When I sat down to write my first post here over four years ago – I didn’t do it while considering myself a writer. I considered myself a mother who wanted to have a place to express my truths as a mother. These truths of my being that one day my daughters would read.
I have a pink silk covered baby book filled with delicate aging pages of facts. Of truths. My mom spent 18 years writing this baby book for me. My first teeth, my growth, my first words, my first date, the first time I slammed my bedroom door. Woven into these basic facts of growing up are funny little stories that my mom has written in the margins. The memorable things and truths that she didn’t want to forget and wanted to make sure that I knew one day.
So aren’t we fortunate in this day to have our blogs to share our truths that our children may unwrap one day like an aging delicate baby book covered in a beautiful pink silk.
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I admit that as a blogger, not a writer, I felt inspired as I started making my way through Kate’s beautiful book. Her stories, even the painful ones, were so eloquent, beautiful, detailed, and real to me that I continually wanted more. And I wanted to write more. I wanted to be challenged. I wanted to dig deeper. I wanted to give more.
Kate’s book gives amazing examples and essays from many writers on using simple tools on how – as a mother – to use your words. How to expand on the sensory details of an event, how to use humor, how to write the hard stuff, and how to put a voice in your narrative. Kate makes the small writing exercises personal, doable and something that you truly just want to drop everything and do.right.then.
Use Your Words will help any writer, beginning or experienced, reckon with the messy stuff of life and shape it into memoir.
- Caroline Grant
And Kate’s book will help me put my words on this page for my children in way that my truths for them will be more eloquently expressed.
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The lovely and talented Kate Hopper has spent nearly a decade teaching women to write down the bones of motherhood – teaching classes online and at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis . Now her new book Use Your Words, gives expert guidance to encourage you to write the stories you need to write, whether your goal is to blog, publish magazine articles or pen the next blockbuster memoir.
Kate herself says -
I hope that readers will begin this book with an interest in writing, and finish it having discovered
the power of writing their lives and dedicated to continuing the important work of writing about
motherhood. I hope they will see the varied ways one can write about their children and the
transformations inherent in motherhood, and have a better sense of how to craft the stories that nag
at them, that beg to be written.
Kate is one of the warmest, kindest, talented women I have ever met. Her writing is directly from her heart and you feel it with every word as she paints a picture of what truly motherhood is. I’m hoping that one day as I explore my writing roots and put pen to paper(or key to screen) that I can even scratch the surface of possibility of showing my daughters who their mother really is.
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I’m thrilled to participate in this ‘virtual book tour’ and share Kate Hopper’s Use Your Words writing guide with you. I do hope you will click over and find out more about Kate and you can get your copy of Use Your Words A Writing Guide For Mothers at Amazon and from Powell’s Books
You can find Kate at her blog - Motherhood and Words on twitter - @mnkatehopper and on Facebook.
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And now that you love Kate and are ready to find your voice and tell your motherhood truths – I want to give away Kate’s book to one of my readers in celebration of Mother’s Day .
To Enter - All you have to do is comment on this post on what you would still love to write about and haven’t yet, or comment with a link to your favorite post on motherhood that you’ve written on your own blog, or tell me what you want to work on as you continue to inspire your own writing.
The winner of Kate’s book will be chosen at random from the comments on Monday, May 14th at 8pm Central.
Oh there is so much I still want to write about, mostly my girls and our memories of us all growing up, together.
And to make them lyrical and eloquent, well that wouldn’t be too bad either.
christine recently posted..I Send Out Love
Hmmm…I saw something about this book a few days ago, and it sounds intriguing. Thanks for the heads up!
I still have so much to write about. I am ashamed to admit that even though I spend my days writing, I have yet to touch pen to the paper of my son’s baby book. I was just too busy, then it just seemed too late, and now…now he will be nine soon, so… I am a total slacker mom.
Vinobaby recently posted..Win Confessions of a Scary Mommy for Mother’s Day!
I am a closet writer who hides behind humor and recipes half the time – and sometimes I lack courage to say what really needs to be said in those heaviest of pieces. This looks like a great book, thanks for sharing about it.
Jessica recently posted..Tortilla Success
So much to write about, so little time! I want to continue to find a way to use my voice to reach a universal audience
angela recently posted..The Breaths Between
what a great idea for a book. i’d love to learn to write better stories for my children – as long as they’re going to slog through all those product reviews on my blog one day they might as well like the tales about them as much as possible!
Anna recently posted..Handprint Craft for Mother’s Day
My favorite post on motherhood happens to be up at my blog right now. (YAY!)
But someday I’d like to write about how raising children was NOTHING like I thought it would be – without hurting or insulting my kids!
I had these visions of what Jack and Karly would be; but they are – quite simply – NOT.
For better or worse. It’s the truth.
So someday I’d like to write about parental expectations and how to manage them when your children head in the opposite direction from what you’d envisioned.
Because I’d like to know I’m not alone.
julie gardner recently posted..My Favorite Post
Oh I am going to buy this book even if i don’t win it, it sounds incredible.
Someday I’d love to really write about my infertility and the impact it had on my optimism, the twin’s first few years and my marriage.
And then I’d love to write about my old boyfriends, because not everything can be so serious and sort of sad. I’d love to tell all those stories just as much
xox
Kir recently posted..Proud Mommy Moments: Shari the Earth Mother is Bringing the Funny
Oh Tracy, thank you so much–for your kind words and for your writing. You ARE a writer, and your words have so much power!! Thank you for being a part of my tour!
http://aintnorollercoaster.com/a-preemies-first-birthday-mommys-view-therapy-thursday/
See how much help I need, I didn’t even know how to leave just one comment. My apologies.
Tatum recently posted..The Preemie Parent Curse: The Known Unknowns
Just starting to blog – One way or another, I’ll get the book. Winning could be sweet. Thanks for the opportunity.
Tatum recently posted..The Preemie Parent Curse: The Known Unknowns
Oh, yes: the importance of words in shaping our lives and how we define ourselves.
The best practice in the world.
This book sounds wonderful.
Alexandra recently posted..You Got Time For This
I have a fiction novel in mind, and possibly some thoughts on faith but who knows. Still I love to write and hope to make it happen sometime soon.
Liz recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Jackson Street Roundhouse
I still have so much I want to write, but mainly? My birth story. I can’t believe that in the 2-1/2 years she’s been on this earth, I’ve never written it. I can see it – the words scrawled out across my mind. I know exactly (or at least pretty much) what I want to say. And yet I just haven’t said it.
Now that I’ve gotten my one and done post out of the way, my birth story is my next mountain.
And this my favorite post on motherhood so far: http://www.saidkristin.com/2011/12/two/
You’ve already read it and commented, but I’m just putting it out there again.
Kate’s book sounds amazing!
Kristin @ What She Said recently posted..Lessons in Parenting
Looking forward to using some of Kate’s exercises. STILL can’t believe we missed each other last week at The Loft!
[...] the amazing Tracy (which sounds like “The Amazing Race” but is way better) at Sellabit Mum hosted the Use Your Words blog tour stop today. Tracy, I cried. You’re awesome. And you ARE a [...]
Even though I’m a writer, I struggle with finding the best way to write for my kids. This sounds like a great book.
another jennifer recently posted..Transitions, Reflections and Perspectives
Some of my favorite bloggers are the ones who can write about every day life with a touch of humor and wit, so you don’t feel like you’re reading “Today we went to Target and got some milk, then I went to the bank. My kids were crazy…blah blah blah.” It’s the in between moments and the little slices of hilarity and wisdom that come from these experiences that matter.
Leigh Ann recently posted..My brush with a movie star
Oh I need to read this book…it looks like a great resource. Someday I hope to write about the sweet and sassy life of my “red one”. Not yet…but someday!
Lisa recently posted..Make Way For Ducklings
I started my blog last year and in that relatively short time, I have grown profoundly as a writer. That being said, I have much, much more growing to do and I’d love to read this book.
I’d love to be able to convey to my children the story of my marriage. I don’t know many details about my own parent’s marriage but I find myself wanting to know the details of the life they lived when I was a child, like my children are now.
This is a post I’m rather fond of. It relates my childhood to the childhood I hope to provide for my children. http://shannonlell.com/2012/03/20/communing-with-trees/
I already have this book (and it is as amazing as it sounds) and through Kate’s classes have created a “paper trail” of my children’s lives. One of my favorite posts from my blog is called “What Sisters are For.” I have always been a writer, long before having kids, but motherhood is a muse like I’ve never had before.
http://mamasweat.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-sisters-are-for.html
Kara Thom recently posted..Mama Sweat Defined
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and links. I can’t wait to make my through them!!
Kate Hopper recently posted..Comment on the tour and disappearing posts by Mary
I’ve only written one post about my infertility and often wish I had more of an outlet to explore how that changed my life. A food blog isn’t exactly that outlet, but it’s a part of my life and somehow, the urge is there to give it more of a voice. Guess that will happen when it happens.
Kate recently posted..on second chances (and a giveaway)
That book is just what I need to jump start my blogging. I feel like too many memories are getting blown away in the wind!
I love writing about Motherhood. LOVE! IT! Since it is pretty much everything I write about, it is hard to pick a favorite. I actually am pretty proud of my most recent post (it will be linked underneath this comment) about being a mother in light of the Time Magazine cover. If I can’t chose a favorite, I might as well just send you the most recent, right?!
I would LOVE to win this book!
Laura recently posted..Extremely Mom Enough
I’ve always been a writer but motherhood has been a new challenge and inspiration! I would love to do our birth story justice. I kept a journal throughout our experience (twins, bed rest, v birth, NICU), but when I sit down to write, I just can’t seem to find the words. I’m looking forward to diving into this book.
I totally missed this, but I love it. You know that I do. xo
Galit Breen recently posted..Sunshine and Cookies and Friendship