Pat Schneider, author of Writing Alone and with Others and Founder and Director of Amherst Writers & Artists, says, "every one of us is born with creative genius."

"A writer is someone who writes. You have done it, you have expressed yourself on paper. Getting started is almost always picking up an old dream, an old desire. Getting started is usually getting started again."

Pat continued, "According to legend, the composer Nicolo Paganini could compose only if he had a blanket over his head. Who cares? What wonderful music he composed under his blanket!"