Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash By Don Vaughan, www.donaldvaughan.com I love anniversaries, and not just the one I celebrate each June with my lovely wife. No, I’m talking about the celebration of more newsworthy events, the kind that can mean big bucks for savvy writers. Over the years, I have received numerous assignments from magazines large and small pegged on special anniversaries. They’re fun to research and write, and can be quite lucrative. The key is to uncover events [...]
Photo by Cathryn Lavery on Unsplash By Deanna Martinez-Bey and Elaine Klonicki Writers are often advised to set reasonable goals for themselves. The key word in that sentence is—you guessed it—reasonable! If you’re writing an article or blog or are contributing content to a site, you will likely be given a deadline by your editor. External deadlines serve to keep us on track. Even if you write your own blog, hopefully you have established a set schedule and are trying to keep to [...]
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash by Michaela J. Lawlor Writing is hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.” I’ve heard this quote millions of times, but I cannot say I know who the original author is. The same thing can be said about Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs, but allow me to rephrase it a bit: “Completing your MFA is hard. If it were easy, every writer would do it.” So, if you’ve been there and done that, congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the [...]
Photo by Lee Soeburn By Lee Soeburn What’s the most irksome grammatical quirk you can’t ignore? You know grammar rules are made to be broken, are all subjective, and you recognize style plays a role. But if you catch yourself making this “mistake” or see it in someone else’s work, your heart immediately screams: “ARGH, my nemesis! Foiled yet again!” TAF got the new year started off right with this fun, conversational ice breaker. The inbox of a Taffy (the nickname of TAF [...]
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash By Kristy Stevenson, KristyStevenson.com Dear Current (and Future) TAF Members: Did you know that one of the benefits of your membership is inclusion in our Find A Freelancer bank of professional profiles? Many members have landed paying gigs after being found here – you could be next! It’s fast. It’s easy. And it’s a great first step toward building a professional online presence. This is your opportunity to build a business card-size [...]
Meeting Details Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Time: Zoom opens at 7:00pm; Meeting starts at 7:15pm Zoom access: Details will be published in the Google group The Program: An Exploration of Political Journalism Photo by Alejandro Luengo on Unsplash Who is your most trusted political news source? Do you still rely on the mainstream media or have you headed elsewhere? Do you have any interest in writing about politics? The year 2020 is a big one in [...]
By Don Vaughan, http://www.donaldvaughan.com/ Is COVID-19 putting a damper on your writing? Could you use a creative charge about now? We have some great news! Write Now! 2020 is on again – as a virtual mini conference! And best of all, it’s free! The event will be held via Zoom on Saturday, May 2, 2020, and will feature three hour-long educational sessions with a 15-minute break in between. The fun begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 12:30 p.m. Whether you’re new to [...]
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash Since it appears we may be socially distant for a while, it’s time to experiment with virtual meetings. The meeting originally scheduled for March 25 is back on, now via Zoom. Here’s how it works: Ideally you are at your computer with a webcam. You can also use your phone.At the appointed time, clink the Zoom link and join the meeting. (If you dial in on your phone, it's audio only.)You’ll be able to see all the other [...]
By Dara Lyon Warner (www.lyon-roars.com) Gather ‘round, ye ghosts and ghouls, To hear my tale of days long gone; When Witches danced beneath the Moon, And Druids waked the Sun at dawn. They called the God and Goddess fair; The Balefires burned high and bright. The Ancestors they summoned in, To join the Gathering through the night. The veil grows thin; we stand in Circle, Heart to heart and hand to hand, Embracing still the Ancient ways. Samhain has come again! What is it [...]
By Chanah Liora Wizenberg The Wake County Public Libraries Annual Book Sale was the first weekend in May—a bibliophile’s dream! As I entered the Expo Center at the Fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C., where the sale was being held, I gasped. A sea of books was spread before me. There were tables and tables of books set in rows the length of the enormous room. The scent of freshly popped buttered popcorn and hot dogs permeated the air. For a split second my mouth watered and my stomach [...]