Writing every day

Haven’t been talking about writing much lately.  That doesn’t mean I’m not doing it–I am writing, every day.  The book in progress, which is still in the stages where I can’t talk about it yet, and essays and lots of emails to friends and family.
Which is what writing is all about.  Showing up, opening up, [...]

The Particularities of Place

I’m blogging today at Writer Unboxed, about sense of place.   Join me for a discussion about what books have a great sense of place, and what ruins a good setting.

Standing still

On our last morning in New York, I took a quick look around, at the black and white wallpaper and the framed vintage magazine prints and the chandaliers made of plastic beads and thought, as I did several times over our stay,  “I wish I could stay in this happy moment a little bit longer.”
But [...]

A parental moment of delight

Indulge me.
Here he is, last Wednesday.  (Is that the expression of an adoring grandmother or what?)
Not the easiest child to raise, mainly because he was smarter than me from the moment he arrived on the planet.  Questing. Intense. From the first moment he raised his eyes to mine in the delivery room, calmly and with [...]

Santa Barbara Scholarship opportunity

May 22, 2008
Dear Writers,
I’m pleased to announce a new “whirlwind” Community of Voices Writing Contest. DEADLINE June 7, 2008.
THE PRIZE: A scholarship* to the 2008 Santa Barbara Writers Conference, June 21-26.
THE RULES:
1. Send up to 1200 words of your best writing. Your entry may be an excerpt from a longer [...]

A rainy night in Chelsea

My whole family has come to New York to help me celebrate my son’s graduation from NYU.  The big surprise is how my father fits in here, a big Irish talker, chatting up the waitresses and talking to all the cops and the cab drivers and joining right in with all the commentary of the [...]

If I were in charge of medals

The ranch I visited last week was purchased a chunk at a time by a single minded man who wanted to make sure the land doesn’t all end up as houses (or other such land-devouring things). It’s now a substantial spread, 5000 acres, and you get the feeling as he drives you around [...]

Texas and other amazements

I went to Texas this week for a cozy little retreat at a “bunkhouse” (a two-story 30’s beauty) on a ranch near San Antonio.    I made new friends, in a way I haven’t done for a long time.  I fell in love with a house, and an old man who already has a great wife [...]

A scramble of tidbits….or something like that

I will admit it: I am drinking beer.  Not even fancy beer.  Ordinary, American lite beer from a bottle, which is definitely in my top twenty favorite things.  Not American, necessarily, just beer in general.
Walked 19.5 miles today, on my training quest.  Highest mileage so far, and I weirdly enjoyed it.   (I am, however, paying [...]