Lessons From A Two-Year-Old: The Limits Of Language
I'm chagrined that I missed Banned Books Week at the end of September. Normally I'd celebrate by buying as many as I can afford from an independent book store, but I was busy babysitting my two-year-old grandson while my daughter and son-in-law went on a four day...
A Life In Six Words
I was recently asked by the editors of a small press to write my life story in six words and to "Be as pithy as possible." Seriously. After fooling with this task for a completely ridiculous amount of time, choosing, discarding, and switching up the order of words,...
Why Writers Need To Exercise
This one is easy. Writers need to exercise because they spend way too much time sitting, usually with bad posture, usually in bad chairs. At least this writer does. So after my little chiropractic adventure (see last post) I decided to listen to my brother-in-law,...
Why Writers Need Good Chairs
The most profound insight I've reached lately is that a writer needs an excellent chair. Much better than the one I have, which I'm pretty sure is causing my back pain. (Another possible cause is watching TV while yielding most of the couch to a self-centered...
On Drought and Desperation
Corn languishing in one of Brian's fields.[/caption] I've gone back to the farm market every day to get that amazing sweet corn for the magical ten days the farmer will have it. I go in the late afternoon when I need a break from writing. Normally I'd be out hiking...
On Water and Words
Sometimes we don't know what's on our minds until we wake from a dream in a dark room. This is especially true for me when I'm working on a first draft, living a story in my head as I set down rows of words and take most of them back. Last night I dreamed of...
Writing About The Elderly
Hannah, my chocolate Lab, a main character in Where The Trail Grows Faint, will be thirteen next month. Our forays into the woods have changed, although she still shows me that she wants to go by following me to the door in the late afternoon when I get up from...
Lunatic
Sometimes I remind myself of the Don Quixote of our yard. He's a lunatic robin doing valiant battle through this long and glorious spring. I can't believe he hasn’t killed himself yet. When morning is only a soft charcoal suggestion, he begins flying into the first...
Buy From Bricks And Mortar Bookstores…Please!
Do you order your books from Amazon? I often do. The independent bookshop in my small town closed long ago, and the university bookstore here focuses on student needs and best sellers. Amazon is less expensive. It’s convenient. Reviews are posted, and sometimes...