Monthly Archives: September 2025

« I have always been a good editor of my own work. I’ve tried to teach my writing friends that there are two arts: number one, getting a thing  done; and then, the second great art is learning how to cut it so you … Continue reading →

“Every day is a good day” — words of wisdom from Dogen, a 13th century Zen Buddhist master worth pondering. Sometimes, it can be hard to feel this way about our writing. We encounter resistance, we feel sluggish, we aren’t … Continue reading →

A lovely offering from My First Book of Poems, “Tartary” was a favorite poem of my son Alex when he was very small. Read it aloud and taste its rhythmic beauty: Tartary If I were Lord of Tartary,Myself and me … Continue reading →

Conjuring up characters— it’s one of the cornerstones of spinning a good yarn. In the course of penning my children’s novel, I’ve spent many an hour pondering the fresh wonders, foibles, and flaws that make up my young heroine. Since … Continue reading →

Whoops! Yesterday, September 24, was National Punctuation Day. It flew right by me! Here’s what I know about National Punctuation Day: It was started in 2004 by a guy named Jeff who wanted to encourage a deeper appreciation of the … 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 →

“I have rewritten — often several times — every word I ever published.My pencils outlast their erasers.”Vladimir Nabakov Whatever writing project you are working on, at some point, hopefully soon, you are going to want to send you work out … Continue reading →

“The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but whatwe are unable to say.” Anais Nin Finding our voice is all about finding the courage to write dangerously, to speak out from our hearts … Continue reading →

A lovely poem, written in Sanskrit, c. 509: THE SEASONS Autumn The autumn comes, a maiden fairIn tenderness and grace,With nodding rice-stems in her hairAnd lilies in her face.In flowers of grasses she is clad;And as she moves along,Birds greet … Continue reading →

“Imagine something you want to write about is a stone you’ve picked up on the beach. Roll the image, the idea, the thought, or the feeling around in your mind. The gestation period is an important part of writing. If … Continue reading →