The funny thing about posting a poem a day for National Poetry Month? It gets you to thinking about the whole history of poetry in your own life. At first you might think to yourself, “Yeah, I don’t have much to do with that poetry stuff.” Then it … [Read more...]
Magpie to the morning
April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I know this is poetry because I don't really understand what she's talking about, but it sure sounds pretty. Magpie to the morning Neko Case Magpie comes a calling Drops a marble from the sky Tin roof sounds alarm And wake up child Let … [Read more...]
This is just to say
April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
It is National Poetry Month, and I promise not to subject anyone to my poetry all month, because that would just be too much. I have something of a love/hate relationship with poetry. Or perhaps it would be better to say a love/dislike … [Read more...]
The college students and the woodpecker
April 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I thought maybe for National Poetry Month I would have a poem for every day of the month. Not doing so well on Day Three, but there's something to be said for the persistent starter. So I'm trying again today. Here's something in the William Carlos … [Read more...]
The joys of the unpublished writer: figuring it all out
March 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
In the last month or so, I’ve written at least two and a half short stories that center around the same, basic situation. I finish one story and then get that feeling. You know that feeling? The feeling that your story is like deeply uncomfortable … [Read more...]
Whose story is this, anyway? My obsession with point of view
March 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
First person: I have become obsessed with point of view. I have a problem. I’m not afraid to admit it. I randomly pull books off my shelves to make mental lists. I study scenes for the slightest change in perspective. I walk around wondering what … [Read more...]
The writing life: what Fisher-Price Little People and writing a novel have in common
January 23, 2013 By 3 Comments
When I was little, my favorite toys were Fisher Price Little People. Not the big chunky ones they have now because of that whole annoying “choking hazard” thing (who would be so stupid as to waste a Little Person by swallowing it?). I played with the … [Read more...]
It’s cold and revising sucks
January 16, 2013 By 9 Comments
- It is cold. So, so cold. Do you remember back in December when I was all, “Say good-bye to winter,” as if that were a bad thing? Now I am feeling it is really time to say good-bye to winter. It is 63 degrees in my living room right now. Why did I … [Read more...]
The joys of unpublished writing: learning stuff
January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Do you know that moment when you’re reading one of the countless books about writing and the author tells you that if you’re writing just to get published, you should just go ahead and stop now? And you roll your eyes and think to yourself, “Easy to … [Read more...]
Why I’m reading Great Expectations
December 15, 2012 By 3 Comments
- Mostly because the only other Dickens I’ve ever read was A Tale of Two Cities in high school, and that just doesn’t seem right. - Because not having read Great Expectations constitutes a serious gap in one’s cultural literacy. I know that Pip … [Read more...]
