Ray and I are headed to Spain on Thursday, a few days ahead of the Story Circle Network tour and writing workshop that begins on Monday. I am wrapping up my college and graduate school admission work with my students tomorrow, and so far, so good. All the personal essays and personal statements are strong,…
Tag: life
Eulogy for My Beloved Sister, Leslie
My older sister’s birthday is tomorrow, so she’s been on my mind. This is a repost of the remarks I made at her funeral back in March 2012. Good afternoon. My name is Len Leatherwood and I am Leslie’s younger sister. On behalf of my entire family, I’d like to thank you for coming today…
Raising Cane: Lessons from Winnie Waugh
I wrote this a while back, but wanted to share it again in honor of my grandmother. My grandmother, Winnie Waugh, walked with a wooden cane for as long as I can remember. This cane was made of smooth, polished, dark brown wood and was very plain—a simple curve at the top for her hand…
The Shoes That Have Carried Me
A list of the types of shoes I’ve worn over my life: Kid’s Keds. A favorite of mine when I was little, white and navy blue. Patent leather little girl shoes for special occasions like Easter or Christmas (in white or black). Flip-flops, which, when I was growing up, were referred to as “thongs.” Pink…
25 Lies Writers Tell Themselves (and How to Fight Back)
One of the biggest challenges in writing is quieting the negative self-talk that can paralyze creativity. Below are 25 common thoughts that often surface—followed by a method I’ve discovered that helps combat these discouraging messages. Why I tell myself I shouldn’t write today: How to Combat Negative Self-Talk Set a timer, pick up your notebook…
In Conversation with Myself: Work, Marriage, and Adventure
This was inspired by a writing prompt given by one of the colleges one of my students is applying to. It is not a thorough interview, just one aspect. 1) You have clearly done quite a few jobs in your life. Was that by design or did that just happen? I started out as a…
We’re More Than Labels
Today, I did something a little unusual. I was tired and while resting I started mentally listing all the people I knew growing up. I’m from a little Texas town of 7,000, and there were 125 people in my graduating class. Most of those people started with me in first grade and went all the…
The View From Here: On Family, Writing, Faith, and the Peace of Enough
When I was younger, I imagined that by the time I reached this stage of life, I’d have quite the list of accomplishments. Surely, I’d be well-traveled, widely read, impressively fit, financially successful, and the proud author of at least three books—all while raising a wonderful family and enjoying a happy marriage. The reality looks…
Surrounded by Generous Hearts
Pretend you’re on a five-mile run, and at every mile marker, there is a photo of someone in your past who is cheering you on. Call out a brief thank you to them as you run by and describe how you feel as you cross the finish line. Mile 1 – My MotherThank you, Mom,…
From Texas to Tinseltown: My Surprising Encounter with Jamie Lee Curtis
Tonight, while I was gathering up my computer and trying to decide what I was going to write about, I glanced at one of our bookshelves. There was a book titled “Tony Curtis: The Autobiography,” featuring a picture of Tony Curtis as an older man. This made me think about one of my brushes with…
20 Minutes a Day 