“‘Somehow’ is a weasel word; it means the author didn’t want to bother thinking out the story… When I teach science fiction and fantasy writing I ban the word. Nothing can happen ‘somehow,’” Ursula K. Le Guin, Steering the Craft “Someday soon we all will be together If the fates allow Until then we’ll have tomorrows through somehow So have yourself a merry little … Read More somehow
When I was small, my mother taught me how to put a puzzle together. How you separate out the edge pieces and put them together first. Then you examine the image on the box and look for pieces that correspond. Slowly, you fill in the center, bring structure to chaos. Once you’ve put all of the pieces back together you’re done. But while the … Read More Puzzle (for Nadine)
There was only the shimmer of life. A hologram of what was not. There is the part that is not the hologram. The part that is breath. And scent. The part that is hair and skin and blood. * I bump into a friend and we talk about therapists. He tells me a funny/sad story about his old one and I tell him about … Read More Occupied
Now it is spring and snow continues to fall, splashing wetly against windowpanes. We know it will not last on the ground forever but it can make you feel like winter has not and will not ever end. If you let it, that is. There have been times in the past year or so when my periods of transition have threatened to crush me … Read More there is a season
Originally posted on My Memories of a Future Life:
‘Tenderness, fragility, an understanding beyond her years’ Once a week I host a writer who uses music as part of their creative environment – perhaps to connect with a character, populate a mysterious place, or hold a moment still to explore its depths. This week’s guest is Myfanwy Collins @MyfanwyCollins Soundtrack by Jessica Lea Mayfield…
Originally posted on JMWW:
Exquisite Duet (formerly Exquisite Quartet) is not so much a composition between two writers, but rather something created within the murky midlands of each author’s mind, yet set off by the same first sentence. Meg Tuite chooses two writers each month and gives them a first sentence to start with and a 250-word limit to finish an exquisitely mesmerizing story…
I recently took a quiz to find out which values of life are important for me to pass on to my child and how those values line up with the values of different countries. At the end of the quiz, I found out that my parenting values most closely resemble those of parents in Sweden. I was given a set of 11 values to … Read More My Hijab Day (#myhijabday)
From the day he was born, my son has been my greatest teacher. Here’s what he taught me today: It’s not the gift, but the giving that brings us joy. We are comforted and made happy by our traditions and rituals. Spending time with those you love is the most precious gift. Friend, I know this day of celebration for many is difficult for … Read More Tradition
Below is a guest post written by Bonnie ZoBell. Bonnie ZoBell: My Writing Process: Blog Tour Today I’m taking part in the #MyWritingProcessTour. It’s so interesting and instructive to see how other writers go about their work. I was nominated by my friend, Susan Tepper, writer extraordinaire. Be sure to get a copy of Susan’s latest book, The Merrill Diaries, beautifully written and a … Read More GUEST POST: Bonnie ZoBell: My Writing Process
There was a little girl dressed in a costume in the check out line today. She was cute and said to her mother, “No one will recognize me.” Then she turned to me and took off her mask and I said, “It’s you! I had no idea it was you.” She turned back to her mother and said, “See? I told you.” The mother … Read More Get used to it.
“It took more than three thousand years to make some of the trees in these Western woods — trees that are still standing in perfect strength and beauty, waving and singing in the mighty forests of the Sierra. Through all the wonderful, eventful centuries … God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand straining, leveling tempests and … Read More
One of my beloved aunties had down syndrome. She was sweet and had funny stories about her boyfriend, Mickey Lewis (aka, Mick Jagger). She also had many endearing quirks, one of which was that she liked to clean. Whenever she stayed with us, I would come home and find all of my dresser drawers tidied, even my underwear were folded. She also had a … Read More the unraveling
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