I have received three cards and a Rubic’s heart [below], which was a little scary but I figured it out. Wish I could figure out who sent it! Both sons deny knowledge. Seventy-one today.
BIRTHDAY
WHAT I DO WITH MY LIFE
At this point, what I did: I learned how to do things. I had experiences. Some sad. Some pure glory.
…and future plans.
ABOUT THAT RUN
Deer tracks, running the bridge, and olives in the enchiladas.
We’ve been seeing deer tracks in the sand most mornings. Sometimes the prints just end as if the deer leapt forty feet east. A mystery, like the tracks in sand in Denzel Washington’s marvelous early film Mighty Quinn.
OPENING
sharing our work
A writer I know recently asked for opinions about sharing writing in public or with the public. It’s wonderful that writers share work. It’s extraordinarily helpful to have feedback and to use that to encourage further work in revision or something new. Pure glory to have our work well-received.
My thoughts about sharing drafts begin with the goal, which for most writers is to improve our writing. I hope that’s the goal. We need an objective reader or listener to help us locate weakness and strength and to ensure the writing is accomplishing the work we hope it is accomplishing. Most of us hope for praise, but if that’s all a writer is looking for, the rest of what I have to say will not be helpful.
Continue readingTHE DECLUTTERING CURE
Today is the first day of October, and a lot is happening: The Portland Marathon [I am not running], sorting bins [yarn, stuff, and fabric], running, gallery show, and looking ahead.
MIDDLE DISTANCE
Three years ago, I thought if I could only run a mile, a complete mile, maybe semi-regularly… wouldn’t that be something! Then I did it. I ran a mile. I didn’t hurt or fall down or even feel sore the next day. Then that distance got easy and I tried a little further. Two miles.
PERMANENCE
Bees, long hoped-for goals, the illusion of permanence, photographs of the shore. The shifting tides and movement of sand and stone shoved in and out by the ocean.
GOOD NEWSs
Yes, I will count both fiction and review as two even though in the same publication.
Issue 34:1 of CALYX Journal has gone to press and my story “The Promised Hour” is featured on the announcement page where you can read it. In the same issue is my review of the marvelous and award-winning short story collection by Wendy Wimmer. I was most fortunate to be sent a review copy of Entry Level: Stories. Those stories have stayed with me, digging around in my subconscious and sending me off on wild flights of discovery. Just to mention one story: A wry entity sends dreams to sleepers. After an unpleasant dream the dreamer tries to lock dreams out by using sleeping pills. Oh, dear, that’s not going to go well.
Shall I consider these two publications due out next month recompense for being cussed out this morning? Yes, yes, I shall. Plus a reminder of my podcast introduction to All the Daughters Sing. That novel is making the rounds. Two full MS requests so far.
Continue readingOh. DEER.
It happened again. A deer in the surf and a dozen people crowding the shore. The last time, the deer drowned. This morning it’s an outgoing tide and I was repeatedly called a “b—” (and other things) for shouting “Back off!” at the top of my voice. I am so mean.
[Have no fear reading on. No one dies in this story.]
