Writing

Writing is the most individual thing a person can do, and each of us has to discover what works by trial and error, because what sparks the creative process in one might totally stall another. Also what works may change and evolve over time.

When I got serious about writing I took an alternative university course on writing science fiction short stories from author, Mel Gilden, who still writes science fiction.

Mel introduced us to Robert Heinlein's 5 Rules, that became my mainstay for years.

Getting feedback on writing can be a major challenge. There are courses around, and editors for hire, but writers can also can band in together in writers' critique groups, either locally or in online groups.

• Ivy Sea Writing and Publishing Portal: a positive approach.
• Burning Void Writers' Resources: a lot of resources.
• WritersWrite.net: includes writers' groups online.
• ForWriters.com: a friendly page.
• Sal Towse: great links to resources for writers, including writers group how-to's, legal resources for writers, etc.
• One author I know personally who teaches courses and edits on the Internet is Shelley Singer.
• A useful promotion page for both pre-published writers and authors with books coming out is Spilled Candy Books for Writers.
• A creative approach to promotion: I met Pari Noskin Taichert at the Southwest Writer's Conference in New Mexico and she offered me the invaluable opportunity to become Bad Girl of the Month. She and her fellow bad girls are online at badgirlspress.com.
• The Business of Writing: Miss Snark is an agent who dispenses truth and pain about publishing business. Highly addictive. misssnark.blogspot.com

Mystery Writers & Things Mysterious

I believe mystery writers are the mellowest creatures on earth, because they can get rid of any pent-up aggression with ease. They can kill anyone they want, any time they want, any way they want, and never have to go to jail for it. I have had some wonderful times in the company of my fellow mystery writers.

• Jaqueline Girdner and I have done many signings together as an informal "Gracie Allen & Gracie Allen" act. We also offer the Tickle Sisters Tips and Tricks for Writers, and for years we sent out an occasional newsletter, Mutual Admiration from the Asylum Department, archived here. Aside from her Kate Jasper series, featuring a vegetarian, gag gift store owner, Jaki has written a series under the pen name of Claire Daniels, about a medical intuitive sleuth, Cally Lazar.
• Mystery Writers of America NorCal has some wonderful people writing great books.
• Sisters In Crime, Northern California, a friendly group for all who love mysteries.
• Independent mystery bookstores are great places to find books that large chains would never think to stock.
• Kate Derie, aka Cluelass, can help you find a mystery bookstore near you in her Deadly Directory, which also contains a wealth of mystery-related information on her web site at cluelass.com.

Cats

I love them. The ones who live with me were all rescued, one way or another, and they are constantly returning the favor. These are just a few of the many good people helping cats.

• A pioneer that has tremendous resources for helping feral and abandoned cats, Alley Cat Allies.
• The San Francisco SPCA is a no-kill animal adoption center that offers wonderful outreach programs including a Free Feral Fix Clinic, adoption center, etc.
• A Florida nonprofit called "It's Meow or Never" rescues and houses strays. MEOW power to them!
• Hopalong, a nonprofit organization in the San Francisco East Bay that does fantastic work with adoptable kittens, puppies and adult animals that need special fostering.
• Neuter Neuter Land: Humor and a serious message.
• For cat health/behavior questions, this marvelously positive, supportive Yahoo group: Cats: Health and Behavior
• Another Yahoo group that provides moral support and practical ideas to those noble souls doing rescue, TNR (trap-neuter-release), feral kitten taming and adoption. Feral_Cats
• From the Feral Cats list, here are some useful links on kittens/lost cats:
  • Kitten Socializing: Lessons Learned (PDF)
  • Neonatal kitten care
  • To find lost shy cats

Size Acceptance

Size acceptance resources are constantly arising, as individuals and groups are inspired to create them. Searching the web you can find kindred spirits all over the globe. Here are some I particularly enjoyed meeting.

• Laurie Toby Edison's photographic images of fat nudes, together with Debbie Notkin's powerful text, can be seen at LaurieTobyEdison.com.
• Blossom Fuller, a woman of size and spirited retorts who must be a relative of my mystery sleuth Josephine Fuller, lives in the cartoon world created by Kathy Shaskan. Blossom Fuller cartoons
• I love the artwork at Hawkdancing Studio.
• Real Women Project: Medical professionals and artists using sculpture, music and storytelling to help women make peace with the reality of our bodies.
• Elizabeth Neff Walker's An Abundant Woman is unique, inspiring, heart-warming and wow—hot!
• Romance writer Pat Ballard now has several books with ample heroines.
• Sue Ann Jaffarian's mysteries featuring feisty, plus-sized, middle-aged Odelia Grey are now being published by Midnight Ink Books and have been optioned for a television series—go Sue Ann!
• In Australia, these women have been encouraging and inspiring one another since 1991 as Rosemary's Notebook.
• Jen at curvynovels.tripod.com reviews books featuring realistically-proportioned heroines.
• Randi, who runs this site, She's All Fat, contacted me to use my essay on Dr. Phil; how wonderful and hopeful to see that someone in her twenties had created such a size-positive web site.
• Here's a lovely picture of Darlene Cates. In this more recent interview than mine, she speaks out, in her gentle, heartfelt way, about the damage she and others have suffered from weight loss surgery: withoutmeasure.com.
• Some wonderful Health At Any Size links at bodypositive.com.
• Great positive nondieting lifestyle resources, including a free book online: You Count, Calories Don't. hugs.com
• There is lot of history here: The Fat Liberation Archives
• Lots of links to current artists and photographers who embrace abundance: thebeautycurve.com
• I love the positive attitude from Kelly Bliss: kellybliss.com and the wealth of resources: plussizeyellowpages.com.

Buddhism

My Buddhist practice has been my mainstay since 1968. My own local temple, Myoshinji, has put up a site with links to other information.

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