My columns can be seen online!

As I've indicated in past posts, I write a weekly column called "Laura's Look" that is seen in the Highlands County News Sun on Sundays.

Now, for those who haven't had a chance to read them, you can go to the News Sun website and search for my name, "Laura Ware." You'll find my comments on a variety of topics.

Read and let me know what you think!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hope you have a great day!

Nano is coming!!

National Novel Writing Month (Nano) is coming in November!

Nano is a period of insanity where bold and insane writers pledge to attempt to craft 50,000 words in the month of November.

I'm the Municipal Liason for Sebring, and trying to kick things off here.

If you live in the area, email me and let me know!

Or, go to www.nanowrimo.org

Finally back!

I'm home after two exhausting and awesome weeks at the Master's Class, an intensive writing workshop.

I got back in town Monday night. Went to bed at around 11 PM. Woke up Tuesday at about 4:30 PM. Yeah, I was pretty tired. :-)

Hope to give dribbles of information as time goes by. Right now trying to get back in the swing of real life again. :-)

In Oregon for a couple of weeks...

Sorry I've been silent - been getting ready for a major writing workshop I have a chance to attend in Oregon.

So right now I'm typing this post while waiting for the Master Class to start. I won't be able to post much the next two weeks - the instructors promise to keep us QUITE busy.

Cheerful replies and emails are welcome!

A book I hadn't read in so long...

I teach a Ladies Bible class on Tuesday mornings. I was doing a lesson I called "Nameless Service."

Sometimes when I teach I recall things that apply. I think this is God's way of helping me out.

This time, as we talked about not having to take credit and thanks for everything we do reminded me of a child's book I read when I was young, called "Understood Betsy."

It had been years - perhaps more than 20 - since I read the book, yet I recalled parts of it clearly. I'd read it several times and loved it. I can still see the cover of it in my mind.

Wednesday I did a websearch and to my delight found the book (published in 1917) was available to read. It was as good as I remembered it.

Will my writings be like that for someone? Something they'll remember with pleasure even years after they read it?

I hope so.

By the way, if you want to read the book yourself, you can link to it here.

One Step at a Time...

Those who know me know that this was a stressful summer.

I had seven people living at my house at one point - that's a lot. My youngest was getting ready to go off to college, my oldest was spending his last summer with us (he's getting married next June). Plus there were health issues with a family member.

I was stressed. Something had to give, or I might have cracked.

What gave was Weight Watchers.

I've been on Weight Watchers since October. In July, I'd lost 40 pounds. Not a small thing.

But I quit going to meetings. I quit counting points (in Weight Watchers, food has points). I didn't go hog wild - for example, I didn't consume a whole cheesecake in one sitting - but I wasn't being as rigid as I was.

Last week, I started back. I started counting points again.

Last night, I went back to my first meeting in 8 weeks. I only stayed long enough to weigh in and see how bad the damage was.

Fortuantely, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. In 8 weeks, I'd gained 3.8 pounds.

Next week, I'll stay for the meeting.

One step at a time.

Did you know...

...that September is "Be kind to editors and writers" month?

Find a writer or editor you know and give them a hug!

Governor Palin

The coverage and out and out hostility that has greeted Sarah Palin has been disturbing.

Look, people are entitled to their opinions. No one is required to like the governor as far as I'm concerned. Some people don't agree with her stands. That's a valid argument.

But can I have the same courtesy?

Can I agree with Governor Palin's views without being dismissed as a hick or stupid? Can I disagree with Senator Obama's stands on things without being ignorant?

Can we respect the fact we disagree without acting like we're better than each other?

Or is that just me spinning more fiction?

Don't mess with a writer's copyright...

I've heard of Stephanie Meyer, though I've never read her books.

Looks like her last book will be on hold, thanks to someone ignoring her rights and posting her stuff on the Internet without permission...

Stephanie Meyers drops new book after Web leak.

I KNEW reading was good for you!

Reading novels enhances social skills: study

Fay has come and gone...

..and it wasn't much. Wind and rain and VERY wet mail, but other than that, it was just a weird day.

Tropical Storm Fay...

Just when you thought it was safe not to close the hurricaine shutters... :-)

We're under a "hurricane wind watch" at the moment.

It doesn't look bad out there but I've seen the weather change quickly. At this point we're just figuring on a lot of rain and some wind, nothing to freak out about.

So meanwhile life goes on...

The birds have flown!

John and James left for college today.

I'd say more, but I'm a little cranky.

Anyone have some chocolate?

Can't believe I didn't mention this!

My short story LAST HEIR was published in the November 2007 issue of Leading Edge Magazine. (#54)



You have to order the issue through the mail. Their website is http://www.leadingedgemagazine.com/

In Orlando yet again...

Husband Don is attending a medical conference at a very nice hotel in Orlando and invited me to come along. While he listens to lectures, I'm planning to use the time to catch up on some work. A mini-writing retreat, if you will.

Turning on the lights, frowning at the mess...

I haven't posted in a while. I will be honest, the future of this blog is uncertain at the moment. I am having to consider the pros/cons of keeping it up.

A blog requires a commitment of time. The problem at the moment is I have other demands on my time, including the writing which I hope to devote more attention to.

Will ponder this while I research. Thanks to those who've checked out the blog and posted comments. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

A blog worth looking at

A fellow writer named Scott William Carter has put up a blog profiling first time novelists. You can check it out at this link: http://thefirstbook.wordpress.com

Back from a writer's conference.

I just got back home from a writer's conference in Cocoa Beach. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk to other writers, get ideas for making my writing better, and pitching a novel of mine to an editor and 3 agents.

I got the chance to meet some fellow writers I met through Strange New Worlds. We had a great hanging out together and picking on a friend of mine who was asked to submit a proposal to an agent a year ago and hasn't done it yet.

I also got to see my friends Dean Wesley Smith and his wife Kristine Kathryn Rusch, who have been generous to me in their advice. They were keynote speakers at the conference, and as usual they had things to share that I needed to hear.

The editor I spoke with and one of the agents asked me to send the entire manuscript of "Dead Hypocrites," I novel I wrote as my Nano project in 2006. Two agents asked for the first 3 chapters. I am excited about the interest and will work to get the material in their hands as soon as possible.

Now, home and tired. :-)

Laugh, cry, and/or shake your head...

Whether you're a writer or a reader, you will probably enjoy this satire:

Eccentric reads an entire book