No Place Like . . .

By Jillian Leslie

"Then close your eyes, and tap your heels together three times. And then think to yourself--'There's no place like home; there's no place like home; there's no place like home.'"

--Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, from The Wizard of Oz.
Screenplay by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allen Woolf.
Adapted from the novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.

Photo of Webmaster's ancestral century farm that no longer exists.

One overcast Oregon afternoon, in May 1998, I contemplated driving to the local toy store, sticking my head into a plastic oven and flipping the cardboard temperature control to broil. I had spent more than an hour seeking a suitable hook for a travel article and needed a break. I longed to connect emotionally with other writers who were also on the verge of fricasseeing their brains, as they, too, scrounged for the perfect paragraph. Optimistically, I combed the Internet, hoping to stumble into a virtual community of like-minded souls, where we could cluck our tongues at our frustrations and shout hurrahs at each victory.

In most business offices, folks can rally around the water cooler and brainstorm ideas or they can just plain gripe about their daily struggles. Not so with writers. We live in our heads, and we seldom discuss our daily toil with anyone. An extended quarantine at Walden’s Pond isn't necessary to remind us of our self-imposed isolation. Even Thoreau, himself, found it necessary to meet with friends regularly to keep sane.

On those occasions when we attempt to vent to family and friends, we’re often greeted with vacant, glazed stares. Ouch! So we often stuff, instead of vent, leading to severe cases of brain constipation that even the strongest laxatives can’t cure. Few non writers want to understand the daily ins-and-outs of the writing process. At best, everyday Jane and Joe Scribbler are asked teeth grinding questions such as, “Have I read anything you've written?” Aargh!

In the past, I had found a few promising Web sites, but those sites felt too huge and impersonal. I craved something intimate. Then a search engine led me to One Woman’s Writing Retreat, where Webmaster, Cathy Atherton left a warm welcome message for her visitors: “It’s a quiet place to escape from the busy world and find inspiration, meet friends, or discover new resources that help you in your writing.” Jackpot!

Cathy made herself accessible to all by sharing important parts of her life through her virtual scrapbook, containing pictures of her grandparents, and also with a heart tugging tribute page, dedicated to the memory of her parents, especially her mother, who fueled Cathy’s passion for the written word. After reading about the retreat’s genesis, I decided to explore further. Time disappeared while perusing the Authors' Lounge. I savored well-written interviews, showcasing gifted writers from around the globe. Next, I read some articles about research and the writing craft, penned by talented members of the retreat. To swirl icing on the cake, I checked out the book recommendations and movie reviews.

My quest to find the perfect virtual respite ended successfully. I had found a warm, cozy place that offered endless mental stimulation and constructive information, helping the aspiring writer, as well as the seasoned writer, to achieve every goal.

Through the articles, interviews and links, Cathy passes her love of writing to all who enter her virtual haven. Since my first visit, I feel lucky to say Cathy and I have become close friends. Through our friendship, I've grown both as a writer and as a person. In my eyes, and in the eyes of her many friends, she is a woman of diverse talents and passions, a woman who selflessly shares her time, talent and resources, a woman who not only wants to grow in her own writing but also wants to rejoice in the growth of others.

I don’t have to click my red ruby slippers to return to Kansas. I simply click my mouse. There’s no place like home.

Jillian Leslie's articles have appeared in Family Circle Magazine, Bed and Breakfast Journal, Oregon Coast Magazine, Oregon Parks Magazine and Northwest Travel Magazine. She is the webmaster of EverydayWarriors.com. Read more about her here.