Freewriting Exercise: What’s Strange About You?

You are so weird! Thank God for that. Here is an opportunity to sing the praises of a quirky facet of your individuality. We are all made up of a mishmash of habits, beliefs, traits and preferences. Plus a given quantity of ineffable something. How does this unique aspect of your individuality see the world?… Continue reading Freewriting Exercise: What’s Strange About You?

Freewriting Exercise: Douse Your Inner Critic with the Flow of Poetic Imagery

A poem can take any form. It can rhyme. It can be short or long. Poetry uses language in ways that ordinary purposeful speech never does. One of the fundamentals of poetry (and language in general) is the use of analogy. One thing is like another thing. With skill, analogy can nimbly convey the deepest… Continue reading Freewriting Exercise: Douse Your Inner Critic with the Flow of Poetic Imagery

How to Crack the Hard Chocolaty Coating of the Writing Doldrums

We all face ups and downs. It’s inevitable. Sometimes we are riding high on the wave of inspiration, and sometimes we feel weighed down by our own sludgy ideas and lousy writing. I’ve been there. Over the years, I have tried all sorts of things: writing in the evenings, writing in the mornings, more coffee,… Continue reading How to Crack the Hard Chocolaty Coating of the Writing Doldrums