National Poetry Month | Cathy C. Hall Writes

When I typed in that post title, I thought of that childhood game “Duck, Duck, Goose.” And in a way, I found a few spots all about books for you to zip over to, click on, and then run back to whatever it was that you were doing before you dropped in here. So off we go!

At first, I thought the Gwinnett Library’s page over at Facebook wouldn’t have much significance for anyone but us Gwinettians. But then I had one of those aha! moments when I realized that ALL of my friends, wherever they are, can like this page and help our library get over 1600 Dummies books.

I’ve picked up a few of the Dummies books for the not-so-scathingly-brilliant Halls so I know how helpful these books can be. (Okay, okay. I read the Dummies books, too. Brilliance like this doesn’t grow on trees, you know.) And if your library is participating in the same promotion, let me know and I’ll happily like your page, too. Dummies books for everyone!

Now, a quick reminder that you can still comment to win Nava Atlas’ gem of a book, The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life. I cannot guarantee that you will be a scathingly brilliant writer after reading this book, but I can say unequivocally that you will be the richer for the experience. Type your comment (with your fingers crossed) on this Hall of Fame post.

And now, for

all of you poetry enthusiasts (and I’m including myself here), you still have time to dash over to Donna’s Book Pub where she’s giving away Tanka Moments: A Man’s Journey by David Lee Kirkland. She’s shared a few tanka (just in case you need a little refresher, and I’m including myself here, also, on what exactly a tanka is).

Speaking of the wise and witty Donna, she’s bequeathed upon me one of the inaugural Sisters of the Quill Awards. As such, I have been recognized as a quill-driver, a writer, a scribe, and let’s see…oh, yes! A schrivener and an author worthy of recognition. That’s very humbling, isn’t it? I had no idea I was all that. But on the other hand, who am I to argue with the wise and witty Donna? Stay tuned for whom I pass the award on to next.

As you can see, Gladys, my muse of a goose, popped in today because she thought we’d be playing games and talking about her. It’s scathingly brilliant books, books, books, and an award, you silly goose. And now, isn’t it time you dashed off yourself?

I’ll just cut to the chase here, because I know everybody’s busy writing, writing, writing. But maybe you’d like to try your hand at writing something a little different? Maybe you’re an essay writer who’d like a few pointers on fiction writing? Or a short story writer who’d like to try poetry?

You can take writing classes from top colleges and universities for free. Um, let me repeat that, just in case you weren’t paying attention to the free part. YOU CAN TAKE WRITING CLASSES FROM TOP COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FOR FREE. And you can take them online, in the privacy of your own little home, in your own little pajamas.

And while I’m mentioning free college courses, you might be interested to know that in many states, folks over 65 can take ANY class in a state college or university for free. In fact, the qualifying age varies from state to state, so check your hometown college and university for more information.

So, if you’re looking for a sweet writing class, for FREE, here’s a great site to get the information all in one place. And won’t you feel grand when you tell your friends that you’re studying poetry at Yale?

(See Junior Hall? He’s smiling and pointing at Juniorest Hall. He can smile because Mom and Dad paid for his college degree, the one he got in creative writing, penning a ton of poetry. Pffft. On the other hand, Juniorest Hall, sitting around in pj’s all day, is not a pretty sight. So I guess it all works out in the end. Except that I still don’t understand his poetry. Maybe I should take the Yale class.)