Reading About Writing My Favorite Inspirational Books

Writing has been a great way for me to work through past and present problems and honor my everyday life as a mother. I used to enjoy art and painting but since the birth of my daughter I have been using writing and photography as my creative outlet. I also love to read. Lately I have been reading some books on writing so I can better understand this 'drive' I have to put words to paper (or MS word).

I have been able to check out all of these books from my local library.

Here are some of my recent favorites
For inspiration and tips

Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within (Paperback)

by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

On Writing (Mass Market Paperback)

by Stephen King

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Paperback)

by Natalie Goldberg -
And her other titles: Wild Mind ~ Living the writer's life and Thunder and Lightning ~ Cracking open the writers craft (reading it now and lovin' it!)

Writing Life Stories: How To Make Memories Into Memoirs, Ideas Into Essays And Life Into Literature (Paperback)

by Bill Roorbach

And if you get the urge to write for magazines (non fiction or personal essays)

Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Paperback)

by Christina Katz

The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock: The Freelance Writer's Guide to Selling More Work Faster (The Renegade Writer's Freelance Writing series) (Paperback)

by Diana Burrell

Writing Novels, anthologies and zines

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights (Paperback)

by Ariel Gore

I really enjoyed this read as well- I have a few friends who plan on self publishing- Ariel has a chapter in her book dedicated to this and other creative ways to get your work out there "Be an anthology slut and a brazen self-promoter" comes to mind:) This book is a real easy and enjoyable read~ especially for a 'how to' book.

October is Attachment Parenting Month!

I support attachment parenting! I practice this parenting style with both of my babies. My daughter is now 22 months old and she is one of the most independent and loving toddlers I know! The Attachment Parenting Book~ A commonsense guide to understanding and nurturing your baby by William Sears MD is a great place to get started if you are looking for more information.
The book clearly explains the seven "baby B's"
Bonding
Breastfeeding
Babywearing
Balance
Bedding close to baby
Belief in the signal value of baby's cry
and Beware of baby trainers

~a great resource!

From The Website: About AP Month

"What: Attachment Parenting International (API), along with the Sears family and other prominent AP supporters, have declared October to be Attachment Parenting (AP) Month.

The AP Month vision is to create one strong voice for AP through activities, events and information and to celebrate what we believe in — the value of “Giving Our Children Presence” for our families and for our communities.

Who: All parents, AP partners and like minds around the world are invited and encouraged to join with us in “Giving Our Children Presence” during the first annual Attachment Parenting Month.

Why: “Giving Our Children Presence” is the theme for AP Month 2008 and an antidote to the upcoming holidays so often filled with the giving of material presents. During AP Month, parents are challenged to incorporate more family time into each day and AP Month partners will offer resources to support and sustain these efforts all year round.

Key AP Month Goals include unifying the AP voice to:
1. Offer parents and adults support and confidence in “Giving Our Children Presence” to last a lifetime
2. Promote awareness of AP
3. Educate about API, other AP Month sponsors and their services
4. Provide a source of funds to support the API mission

Resources: The AP Month Central website is the gateway to information about AP Month. It includes a calendar of activities in which to participate and the AP Month Toolkit as resource for you to use to plan and promoting your own events and activities for October."

Visit Attachment Parenting International Today!

Children's Nature Learning Programs

Nature Deficit Disorder
is on the rise here in America.

If your family is 'plugged in' to TV, video games, I pods, and cell phones and you don't know where to begin to change your addiction to media there are many programs that can inspire your family to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Childhood obesity is on the rise- kids NEED to get outside not only for exercise but also to nurture the imagination and spirit.

If you need some inspiration;

Little Acorn Learning is offering a free sample week!

From their website: "Little Acorn Learning is a Natural Childcare Program that offers Monthly Nature-Based Guides for Caregivers of Young Children.

Our program is ideal for childcare providers, homeschoolers, co-ops, parents, daycare centers, schools and teachers.

This is an Affordable and Complete Childcare Program which gently guides the caregiver through a healthy rhythm each day.

This is a holistic, whole life program warming and nurturing both the children and the provider. This program is as much for the caregiver as it is for the children. The guides assist caregivers in all areas of their lives with Weekly Caregiver Meditations, Daily Housework Suggestions, Recipes, Grocery Lists, Crafting Lists and Ongoing Encouragement and Support.

Our goal is to reconnect children with nature while supporting the caregiver's soul - helping providers find true meaning and purpose in their work with young children. We inspire a love for nature and the home arts."

I have checked out this program, it looks wonderful and the price is right!

Another resource I am really excited about is Coyotes Guide To Connecting With Nature

This is a book that is about to be released by Wilderness Awareness School founder Jon Young, Ellen Haas & Evan McGown. The foreword is by Richard Louv, author of the bestselling Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder.

Supplies are limited, join the launch to sign up now! You have until October 8th

Green Hour
Discover the wonders of nature is a great resource that offers daily tips for your family.

From the website: "As a society, we are raising the first generation of Americans to grow up disconnected from nature.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that the steps that got us here are easily traced, and the way to work toward reversing them is clear.

Most importantly, by giving our children a "Green Hour" a day -- a bit of time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world -- we can set them on the path toward physical, mental, and emotional well-being."

I hope you enjoy these wonderful resources!