Writing muse won't take "no" for an answer

While listening to NBC Nightly News, I learned about a nonprofit group called Girls Write Now out of New York City. They basically help enrich at risk young women that want to be writers. It was an inspiring piece and it gave me some ideas, but I'm not sure where to take them just yet. Should I start a writing group? Should I join one first? Can I offer up a writing tutor service (yeah, like I need MORE jobs)? Should I teach (again, more jobs)?

Lately I have found people coming into the library and asking me about writing. I love writing and I love talking to people about their writing. They want to know what word would I use, how would I say this sternly without sounding angry, what should their argument be and all kinds of other questions. It's exhilarating to bounce ideas off someone and to see their eyes light up when you mention something that guides them to the next word, sentence, paragraph. Whether I'm helping a 7-year-old with his short story or helping a college student shake out a thesis on people's tightly held traditions, I am happy. Helping people with their writing is one of my passions.

This passion almost makes me want to become a college English teacher, but I don't know if I have that in me. I'm really into writing. It excites me, but I'm not sure how I would react to distinerested students. Plus, I have no mercy on bad writing, so I'd probably fail a bunch of people and start a hubbub. I would call it tough love.

I have this little voice in my head. It's the muse that helped me write the Newsweek article. The muse allows me to help others write. It's the muse that pushes me to seek more writing projects. I have a running list of "To-Write" items. I can't shut her out. She is strong and will not take no for an answer. Of course, I will find some kind of outlet, but I wonder what it will be.

Here is the NBC News clip from last night. Perhaps Detroit could use its own chapter of Girls Write Now?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

5 things I'm Grateful for: Detroit Edition

In the spirit of positivity, I've decided to share five things I'm grateful for in Detroit. Here goes:

1. Detroit Red Wings: They were the first team my family started rooting for when we arrived in Detroit back in 1985. In my college years I loved writing for the Wings. They are sometimes called the "Yankees" of hockey, but that's really inaccurate. The Wings have tremendous scouting, especially in Europe. They also have an amazing front office headed by Kenny Holland and Jimmy D. The Yankees buy who they want, the Wings research, grow, wheel and then deal to make this a haven for those who crave championships.
2. Detroit Tigers/Comerica Park: CoPa is my Tiger Stadium. I love going to the ballgame and whether the Tigers are going to the World Series or struggling to pull together a bullpen, I will always love to visit my favorite ballpark on earth.
3. Wayne State University: OK, listen, this is one of the most important institutions in Detroit. I got my Library degree there and made a ton of contacts - everyone from librarians to archivists to lawyers. This is where Detroit's rebirth begins.
4. Food & Beverage: Cass Cafe, Traffic Jam, Motor City Brewery, Old Campus, Wasabi, Detroit Beer Company, Foran's, Greenwich, Cobo Joe's, Jacoby's, Z's Villa, Circa, Lefty's, Hockeytown Cafe, Slow's (when they're not running out of pulled pork), and other fine dining establishments keep my belly happy.
5. Beautiful Family; Beautiful Friends: Home is where the heart is and the heart is where my family and friends are. Detroit is the core of my existence, because this is where my favorite people live (well, most of them). Detroiters are like no one else and I love them (even if some of them are total jerks).

Podcast: Bloomberg on Ballparks

One of my favorite parts of summer is baseball. The home of the Detroit Tigers, Comerica Park, reigns as my favorite ballpark ever, but my boyfriend and I enjoy visiting stadiums all over the place.

The topic of a recent podcast by Bloomberg on the Economy was ballparks. Janet Marie Smith, senior vice president of planning and development for the Boston Red Sox spoke with Bloomberg's Tom Keene about the new yards in New York, stadium architecture and the economics of ticket pricing. It was fascinating and a must-hear for all baseball junkies.

Go to: http://www.bloomberg.com/tvradio/podcast/ontheeconomy.html

Scroll down to "Smith Calls New Ballparks `Wonderful' for Baseball" and either download or listen to the MP3. It's about a half hour and every bit of it is interesting.

Electronic Tax Filing = Accuracy

This post is a little too late for this tax season, but I heard this statistic and thought it was too important not to share. If you fill out your taxes long-hand, you have a 20% chance of messing something up and having the IRS send your return back. If you file electronically, you have less than 1% chance of screwing something up. One of the most common mistakes that the Luddites make: including a signature.

The moral of this story is: file your taxes electronically. It saves trees and saves you trouble. Plus, it's easier and it's cheaper. I did both my federal and state taxes for like $17 as opposed to blowing $180 at H&R Block or something.

Newsweek, Librarianship and Twitter

I have been a writer for many years in a variety of circumstances, but this last Monday was perhaps one of my biggest accomplishments and one of the coolest gigs ever. Newsweek published my essay about working at Southfield Public Library online.

A lot of people have asked me how I came across this opportunity. In a word: Twitter. I've heard a lot about how people think it's stupid and pointless, but I'm afraid I respectfully disagree. Being the podcast junkie I am, I was listening to Planet Money on NPR and learned about a little mini-contest they were running with Newsweek. The gist: tell us in a 140 characters or less how the recession affects you. This is how I got the gig:

@Newsweek The libraries in MI I work @ teem w/ patrons seeking work, foreclosure/credit info, job training, entertainment & hope. #rcstory

That's right. That wretched little scrum of characters got me a writing opportunity with Newsweek. Needless to say I see Twitter in a different light.

The article created a HUGE response. It's tremendous. I got emails from library students, directors, deans and, of course, all kinds of librarians. This is bigger than I expected, but I'm so happy that it received the attention it did. Not for me, but for the amazing profession that I am proud to say I am a part of.

What I heard a lot of, especially coming from library land, was "Thank You." Librarians have a reputation for being quieter and meeker than your average person (though I gotta' tell ya', that does NOT include the librarians I know :). I am neither quiet or meek and I will shout from the mountaintops about libraries and how much they rule. From the looks of it, librarians have approved of my message and the respect of my colleagues is priceless.

Hence, it is I who would like to say "Thank You!"

Thank you to the wonderful people at the University of Michigan's Mardigian Library for introducing me to the profession and planting the seed that would grow into a fruitful career.

Thank you to Wayne State University for providing me with a top-notch education in archives and librarianship. The experience, people, knowledge and opportunities at WSU continue to be a huge part of my life and work.

Thank you to Southfield Public Library for showing me how critical public libraries are to their respective communities.

Thank you to Newsweek for allowing me to share my story and Alan Wigodski, who took my picture.

Most of all, THANK YOU to all of the wonderful people who have contacted me about the article. Your support means more to me than I could ever put into words.

Much Love

5 Positive Things

Lately I've been looking for ways to fend off negativity, please pardon the hippie-speak. I have found that a great way to lift negativity is to smile it off or scold myself out loud if I'm not around others. A technique I wished I used more often is taking time out to consider the day's gifts. Each time I do yoga I set an intention, but that is to start the day. Each day offers a lot and I'd like to try and reflect more on what those things are.

Someone retweeted a very simple question (@WritingSpirit retweeted @GlennaMageau for those keeping score): what are 5 positive things that happened in your life today? Here are mine:

1. Hung out with a bunch of super fun people in the VIP section of a snazzy Detroit club.
2. Made and enjoyed sandwiches for lunch and salmon with rice and peas for dinner.
   
3. Completed my budget for April. I'm really starting to figure this finance junk out :).
   
4. I slept in and then took a nap.
5. Listened to a bunch of Business Week and Bloomberg podcasts.