Wealth of Seasons

Apple pickingUnder sunshine andTurning over the garden– Utilizing the lastMismatched veggiesNeglected in the weedsWhistling winds andIcicles shimmeringNext to the doorways, under eaves,Turning to dripping puddles under sunlightEffervescent melodies, sung together, joyRememberedSoft blooms ofPetals dancing alongsideRivers playing,Inviting life.Nights grow shorter, daysGrow longer Sparklers twinkleUmbrellas wrinkle, packed away.MeltyMemories shared,Everyone thereRelaxing I wrote this poem for Wea’ve WrittenContinue reading “Wealth of Seasons”

Uphill Writer Battles

For me, writer life tends to flow in ups and downs. I’ll feel very motivated to write and I’ll grow confidence in my writing. Then, I’ll hear another rejection and I’ll lose that confidence boost. Recently, I felt incredibly dejected about my writing. I’ve been receiving rejections from agents all spring and summer for aContinue reading “Uphill Writer Battles”

What Should We Write?

Do writers have an obligation to tell a greater message within a novel, or should it simply be a fun story meant for entertainment purposes? Somewhere along the line, I slipped from telling a story simply for the joy of others’ reactions and the excitement of piecing together the narrative and into the passion ofContinue reading “What Should We Write?”

Workshop Adventures

A few weeks ago, I got to attend the Minnesota Writing Workshop, a writing conference in the Twin Cities. I left feeling energized even if it started out with a bit of a hiccup. I signed up to pitch several agents at this conference, something I’d only done once before, at a conference 10 yearsContinue reading “Workshop Adventures”

Writerly Advice for a Confident New Year

I mentioned in the fall that I’d hit a sort of writing block. It wasn’t necessarily that I didn’t have the motivation to write or the ideas to write about; it was that I lacked the time to put my thoughts to paper (or screen, I suppose). My nontraditional NaNoWriMo helped to break that blockContinue reading “Writerly Advice for a Confident New Year”

Distractibility

boldly billowing grim clouds coil and laze around others swirl in dance I’ve written on here before about my difficulty with focus. Toward the end of my chemo infusions and immediately afterward, I couldn’t get my brain to attend to any one idea or situation for more than 5 minutes or so. It would bounceContinue reading “Distractibility”

Caffeine Courier

From my mahogany home, I watch you type, dragging words through sinuous steam. You cradle caffeine close, your keyboard closer, taking care not to spill– indulgence lets the world still. The Wea’ve Written Weekly challenge this week is from our host David at the Skeptic’s Kaddish. He asks us to do the following: Any ofContinue reading “Caffeine Courier”

Growth through Words

Last week, I accomplished a pretty neat little milestone on WordPress: my 100th post! I had originally made this website back in 2016 when my first cozy mystery was picked up by a publisher before an unexpected series of events ensued. However, to my own detriment, I didn’t do anything with the blog for years.Continue reading “Growth through Words”

Are you the main character?

As a writer and writing teacher, I was intrigued by this question when I heard it the other day: Are you the main character in your life? What are your thoughts when you hear this question? Do you agree with my gut reaction about control or my later (hopefully slightly insightful) thoughts about growth? AreContinue reading “Are you the main character?”