A Little About Me
My early years were spent in western Massachusetts
where I developed a passion for both
nature & the written word.
In 1976, I was led to Southern California.
There, I eventually earned a B.A. in Psychology &
an M.A. in Organizational Development.
I worked a few years,
frequently wondering why I always felt exhausted.
Quite suddenly, I suffered a life-threatening lupus flare,
& my whole life fell apart.
For the next 10 years, I was bed-bound.
Slowly, my vitality increased,
& God began to reveal to me His magnificent plan for my life.
I began to write whenever I found the energy.
I joined a weekly writing critique group & stayed 12 years.
My first teacher was an award-winning writer,
as were some of my peers.
Encouraged by their success,
I began to submit my work to publishers.
They all said the same thing - Thanks, but no thanks.
My rejections were soon stacked ceiling-high,
yet every time I considered quitting,
a small voice deep inside me whispered, Don't give up.
I obeyed, & in 1991, refusal turned into triumph
when my stories & articles began to sell.
I became a member of both
the National League of American Pen Women
& the Palm Springs Writers' Guild,
holding offices in both, & staying 8 years in each.
In 2005, I was led to Venice, Florida as
Associate Editor & writer
for Venice Gulf Coast Living Magazine.
A year later,
I felt a strong desire to return to my own personal writing,
so I followed my heart.
Since then, my writing life has exploded into
an exciting medley of teaching creative writing classes,
as well as editing & ghostwriting for private clients.
I also speak to writers' guilds & groups,
& present writers' workshops.
Along the way,
I have attended numerous writers' conferences & workshops, written 3 adult novels,
2 children's books & 2 screenplays.
As well, I have published
200+ newspaper & magazine articles
& dozens of short stories for both young people & adults.
Recently, I published
ADVENTURES IN WRITING -
The Little Book of Inspiration, Encouragement
& Creative Writing Tips
(see the further down on this page to purchase it).
I have just completed
WOMAN, THOU ART LOOSED,
a 78,000 word, women's fiction,
and am currently working on
KEEPING THE WOLF AT BAY,
a nonfiction about my journey with lupus,
as well as a number of
CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS.
For the most part, my health has stabilized.
However, every day is different.
Stress & fatigue are my biggest challenges.
At times, I must surrender to the lupus
& go to bed until I feel better.
Through experimentation,
I have learned to make the most of my life
by eating nutritious food,
exercising in moderation & resting much.
And every day, I spend some quality time with God,
who has sustained me through every trial,
& blessed me beyond measure.
ADVENTURES IN WRITING
The Little Book of Inspiration,
Encouragement & Creative Writing Tips
by
Diane E. Robertson
To purchase your copy, send $12.95
- check or money order -
to
D.E. Robertson
P.O.B. 10463
Bradenton, FL 34282
This 77 page booklet is loaded
with tips on:
Setting clear intentions
(in your writing & your life)
The elements of story
(If you can master that,
you can write
- anything -
a short story, a novel,
even a screenplay).
Critique groups
(& learning to trust your gut)
Creative nonfiction
Memoir
Picture books for kids
Nonfiction for young adults
Writing & selling mag articles
Organizing your novel
Finding an agent
Writing a screenplay
Neatness in your work
(& your life)
Dealing with rejection
(in your work & life)
Motivation
(in life & work)
Professionalism
(ditto).
As well,
an abundance of
encouragement & inspiration
to carry you through
any situation are included.
ENJOY!!!!!!!
Contact me at
pswriter1@netzero.net
FINDING YOUR VOICE
What does your voice have to do with your writing?
EVERYTHING!
Your writer's voice is your personality on paper.
It begins with the type of story you tell,
be it nonfiction or science fiction.
Add to that the style of your writing -
how your words flow on paper, your use of humor & wit.
And the most critical, yet difficult, element to discover
is your heart.
A writer must be real. This is a risky endeavor.
Whatever subject a writer pens,
it's mandatory to open a vein & bleed all over the page.
For many of us, it takes time
to cultivate the courage to let it all hang out.
For example, I have written all my life.
My thoughts seemed pretty profound
when I was the only one reading them.
But when I joined a writing critique group,
I was surrounded by people
who painted vivid snapshots with their words.
I had not yet developed that ability.
Intimidated, I imitated other writing styles.
That was a disaster.
One day, my instructor looked into my soul & asked,
Who wrote this story?
I did, I mumbled.
Diane, this doesn't sound like you at all.
That was it. I was busted.
Later, I realized she had given me a gift.
That was a turning point.
I stopped mimicking other writers,
& began the search for my voice.
As I kept writing,
I slowly peeled through layers of ego,
insecurity, falsehood,
& feelings I didn't know were there.
Eventually, I found ME.
It was a humbling, yet wonderful, journey.
I hope you take that expedition too.
During that time, my mom went home to the Lord.
I felt like a small child abandoned at the county fair.
Lost. Alone. Forever.
One morning, I penned a short story about Mom's last days.
My feelings were visible, & her character came through clearly. In my grief, I hastily proofed my work,
then sent it off to a publisher.
A week later,
I received notice that the piece had been accepted.
That was my first sale.
It is still a most bittersweet writing memory.
I lost my mom & found my voice.
I hope you keep writing & keep digging.
When you find
your own distinctive voice,
you'll know it.
*************************
Published in www.poetry.com - 2003
Written by Diane E. Robertson
REIGN DOWN ON ME
by Diane E. Robertson
Each frosty, autumn eve
I slumber,
blissfully safe in Your keeping.
You, however, never rest.
Instead, You retrieve Your brush from the shelf,
and coat a few more leaves
with glorious reds and yellows
from Your sacred palette.
Each morning I am dazzled anew
as I glimpse Your holy display
outside my window.
I'm grateful for Your mighty gifts,
and the honor to witness
Your magnificence.
You, who are as faithful today
as yesterday and tomorrow.
May I forever stand in awe of You.
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams,
& endeavors to live the life which he has imagined,
he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
-Henry David Thoreau
Years ago,
I saw the above verse on a card in a stationary store.
It beckoned me, saying,
If writing is something you want to excel in,
then keep going, & don't ever give up.
Even if you only create a little something each day
- give it 100% -
& you will grow in the direction of your dreams.
So I bought that card, framed it, & hung it in my home.
Every day I did what that little voice told me to do.
Years later, that simple print still graces my wall, and speaks to me.
Day by day, no matter how I feel, or how busy I am,
I take time to inch toward my goal.
Occasionally, I become discouraged, yet God always uplifts me
& gently gets me back on course.
I'm glad I've never stopped striving.
That's what it's all about.
SUFFER FROM
WRITER'S BLOCK?
Check out the following suggestions.
They may help.
Begin to look at your life
struggles & blessings
with fresh eyes.
Every evening, ask yourself,
What happened today
that would make
a good short story?
Jot down key words in your notebook
that will jog your memory
when you're ready to write that story.
If you still find yourself stuck,
then it's time to:
- Chill Out.
- Think positive.
- Take a day off.
- Laugh a lot.
- Have a blast!
- If the above fails,
then get comfy
in your favorite chair
&
read a great book.
Your creative wheels will
begin to turn again.
The best ideas show up
when we least expect them.
When you're ready
to give writing another shot:
- Write free-style to loosen up.
- Have no goal in mind.
- Keep writing until
you've spent it all.
Best wishes to you
in all you do!
****************************
MOST WRITERS
USE ORDINARY WORDS
TO TRY & ACHIEVE
EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS.
- James A. Michener
