This wild and playful writing prompt comes from Ellery Akers, a fabulous poet I took a class from a few years ago. Here’s what she suggests: Think of a major event in your life. Now think of an animal you’re attracted to or repelled by and write about the event, including the animal. Make the…
DetailsCan you relate to this? I know I can. “…sometimes we find ourselves shifting from one idea to the next in an endless series of discoveries. These discoveries change the piece in significant ways. Unfortunately, they don’t lead to progressive development. They lead to our starting over in an endless chain of new beginnings.” Jeff…
DetailsOne of the great joys of being a writer came to me when I read an essay of mine called, “Meltdown” at City Lights bookstore in San Francisco. Famous for the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, and the Beat Poets, City Lights looks and feels like a punk rocker at a prom–a little dangerous…
Details“…With the approach of evening long, blue, spiky-edged shadows creep out over the snowfields, while a rosy glow, at first scarce discernible, gradually deepens, suffusing every peak and flushing the glaciers and the harsh crags above them. This is the alpenglow, the most impressive of all the terrestrial manifestations of God. At the touch of…
DetailsFirst thoughts have tremendous energy. It is the way the mind first flashes on something. –Natalie Goldberg As I read these words by Natalie Goldberg it strikes me how often I dismiss my first thoughts. Many times my body will literally thrum with excitement––that “tremendous energy”––as an idea or a way of weaving certain images…
DetailsThis Saturday I heard the frogs singing. After two months of droughts, a couple of days of heavy rain had brought them out. The choir rang loud and clear from the marshes. Sometimes our pens don’t sing either. Our creativity dries up. Our song falls silent. As writers, this can be a frightening time. We…
DetailsOne of the best pieces of advice I ever heard about writing was this: lower your standards. These words were spoken by Kim Stafford, son of writer and poet William Stafford. Kim said “lower your standards” were the words his father uttered when asked by people how they could write as prolifically as he did…
DetailsRevision means being willing to “see again,” to “start over” if necessary. If you’re committed to making a piece work, nothing can be sacred. You must be willing to let go of all of it. When you achieve this mindset, question the largest issues such as the structure of the piece, its voice and protagonist.…
DetailsBent over the bone white pages (or the melancholy light from her computer screen) the writer scribes long into the loveless night. To many of us, writers conjure up visions of solitary figures. But is that really so? After all, isn’t writing at its best a conversation between the writer and the reader? Writing for…
DetailsIf you find yourself stalled in your writing, you might be caught in the endless, unproductive loop of editing-as-you-go. Stop! Listen to the wisdom of one very smart bear. “You can’t help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn’t spell it right; but spelling isn’t everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday…
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