Ink Stains Magazine: A Missisippi Delta Writing Project

Writing is an inspirational art form. There is a live interaction that happens between the text and writer while it is being written and between the text and every reader that reads what has been written.

As someone who has briefly taught and tutored in the writing community, I know that allowing students to understand the empowerment of sharing their writing through publication will inspire them to have a sense of pride and encourage them to continue to write.

If children are encouraged to express themselves in this manner then it is possible they will become more confident in articulating their voices in the future, which will create a wider variety of voices and opinions in the community they belong too.

With that said it is also important that as part of the writing community we support one another. I have recently heard of a new publication project that is a magazine called Ink Stains, which is a magazine created by teachers of Mississippi Delta that plans to publish writing pieces by students between 5th and 12th grade. This magazine is currently looking for more backers and pledges from the public inorder to reach their goal. It only takes $1.00 to support them.

You can read more information about it at this link:

                  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/334505540/ink-stains-magazine

Update on the Hunt...

Yes, here I am almost a year later and still continuing my search for the perfect coffee place and the perfect writing spot...so far I think Starbucks is winning.

I hate to admit this because as an artist just starting out who would like to support local artists and businesses...it just seems so corporate, but you see their hours and the green glowing mermaid give them lots of points. Especially since one of my writing projects was inspired my mermaids and I even wrote a poem about the Starbucks mermaid-so not have on me now, will post later.

But the search is still on! So Starbucks hasn't one yet.

I would like to sadly report that since I started the hunt the local Primo Coffee has gone out of business. Good-bye fluffy gigantic muffins...*sigh*

Also, it looks as though the Espresso Royale in Ypsilanti and The Coffee Lounge have disappeared as well...Espresso Royale was supposed to be my next destination....and so soon I will travel to Biggby Coffee and test them out for a writing location.

There has also been some additions added to my list, that are in Ann Arbor, which means I would have to pay for parking, which means I would rather not go there...BUT local artists and writer friends of mine have been raving about cafe ambrosia or every time I mention I have a blog about local coffee shops people respond with "Have you been to Comet Coffee?!" So these places are worth investigating.

That would make my list:

1. Primo Coffee - :(
2. The Ugly Mug - :\
3. Perk and Brew- :(
4. The Common Cup- :\
DETOUR: Sweetwaters Cafe- :\
5. Starbucks Ypsilanti-:)
6. Starbucks Arborland-:)
7. Starbucks Carpenter-:)
8. Espresso Royale- :(
9. Biggby Coffee- ?
10. The Coffee Lounge- :(
11. Beezy's- ?
12. Harvest Moon Cafe-?
13. B-24's-?
14. Cafe Ollie-?
15. Comet Coffee-?

:(= Gone                   :\ = maybe      :) = winner so far          ? = yet to be explored