Happy Birthday #amwriting

My husband and I are filkers by nature. We are both carry earworms and pass the songs back and forth with such ease, it's a good thing Pontypool is just a movie. So maybe it's natural that we love to change the lyrics of songs. I've done it for a number of circumstances, including birthdays and going away parties.

For the life of me, I cannot remember how I chanced across the #amwriting hashtag. The early days of my exposure to Twitter were unfolding, where I was learning how to use it and figuring out exactly what everything meant. I know that it was more than a year ago. So maybe I was stumbling blind when I chanced upon it—in fact, I think it was the very first hashtag I ever followed. Maybe it was just a natural instinct that caused me to gravitate to that section of the Twitterverse. And maybe I was simply drawn, like a moth to a flame, except this flame when touched did not burn. Instead it exploded into an array of coloured light, and I stepped into a vast community of other writers, there to share the spirit of writing (and sometimes some great solutions, too).

And with that, I am delighted to wish the #amwriting hashtag and community a happy second birthday with (you guessed it) a filked song:


Hashtag, #Amwriting
To the tune of: "Truck Stop In LaGrange", originally by Grady, covered by Dale Watson and then Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash (where I heard it)

Writin' alone at four a.m., I was totally stuck on my plot
I'd been up all night tryin' to finish that goddamn scene
I was beginning to think I couldn't make it, but I did so I'm here to say...
Thank God for that little bitty hashtag, #amwriting!

With a damn good group of writers, and a well of inspiration
And that community soul ... partner, it's a mighty fine thing.
I asked for some help with my plottin' woes, and they helped me on my way.
Thank God for that little bitty hashtag, #amwriting!

So if you're sittin' at your desk, bangin' your head, and your writin' ain't goin' your way
Just stop on by. Tell 'em Laura said "hi"!
And they'll help you (or commiserate) ...

With a damn good group of writers, and a well of inspiration
And that community soul ... fellas, it's a mighty fine thing.
I asked for some help with my plottin' woes, and they helped me on my way.
Thank God for that little bitty hashtag, #amwriting!


Happy birthday, #amwriting!

And folks, don't forget to stop by Marian Allen's blog for more #amwriting birthday celebration fun. We're having a blog party!