A Message from the Muse

A Message from the Muse:

I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for

may for once spring clear
without my contriving.

If this is arrogant, God, forgive me,
but this is what I need to say.
May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back.
the way it is with children.

Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing you as no one ever has,

streaming through widening channels
into the open sea.

Ranier Maria Rilke

Hi,

I haven't posted in a
long time -- the summer was taken up with preparing for and then holding my Writing, Creativity and Ritual Retreat this August in Montana. And just last week, I started writing again on my novel. Wonderfully, all the characters were there,
waiting for me, and we are off and running!

The Retreat in Montana was everything I could have hoped for and more! An entire week
with nothing to do but share writing and the creative journey of the writer with
a circle of amazing, energizing, wildly creative women!

We met in a hogan from which we could see the big sky of Montana and the Continental Divide. The land was inspiring and filled with stories. And still the journey continues!

Next year the retreat returns to
Glastonbury, England and in 2006 we are planning on going to Costa Rica. More on that
later. www.awritersretreat.com

I thought you might be interested in
the information below about a Writer's Digest Contest. And so, I pass it on.

I hope you're imagination is taking you to new and glorious places!

Emily

Show us Your Shorts! (it could win you up to $3,000!) The 5th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant...but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or less. But don't be too long about it — the deadline is December 1, 2004! For complete guidelines and an entry form, visit www.writersdigest.com/contests/short_story.asp The Prizes: 1st Place: $3,000 2nd Place: $1,500 3rd Place: $500 4th through 10th Place: $100 Plus, the names and story titles of the 1st-10th place winners will be printed in the June 2005 Writer's Digest, and the winners will receive the 2005 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. Log on now to www.writersdigest.com/contests/short_story.asp for complete guidelines and an entry form! © 2004 F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. 4700 East Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236