I really enjoyed Katy Beatty’s talk on April 21, 2008. I didn’t know what to expect when I heard we would be having a guest speaker. It was great hearing that Katy was inspired to write her poem “Wagon Day”, after a day at a preschool. It just proves that inspiration can come from unexpected places and in any form. One of the best things that Katy brought to the discussion was her advice. Here are some things that stuck in my mind that Katy Beatty talked about:

• Get the story out
• Sometimes you have to “put away” what you’re working on and just think
• REVISE LATER!
• Listen to Critiques with “quietness”
• If you love it, keep going
• Use all senses

I also loved how she brought in hard copy examples of her poem “Wagon Day” as it was a work in progress. The letters she brought in from publishers and editors were also great to see firsthand. Many people asked questions about her writing process and how she goes about editing her work. I thought this guest speaker session was valuable in showing us (whether we are writers or not), the process of an author’s adventures in writing and publishing.