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Taking Risks
It's such a common piece of advice in writing: take risks, go beyond your comfort zone. Write the thing you're afraid to write. I've pushed myself many times to write deeper, to expand or extend into unfamiliar territory, in the quest for better writing ( Read more... ) -
Book Excitement!
Don't you love it when good things happen to good people ( Read more... ) -
It All Comes Back to 12 O’Clock…
A friend’s recent use of that phrase tickled my fancy, and got me thinking about family histories, telling stories, and more. It was very much on my mind as I went back to one of my “twelve o’clock” places, New York City, last week. I can make my way around the city feeling so content and at ease, feeling both like a star-struck visitor and a ( Read more... ) -
Fanciful February!
February, the month of hearts and candy and love of all kinds. Also the month of snow, snow, and more snow (wait, that was January).
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Thankful for 2010...
Just as the year of 2010 is drawing to a close, so is my two-year journey as a graduate student. At the end of every semester of my MFA program, I have had to write a summary, reflecting on goals achieved, projects completed, insights gained. I guess I've been completely enculturated into the grad school mindset, as I feel the need to reflect and ( Read more... ) -
Acts of Optimism
Sometimes you read just the right book at just the right time. That’s how I’m feeling this week; I just read David Almond’s KIT’S WILDERNESS. Main character Kit lives in a declining mining town in the north of England, and his grandfather is fading in health even as his memories of mining are more vivid than ever. Kit is a sensitive and sensible ( Read more... ) -
Use Your Words!
We often tell young children to "use your words" when they are sorting out strong feelings or conflict. But beyond that simple message, life gets a lot more complicated ( Read more... ) -
Back to School days....
The day after Labor Day is a back-to-business kind of day, so it's the perfect day to awaken my blog from its summer slumber! Here is my back to school check-in ( Read more... ) -
Off to Vermont...
Tomorrow I leave for Vermont for my fourth MFA residency at Vermont College of Fine Arts. It promises to be a full ten days, packed with lectures, workshops, and more. Guest lecturers include Gregory Maguire and Holly Black! There will also be lectures by VCFA’s many wonderful faculty members, including Kathi Appelt, Julie Larios, Tim Wynne-Jones ( Read more... )
