During both her careers—initially as a technical writing professor and author at Iowa State University, and currently as a five-time published author of young-adult fantasy novels—Dorothy Winsor’s routines and writers’ groups have served as the beacons and buoys by which she steers her life as a writer.
Since Dorothy and her husband Rich moved into The Garlands, Dorothy “went to work” every weekday to write at the Barrington Area Library or at a coffee shop, and she participated in the Barrington Writers Workshop every Wednesday night like clockwork. In short, she built a framework within which her creativity could thrive, and, as a result of her structure, discipline and practice, she wrote and published several books. Her book reviews speak for themselves:
“Rich and complex storytelling”
“Outstanding fantasy”
“Couldn’t put it down!”
“Exciting story for all ages, with some food for thought.”
However, a month or so into the world’s closing down, Dorothy realized she’d lost much of her personal navigation system. A frightening global pandemic, no Library, no coffee shop, no Writers Workshop, no visits with family or friends, and so many factions in the world angry with each other upset her structure and impacted her workflow and creativity. When she noticed that she, a lifelong voracious reader, couldn’t concentrate enough to even read a good book, Dorothy thought, “Uh oh. I need to get on top of this.”
So, Dorothy created an “at work” space in their home and went to it every weekday. In addition, she and the rest of the Barrington Writers Workshop began Zooming every Wednesday evening and re-established that motivating, supportive environment, which lent a sense of normalcy.
Dorothy’s latest book, The Trickster, comes out March 27 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. It is her fifth young-adult novel and ninth published book, plus, she’s already buckled down and started her next one!
The morale of the story? Dorothy says, “Don’t wait until you feel like doing something to help yourself. Put it on your calendar or your list for today, and just do it. Eventually, it becomes a habit, and you can’t imagine your life without this good thing.”
Words to live by!
