The American Title

No, this isn't another post about stealing titles for your doodling. This is about the American Idol for writers. The "American Title Contest". The Philly has the inside dope. "By winning American Title, the stay-at-home mom of three would get her romance novel published by Dorchester Publishing... 'Life interferes with my writing,' Fennell said." She's gonna win it, all right.

The film Freedom Writers is making waves, for all the right reasons. Normally, this kind of stuff would be inspiration fodder for budding writers to wring their hankies over, but by adding Hillary Swank to the cast, the film is headed for a far bigger audience share. The Republican has the details. "The film is an adaptation of Erin Gruwell's 1999 book, 'The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them.' "

I've often bloviated on the need to be a 'life writer'. Write about what you do, your life, your thoughts, your ideas, your mom, your cat....Beats writing about the vietnam war, when you have absolutely no clue how it feels to be hunted by a sniper in the Cambodian jungle. Anyway, Juanita Riedel a.k.a. "The Basket Lady" has a unique way to help writers stretch their imaginations.