Author Archive

What Do Your Prepositions Say About You?

“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” – Kris Kristofferson It starts out as a search for yourself, a part-time occupation giving the journey definition and greater meaning. At least it did for me. It took a few years to determine that primary pursuit, but once I did, it seemed writing was what would lead me to myself,
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A Tip for Finishing

Having worked with many writers over the years, I’ve noticed that no matter what most motives us to write–personal, professional, spiritual, or emotional reasons–all writers have difficulty getting free of concerns about how their work will be received. Some of this is justified and positive, of course. It keeps us from publishing work that isn’t up to our high standards.
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When the Waiting Has You Clawing the Walls

“The essence of writing is not control, but release…. When writing is going well, it is not like pushing. It’s like falling. You fall the way you do in dreams.”  – Bonnie Friedman, Writing Past Dark   So you wait.  Maybe you stand, sit, pace the floor some more and try to unravel more of the mystery barely felt, subdermal
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On the Writer’s Community and Something Better than Balance

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” – John Muir I drive Ellie to school and decide to silence the radio. Fund-drive season on the classical station and the news on NPR aren’t as valuable as 8 minutes of silence. Monday comes full of details to sort and
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Why You Must Face Your Shame

“I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom.” – Matthew 18:3-4 MSG How long it’s taken me to understand
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