Monthly Archives: September 2024

“To me the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the music the words make.” Truman Capote Sure, we have things we want to say when we write—ideas, insights, emotions, fears and joys we want to share. … Continue reading →

Blackberry Eating I love to go out in late Septembeeramong the fat, overripe, icy, black blackberriesto eat blackberries for breakfast,the stalks very prickly, a penaltythey earn for knowing the black artof blackberry-making; and as I stand among themlifting the stalks … Continue reading →

We’ve all been there: Hit those moments in our writing when we feel confused and upended, agitated and frustrated. When moments like this happen we can feel unable to find our way out of the darkness into the light because … Continue reading →

A familiar story:  The Chinese word for “crisis” is made up of two picture characters — the first one means “danger” and the second means “opportunity.” Consider how these two words came into play in the writing of The Scarlet Letter, … Continue reading →

“When you get into a tight space and everything goes against you…never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”Harriet Beecher Stowe A true story:  On the cold, windswept shores of Lake Michigan a … Continue reading →

“All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.” F. Scott Fitzgerald Today, September 24, is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s birthday. Born in 1896, he lived through some of the most tumultuous decades in American history and his writing … Continue reading →

This fabulous and inspiring story is from The Diaries of Mario M. Cuomo, the former governor of New York. He recalled it at a low moment when he was just about to quit a campaign he was losing: “…We had just … Continue reading →

I’d Love to Be a Fairy’s Child Children born of fairy stockNever need for shirt or frock,Never want for food or fire,Always get their heart’s desire:Jingle pockets full of gold,Marry when they’re seven years old.Every fairy child may keepTwo strong … Continue reading →

Along with consistent practice, expert advice from seasoned writers is one of the keys to honing our craft: a few pithy words on the writing process may be the only spark we need to push us to the next level. … Continue reading →

When the great Jerome Robbins was asked to direct the original version of Fiddler on the Roof, he asked the authors a simple question: “What is your show about?” Their first answer was that it was about a Jewish milkman and … Continue reading →