Hello, friends. Recently, I visited Phillips Free Library in Homer, NY to talk about history and writing. It was delightful. Did you know that Homer, NY is the birthplace of Amelia Bloomer? Her childhood home is on North Main Street, just a couple of minutes' walk from the Town Hall. It looks like it's been converted into four apartments (see the four Victorian-era mailboxes, two on … [Read more...]
Alchemy
Hello, friends. Last week, I spent two nights at Small Pond Arts, an artists' residency in rural Prince Edward County, Ontario. It was all I'd hoped for and more besides. I walked, I practised yoga, I shared meals and fascinating conversations with other artists. But mostly, I did this: I wrote about 7000 words while I was there. More significantly, I mapped out and began … [Read more...]
Through trial and much error
A very long time ago, I read a story about how A. S. Byatt wrote her first novel. I could look it up* but I prefer the murkiness of what I think I remember: she was a bored faculty wife who wrote a novel with one hand while rocking the baby with the other. It's a great story. The grit! The single-mindedness! The ability to rise above sleep-deprivation! Above all, it makes things sound so … [Read more...]
Summer adventures
Hello, friends. My family and I are presently revelling in the glory that is North Wales in the sunshine. See what I mean? Here's some breaking news from Betws y Coed. You heard it here first. A view from the town centre of Betws y Coed: The three soccer hooligans in the foreground (red, white, orange) are cousins, aged 6, 7 and 8. Together, they produce an absolutely … [Read more...]
“I’m stuck.”
Hello, friends. This week, I felt tired. I was easily irritated. I slept poorly, drank too much coffee, and didn't get enough fresh air. It follows that I also didn't write as much of my novel as I'd hoped - and not for lack of honest effort. In the past, I'd have been angry with myself. I'd have decided that I was a slacker and an impostor, and found ways to punish myself. It would not have … [Read more...]
Note to self
Hello, friends. Sometimes, when it comes to organization and work habits, I am a very slow learner. I've blogged before about learning to be my own good boss, and most of those lessons have stuck. Three months after starting my bullet journal, I'm still very happy using it as a system. Still, the really obvious things often elude me. Until recently, one of my great frustrations was not being … [Read more...]