You do not have to be good

“You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body

Writing What Is

This morning, I woke from a lovely dream. I was at the beach on a sunny day. There were kids and friends and sun-warmed bodies, lying close together. There was laughter and warmth and playfulness.

The Power of a Writing Prompt

Over the last year, I wrote two short stories that I never would have written before. How did I do this? Through the magic of writing contests, guided by prompts, and inspired by a deadline.

Your Wild and Precious Life

“How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives.” —Annie Dillard Go hang gliding. Ride a horse. Learn a new language. Start singing again. Walk the Camino. See the pyramids. Write

Steal Like An Artist

“It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.” —Jean-Luc Godard Author Austin Kleon expresses strong opinions and uses vivid language in his book Steal Like An Artist. He argues

A couple of years ago, I co-led a writing workshop at the Trappistine Monastery in New Brunswick with the wonderful poet and novelist Anne Simpson. There were five women writers who attended, all at different

Writing

Forty Days

“What nine months does for the embryo Forty early mornings Will do for your growing awareness.” —Rumi It’s so easy to keep doing the “same old,” isn’t it? Stay at the same job. Live in

Writing

Becoming Who You Are

I grew up in Windsor, Ontario with the Detroit River and the Great Lakes as my backyard playground. Our family had a boat and it wasn’t uncommon for my mom to pack a quick, cold

Writing

Kissing the Moment

So, I’m doing a Thirty Day Poetry Challenge. (A hush falls over the room.) I’ve told a few friends. Commentary has been mixed. One of them assumed I meant reading one lovely poem a day.

Women