Perfectionism is a primary writer’s block. We want to write–we just want to do it perfectly. Deliberately indulge in some “bad writing.” The danger of writing and rewriting at the same time is that it is tied in to mood. In an expansive mood, whatever we write is good. This makes writing a roller coaster [...]

Posted in books, fiction, my writing, writers No Comments »

Great, funny blog on author photos from MobyLives (why don’t I read MobyLives more often?), which is actually from Flavorwire. Here’s an excerpt: 1. The Sophisticated Photograph (aka “The My-head-is-so-weighted-down-by-great-thoughts-it-requires-additional-support”) It’s the two-fingered peace sign of tourists. The “say cheese” of extended-family portraits. The pouty lips of Facebook users. The middle finger of punk rockers. [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, books, cute photos of me, fiction, my writing, writers 1 Comment »

I’ve posted before about how I’m always writing lists. Lists of things to do (tomorrow, later, next week), lists of things to buy (glue, glitter, gum), lists of events coming up (B-day party Saturday, Mike and Jake’s going away party). I write probably three lists a day, minimum. That’s why my blog is covered in [...]

Posted in books, fiction, my writing, questions that plague me, writers No Comments »

Finished my first week back teaching after a far-t00-idle summer. Four classes and a fifth starts in October. I need to be busy again. Busy-ness makes me feel better. Having things to do, having places to be and responsibilities. I’d like to think it pushes me creatively, too. This summer was just a wash–too much [...]

Posted in art, collage, crafts, fiction, my writing, postcards, teaching, writers No Comments »

Where to begin? I seem to keep taking too long to post new blog entries. Sorry. This has got to be one of the slowest summers — as far as (paid) work for me — I’ve ever had but still I find myself busy, frazzled, distracted. So, first, Fishtrap. Got back from my 8-day writing [...]

Posted in Fishtrap, cute photos of me, fiction, my writing, travel, writers, writing residencies 3 Comments »

I love getting my Word of the Day from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (you can sign up for it on their website). I’ve discovered so many cool, strange, new words from it and I keep a file of them on my computer. Who knows, one or more of them could end up in my writing. Today’s [...]

Posted in Movies, fiction, my writing, word of the day No Comments »

I’m making my way through Tinkers, this year’s recent Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Paul Harding. Yesterday I took it to a coffee shop, had an iced coffee and a cookie and sat out on the patio and read for an hour and a half of uninterrupted bliss. I’m torn between really loving the book, [...]

Posted in art, books, cary elwes, collage, crafts, fiction, my writing, writers No Comments »

Back from NYC. Wonderful wonderful. Two weddings (in one night…) but no funerals thankfully. We did get to meet up with some of our favorite people: Aaron Hamburger and Anthony (by the way, Aaron’s new cooking blog , Aaron’s Sweet Spot, is fantastic!), Lee Houk and Kip (Lee’s book comes out in August! Yee haw!), [...]

Posted in books, fiction, ted, writers 2 Comments »

How does time slip away so fast? I was just saying to my buddy Eduardo yesterday that days and weeks and months just fly by now that I’m a grown up. I remember being in junior high or high school and feeling as if the days and weeks dragged on. Now I wish they would [...]

Posted in Fishtrap, books, crafts, fiction, my writing, postcards, writers, writing residencies No Comments »

For my birthday Ted got for me this great vintage Pocket Book, Peabody’s Mermaid, by Guy and Constance Jones–and it came today in the mail.  The book, this version of which was published in 1948 (it was also serialized in Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1945!), is a movie tie-in. I think I’ve mentioned it before but [...]

Posted in Movies, books, fiction, ted, vintage books 1 Comment »