Monthly Archives: August 2023

Dustin Hoffman once told a reporter a wonderful story: When Midnight Cowboy was filming, an especially emotional and demanding scene was scheduled for shooting in the late afternoon. By then, Dustin was tired and felt too drained and tapped out … Continue reading →

“Convince yourself that you are working in clay, not marble; on paper, not eternal bronze: let that first sentence be as stupid as it wishes.” Jacques Barzun Here’s what Dinty W. Moore has to say about this in his compact … Continue reading →

Crutch” words — this phrase tells a story, doesn’t it? Crutch words are those pesky little filler words we all tend to over-rely on. While these fallback words may differ from writer to writer, the end result of using them … Continue reading →

As we head into September, there are lots of opportunities to submit our work! Here’s a round-up of options for you to check out:* Dzanc Books Prize for FictionEligibility: All writersPrize: $5,000 + publicationEntry fee: $25Deadline: September 30, 2023 Dzanc … Continue reading →

from The Navajo Song of the Earth And the night of darknessAnd the dawn of light,Meeting, joining one another,Helpmates ever, they.All is beautiful,All is beautiful,All is beautiful, indeed. translated by Natalie Curtis Burlin

Sometimes we all come to a place where we doubt the value of what we do. In a world of confusion, do stories really matter? When this happens, I’ve found it helps to turn to a master storyteller for a … Continue reading →

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others.” Nelson Mandela Writing is a solitary pursuit—at least most of the time and for most of us. Some writers, it’s true, have writing … Continue reading →

When my son Alex was about four, we were busy running around one afternoon. He turned to me and said, “Just freelax, Mom.” Love that word: “Freelax” If we could all just “freelax,” things would be so much better and … Continue reading →

“Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love and love what you write. The key word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for.” … Continue reading →

“The greatest achievements were at first and for a time dreams. The oak sleeps in the acorn.” James Allen, writer How hopeful a thought this is! And how inspiring it is to remind ourselves that every accomplishment starts as a … Continue reading →