Writer’s Mental Health
Quiet Grace
This wet and green May morning I’m sitting in a log cabin next to the Bushkill Creek, drinking coffee, dog by my side, My Best Beloved in the chair by the big window, which is filled with the sweet green leaves of spring. It’s raining today, so green is greener, tree trunks are browner, the…
Read MoreWriter’s Block of Ice Breaks Up!
Thank you, everyone, for your support during a dry spell, for encouraging, and listening, and understanding this fragile writer. I’ve learned some things, and I want to pass that on, so let’s talk process. It goes like this: I begin a novel. Oh, the golden glory and silver slide of words from mind to finger to…
Read MoreGlug, horror, attention!
As some of you know I have, with the help of the wonderful team of Bob and Garrett Griffith, created a raised bed vegetable garden. I love it. Veggies, you know? But here’s the problem… Bailey the Rescuepoo wandered out past the garden and was suddenly all muddy, as many short-legged white dogs might be.…
Read MoreWhen we are here… here…look!
As some of you know, I popped off social media a few days ago. I’m a bit conflicted, I admit, and probably in the thrall of withdrawal, if you will. I miss people — and I hope they will find me and reach out. But I’m also much more at peace. I do not need another…
Read MoreFrom Darkness to Light
The ancient Celts believed the new day began at sunset, as do modern pagans, Jews, and some Christians. Similarly, the ancients celebrated the new year on Samhain, October 31. I love this idea. I love the idea that there is a period of dark gestation prior to the actual birth. The ancient new year celebration…
Read MoreWisdom for a Hunger Moon
Here in North America, Indigenous people tell us the name for the full moon in February is the Snow Moon, or the Hunger moon. Yesterday we had what New Jersey folk call a snow storm, and while it was a bit blustery, for this Canadian, 4 inches of snow is hardly a storm. Still, it…
Read MoreHomecoming
This morning I woke up and, after taking the dog out to do his business before the rain started, made up my bed, smoothing the linen cover, plumping the pillows, setting the lavender sachet among the pillows just so. Then I went downstairs and made coffee, and while the water boiled I looked out the…
Read MoreA Subtle But Important Distinction
A man I respect immensely — kind, caring, smart, funny and filled with the sort of humility that’s truly inspiring — told me a story yesterday that I want to share with you. It’s not really his story any more than it’s mine, but it is the sort of story that holds such wonderful wisdom…
Read MoreThe Life That Is Waiting For Us (might just be here)
E.M. Forster wrote, “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Change is inevitable, and the wisest words in all the world are these, this, too, shall pass. For better for for worse, nothing lasts. We live in a…
Read MoreWriters' Blog Tour – How Does My Writing Process Work? Question #4
I explained in an earlier post what the Writers’ Blog Tour is about. Basically, writers answer the same four questions: Why do I write what I do? What am I working on? How does my work differ from other work in its genre? How does my writing process work? You can click on the links to see…
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