or so, I have been participating within a writing critique group and I have to say that it has added a much needed dimension to my creative writing experience. The group grew out of the shared experience of doing the Poem-A-Day Challenge on Robert Lee Brewer’s blog Poetic Asides. One of the ladies that also participated in that challenge sent messages to two of us other ladies

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-80505495951902043952008-06-04T14:52:00.003-07:002008-06-04T15:21:29.209-07:00

I got my e.l.f. cosmetics order in today. I am super excited. I have tried a couple of the lip products already and they are nice. I have yet to know if I can recommend any of the other products. There was a little bit of a problem with the order in that they didn't ship a couple of things, but I called them, got a person to answer on the first ring, explained the problem, got a good response and

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-49102678250721134722008-06-01T12:57:00.003-07:002008-06-01T13:20:10.588-07:00

Gina Conroy at Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted has instituted a new Summer Savings ideas share on her blog. The idea is to go to her blog and post a link to your summer savings idea post. Here is mine. My mom and I were just discussing it this morning as we trekked into town to get our groceries. We live in a rural area with only one very small grocery mart, so we travel to the nearest town to

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-19133185930232922372008-05-28T15:17:00.006-07:002008-05-28T15:32:46.185-07:00

We are home. And we had a blast! Nicole traveled better on this trip than on any previous trip and I believe that this is due to her new found freedom in her booster seat as opposed to being so confined to a two strap car seat. We had packed various “surprise” toys for her and they also went a long way toward ensuring everyone’s sanity in the many long days on the road. Besides the wedding,

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-20405566574847544422008-05-22T17:14:00.002-07:002008-05-22T17:19:34.908-07:00

Robert Lee Brewer conducted the first annual PAD Challenge awards ceremony on his blog Poetic Asides yesterday. As you can see at the right, I received a badge indicating my completion of the challenge. Yay! I did it! To see the awards that were given check out the blog at: http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/April+PAD+Challenge+Awards+Ceremony.aspxTo join the poetic discussion forum

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-995317618290417022008-05-21T21:05:00.007-07:002008-05-22T17:21:04.715-07:00

Wouldn’t it be great if all of our characters were beloved family friends to our readers? I remember a story about a woman calling a pastor for some counseling. After talking with the woman for several minutes, the pastor was quite concerned. The woman had related multiple stories of adultery and murder. The pastor, upon further questioning of the woman, felt quite silly at having been so duped.

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-23408062859295460572008-05-21T21:05:00.006-07:002008-05-21T21:19:30.361-07:00

Well, that last blog post was written from the road. Our family has set out on our first annual family vacation. We have made a stop in New Mexico and then we are on to Denver. As I'm not sure when we'll be at a computer next, I don't know if I'll be posting anymore until we return next Tuesday the 27th. Hopefully, I'll be able to give you some good blogs and updates from the road, but if not

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-56165473539981193832008-05-21T06:30:00.001-07:002008-05-21T06:30:01.241-07:00

Here are a couple of cool little websites that any reader can use. Have you read every last one of your favorite author's published works and you can't wait until their new release comes out? Then you need to go to www.literature-map.com and put in the name of your favorite author. Click continue and a cool little map will be built. The author's names that are closest to your favorite have a

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-17113462368479086222008-05-19T16:33:00.003-07:002008-05-19T16:42:49.767-07:00

In my continual struggle with the perfectionism that was handed down to me through the ages from first born to first born to first born, I have always struggled to actually finish writing a story. I often begin composing a piece and then decide that because the story is set in Las Vegas during the 1950’s that I must research every aspect of the area, the mob involvement, the atom bomb parties,

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-18326252230776146532008-05-16T19:19:00.003-07:002008-05-16T19:24:37.919-07:00

Now this is cool! I heard about this on Robert Lee Brewer’s blog Poetic Asides. It seems that he heard about it from someone who heard about it from someone that heard about it on NPR. So it goes in today’s world – news travels fast. Poet Austin Kleon blacks out words in the newspaper to create fabulous poems. http://www.austinkleon.com/category/newspaper-blackout-poems/This idea puts a

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-21117100874460262272008-05-13T13:28:00.005-07:002008-05-13T14:42:34.400-07:00

As a fellow blogger and fellow mommy writer, Gina Conroy’s blog title is quite appropriate. Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted is a fantastic blog that I am coming to look forward to reading on a regular basis as I embark on my new writing adventures. Boy, did I feel the Interrupted part today. I had just finished cranking out about three pages of work on my new short story when I realized that

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-2519080275392829692008-05-08T12:06:00.005-07:002008-05-08T12:13:22.880-07:00

As a freelance writer, it is important that I pay attention to good marketing principles. As many writers know, it is easy to neglect the business side of our craft and focus only on the creative. But, without a good marketing strategy, a freelance writer’s business is unlikely to prosper. One of my favorite marketing blogs recently posted a white paper on a subject that I think is especially

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-57401852016629819172008-05-06T21:00:00.003-07:002008-05-06T21:03:25.272-07:00

I was recently blessed to have the chance to participate in a fantastic challenge at Robert Lee Brewer’s blog (http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/default.aspx) for National Poetry Month called the Poem-A-Day challenge. Robert challenged his readers to write one poem a day throughout the month of April. Using prompts provided by Robert, hundreds of poets, both seasoned and brand new,

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-321778736016132496.post-24889406581355529302008-05-05T15:26:00.006-07:002008-05-05T15:36:36.346-07:00

I have had a love of writing for many years. The physical act of putting pencil to paper thrills me. It has held this allure since I was very young. I have a secret stash of old journals full of everything from fiction writing, diary type entries, poetry, unfinished letters, and other general nonsense. The oldest of these dates back to the year I turned six. It’s a travel journal of sorts,

Tonya Roothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01912813075970062184noreply@blogger.com0