Monthly Archives: July 2023

Sometimes it helps to simplify things—to get down to essentials. This morning in a small guidebook I saw a headline that was longer than the text below it: “The Three P’s of Success.” Under the headline were three words: Passion, … Continue reading →

The heart beats alone, keeping its own pace Fear, rage, sorrow — storms beyond our range The river bows and bends, birthing new space To die and live again — this constant change — Wang Ping, “The River in Our … Continue reading →

From Medusa and the Snail by the physician-writer Lewis Thomas “Mistakes are at the very base of human thought, embedded there, feeding the structure like root nodules. If we were not provided with the knack of being wrong, we could … Continue reading →

The universe is made of stories, not atoms.”Muriel Rukeyser “If you want to motivate people, tell stories. If you want to instruct people, tell stories. Human beings are storytelling machines. As they say in sales, facts tell, stories sell. Why … Continue reading →

Here’s a story someone told me long ago on summer evening: When butterflies emerge, they must wage a battle to be born. They struggle to emerge from their chrysalis, the small sack that holds them. They push and pull inside … Continue reading →

Peter K. Hixson (1947-2007) was a much-beloved client of Writer’s Relief, a submission advisory service. With funding from Peter’s estate and contributions from family, Writer’s Relief offers an annual Peter K. Hixson Memorial Award for Creative Writers. This award is … Continue reading →

When it’s possible to ‘think inside someone else’s head,’ we know we’ve succeeded in breathing life into a fictional person. Once this happens, we can stand back. The character can control his fate.” “But like dreams, there’s an endless supply … Continue reading →

Waiting John Burroughs Serene, I fold my hands and wait,Nor care for wind nor tide nor sea;I rave no more ‘gainst time or fate,For lo! my own shall come to me. I stay my haste, I make delays —For what … Continue reading →

A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it.”    Mark Twain Revision is not a walk in the park for most of us — it’s a necessary stage on the road … Continue reading →

I think so much of writing is about the courage to express ourselves, to be true to our own voice, to find our vision, our voice, and put it out there. Also, allow yourself too write badly in the beginning. … Continue reading →