Michigan Writing Jobs for Wednesday Dec. 29th

Michigan Writing Jobs and Telecommute

Again - I apologize for the delayed post. I will get back on schedule after the Holidays, but for now - you will have to bear with me. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate it) and have a spectacular New Year.

Case Study Writer: Ann Arbor

News Writer/Producer: Grand Rapids

Proposal Writer: Livonia

Spanish Translator: Ann Arbor

Legal Issues Writer: Rochester Hills/Telecommute

Technical Writer: Sterling Heights

Fashion Blogger Interns: Detroit Area

Freelance Writer: Jackson

Technical Writer: Lansing

Journalist: Wayne County

Technical Writer: Sterling Heights

Freelance Proposal Writer: Telecommute

Transcriber: Telecommute

RFP Writer: Troy

Content Writer: Farmington/Detroit/Ann Arbor

Freelance Writers: Flint/Telecommute

Young Playwriting Contest: Telecommute

Bibliographies: Telecommute

News Writers: Telecommute

Technology Reporter: Telecommute

Michigan Writing Jobs: Thursday Dec. 23rd

Writing Jobs in Michigan and Telecommute:

Sports Website Writers: Telecommute

Product Marketing Writer: Novi

Business Analyst/Tech Writer: Saline

Service Writer: Waterford

Food and Entertainment Blogger: Telecommute

Website Entertainment Writers: Telecommute

Freelance Writers: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Troy

Freelance Writers: Detroit/Telecommute

Medical Technical Writer: Traverse City

Proposal Writer: Kalamazoo

Freelance Writer: Detroit/Telecommute

Website Writer: Telecommute

E-Book Writer: East Lansing/Telecommute

Writer/Blogger: Troy

AOL Auto Enthusiast/Editor: Detroit/Telecommute

Script Writer: Detroit

Question Writer: Telecommute

Writing Jobs for Sat. December 8th

Michigan Writing Jobs

Copywriter: Mt. Clemens

Writers for Entertainment Site: Telecommute

Detroit Sports Writers: Telecommute

Writer for Charity Syllabus Book: Detroit

Screenplay Writer: Detroit Metro

Help With Movie Script: Detroit

Urban LGBT Bloggers: Telecommute

Freelance Writers: Flint

Technical Writer: Dundee

Technical Writer: Troy

Writer: Telecommute

Freelance Writers: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Auburn Hills

Copywriter: Telecommute

Sports Writer: Owosso

Technical Writer: Auburn Hills

Morning News Producer: Southfield

Test Question Writer: Detroit

Technical Writer: Lake Orion

Technical Writer: Lansing

Writers: Telecommute

Article Writer: Telecommute

Math Writer: Telecommute

Green News Writers: Telecommute

Michigan Writing Jobs for Wednesday Dec. 15th

Writing Jobs in Michigan and Telecommute

News Reporters: Southfield

Northville Patch Journalists: Northville/Telecommute

Freelance Writer for Home Services: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Auburn Hills

Gay Men's Lifestyle Writers: Telecommute

English Transcribers: Telecommute

Part Time Technical Writer: Grand Rapids

Freelance Writers: Telecommute

Grant Writer: Benton Harbor

Analyst Writer: Lansing

Desktop Publisher: Warren

Sustainability Writers: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Sterling Heights

Proposal and Collateral Writer: Bingham Farms

Garden Writers: Telecommute

iPhone and Android Manual Writers: Troy

Writers Needed: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Lansing

Sports Writer: Owosso

English to Spanish Translator: Southfield

Writing Jobs Saturday Dec. 11th

Writing Jobs in Michigan and Telecommute:

Research Paper: Ann Arbor

Technical Writers: Auburn Hills

Freelance Copy Editors: Ann Arbor

Technical Writer: Canton

Proposal Writer: Detroit

Technical Writer: Rapid City

Article Writer: Telecommute

Comedy Writer for Urban Sitcom: Southfield

Technical Writer: Livonia

Creative Director: Southfield

Freelance Test Question Writers: Detroit/Telecommute

Biology Essays: Telecommute

Writers/Bloggers: Telecommute

Technical Editor: Southfield

Locksmith Articles: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Grand Rapids

Article Writers: Telecommute

Reviews by Moms Who Have Blogs: Telecommute

Feature Writers: Mid Michigan/Telecommute

College Website Bloggers: Telecommute

Science Fiction Novel: Grand Rapids

Articles for Non Profit Magazine: Grand Rapids

Staff Writer: Telecommute

Article Writer: Telecommute

Guitar Blogger: Grand Rapids and Telecommute

MICHIGAN WRITING JOBS Sat. December 4th

Hey everyone - sorry for the writers' jobs delay. The holiday season has successfully distracted me already. Here are some new jobs in Michigan and a few that you can do from home as well. Good luck!

Sports Writer: Telecommute

Technical Writer IV: Troy

Technical Writer: Spring Lake

Content Writer: Telecommute

Associate Morning News Producer: Detroit

Grant Writer: Detroit

Math Activities Developer: Telecommute

Curriculum Developer: Rochester Hills

Technical Writer: Sterling Heights

Proposal and Collateral Writer: Bingham Farms

Writers/Creative Directors: Troy

Experienced Reporter: Port Huron

Writer: Lansing

Writers Wanted: Telecommute

Writer and Media Content: Ann Arbor

Technical Writer: Auburn Hills

Technical Writer: Warren

Translator: Detroit and Telecommute

Technical Writer: Traverse City

Blogger: Telecommute

Writing Jobs Thursday Nov. 26th

Michigan Writing Jobs

Ghost Writer: Grand Rapids

Grant Writer: Grand Rapids

Writer/Editor for Medical Articles: Grand Rapids

Writer Needed: Ann Arbor

Grant Writer - Internet Industry: Wixom

Writers: Wayne County

Comedic Screenwriter: Detroit/Telecommute

Technical Writer: East Lansing

Writer - Early Childhood Investment Corp: Lansing


Staff Writer/Reporter: Greenville

Technical Writer: Detroit

News Writer/Producer: Grand Rapids

Medical Technical Writer: Traverse City

Engineering Technical Writer: Milford

Automotive Technical Writer: Dearborn

Desktop Publisher: Warren

Fashion Blogger: Telecommute

Publishing Assistant: Telecommute

Guest Post Blogger: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Auburn Hills

Writer/Blogger: Telecommute

Writing Jobs in Michigan for Nov. 22

Monday Nov. 22 - MI Writing Jobs

Data Entry: Ann Arbor

Psychology Bloggers: Ann Arbor/Telecommute

World of Warcraft Bloggers: Telecommute

DVD Writers: Telecommute

Heavy Metal Music Reviews: Telecommute

Typist: Dearborn

Researcher for Writing Business: Grand Rapids/Telecommute

Associate Editor/Auto Enthusiast: Michigan/Telecommute

Creative Director - Automotive Advertising: Southfield

Marketing Copywriter: Wixom

Oracle Reports Developer: Grand Rapids

Medical Technical Writer: Traverse City

Content Writer Needed: Telecommute

Assistant News Director: Clio

CopyPress Writer: Telecommute

Expert Writers: Telecommute

Erotic Writers: Telecommute

Natural Health/Organic Living Blogger: Telecommute

Silence of Reading (Independent Bookstores in Michigan)

I owe my post title today to poet Rg Gregory whose lovely poem Silence of Reading gives us a beautiful, but brief glimpse into the experience of another reader, an experience that is oft reflected in our own reading experience. I will include the entire poem at the bottom of the post; however, I am writing today to connect all of you inspiring Michigan Writers with some inspiring Michigan reader's retreats. These little havens, also known as bookstores, give us a place to investigate the world through the words of others. 


Let's pay homage to the writers who have given us their voice and to the amazing people that house those beautifully bound books in a place worthy of their messages. These bookstores are small, community driven businesses that choose people over profit. Visit them and be grateful for their existence in our world. 

Books and More: Albion

Blue Phoenix Books: Alpena

Aunt Agatha's: Ann Arbor

Bookbound: Ann Arbor

Crazy Wisdom Bookstore: Ann Arbor

Literati Bookstore: Ann Arbor

The Dawn Treader Book Shop: Ann Arbor

Nicola's Books: Ann Arbor

Squirreled Away Books: Armanda

Tattered Pages and Tea: Bay City

Horizon Books: Cadillac, Petoskey and Traverse City

Safe Harbor Books: Cedarville

Taylor's Books and More: Coldwater

John K. King Used and Rare Books: Detroit

Archives Book Shop: East Lansing

Curious Book Shop: East Lansing

Saturn Booksellers: Gaylord

Evolve Books and Gifts: Glen Arbor

The Cottage Bookshop: Glen Arbor

Between the Covers: Holland

BookBug: Kalamazoo

Kazoo Books: Kalamazoo

Buy The Book: Kawkawlin

Everybody Reads Books and Stuff: Lansing

Leelanau Books: Leland

Snowbound Books: Marquette

Bestsellers Books and Coffee: Mason

Sleepy Hollow Book Shop: Midland

Book Nook: Monroe

The Book Nook and Java Shop: Montague

The Next Chapter Bookstore and Bistro: Northville

Oak Park: Book Beat

Triple Goddess Bookstore: Okemos

Great Northern Bookstore: Oscoda

Mclean and Eakin Booksellers: Petoskey

New Horizon Book Shop: Roseville

Forever Books: Saint Joseph

Mother Moon - Metaphysical Books: Saugatuck

Books Connection: Shelby Township

Lowry's Books: Sturgis

Brilliant Books: Suttons Bay

That Used Bookstore: Tecumseh

The Bookie Joint: Traverse City

Brilliant Books: Traverse City

Higher Self Bookstore: Traverse City

silence of reading by Rg Gregory

i like the silence of reading
flat on my stomach on the woollen floor
my legs waving upwards like the fronds of ferns
and in my mind
gigantic screaming monsters
or the mystery ship
scuttling crablike to the shore

i am lost to the spell of words
the enchantment of sea in the silent shell
i hear nothing apart from that racing world
alive in this room through my staring eyes
and the hush of my stifled breath
i miss the passing of time
the gale outside
and the very loud knock at the door

Michigan Writing Jobs Thursday Nov. 18

Michigan Writing Jobs

Wonderdads Seeks Intern: Ann Arbor

Writer Needed: Ann Arbor/Telecommute

Relationship Blogger: Wayne County

Community Blog Writer: Brighton

Desktop Publisher: Warren

Proposal Writer: Farmington Hills

Instructional Designer: Detroit

Write 5 Pages: Telecommute

Supply Chain Writer: Plymouth

Technical Writer: Detroit

EHR Report Writer: Saint Joseph

Technical Writer: Southfield

Content Writer: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Lansing

Music Blogger: Telecommute

Website Content Copywriter: Clinton/Telecommute

Senior Reporter: Dearborn

Skilled Copy Editor: Telecommute

Career Counselor Blogger: Telecommute

Writer and Media Content Creator: Ann Arbor

Writing Internship for Green Website: Telecommute

Writing Jobs for Monday Nov. 15

Writing Jobs in Michigan

Educational Writer: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Plymouth

Writers Wanted: Telecommute

Ghost Writer Needed: Lansing

Featured Commentary Writers: Telecommute

Interviewer: Detroit

Copywriter: Grand Rapids

Staff Writer/Reporter: Greenville

Beauty Bloggers: Telecommute

Writing Tutor: Livonia

Insurance Article Writer: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Allen Park

Copywriter: Detroit

Technical Writer/Editor: Livonia

Educational Bloggers: Telecommute

Analyst Writer: Lansing

Financial Services Blogger: Telecommute

Online Writer: Brighton

Word Press Editor/Writer: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Sterling Heights

Local and National Blogger: Detroit and Telecommute

Travel Writers and Bloggers: Telecommute

Home Designer Blogger: Telecommute

Content Writers: Telecommute

Get to Work - It's Submission Time

If you want to be a writer, you have to write. It sounds simple enough, but many writers while away the hours on internet searches, scanning Facebook, clipping their toenails and doing anything, but writing. One way that I keep myself plugged into writing is by submitting. Sometimes I spend a day penning a short story about ghosts just because there's an upcoming contest (usually a free one) that has hauntings as a topic. It's not my area of expertise, short stories in general are not, but it forces me to leave my comfort zone, put away my bruised and bloodied manuscript and open my mind to fresh ideas, new characters and an entirely different style of writing.

Look below for some upcoming contests and submission deadlines to give your own writing a new twist that you may find suits you even better than your current project. Also, consider writing and submitting something totally out of your element - like poetry when you normally stick with essays - it could open a passage previously buried.

Hayden's Ferry Review - Submission Call for Short Forms - Deadline: 12/15/10

Shaw Poetry Prize (must live north of US 10 in MI) - Three Poems - Deadline: 11/19/10

Lingerpost Wants Poetry Submissions - 3 to 5 Poems - Deadline: None

Saltwater Press Seeking Submissions - Fiction/Nonfiction/Poetry - Deadline: None

Magnolia (Women's Lit. Journal) Seeks Submissions -  Socially Engaged Writing - Deadline: 12/30/10

Ghost Town Lit. Magazine Seeking Submissions - Fiction/Nonfiction/Poetry - Deadline: February

London Writer's Society Call for Submissions - Women Writing on Family - Deadline: 12/15/10

Changes in Life Inspirational Anthology - Women on Challenges - Deadline: 12/15/10

Telling Our Stores Short Memoir Submissions - Memoirs - Deadline: None

Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest - Prose and Poetry - Deadline: 12/31/10

Writing Jobs for November 9th

Michigan Writing Jobs: November 9, 2010

Fitness and Nutrition Writers: Southeast MI

Editor for Film and Music Magazine: Detroit

Freelance Writer/Designer: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Holland

Blogger for Craft Site: Telecommute

Writers/Researchers: Telecommute

Senior Grant Writer: Lansing

Featured Commentary Writers - No Pay: Telecommute

Online Service Writer/Blogger: Telecommute

Assistant Marketing Manager, Kidz Books: Grand Rapids

Technical Service Information Author: Auburn Hills

Internet Marketing Writers: Telecommute

Grant Writer: Kentwood

Lead Help Developer Job: Belleville

Freelance Blog Guest Writers: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Lansing

Research/Writer/editor: Detroit Metro

French Speaking WHOA Magazine Writer: No Pay: Telecommute

Adult Review Writers: Telecommute

Advertising Copywriter: Rochester

Finnish Transcription: Telecommute

European Portuguese Transcription: Telecommute

Writing Tutor: Grand Rapids

Creative Technical Writer: Detroit

Mark Your Calendar

Hey Michigan Writers - I know that fall (and that other snowy season that's barreling down on us) makes writer's events drop a few notches on the priority list. After all, who wants to strap into a snowsuit and combat boots to go to a reading? But keep in mind that successful writers make their share of sacrifices whether it be writing after a twelve hour workday, two hour commute, once the kids are in bed or simply skipping a date with the couch to pump out an extra thousand words. 


Whatever your personal reasons for avoiding writing events in the chilly months, remember that every event holds the possibility of an amazing connection or piece of advice that launches you further on your path to publication. So I say, rebel against the writer in you that desires solitude and slippers and opt instead for one of these fun and fulfilling events sure to pique your creative mind and provide fodder for that epic novel collecting dust in the corner. 

Author's Forum Presents: Dakota, or What's Heaven For: A Conversation with Brenda Marshall and Tom Fricke
Location: Ann Arbor
Date: November 17  


Author's Forum Presents: Being in Pictures: A Conversation with Joanne Leonard and Sidonie Smith
Location: Ann Arbor
Date: December 1


Weekend Playwriting Workshop at PRTC
Location: Chelsea
Date: Friday Nov. 12 - Sunday Nov. 14


Creative Writing Workshop with George Dila (4 Wednesday mornings beginning Nov. 10)
Location: Ludington
Date: Nov. 10 - Dec 8


National Writer's Series: An Evening with Karl Marlantes
Location: Traverse City
Date: November 12


Motown Literary Jam and Conference Day
Location: Detroit
Date: November 12


Mystery writer Loren D. Estleman visits Aunt Agatha's Bookstore to sing copies of his latest book, The Left-Handed Dollar. 
Location: Ann Arbor
Date: December 11


Wade Rouse Two Day Writing Seminar at Saturn Booksellers
Location: Gaylord
Date: November 12 and 13 


Reading and Signing by Heather Sellers at Literary Life Bookstore
Location: Grand Rapids
Date: November 11


Poetry with Linda Nemec Foster and Robert Fanning at Literary Life Bookstore
Location: Grand Rapids
Date: November 18


Author Reshma Sapre at Horizon Books - Signing and Reading 
Location: Traverse City
Date: November 12

Michigan Writing Jobs for November 5th

November 5th Writing Jobs for Michigan

Creative Writers and Executive Writers: Telecommute

Automotive Forum Manager: Grand Rapids

Engineering Technical Writer: Milford

Technical Writer: Kalamazoo

Technical Writer: Allen Park

Reporter: Traverse city

Editor: Warren

Technology Blogger: Telecommute

Research/Writer: Detroit

Staff Writer: Owosso

Creative Technical Writer: Detroit

Writer: Dearborn

Automotive Writer and Editor: Detroit and Telecommute

Grant Writer: Saginaw and Telecommute

Feature Writer: Northwest Michigan

Technical Writer: Livonia

Editorial Assistant: Saginaw

Featured Commentary Writers: Unpaid: Telecommute

Music Writers: Telecommute

Personal Finance Blogger: Telecommute

Guest Blog Post Writer: Ann Arbor

Grant Writer: Detroit and Telecommute

Baseball Bloggers: Detroit and Telecommute

Writing Jobs in Michigan: November 2

Michigan Writing Jobs:

Travel Website Writer: Lansing

Website Writer: Telecommute

Service Writer: Midland

Medical Technical Writer: Traverse City

Associate Editor: Detroit

Freelance Writers: Telecommute

Senior Copywriter: Detroit

Communications Specialist/Staff Writer: Lansing

CompTIA and Microsoft Technical Writers: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Warren

Northville Patch: Northville

Technical Writer: Holland

Translation Reviews: Novi and Telecommute

Copy Writer: Rochester

National Jail Standards Research Project: Telecommute

Sports Media Intern: Unpaid : Telecommute

Food Website Writers: Telecommute

Online Defensive Driving Web Copywriter: Telecommute

Social Media Coordinator for Crafting Site: Telecommute

Advice from Writers for Writers

As a writer, I am not only curious about other (more successful) writers; I am also fascinated by their process. How many words do they commit to writing each day? What genre do they find easiest to tackle? Published writers are a wealth of, often untapped, information that is not only valuable, but also extremely inspiring for beginner writers. Read these tips and tales from other writers in the world who have made their writing dreams come true and take their words along on your own journey. 

John Steinbeck on a writing class at Stanford: "The basic rule given us was simple and heartbreaking. A story to be effective had to convey something from the writer to the reader, and the power of its offering was the measure of its excellence. Outside of that, there were no rules. A story could be about anything and could use any means and any technique at all - so long as it was effective. As a subhead to this rule, it seemed to be necessary for the writer to know what he wanted to say, in short, what he was talking about. As an exercise we were to try reducing the meat of our story to one sentence, for only then could we know it well enough to enlarge it to three- or six- or ten-thousand words." 

Kurt Vonnegut on How to Write With Style: "Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, and not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.

I am not urging you to write a novel, by the way --- although I would not be sorry if you wrote one, provided you genuinely cared about something. A petition to the mayor about a pothole in front of your house or a love letter to the girl next door will do."

Joyce Carol Oates in an interview on Readers Read: "Beginning writers should follow the lines of their own natural interests, look and listen hard, note the astonishing variety of personalities and voices in our culture. And of course they should read widely, and they should write every day. Like learning to play a musical instrument, learning to write has much to do with practice."

Stephen King - Excerpt from his book "On Writing." : "I believe the first draft of a book — even a long one — should take no more than three months…Any longer and — for me, at least — the story begins to take on an odd foreign feel, like a dispatch from the Romanian Department of Public Affairs, or something broadcast on high-band shortwave during a period of severe sunspot activity."

NY Times interview with Charlaine Harris: "Do you have any advice for young mystery writers or fantasy writers?  For any writers at all, read everything you can and then put your butt in the chair and write. That’s all there is to it."

Lee Child in an interview on Booktopia: What advice do you give aspiring writers?  "Ignore all advice. There’s room for only one mind on your side of the transaction, and it needs to be yours and yours alone."

Tana French in an interview with Book Browse: "Q: What advice would you give to a first novelist? 

A: Read good things. I think writing a book is almost like running a marathon: you need the best nourishment you can get. The more you expose yourself to first-rate writing, the more you develop your instincts, and the more you'll push yourself towards that high standard. When I'm writing, I read the best stuff I can find. It doesn't matter what genre it is – thriller, literary fiction, chick lit, anything – as long as it's first-rate."

Interview with Chris Cleave by Kasey Carpenter: "KC:  About your writing process, any kind of ritual, schedule, etc…?CC:  I can do it anywhere.  I don’t ever stop thinking about the stories really, and wherever I am there is part of my mind turning it over.  I don’t need to be in a particular place, or have a candle lit or what have you, I don’t need anything really.  I need to be left alone a bit, I need to sort of deal with all of the everyday demands of life and get them out of the way, and then I can write.  I get up really early, I write from five a.m. and by lunchtime I’m more or less done. In the afternoon I’m giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s in terms of life, work obligations, family, etc…"

Writers News Weekly - Interview with Matthew Pearl: "Q: As a writing instructor/author, what advice do you have for aspiring writers?

“I think the best thing someone who wants to write can do is to REwrite. Too many writers want a project done as soon as they start writing, but the reality is every project has to be given room to evolve over time.”"

Sue Grafton in an Interview on Writer's Digest: "What advice do you have for newer writers?

My big gripe about newer writers is they’re not willing to put the time in. Somebody’ll write one book and they’re asking me who my agent and my editor are, and I’m thinking, Don’t you worry, sweetheart, you’re not any good yet. Give yourself time to get better. Writing is really hard to master. You learn by failing over and over, but a lot of people don’t care for that, thanks. I always wish new writers the greatest good fortune. It’s a helluva journey—I’ll tell you that."

Writing Jobs in Michigan: October 29

Michigan Writing Jobs

New Article Writer: Telecommute 

Michiana Entertainer Needs Staff Writers: Michigan 

Metronome Review Seeks Freelancers: South Bend and Telecommute 

Medical Equipment Facebook Writer: Ann Arbor 

College Student Writing Gig: Ann Arbor 

Portal Project Manager: Detroit Metro 

Part Time Experienced Sports Writer: Detroit Metro 

Hiring Writers: Southfield 

Technical Writer: Detroit 

Part Time Writer: Telecommute 

Financial Newsletter Articles: Jenison 

Need Creative Nonfiction: Telecommute 

Celeb Gossip Writers: Telecommute 

Feature Commentary Writer: Telecommute 

Architectural Specification Writer: SE Michigan 

Ghost Blogger: Detroit Metro 

Creative Directors/Writers: Detroit 

Technical Writer: Dearborn 

Michigan Writing Jobs for Oct. 25

Jobs for Writers in Michigan and Telecommute

Write For Money: Telecommute

Technical Editor/Product Support: Auburn Hills

Blog Writer: Detroit

Part Time Writer: Telecommute

Journalists - No Compensation: Telecommute

Grant Writer: Detroit

College Writers: Detroit/telecommute

Documentary Writer: Ypsilanti

Freelance Editor: Telecommute

Creative Short Stories Writer: Telecommute

Intern for Green Website: Telecommute

Online Magazine Writers: Telecommute

Fashion and Style Writers: Telecommute

Student Scriptwriters for Travel Videos: Telecommute

Technical Writer: Dearborn

Writer Wanted: Lansing/Telecommute

Grant Writer: Detroit

Writing Internship: Birmingham

Staff Writer: Holland

Get Inspired

Writing can be many things: a job, therapy, a new lens to view the world, a reflection on the past, an outlet. Whatever your reason for writing, it is important to stay true to yourself and your beliefs when producing content that goes into the world. This doesn't mean that you have to skip basic content jobs or only write articles with profound messages, but it does mean that you should strive to use your gift (at least occasionally) as a way to support that which you believe in.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference in Traverse City. It was truly an inspiring and soul renewing experience and I left wide-eyed with the desire to pen articles and essays that reflected my own beliefs about the gradual collapse of our beautiful world. I live in a magnificent bio-region, surrounded by the Great Lakes, steep edged sand dunes and forests galore. I chose this place for all of the glorious life that thrives here and it is easy to forget that global warming is killing off very similar ecosystems all over the world. The Conference introduced such speakers as Jane Goodall, John Francis and Lynne Twist who, at times, cried during their extremely moving and heartfelt conversations. It is the kind of passion that is often missing in our modern day society of Internet, cell phones and TV. It is the kind of passion that can save humanity and that we, as writers, can use as the fire behind our words.

I am not saying that you must write about environmental concerns, but only that each of us should take time to seek within that which truly exhilarates us and from that place, we should spread our words. It is an entirely different process writing about something that pulls on your heart strings, from that place the words never die, no Thesaurus is necessary and the impact may literally be felt around the world.

Look below for a list of Michigan happenings that may stoke the fires of your soul and thank you always for reading and writing.

Putting the MI Good Food Charter To Work: Oct. 27: Ann Arbor

Ecology Center 40th Anniversary Celebration: Nov. 17: Ann Arbor

Women at Risk- Civilian First Responder Conference: Nov. 12 & 13: Kentwood

Domestic Violence Awareness Event: October 28: Grand Rapids

Turning Point (Services to End Domestic Violence) 30th Anniversary: Nov. 4: Warren

Loaves and Fishes Presents Art and All that Jazz: Nov. 19: Kalamazoo

18th Annual Parenting Awareness MI Conference: Nov. 19: East Lansing

Speak Up Speak Out: Have Political Parties Become Toxic for America? : Nov. 17: Central Michigan University