Sign of the Times
Just before American Thanksgiving (for those of you here in the US who never gaze northward, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October), a friend of mine posted this photo on Facebook. I don’t know the name of the man in the picture, nor who took it, but if you do, please let…
Read MoreThe Writer's Ordinary Time
Well, I’m back now from the various travels associated with publishing a new book. It all went well. I met some wonderful people, including Dame Margaret Drabble (who is delightful), “Handsome” Colum McCann, Kevin Bass, Seth and his wife Tania, Charlotte Grey and on and on . . . lots of terrific readers. Wonderful festival…
Read MoreAbout That Wounded Buck . . .
I try not to post here about things that aren’t related to my writing life, because I assume that’s why most of you are here. And besides, I’m really not an authority on anything (probably not even on writing), but at least when it comes to writing I have some experience. Still, today I’m heart-sick…
Read MoreShelagh Rogers, and the Kingston Writersfest
Just got back from the wonderful Thin Air Literary Festival in Winnipeg and the Kingston Writersfest, in (of course) Kingston Ontario. I had a fantastic time in both spots. One of the highlights was the last night in Kingston, at the Speakeasy, with the fantastic jazz trio “Without Words”. Thought some of you might get…
Read MoreDeath and the next room . . .
Just as I sat here, thinking I should write a blog. . . but about what, about what. . . my phone rang. It was H., my friend and Jungian therapist, telling me she’s sorry she’d been out of touch the past couple of weeks, but her husband, who has been suffering terribly from dementia…
Read MoreWordless Wednesdays
Each week on Wordless Wednesday, bloggers around the world post a photo they’ve taken that tells a story. I’ve decided to join in. If the photo below brings to mind a memory or otherwise inspires you to do some writing, I hope you’ll share a comment. –
Read MoreDeath, Be Not Proud
The message came in Saturday evening. Our dear friend’s sister was dead. I’ll call her Mary. My heart sank in an all-too-familiar way. Not another, I thought. Not again. My Best Beloved stared at the message on his phone. I didn’t want to ask, but I’m sure the question was all over my face. “She…
Read MoreWriter's Notebook: Creating Emotion in the Reader
It’s that time of the month — by which I mean it’s the time of the month I spend editing my students’ work. I enjoy this. They’re good writers and always striving to be better. It’s wonderful to be part of that process. One thing I notice emerging writers struggling with is how to create…
Read MoreThings we have left undone . . .
I just came back from a terrific weekend teaching at the International Women’s Writing Guild 2013 Conference, held at Drew University. The women I met were wonderful, and dedicated to writing. So that was good — as were the classes and the writing and the discoveries we made in our work and the new friendships…
Read MoreTo Be A Writer
On the 250th episode of Inside the Actors’ Studio, Al Pacino talks about auditioning for admission and how being accepted — his first time out — was a defining moment. He knew then, he said, that he was an actor. Harvey Keitel talks about auditioning for ten years before he was accepted. Every time he…
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