Monthly Archives: February 2025

“One important key to success is self-confidence.And one key to self-confidence is preparation.”Arthur Ashe “When you work as hard as I do, having confidence is no problem.”Jordan Burroughs, 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist in Wrestling When my son Alex was a … Continue reading →

“I attack the paper, struggling like a lion.”Vincent Van Gogh We’ve all had those days when nothing much seems to be happening: We can’t really jump start our writing, our energy level seems low, we feel deflated because we aren’t … Continue reading →

“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.” Victor Hugo Born on February 26, 1802, Victor Hugo is known for his novels Notre-Dame de Paris and Les Misérables. He was also a poet and … Continue reading →

“Our life is frittered away by details. Simplify. Simplify.” Henry David Thoreau, Walden Pond “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” Hans Hofmann, Artist Right above my desk I have a wooden … Continue reading →

On special days—and every day is a special day!—it’s wonderful to count our blessings. I’m so grateful for and appreciate my fabulous family and friends, my work as a writer, which I cherish, and all of my creative fellow scribes, … Continue reading →

In honor of George Washington’s birthday, also my wonderful husband David’s birthday, some words of wisdom from our Founding Father: “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” “It is better to be alone than in bad … Continue reading →

“Anyone can do anything at any time.”Grammy Award Winner I don’t know anything about the young man who said this as in a Grammy acceptance speech — who he was, what songs he’s written, or how he rose up to … Continue reading →

“Writing a great scene is like juggling. You need to ground your scenes first in place and time and build them by creating that particular moment in time…” Linda Joy Myers Scenes are the building blocks of short stories, plays, … Continue reading →

“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are gone, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.”Carson McCullers“Green wind from the green-gold branches, what is the song you bring? “What are all songs for me, … Continue reading →

Cold and sleety outside—who cares! There was a warm glow in a black box theater where reg e Gaines was giving a workshop before an open mike in downtown Newark. What a gift! What an evening! What talented poets were … Continue reading →