Trish Dolasinski’s love of writing has been passion, beginning at age eight. In her piece, “The Spiral Notebook,” she shares her heroine worship of Lois Lane, mild-mannered female reporter and partner to Superman Clark Kent.

Trish majored in English and journalism in college, writing throughout high school and college for school/university newspapers and literary journals. After college, she spent the next thirty years as a teacher, elementary school principal and university adjunct professor.  This did not stop her writing life, however, as she wrote a multitude of successful grants and award applications, monthly and weekly parent-community newsletters and published a doctoral dissertation.

Now retired from education, Trish is pursuing her writing love full time! She is a freelance writer, editor and a Diane Amento Owens Wise Women Write (WWW) group facilitator. She has published her work in several publications; most recently The Blue Guitar, with a Greenprints magazine essay forthcoming. She read her The Blue Guitar published piece for the AZ Consortium for the Arts Family Cultural Fair in December 2009.

Trish publishes a weekly journal/blog on her “Spinning a Good Yarn” page at www.trishdolasinskiwrites.com

WHEN DID YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY WITH WWW?

I was among the founding ladies at the Kierland Commons Barnes & Noble Wise Women Write group initiated by Diane Amento Owens. Taking a hiatus to be an interim school principal for one year in between only increased my desire to get back with my Wise Women friends!  I gained so much from being part of WWW that I accepted a franchise option and offer Diane’s assignments to a recently formed new Wise Women Write group.

ARE YOU EVER NERVOUS ABOUT SHARING YOUR WRITING?

Trish Dolasinski

I was especially nervous when I first became a part of the WWW group. However, the relationships established and environment of support and encouragement that Diane provided in the sessions gave me more confidence and helped me to peel below the surface and express my voice and truth as a writer. I learned so much from the input of supportive women and the celebration of successes as we published, won contests and received recognition for our work.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW WRITER?

We all learn by doing—so writing daily is a must. I like to write in a journal. Diane was the first person to give me specific guidance in beginning this journey, and I will always be grateful for her suggestions and encouragement.  Later, I took an online journal writing class.  This was a great expansion upon my initial journal writing, and I was able to expand my journals into a variety of options. When I began to facilitate my own WWW group, I used this knowledge and experience to encourage other women to write, write, and write because writing in a journal encourages self-knowledge along with beneficial writing practice.

WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?

I read a lot—anything and everything. I tend toward non-fiction on a regular basis but love a fiction piece when I just want to “escape.” I own a Kindle and love it, especially when I travel and cannot take ten books! I purchase used books and visit the library.  I love writing book reviews for the monthly Wise Women Write newsletter, because I get to summarize the best morsels from a current book and share it with my reading and writing sisters.  I am currently reading The Art of Creative Nonfiction by author, Lee Gutkind. I am re-reading parts of Kelly Corrigan’s book, The Middle Place, to prepare for a discussion at a WWW group session. I also just picked up Velvet Elvis, a spiritual book, and a novel, Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE WRITERS WHO WANT TO SEE THEIR WORK IN PRINT?

By being a part of a writing support group, such as Wise Women Write, a woman can determine the kind of writing she likes best.  Is it fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry?  Many options are available, and using Diane’s WWW topical assignments helps a woman see the direction of her passion more clearly. Secondly, it is critical to build marketing and submittal time into your weekly schedule and make sure that time is honored by family and friends just as if you were away from home working at a particular job responsibility. When others see that you take your writing seriously, they will do so as well. Finally, it is important to submit your work to a variety of publications. The Writer’s Market catalog is a great tool for that.  Keep a record of your query letters/dates and most of all, DO NOT BECOME DISOURAGED if you do not hear back immediately or even if you receive a rejection! If you can possibly sign up for an online magazine writing class, it is also helpful.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

I have written my first poem (at least first since my teenage years) and have gotten positive feedback from my Wise Women Write group. I plan on submitting it to a contest that is currently being offered online. I also have a piece for another magazine that I was asked to revise and pitch once again in January of 2010—which I am very glad to do. I am working on expanding my column writing to other arenas.  A book—perhaps in the future, but my greatest weekly joy is offering women opportunities to “spin a good yarn” with me on my Web site (www.trishdolasinskiwrites.com) Please stop by the cozy corner, pull up a soft cushion, your favorite writing instrument and a notebook, and let’s have fun! Hope to meet you there.