All in a day of doing writer's research What writer hasn't fallen down a rabbit hole of research? This one started innocently with song lyrics from Sloop John B, used in my novel Love and Other Incurable Ailments, a story set in the fishing village of Ocracoke. A fellow writer cautioned me that I might need permission to use the lyrics, supposedly from The Beach Boys. Many a writer has … [Read more...]
Author Robin Blackburn on Midlife Reinvention and Writing in Big Chunks
What happens when a lifelong writer finally decides it's time to tell the stories she's always wanted to write? In this edition of What, Why, How: Inside Writing, Robin Blackburn shares how journaling, blogging, and a love of Lake George inspired her debut novel, Second Courses, why she embraces writing in big bursts instead of every day, and what readers can expect from her heartfelt stories of … [Read more...]
My husband doesn’t read my books—and why it doesn’t matter
Confession: I don't ask my husband to read my books. They aren’t the kind of books he enjoys. Loving me doesn’t require loving my sentences. I’ve learned reading isn’t the only proof of support. Take that photo above: he’s fixing my standing desk, wearing a sweatshirt that reads Warrior Strong. What counts as support, really? And what if your loved ones don’t support what you do? For me, … [Read more...]
The human at the other end of the dog’s leash
Obviously this dog is love-starved: Cowboy has never met a stranger. I can't say the same. I still hesitate before talking to people I don't know. Cowboy has no such concerns. He simply assumes everyone is worth meeting. Meanwhile, I'm not sure they want to meet me. They ask, "How old is he?" "What's his name?" "Is he always this friendly?" I'm happy to answer, but there's always that moment … [Read more...]
Self-Care: Arranging Your Life for the Person You Are
The Freedom of Acceptance: One of the unexpected gifts of being diagnosed with ADHD twenty-five years ago: I'm no longer embarrassed when my brain wanders off. This is a form of self-care I've stopped trying to camouflage every symptom. If someone's talking and my attention slips sideways, I don't fake it anymore. I just smile and say, "Oops. That blew right past me. What was that … [Read more...]
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