Blog
When Inspiration Stalls
A client wrote to me not long ago to stay that her inspiration had stalled. It was both a statement and a lament. Writers tend to be preoccupied with the notion of inspiration--its presence or absence, its ease or struggle. Inspiration is a lot like the weather—a...
Time, the Moon, and Mary Oliver
As I watch the first month of the new year end, I am considering my relationship to time. Most days, it isn’t a good one. To my mind, each day begins so full of potential and then, by day’s end, that potential seems to have frittered away. So this morning, I meditated...
What Do You Owe Your Readers?
In a word: Everything. Reading might be the single most intimate act you will experience with a stranger. When you open a book, you let a complete stranger into your most private space: your mind. Once there, this wordsmith sets up camp and creates words that conjure...
The Most Important Ten Minutes of Your Day
Are you writing? It's hard to start, isn't it? We make such a fuss about starting, especially on those things most important to us. The things with stakes attached. And who doesn't attach pretty high stakes to chosen dreams? Such as writing. The expectations we have...
Writing and Creative Depression
Depression may seem like a dark topic during the summer, but I’ve noticed it can arise anytime of year, regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes it’s good to take a peek at the dark stuff when we have a lot of access to the light. At times, dark moods seem to have a...
Staying the Course
Earlier this month I had the good fortune to be a guest on a friend’s sailboat for ten days. Up until then I’d only ever spent a day or half day on a sailboat and hadn't needed to do much but sit back and enjoy the ride. For this trip, I was one of three hands on...
Baguettes and Books
Paris has long been a mecca for literary and visual artists. Expat writers such Hemingway and Henry Miller, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein flocked to Paris in the 20's and inspired future generations to follow in their footsteps. And then there are the famous...
Abundance, Gratitude, and Writing
Have you ever noticed how abundance can build up momentum in your life so that good things seem to create more good things? Then all of a sudden abundance takes a step back, seems to drain away or run into hiding? In both cases gratitude is the key. When you have a...
Chaos and Order
By the end of January most of us are either hitting a stride when it comes to moving toward goals or else we’ve abandoned them completely. The latter can leave some of us disillusioned and disoriented, and simply trying to keep our heads above water as the river of...
Jugglers or Jesters?
As writers we get used to juggling a lot. Not many of us can get by on writing alone. And, of course, we need to live an engaged life in order to have anything decent to write about. But there are days when it feels like 'too much.' I sometimes wonder if I'm fooling...
When Inspiration Stalls
A client wrote to me not long ago to stay that her inspiration had stalled. It was both a statement and a lament. Writers tend...
Time, the Moon, and Mary Oliver
As I watch the first month of the new year end, I am considering my relationship to time. Most days, it isn’t a good one. To my...
What Do You Owe Your Readers?
In a word: Everything. Reading might be the single most intimate act you will experience with a stranger. When you open a book,...
The Most Important Ten Minutes of Your Day
Are you writing? It's hard to start, isn't it? We make such a fuss about starting, especially on those things most important to...
Writing and Creative Depression
Depression may seem like a dark topic during the summer, but I’ve noticed it can arise anytime of year, regardless of the...
Staying the Course
Earlier this month I had the good fortune to be a guest on a friend’s sailboat for ten days. Up until then I’d only ever spent a...
Baguettes and Books
Paris has long been a mecca for literary and visual artists. Expat writers such Hemingway and Henry Miller, F. Scott Fitzgerald,...
Abundance, Gratitude, and Writing
Have you ever noticed how abundance can build up momentum in your life so that good things seem to create more good things? Then...
Chaos and Order
By the end of January most of us are either hitting a stride when it comes to moving toward goals or else we’ve abandoned them...
Jugglers or Jesters?
As writers we get used to juggling a lot. Not many of us can get by on writing alone. And, of course, we need to live an engaged...
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