I'd like to welcome all of you; our returning writers, as well as those of you who may be discovering my writer's challenges for the first time.

My first book, Dreaming in Color, begins with a look at free style writing and gradually turns towards structured writing and poetic expression. You'll find it to be a series of challenges, posed with the hope of honing our descriptive writing skills; and perhaps even prompting the courage to aspiring writers to put a pen to paper.

Word Art now adds another level to our undertaking. We explore journal-type compositions and attempt a free-writing challenge. We examine our life journeys and write about positivity, personal achievements, gratitude and a variety of emotions. We learn about the importance of releasing our grief, and, equally important, celebrating the goodness that life has to offer. We re-visit important literary devices such as repetition, symbolism, and personification as well as some favorite exercises from the first collection and add some extreme (and delightful) syllable challenges.

Each of these twenty challenges is intended to reach into our mind and our heart and draw out something different. I have provided each challenge with an example. These exercises may be humorous or serious; some providing lookbacks on our past or comments on the present.

My intention with both of these books is to illustrate the power of words, and help you discover that the power lies within each of us. Our words can convey a broad range of emotions. They are reactions to our life's blessings and its challenges. They can find humor when sorely needed, share passion, and express grief. All are inspiring. All are healing.

I hope you'll enjoy both of these works and that they may move you; if you have not been already, to also seek a path toward sharing your thoughts and expressing yourself through the written word.