Category Archives: Journaling

Letter to Self

Dear Nancy, What can I tell you that, deep inside, you already know? The world is a rough place. Find the beauty. It is what will save you. The fear you feel at the publication of a new book is … Continue reading

Posted in comfort, Community; Genorosity, Day by day, Decisions, depression, emotion, Energy, Gratitude, Grief, Journaling, Magic, Pain, positivity; grace; light, privacy, Publishing, silence, Society, soul, spaciousness, spirit, Strength, survival, the world, Uncategorized, Wildness, women, work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Timidity and Standing Fierce

As a child I was timid. I learned early on that my opinions did not matter. If they were heard at all, they were argued with or denied. I did not excel in school. I kept to myself mostly. I … Continue reading

Posted in creativity, Day by day, editors, Energy, fiction, Gratitude, Journaling, Self-worth, silence, Strength, The Writer's Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Day Without Devices

On my walk this morning I found a nub of purple chalk a child had used to scribble on the pavement. I picked it up, an opportunity in my hand. What would I write? I thought hard about it, and … Continue reading

Posted in creativity, Day by day, Energy, fiction, fun with what we do, Gratitude, happiness, home, Journaling, Magic, Maintenance, privacy, Process, Self-worth, spaciousness, Story, Uncategorized, voice, what artists need | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Letting the Work Breathe

As soon as the contract for Persimmon Wilson was signed I started work on another novel. I knew I had just a slim window of time before the revision edits for Persy arrived in my inbox, and that once that … Continue reading

Posted in Completing a novel, creativity, Day by day, Decisions, Drafts, emotion, Energy, Exploration, fiction, Journaling, Magic, Play, Process, Publishing, Reading, research, spaciousness, Starting a new work, Starting over, Story, Uncategorized, vacation, what artists need | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Writing Fiction

Writing fiction is always about relationship, and the first relationship that must be established is between the author and the main character. There’s got to be a certain intimacy in order to proceed. I can’t just write. I don’t just … Continue reading

Posted in Comparison, Competition, Completing a novel, creativity, Day by day, Decisions, Drafts, emotion, Energy, Exploration, failure, fiction, Journaling, Magic, Process, Public appearances, Publishing, Starting a new work, Story, Visibilty, voice, Wildness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Mother Ship of Writing

On Saturday I taught my once-a-month, free-to-all Prompt Writing class. One of the prompts was “What I need for my writing.” I don’t usually give a writing prompt about writing, but when I do it’s almost always profound. I find … Continue reading

Posted in comfort, creativity, Day by day, Energy, Exploration, fun with what we do, Journaling, Play, Process, Reading, spaciousness, The Writer's Life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Daily Swath

Dear Abigail, Your letter reminded me of once sitting in a coffee shop with a baby in my lap. The baby was not mine (I have no babies). She was the daughter of my friend, who was at this time … Continue reading

Posted in comfort, creativity, Day by day, Energy, fiction, fun with what we do, Journaling, Magic, Play, Process, silence, spaciousness, The Muse, Uncategorized, what artists need | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eavesdropping and Solitude

Dear Nancy, Just now I’m sitting at an iron table outside a coffee place in Jamaica Plain. I had looked forward to a cigarette with my coffee, but there’s a big NO SMOKING sign and I obey. I’m wide awake. … Continue reading

Posted in Day by day, fun with what we do, home, Journaling, Passion, Play, Process, spaciousness, The Writer's Life, what artists need | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Value of Play

Dear Nancy Your pre-writing walks along the river sound glorious, and so does your description of your childhood “moodling” time in the woods.  As a child, I also walked in the woods.  It was a great solace to me, and … Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Completing a novel, creativity, Day by day, fantasy, fiction, fun with what we do, Gratitude, happiness, Journaling, marketing, Play, posterity, Process, Self-worth, The Writer's Life, violence, Visibilty, Writing career | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Procrastination, An Old Friend

Dear Nancy– Thanks for asking me to write a post for your blog–Marginalia has truly been an inspiration to me, and I am honored to be able to join the conversation! But as excited as I was, just as I … Continue reading

Posted in creativity, Day by day, Drafts, Journaling, procrastination, Uncategorized, what artists need | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment