Toward Hope and Justice: It’s Up to All of Us
My son called me early yesterday morning. “Did you see the video?” he asked. I didn’t have to ask what video he meant. The appalling video of George Floyd, an unarmed black man being ruthlessly murdered by four policemen in Minneapolis, has played over and over on television for days. His name was added to…
Read More“The Only Raisin in the Bunch”
I called a dear friend the other day who recently relocated to Iowa to return to school. She lives alone and I wondered how she was faring sheltering in place in a new town. “I’m doing great,” she told me. “I’m working my way through a pile of books I never had time to read,…
Read MoreEvery Time I Start to Feel Judgmental…
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of writing activity for me. Having my life more or less canceled meant that I suddenly had lots more time to work on my writing. I finished up the first draft of a new YA novel, followed by taking an intensive three-week online writing class taught by…
Read MoreMissing My Mom on Mother’s Day
This is the first Mother’s Day when I haven’t gotten to shop for gifts and a card to send to my mom, and when I haven’t been able to talk to her. She died on December 9. After years of dementia, the quality of her life had deteriorated so much that it was a blessing…
Read MoreThe Comfort of Writing Rituals During a Pandemic (or Anytime)
On discussion boards, I’ve noticed three different reactions to the pandemic among writers: -I am way too anxious (and/or too busy with children/grandchildren at home) to possibly get any writing done. -I’m writing, but I’m so distracted that it’s really tough. -I’m getting more writing done than usual because the rest of my life is…
Read MoreA Little Cabin Fever Can’t Really Compare
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how fortunate I am to be an older working writer. Sure, I’ve suffered from a little cabin fever. Presentations and writing conferences have been put on hold, as has my singing group, volunteer work as a comprehensive sexuality educator, and trips to my favorite hangouts—the library and my neighborhood bookstore.…
Read MoreFinding and Trusting Your Creative Process
Years ago, when I was in dance and working on choreography, I would arrive at the studio having a general idea of some things I wanted to try. But it was only in the act of moving that specific ideas, bits of movement, and whole phrases, often ones I hadn’t even contemplated, would emerge. On…
Read MoreWriting Out of Our Comfort Zone
I’m in a writing group where we regularly give each other feedback on our novels-in-progress. In addition, we’ve been working our way through one of the classic books on craft, Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway. We’re now up to Chapter Four in the 10th edition, “The Flesh Made Word,” on indirect methods of character presentation.…
Read MoreBirthday Reflections for My Grandson
Sixteen years ago, my life changed when I became the totally besotted grandparent of Cameron, my first grandchild. I love this young man more than life can say. Along with the four grandchildren who’ve followed, he’s enriched my life in ways I could never have predicted. This isn’t exactly the sixteenth birthday year I’d hoped…
Read MoreWhen It’s Hard to Sound Upbeat about “The New Normal”
Okay. I’d planned to write an upbeat blog about practicing gratitude. I made up a whole list of things I was grateful for during this crazy time: The courageous medical personnel risking their lives to care for us My amazing husband who still holds my hand when we take our daily walks Thanks to technology,…
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