A Writer's Moment: 'How to have more of what you love'

A Writer's Moment: 'How to have more of what you love':   "Take something you love, tell people about it, bring together people who share your love, and help make it better. Ultimately, you...

'How to have more of what you love'

 

"Take something you love, tell people about it, bring together people who share your love, and help make it better. Ultimately, you'll have more of whatever you love for yourself … and for the world." – Julius Schwartz

Born in The Bronx, NY on this date in 1915, Schwartz was DC Comics' primary editor for stories about the company's flagship superheroes Superman and Batman and is credited with helping found the iconic comic book hero group known as The Justice League of America. 

 

He single-handedly helped expand the reach and love for science fiction by organizing the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939 and then worked to make it a “must attend” annual event.   Inducted into the comics' industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, he also was honored by the Science Fiction Writers Association with its lifetime contributions award.

 

In addition to his editing work, Schwartz wrote the bestselling Man of Two Worlds: My Life In Science Fiction and Comics and was a much sought-after literary agent, representing a “who’s who” of science and comic writers, including Alfred Bester, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury and H.P. Lovecraft.

 

Schwartz won numerous awards for his editing, including Best Editor several times before his death in 2004.  Inscribed on his tombstone is a statement reflecting what nearly every writer and editor strive to achieve: “He met the deadline.”

A Writer's Moment: 'It's something you can't wear out'

A Writer's Moment: 'It's something you can't wear out':   “Honesty is something you can't wear out.”  – Waylon Jennings   Born in Littlefield, TX on June 15, 1937 Jennings learned how to pl...

'It's something you can't wear out'

 

“Honesty is something you can't wear out.” – Waylon Jennings
 

Born in Littlefield, TX on June 15, 1937 Jennings learned how to play guitar by the time he was 8 and started in the entertainment business at age 12 – working as a DJ at a local radio station.   In 1954 he befriended rising star Buddy Holly who also became his mentor, collaborating with him on songs and helping produce Waylon’s first record that year.  Among his "most played" hits were Lonesome and Luckenbach, Texas.  He recorded hundreds of songs and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and given Country's "Lifetime Achievement Award" before his relatively early death at age 64.

  

Jennings also became a fill-in player for Holly’s group The Crickets and was with him in Iowa on his final tour in the winter of 1959, ending in Holly’s death in a plane crash.  Jennings was supposed to be on that plane with Holly but at the last minute gave up his seat to The Big Bopper because the latter was suffering from a bad cold.

 

Ultimately, Jennings became one of the great songwriters and singers of country, country rock, and a new genre – founded with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Jessi Coulter – called “Outlaw Country.”   He, Willie, Johnny Cash and Kristofferson also formed a group known as The Highwaymen and had recorded several hit songs together before he died in 2002 of complications from diabetes.

 

Known for his support of many social issues and causes, Jennings said that was an easy choice.  “A lot of times people don't want to hear it.  But you know, if some good is done to you, you should pass it on.”

A Writer's Moment: Opening those 'magic portals'

A Writer's Moment: Opening those 'magic portals':   “All of us create our own versions of an event, of our lives, even, not because we're liars, necessarily, but because we can only see ...

Opening those 'magic portals'

 

“All of us create our own versions of an event, of our lives, even, not because we're liars, necessarily, but because we can only see and understand the truth from our own viewpoint, and a shifting viewpoint at that.” – Deb Caletti

 

Born in California on June 16, 1963 Caletti is an award-winning writer, primarily of young adult fiction, although she has several adult novels to her credit as well.   Caletti studied journalism at the University of Washington, received some recognition for playwriting, but always wanted to try novels.  "When my son was two,” she said, “I got serious about writing. I didn’t want to be one of those people who talked about their dream but never did anything about it.” 

 

All of her works are set in the Pacific Northwest and her YA books are noted for tackling difficult issues related to relationship dynamics, family (including stepfamilies), change and resilience, and  connections between human and animal nature.

 

A National Book Award finalist (for Honey, Baby, Sweetheart), and a Michael L. Printz Honor Book medalist (for her most recent book A Heart in a Body in the World), she said she’s been a passionate reader and writer from an early age and speaks glowingly about libraries.  

 

“I understood right from the start that every set of library doors were the sort of magic portals that lead to other lands,” she said.  “My God, right within reach there were dinosaurs and planets and presidents and girl detectives!“

A Writer's Moment: An action that's 'worthy of reaching for'

A Writer's Moment: An action that's 'worthy of reaching for':   "I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.  Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business." -  Mic...