I'm really good at setting a goal and achieving it. Especially a writing goal. Last December I decided I wanted 2016 to be all about writing, actual writing, the act of writing. I wanted a more consistent practice because even when I don't know what I'm writing exactly, I know...
Take the Shot
In the romantic amber glow of the early morning, I kept my pace, watching the cows watch me. During the first mile I saw several perfect photo opps-- trees, baled hay, broken down fences. In that light, everything is prettier. Slowly pushing forward, I understood why my dad likes to sneak off with his camera before dawn. He catches scenes like this just after sunrise, when the light is like magic, casting everything in hope.
Spiders and Blank Pages
Finding Your Voice, Really?
What I Know For Sure About Writing
I didn't start to practice the craft of writing until I was thirty years old. But I've always been a writer.
Before I could call myself a writer, I wrote. Mostly lists, long letters, and plans. Some stories. I made up a cast of pretend friends, and I talked to myself. Still do. Thank you, bold new world in...
Are You a Writer or an Artist?
Who Gets to Be a Writer?
Stay on the Bus
I recently learned about the Helsinki bus terminal theory. It's Finnish photographer Arno Minkkinen's advice (he's kind of a big deal) about attaining success in a creative career. The theory compares a body of creative work to the bus lines in Helsinki...
How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?
Publishing a Book: 3 Very Different Experiences
This is the story of three very different books. The process of publishing a book can be thrilling, disheartening, empowering, and everything in between. My three books are very similar to the reader, but the difference in what Blacklisted from the PTA, Who Peed on My ...