I am leading a Story Circle Network “20 Minutes a Day” Writing Challenge this month. Approximately 42 women are participating in this challenge, and each has signed up to write 20 minutes a day, 6 days a week for 4 weeks. They are divided into accountability groups of 5 to 6 members, and each group is…
Tag: Writing
#54 – Something That Makes Me Happy – Going to the Circus!
When I was growing up, the circus coming to my small Texas town was a cause for celebration. There was a big parade around the town square with music, colorfully painted circus wagons, wild animals, and exotically attired performers. Also, when the troupe traveled to an empty field north of town, many local people gathered…
#38 – Something That Makes Me Happy – Writing Songs With My Brother
My brother Sam and I have collaborated on several songs together. They are imperfect but perfectly ours, and working on them has been a sweet and bonding time for Sam and me. Tonight I needed to write something for a writing group I host, so I quickly penned a first draft of a song. I…
Tired but Happy
I have been editing and writing all day today and I am tired now. I saw several students and am wrapping up my online class through Story Circle Network. Plus, I have several high school seniors with college essays that need to be edited, as well. I was up at 5 am working, then took…
Why I Write…
I periodically have to remind myself why I write. Tonight is one of those occasions. It certainly is not for the money, by the way, or the fame. So, why do I write? Let me think about that question for a minute. I write because: 1) I often express myself on paper better than through…
My Mother’s Gift
I was twelve years old when I scanned through the beautifully bound books that comprised our family library. I don’t know why I decided on that particular day to look through these volumes. Perhaps it was cold outside and the idea of curling up with a book in a cozy room was alluring. Whatever the…
What to Wear?
Today I have tried on my three “nice” outfits, attempting to figure out which one might be right for a “dressy chic” event on Wednesday evening. A friend of mine is being honored at her temple where she will receive the Humanitarian Award. If ever there was a person who deserved it, it is this…
Two Short Entries: 4 pm and 8:45 pm
I am sitting with my 6th grade student, Charlotte, and it’s time for a “quick write.” This is when we do free-writing for usually 10 minutes, but in my case it’s 6 today because I made Charlotte popcorn, and got her a glass of iced water while she started her quick-write. So, now she is…
Tricksters in Stories and a Few in My Life
I am sitting with one of my students, Aaron. He is taking an online class on mythic structure and today’s lesson is on the trickster archetype. According to Christopher Vogler’s book, The Writer’s Journey, a trickster “embodies the energies of mischief and desire for change.” Tom Sawyer is a trickster we all know. Who else…
Lessons from John Steinbeck
I have just begun reading John Steinbeck’s Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters, a compilation of Steinbeck’s letters to his editor and friend, to whom he addressed a journal entry every day before writing his manuscript pages for his novel. East of Eden is one of the first books I read years ago…
20 Minutes a Day 