Why "Writer's Bloc?"

Why Writers Bloc? Especially since I don’t believe in Writer’s Block. Whenever I hear Writer’s Block, the image of a crusty old journalism professor from about a hundred years ago pops into my head and I hear him saying (shouting): Writer’s Block? Bull……lony. Get the seat of your pants onto the seat of your chair! The one in front of your typewriter---(that would be computer today.) And you know what? It works. I have years of experience to prove it. Just start writing. Anything. Pretty soon you feel like writing. Pretty soon you might even write something good. But I digress.

So Writers Bloc means a place for writers or just folks interested in what makes writers tick. A place where people have something in common and share common interests and goals—a bloc. What it does not mean is a place for writers to “whine and wine.” No whining wanted here. As for the wine, well, be my guest. What I would like to do is talk about writing—what inspires us, what we do and how we do it, how we grapple with challenges and problems.

Challenges and problems? Yeah, like the one Hemingway mentioned. An interviewer once asked him what his problem had been in writing one of his books, and Hemingway replied: “Getting the words right.” Those kinds of problems.

And everything about the writer’s life which, as my good friend, Lisa Unger, reminds me is a great life. Indeed we are privileged to do what we do.

Also anything you want to say about Books. Books you have loved, books you keep going back to, books that help you as a writer. How-to-books, if you like. But the books that help me the most are books that are damn well written. I read them and see how to do it. I’ll be mentioning some of my favorites as we go and would love to hear about yours.

Since I have just started another Wind River mystery novel—let’s see, that would be novel number sixteen (and I can’t believe that. I’m not that old.)—I will be posting as I make my way through the novel. Step by tedious step. Actually I promise it won’t be tedious. In fact, I will probably write a post after I have figured out one of those getting-the-words-right problems, and after I have pulled out my hair when I can usually look back and even—well, you know—laugh about it.

So any comments you want to make, all you writers and hopeful writers out there, any questions, anything you would like other writers to discuss and enlighten us about, please chime in. I mean, I can’t do this blog all by myself! How boring would that be?

posted by Margaret Coel

Please Comment! Here's how!

Margaret let me know that one of her readers asked - Do you want me to respond? And, if so, how do I do that?

Two answers - YES! And, It's Easy!

She would love it if you commented, please do so if you are so inclined. We are always interested in hearing your thoughts and your questions.

BUT HOW DO I, ALREADY?! At the bottom of every post (these paragraph-like things, like what you're reading here) there is the tiny little word "Comments." See, look down there! There it is! If you click on it (yes, click on "Comments"), you'll get a screen that you can fill in to give us your comments!

To read what everybody else has to say, just click on "Comments", too!

posted by Margaret's daughter, Kristin

Father John Update!! (long awaited : )

Alright, I guilted my Mom and it worked! Here's her report on Father John!

Straight from Margaret:

Okay, so here's the scoop on Father John
At the end of The Girl With Braided Hair, Father John was sent on a sabbatical to Rome. He did not want to go, of course, but being faithful to his vows, as he is, he went.

That prompted a deluge of e-mails from readers along the lines of when is he coming back. Or: Will Father John ever get out of Rome? (Like he was sent to the gulag!)

Two reasons why he went to Rome--1. I wanted to write a stand- alone novel, set in Denver, which turned into Blood Memory (still about the Arapahos.) I wanted to stretch my writerly wings.

2. I wanted to go to Rome.

Of course he had to come back to the Wind River Reservation, because who will solve all the crimes? And Vicky needed him back. And so did I.

So he is back in Silent Spirit, due in bookstores on Sept. 1.
And it was great fun to research and write because of what it is about--check next blog for that.

(I think she means the next "post," but she's still getting the lingo down : )

Seriously, that Father John thing is . . . gonna get here . . . eventually . . .

Well, while we're waiting for this promised update on Father John - which Margaret swears is coming, any day now - I've been thinking of various things that might be of interest to people who love her work. We're definitely getting some clips from different talks she has given - she's a great speaker, if you ever get a chance to attend a speech or book signing. For those of you who may have wandered over here from her website - which is all linked up now! - please feel free to leave some questions or topics that you'd like to know more about. (Down there in the "Comments" section).

We will have posts that are just from Margaret, too. I'm trying to get her up to speed on this blogging thing, though. She writes a book a year, so . . . daily updating is a bit of a new concept. : )