Notes from a novel writing workshop: 1. Writing is a practice. Do it every day. 2. Writing is failure and rejections. It can be a painful dig to find what glimmers. 3. Writing is endurance. It is a beloved commitment. It means saying, "Yes, I'm still writing." 4. Writing is personal. You have questions you are trying to answer. 5. Writing is reading to become fluent. 6. Writing … [Read more...]
Unraveling the Mystery of a Glug in Cooking
How much really is a glug? Here I am, in the middle of prepping, reading the above recipe. I'm not particularly fond of cooking to start with. I don't have time nor the desire to research what a glug is, other than I know the sound oil makes when you pour it from a great big bottle. Are all bottles the same size though? Do all oils glug at the same rate? And please define "a few." I'm sure … [Read more...]
Reflect, Recharge, Reboot: Post-Election Encouragement
What to do next Poet and memoirist Carolyn Forché said on November 7, 2024, "We are going soon to be living under a different form of government entirely. Be careful, beginning now, about sharing your activities. Guard your networks and circles. Confidentiality is everything. Protect the vulnerable... Prepare, and know that we are living in a different world, perhaps altogether." As … [Read more...]
This is 70: Grateful, Grounded and Ready for the Next Chapter
Embracing life Today is my birthday. I never expected to be so happy at 70. Dare I say happy? What is happiness anyway? Okay, I'll say I never expected to still feel good, to feel on top of my game, to be exploring opportunities and making new connections. To feel as if I have value and I am valued. I know someone my age who calls herself a dinosaur. "Oh, woe is me, I'm so behind the times," … [Read more...]
What, Why, How: Author, Educator, and Entrepreneur Christina Herr
What: I have been journaling, typing up stories, writing poems, etc. for as long as I can remember. My grandpa was a writer, and he had two typewriters in his basement--one that was his everyday workhorse and one that he let me use whenever I wanted. It was there that I learned it was okay to make mistakes. As he said, White Out exists for a reason. Mistakes happen to all of us. All along, I … [Read more...]