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Category Archives: writing
Best Tip for Getting Out of Your Head
After weeks of grinding away on a recalcitrant chapter for my book project, I am dazed, cranky, frustrated, and thoroughly sick of being in the same room with myself. Deciding that it’s time to get out of my own head, … Continue reading
Leaving Words at Home
I often say I write about my home place, but that’s not true all the time. The book project currently consuming my writing energy, for example, is about scientific literacy. (Though it might far afield from the natural history and … Continue reading
Posted in observation, travel, working from home, writing
Tagged Azores, Canyon de Chelly, Fire Island, Iceland, Istanbul, journaling, Palm Springs, travel
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Windbreak Anniversary
About a decade ago, on the afternoon of October 12, 2007, I turned off South Dakota’s Highway 79 a few miles south of the small town of Hermosa, onto a road called Windbreak Lane. In January of that year I … Continue reading
Posted in learning, poetry, reading, writing
Tagged Linda M. Hasselstrom, South Dakota, Windbreak House retreats, writer's retreats, writing
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Packing for the Trip
First things first: I am not a poet. As I mentioned in my last post, my writerly sensibilities are suited to essays, and that’s where I’ve long staked my claim. If I were to pursue poetry again, I suspect the … Continue reading
Writing Short
I recently dipped my toe into the sub-genre of so-called “flash” or “micro” nonfiction, the defining characteristic of which is an abbreviated word count. I regularly write blog posts in the 700-900 word range, which qualify as flash nonfiction under … Continue reading
Posted in observation, poetry, writing
Tagged flash nonfiction, narrative essay, The Fourth River journal, writing exercises
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Notes from the At-Home Writing Retreat
When my husband decided in October that he’d be making a quick trip out of town in early December, I immediately knew what I’d be doing that weekend: an at-home writing retreat. Credit for my inspiration belongs to Linda Hasselstrom, … Continue reading
On Sitting
I walked out of the house with no aim other than to go somewhere and sit: no destination, no errand, not even a camera to box in my attention. I’m not noodling a conundrum from a piece of writing left … Continue reading
Posted in change of seasons, fall, observation, writing
Tagged reflection, taking time, the writing life
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Beyond the Frame
In mid-October, I hit the road for Santa Fe, where I attended the Women Writing the West conference. After a socializing, talking shop, and attending sessions on craft and the business of writing with colleagues for a few days, my … Continue reading
Posted in driving, observation, travel, writing
Tagged Anasazi ruins, ancient puebloans, Canyon de Chelly, Colorado Plateau, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
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Seeing Voices
Back in early June, I packed my too-heavy suitcase (too many books, too much paperwork) and left the horses and the garden and the weeds and the house in care of my husband. I was off to Vermont, to the … Continue reading
Good News Follow-up
On Friday, May 6, the Colorado Authors’ League (CAL) announced the winners of their 2016 Writing Awards, and I was honored to be recognized for this blog. My sincere thanks to CAL for all the work the organization does to … Continue reading
