A Is For… The A to Z Challenge!
Greetings from the rainy Pacific Northwest! I’m Noony, and I’ll be your host this month for the A to Z Blog Challenge here at the Writer Zen Garden.
First, though, I want to share something of critical importance. Now, more than ever, it’s critical for creatives to stand together and support each other. To that end, those of you here in the States, we are rallying this coming Saturday, April 5th. On this single day, four groups have come together: 50501, Indivisible, Hands Off, and Women’s March. They are organizing on two websites: Hands Off and See you in the Streets.
NOTE: As of Saturday night, 885 protests have been logged. Protests are being added daily. These are *non-violent* protests. Hope to see you there! If you can’t come in person, please help spread the word, either on social media or with your local press. Let’s show these billionaire oligarchs that America is not for sale.
Second, on to our theme, which is,
Growing!
The invitation to our writers is to interpret that however they want to:
- Gardening
- Spring
- Personal Growth
- Professional Growth
- Life Cycles
- Puppies and Kittens
We thought this would be a fun way to merge the ideas of Spring, creativity, and personal growth that we all like to focus on here at Writer Zen Garden.
If this is your first time, we have three aims:
- Get on the Page
- Find a Home for Your Work
- Give Back
Get on the Page
We are big believers in the idea that what makes someone a writer is the simple act of writing. We don’t need fancy diplomas, expensive certifications, or masters programs. What’s needed is to simply WRITE!
Find a Home for Your Work
So you’ve done it – you’ve written a piece, and you’re stinkin’ proud of it. Now what?
Well, what do you want to do with it? Leave it in a drawer or on your device? Publish online to a blog or newsletter? Release it as a book? Land an agent or publisher? We work together to help each other learn the ropes of the business of publishing and how to figure out what the next right step is for our career.
Give Back
One of my favorite parts of the writing community is how generous we are! Writers love to share their knowledge, expertise, and information. We like to create places for them to do that, either in our twice-yearly writing retreats or in special workshops.
We also believe in creating space to create, and host weekly online write-ins on Mondays and craft circles on Saturdays. Interested? We’d love to have you join us!
The A to Z Challenge
Throughout the month of April, we’ll be sharing posts from several of our regular members, and I hope you’ll come back and join the fun! And please, feel welcome to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
-Noony
I am thrilled at the way you have included spring, growth and life cycles into this topic. Having spent vacations on my grandmother’s farm I see spring as ‘lambing season’. The time of the year the larger mammals, cows, horses, sheep, birth many of their young. Potential is huge, and risk is as well if things do not go as is hoped and planned for. Care and vigilance is needed at this time to ensure the best outcome. Protect and care for your animals, pay attention to what is going on. Act on the dangers.
This applies as you have written to the political environment as well. Act on your fears and concerns or you may lose more than you dare imagine.