MRO CReative
An Empty Page
From One Writer to another:
You did it. That first draft is a huge challenge, and when it’s done, is an even bigger accomplishment. Or maybe you’re on your 4th manuscript draft, or you’ve got a few words scrawled on the back of a napkin, or a doodle in the margin of a legal pad.
In any case, you’ve bravely filled an empty space with your ideas.
I salute you. And I want to help.
As a writer and editor, I get it from both sides of the page – from seeing the bird’s eye view, down to finding the right word. I’m here to help you tell your story, or launch your big idea.
Writing Inspiration & Community
Writing can be a solitary journey, but you don’t have to fly alone. In MRO’s Creative Space, you’ll find a flock of free offerings designed to keep your creative wings strong. Drop in for Writing on the Fly sessions, nest up at the Writers Book Club, or let the Lyrical Musings spark new melodies in your storytelling. When you sign up for News from the Muse, you’ll receive inspiration delivered right to your inbox: event reminders, creative prompts, and gentle nudges to keep you flying high.
July 14: Writing On The Fly
Focused creative writing sessions with a spontaneous, come-as-you-are feeling. There is nothing needed to prepare for the event – through prompts and spacious listening, we’ll rediscover the joy and fun of writing that may have gotten lost working on a project or…
July 28: James
NEW DATE We’ll depart from our usual craft book selection and discuss James by Percival Everett. Published in 2024, this Pulitzer Prize winner is “A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of…
June 23: Writing Creativity and Soul
Part memoir, part philosophical investigation, part advice to aspiring writers, WritingCreativity and Soul is a touchstone for the spirit, a work of profound pilgrimage thatwill be of value to aspiring writers and anyone who hungers to lead a deeper andmore fulfilling life.…
For The Sake of Havin' You Near
In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron nurtures, then shoves, Recovering Creatives out of the nest. The fledgling Creative is torn between expression and safety. Let’s see which way she flies, to the tune of a great Frank Sinatra standard. The whole trip…
Perch Awhile with Maria & gina
When the questions behind the small talk start to stir – the ones about life transitions, creative blocks, or what’s really going on – Gina is here to listen. This is when I don a feathered advice cap to become Dear Gina, offering wisdom served with patience, heart, and a virtual cuppa tea for writers and wonderers alike.
Meanwhile, Writing by MRO shares my own musings and creative practices: from new discoveries that have saved my writing life to poems that sparked a much-needed reset. Together, these posts create a rhythm of connection, inviting you to return, reflect, and remember why you dared to fill an empty page in the first place.
Finding Everyday Creativity and Joy, for People Who Don't Feel Creative
In this letter, Gina responds to a heartfelt question about belonging and the quiet creativity that lives in everyday moments. Everyday creativity is the thread that ties joy, simple acts like cooking a meal, and the courage to overcome loneliness together. By…
Advice for the Mother of the Bride: How to Stay Close During Wedding Planning
Dear Gina, My 27-year-old daughter is getting married in three months and all the decisions and preparations for the wedding seem to be overwhelming. We have a close relationship but lately I feel like I’m walking an emotional tightrope as she fluctuates from wanting my input…
Forever Stamps
A new writing practice has come into my life and saved me, in a way. Everyone I’ve described it to has been moved by the idea. So, I offer you a bit of my experience. If there’s someone you’re missing, convinced they…
Ready to fly?
Whether you’re here to gather inspiration, find kindred spirits, or take your manuscript to the next level, there’s a place for you here. When you’re ready to move from wondering to writing, or from draft to polished manuscript, you’ll find what you need to help your story take flight.
Maria is well suited to be a developmental editor, not only because she is a fellow writer/author who intimately understands the journey, but because she has the heart of a teacher.”
– Former editing client
Birds of a Feather
Work together!
Dream
It up
Reach for the sky. Together, we’ll find and articulate your voice from rough draft to polished manuscript.
Do
The work
Humor, wisdom, and savvy are essential companions in creating your fiction or nonfiction work.
Tend
The writer
Share and develop your story through writer’s block to finished product, with a trusted advisor in a creative space.