It starts with a dream ...
The Beginning
My story began long ago when I joined a fantastic group of musicians who believed in me as an artist. My song, “Only a Dream,” was the first to be recorded in their studio in the 1970s. From that point on, we created a lot of music and originals together. Moreover, we developed everlasting friendships. I’ll forever be indebted to these guys who believed in their dreams and mine. Time passes, but memories remain. From those memories, stories develop. But only through sharing those stories will they stay with us always.
Dreams Grow ...
Water and nurture them
In 1996, with all the kids in school, I began a serious writing career with my first writing course through the Institute of Children’s Literature. I had a long, long way to go. Though I’d always written poetry and stories, all stored in file folders and stashed away in the closet, I had no idea of how to go about editing pieces, preparing manuscripts, finding submission guidelines, submitting to publishers, accepting and understanding rejection, and staying focused and determined. After I took my first writing course, I took a second and third, and so on. I attended writers conferences and workshops and became a volunteer at writing events, and met so many amazing writers, editors and agents who helped me along the way. I worked my way up in the ranks to become a conference coordinator for Southern Breeze and a chapter head of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Through determination and perseverance, my short stories, poetry and book manuscripts found publication. I sought advice from other state writers organizations, because Mississippi didn’t have a statewide organization. Thus, my next dream began.
Dreams begat dreams ...
The Mississippi Writers Guild
It began in 2002. Working closely with the Florida Writers Association, I learned what it would take to start a statewide writers’ organization and what it took to be a 501c3 non-profit. For a year, I corresponded with three other writers who were interested in helping pursue the organization. Two of the three had to pull out, but Keetha DePriest Mosley hung in there to continue the dream. Then, Anne McKee joined the founding forces, and I obtained the attorney to file the corporation papers and bylaws. In 2005, the Mississippi Writers Guild was incorporated. In 2007, it was approved for a 501c3 non-profit status. Though the MWG founding board was Keetha, Anne and me, the first board, which included Ralph Gordon, Daniel Lee and Virginia Dawkins, carried the Guild to the next level. Without them, success would not have happened. Since then, MWG has provided many writing workshops, events and conferences, including the Delta Writing Project sponsored by Morgan Freeman’s nonprofit, River Rock Foundation. Please take time to visit Mississippi Writers Guild and become a part of a growing institution of writers.
Mississippi Arts Commission
Becoming a juried artist
In 2006, I was accepted to the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) Artist Roster and in 2008, I was accepted to the MAC Teaching Artist Roster. Since then, I have enjoyed working with teachers, arts specialists, and other teaching artists in integrating arts into education. I have participated in special training sessions, including the SPED initiative made possible through a partnership between MAC and The John F. Kennedy Center. More importantly, I have worked with incredible students of all ages, from Pre-K to high school students, integrating drama, poetry, songwriting, and story into curriculum to meet Common Core Standards. Becoming a graduate of the Parent Learning Institute through Parents for Public Schools was a great challenge, but an incredible opportunity to learn more about education from the inside out, what’s expected of teachers, what’s expected of students and how active parents can help change and mold their children’s schools into successful learning institutions. This has probably been the most rewarding part of my artist life.
Becoming a juried speaker
The Mississippi Humanities Council
I was accepted onto the Mississippi Humanities Speaker Board. As a Humanities Speaker, I often talk about story and how to develop your voice and your style. Storytelling is as ancient as history itself. We are created to tell stories so our story lives on. Preserving stories is nothing new in Mississippi, but it’s important to preserve them on paper so they do live forever. My desire as a humanities speaker is to encourage people to tell their stories, preserve their stories and support efforts in their community to archive stories so generations to come may know what it was like 100 years before their existence. My goal is to teach how to tell and write your stories in a way that allows readers to experience the story as an active participant. In other words, revealing your story scene by scene rather than just telling your story. Forging productive, prosperous futures is impossible without knowing the past and “the truth” about how we arrived at where we are today. The past is nothing to fear, but something to ponder and come to terms with to fully realize its potential power over us. Hiding the past doesn’t change it, but empowers it to rule over us forever.
The Publishing World
Becoming a published author
Becoming a published author is every writer’s dream, but all too often the long journey that goes along with the dream is not taken into consideration. The trek can be exhausting and the disappointments along the way stifle creativity, confidence and initiative–if you are ONLY looking at the goal, rather than the journey. What helped me on my trek to publishing was using my journey and every step along the way as a learning experience to be cherished and shared with others. I learned that the journey is never over, just like learning never ends. So, don’t hurry your journey. Enjoy the scenery along the way. Meet people. Take detours. Don’t miss out on learning opportunities. Stop, look, and above all listen! For only when you listen, will you hear the great stories you are destined to write. Only when you listen, can you learn.
Continuing the Dream
Like-Minded Friends
The thing about being an artist in any category is being able to continue in your art form at any age. I’ve been blessed over the years to meet and remain close friends with so many amazing musicians, songwriters, and writers. They have always encouraged me and supported me as I do them. Being a successful and prosperous artist is really tough, which makes having trustworthy, supportive friends crucial in staying in this business. Every Thursday night, some of us get together and play music…nothing else…just play and sing and visit. These moments keep me going.
Education
You never stop learning ...
You never dream just one dream. There are many. Some, however, are harder to pursue, harder to make come true. But not impossible. In May 2019, I started college. I was 66 years old. My target was a Bachelor of Science in Business: Marketing Management. No, I’m not changing directions …well, sort of, but marketing yourself means telling your story to develop your brand, so there is logical reasoning behind pursuing this seemingly unrelated field to the writing, editing , and publishing world. This BS degree not only allows me the tools to best market myself as an artist and my songs, stories and books as my products, it allows me to assist other artists and arts organizations in doing the same. Onward!
...and you keep learning
Becoming a Master
After earning my BS in Marketing Management, I went directly into pursuing and earning my Master of Arts in Writing from the University of North Alabama. I also completed and Proposal Writing Internship with NASA. Now, I feel more confident in teaching the writing craft and helping others pursue and attain their writing dreams.
Family
sharing the dream ...
There is one person in my life who always believed in me, my dreams, and my ability to accomplish all things, supporting me completely through the lean years and my endless hours of pursuit–my husband, Tim. He allowed me to see love for what it truly is: selfless, trusting, without envy, without ultimatums, without boundaries. The strongest person I’ve ever known, he is a two-time cancer survivor and survivor of MRSA septic shock. His spirit, though weary and injured, always returned with a vengeance and he is the first to call or visit someone who is sick. He is really the icon in the family, the one who deserves praise, the one who deserves awards, but the one who steps back, never wanting or expecting any. He is the greatest example to our children and grandchildren …to me. And, yes, he is a dream come true.
...growing the dream
Finding Balance
Dreams never stop. In fact, they get bigger and brighter and bolder. Surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams. When dreams come true, you realize they were first only ideas — your ideas — and you have the power to expand on them, plan them, and change them into reality with the help of those around you. Yes, by all means be bold. Dare to believe in yourself, in your dreams and in your ability to make them come true. You never know who is watching you; you never know who will be inspired by your determination, diligence and perseverance. Reach out, share your knowledge, experience and time. A little success is never about fame. It’s about developing relationships and building communities where creativity thrives and where we dare to gather as diverse individuals to share ideas and make bigger dreams come true for one another.
