Chanda's Creative Writing WELCOME

Welcome

If you're here, you must be looking for information about my creative writing. Here's a bit of background on how I ended up as a writer, and where I am now in my journey. In addition, you'll find links to some writer's resources that I have found helpful.

Becoming a Writer

I decided in high school that writing was the one job in which you could be anything you wanted — spy, cowgirl, princess, corporate raider, detective, whatever. You could also live in any time in history or the future, anyplace
you wanted. So I set out to be a writer. In college, I took every playwriting and scriptwriting course I could and served as VP of the Trinity University Film Society.

Then I headed to grad school at the University of Southern California, where I earned my MFA in Professional Writing. I was hard at work finding a job in the film industry when a major car accident changed my world and sent me home to recuperate in Scotland, where my parents had been tranferred again. Once back in the States, my mother made me get a job at an ad agency. Soon I was copywriting for TV and radio spots, and thus began my business writing career. However, I always felt my real job started when I got home at night and hit the computer to do my creative writing.

Being a Writer

Back in those days, I often worried that I didn't have enough to say as a writer, but God has taken care of that by sending me lots of life experiences like caring for aging parents, animals and even friends on their passage to the next life. I cherished all that, despite the hardships. Those experiences have deepened my skills as a writer, and given me far more meaningful things to say.

I've had times when I focused heavily on my writing and times when I had little time to write. However, I've learned a lot along the way about technique, characterization, pacing, etc. I've also learned how to jump in, feet first, holding my breath, and just write. My big problem is learning to let go: I need to put more things out in the market, so that's this year's focus.

To see a list of some of my works and awards, and to read some samples, click on “My Writing.”

HELPFUL LINKS

University of Southern California, Professional Writing Program
http://college.usc.edu/mpw/home/

Cave Hollow Press: a small regional publisher of books with a Missouri or Midwest connection
http://www.cavehollowpress.com/

Sweetgum Press: another small regional publisher of books with a connection specifically to the Missouri Bootheel region.
http://www.sweetgumpress.com/

SCBWI: The Society of Children's Book Writers and Editors
http://www.kansas-scbwi.org/

SFWA
http://www.sfwa.org/

Nathan Bransford (Literary agent with Curtis Brown) Blogsite
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/10/this-week-in-publishing_23.html