The Butterfly Effect
“Whatever you are doing, if you want something else to happen, you need to pause.” —Helene Simonsen Nine years ago …
essay
Practice and Purpose
“But how, if you are neither Zulu warrior nor Aztec maiden, do you prepare yourself, all alone, to enter an …
Accounting
Tis the season for accounting. It’s the time of year when we let ourselves have that second cocktail or slice …
Commitment
I have an uneasy relationship with writing novels. Or, so I thought. I’ve spent this year focusing on my novel …
Doldrums & Distractions
Hello there. It’s been a while. I’ve been on the road quite a bit. Pullman, Port Townsend, Tucson, San Francisco, …
Space and Inspiration
This week, I’ve been in Denver for a preview of the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art designed by …
The Next Tree Line
One of the owners of the architecture firm where I work recently explained how he approaches design in a way …
Chasing Epiphany
Each year, I cobble together an educational program that serves as my DIYMFA. Usually, this means a residency, classes at …
REJECTED! (Part Deux)
When someone discovers that I’m a writer, they are most likely to blurt one of two things: nervousness at me correcting …
Houses and Bridges
It’s been more than a year since I’ve been able to take a writing class. That’s why I felt a sort of …
True Story
It’s the end of the year, a time when most of us cannot help but pause to take stock of …
The Obligatory Post-Election Blog Post In Which I Try to Make Sense of What Happened (At Least, In My Own Mind)
I’ve started this post dozens of times in my head since the election. The problem is, I don’t know how …
Binders Full of Women
The latest installment of BinderCon happened this past weekend in New York. This was my third time at the conference …
The Essential Parts of Life
Just when you think that you can’t publish a story about vomit, life surprises you. On Friday, Flash Fiction Magazine …
#fail?
Thank you very much for your submission to ___’s Nonfiction Contest. We received more than 500 submissions, and had a …
The God of Small Things
When I start a story, I’ve usually been thinking about it for a while. Maybe it started with noticing something …
Personal Capital
This week’s post coincides with Personal Capital’s idea to think of a personal role model for independence, strength and financial stability—a …
Brevity & Obsession
Last week, in response to a writing prompt from a recent Hugo House class, I wrote a short essay on the …
Pilgrimage
“Walk until you reach the color red.” Last week, nine women writers were offered this quest during the A Room …
Neuroplasticity
I’ve been thinking lately that our minds are the greatest trick we pull on ourselves. Isn’t it amazing that we …
