If it weren’t for a small group of Word Rafting writers, I know I wouldn’t be writing today. In February, I committed to publishing once a week, and that commitment brought me to my blog today. The workweek was full, and it’s been challenging to shoehorn in creativity, even though I know in the past… Continue reading accountability & poem sketching
the connection of language and food
Before I ever cooked professionally or wrote one word, I had a deep connection to language and food because of my first teacher, my nana. “A writing cook and a cooking writer must be bold at the desk as well as the stove.”― M.F.K. Fisher She was an elementary school teacher and a principal for many… Continue reading the connection of language and food
writing in gratitude
One writing practice I did keep up in the last year was a weekly email to a friend. We had started writing every Sunday as a check-in, accountability email, and understanding the power of gratitude; we always ended each email with a short (3-5 item) gratitude list for that week. If I review the 52… Continue reading writing in gratitude
Submitting experimental writing
Years ago, I posted a link to Bernadette Mayer’s poem Very Strong February. I was first introduced to Mayer’s work at Goddard. My advisor suggested that I include Midwinter Day in my book list. At the time, I was struggling to get through Gertrude Stein’s experimental book, Tender Buttons: Objects, Food, Rooms. The book is… Continue reading Submitting experimental writing
I am everything except me
In Conversation with Brendan Kennelly Starting at 4:56, poet Brendan Kennelly discusses his poem Bread and refers to an “old Irish tradition” of the speaker and voice in the poem being anything other than the poet. The language of his words moves me, “I am everything except me.” What does that mean to you? I… Continue reading I am everything except me
Six “not new ways” to ignite your creativity this year
What does it mean to live more creatively? That’s what I promised myself this year after two years of “checking out” to pursue a graduate certificate in IT Project Management and get my PMP certification. Success on both of those goals! “To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to… Continue reading Six “not new ways” to ignite your creativity this year
Restarting your Writing Practice
“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.” —Ray Bradbury, WD It has been more than a year since I wrote in a journal on a daily basis. And longer than that for blogging. But recently I rediscovered a… Continue reading Restarting your Writing Practice
One of those March days!
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. Charles Dickens
Procrastination
“A year from now you will wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb
Creative Writers and Taxes
If you make any money, the government shoves you in the creek once a year with it in your pockets, and all that don’t get wet you can keep. Will Rogers I spent most of the morning working on my taxes, both business and personal so I thought I should take a break and blog… Continue reading Creative Writers and Taxes