Online Writing Communities Lead the Way to Blueberry Pie

Writers, what's another way to improve your writing? Join an online writing community. There are lots of online sites out there for networking, self promotion and socializing, but don't forget about those that offer educational enrichment opportunities, as well.

I just joined Writers Digest (http://www.writersdigest.com/) and The Writer Magazine (http://www.writermag.com/). Online communities are available at these sites that offer lots of free information including writing tips, industry information, agent interviews and conference schedules. So, if you haven't already joined, do it now!

Caution: Online communities can become a time drain if you're not careful! So set clear goals every day, but not too many, like the following:

• Read daily posts in your online writing communities
• On Twitter, read tweets most applicable to you
• If you blog, decide how often you can update your content and stick to that schedule

For some really great information on how to spend online time wisely, see Dan Blank's post Social Media Savvy in Just 15 Minutes a Day http://bit.ly/dlthjE.

Okay, so you've joined some online writing communities, set your goals for the day--and met them! Now it's time to treat yourself to some Blueberry Pie! Yes, April 28 is Blueberry Pie Day, so I have to share a recipe. Unfortunately, I don't have a one that's low in fat. But I can provide an alterntive.

My grandmother used butter to dot the filling in her pies, and lard to make an incredibly flakey crust. Oo, I think I just gained a couple pounds thinking about that! Although my husband love, love, looooves blueberry pie, I make a blueberry crisp instead. He loves this, too, and my lowfat version is easy and delicious. Enjoy, and happy writing!

Low Fat Blueberry Crisp

1 cup quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 t cinnamon
pinch of salt
4 T low fat margarine (I use Smart Balance Light)
6 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Vanilla ice cream (fat free or low fat to cut calories)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oatmeal, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in margarine until mixture is crumbly; set aside. Spray 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray. Pour blueberries into pan, then sprinkle berries with sugar. Sprinkle oatmeal mixture over all. Bake at 350 for 45 to 45 minutes. Serve with ice cream. Serves 12.