There has always been that need in me to write. I will never forget my teacher Mrs. Seguine at Public School 23 on Staten Island who helped me with not only adjusting to a move from a parochial to a public school for fifth grade but also planted the seed for me to become a writer.

She’d given the class an essay assignment. I don’t remember the topic. All I remember was that I took my sweet time to write my best and I was the last to hand in the paper. A couple of kids in the class snickered at that, but Mrs. Seguine quickly put a halt to their snickering when she said in her firm but kind voice, “That’s okay. Catherine will be a writer someday.” So, when it came to writing school papers, I took my sweet time to turn in my best. I filled small notebooks with poetry and scribbled stories when I could.

I’ve done writing professionally as a copywriter, a publicity assistant, and as a writing teacher. I’ve written and published five books with three in the works and several in boxes in my closet.

Writing is often a solitary occupation. Lately, I’ve been meeting with fellow writers to discuss what we do and how we do what we do. That is why I found it necessary to reach out and make connections over time with other writers. I’m involved with three writing organizations, a critique group which meets on a bi-monthly Zoom, and staying in touch with other writers via emails or social media.

Recently I went to the annual Writer’s Digest Conference in Manhattan. I think that W.D. did a great job providing workshops, keynote speakers including award winning authors Beverly Jenkins, Marlon James, and Tiffany Jackson, a book fair, and safety provisions during the pandemic. The three day event offered opportunities to learn, to refresh and reflect, and to connect with others. Even though I’d heard a lot of the same information before, I also heard information which motivated and encouraged me. In particular I enjoyed listening to Susan Shapiro on “How to Sell Your Book  – No Matter What Genre – Without Going Broke”, David Corbett on characterization in his workshop “Misguided Desires and Misbegotten Yearnings”, and Jeff Somers “Learning to Love the Downside”. The event included a pitch session where writers had timed three minute intervals over one hour with agents representing diverse genres.  I stood on a line with close to 100 other writers. It proved a bit daunting, but it also energized me. While we stood around, stepped up to potential agents, and did our best to pitch our creations, many of us cheered one another on. That bit of courtesy and the positive comments drove home the point that we understood our struggles and our dreams for our writing. It felt great!

I’m looking forward to more conferences, author events, and being on author panels in the future. I’m also looking forward to meeting more writers and to getting more of my writing published!