I was a poet once, or at least I wrote poems. I sent them to my grandmother in thank-you cards, I scribbled them in my diary, I wrote them in notebooks to exorcise my adolescent feelings. I wrote poetry to heal, to discover beauty, but mostly I liked to play with words and see what … Continue reading Poetry: Breathing New Life
Tag: poetry
The Book Launch: Emerge 19
I’ve been away from the desk for a few weeks, first taking a well-deserved break after a long rewarding year with The Writer’s Studio, and then battling a nasty virus in the first couple weeks of 2020 - but now I’m ready to get back to work. I checked my social media and my email … Continue reading The Book Launch: Emerge 19
Break Your Chains: Write Everywhere
Summer has finally arrived on the west coast - after a stormy beginning, the cool overcast mornings have given way to clear skies and sultry twilights. It’s a time to sit back and breathe, maybe take some vacation time, and slow down from the rush of work and school. After six months of surviving workshops, … Continue reading Break Your Chains: Write Everywhere
The Writer’s Studio
It took three months, an essay, an application, a resume and 20 pages of my own work, published or not, finished or unfinished, and works in progress. A month after the deadline, I got the email I hoped for: “I am very pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into The Writer's Studio Vancouver at Simon Fraser … Continue reading The Writer’s Studio
Happy New Year 2017
"It seems like New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken – at least that’s what it feels like for me. Every year I envisioned these grand sweeping dreams and every year those dreams floated away from my reach, bursting like delicate soap bubbles. Lost in the shadow of my grand promises, however, I somehow … Continue reading Happy New Year 2017
The Twelve Days of Writing
I thought it was appropriate to republish this fun little piece I originally published in December 2014. After all, tis the season... On the first day of writing, my muse said I need: 12 spiral notebooks Eleven paper clips Ten cups of coffee Nine fat pens Eight sticky notes Seven rough drafts Six … Continue reading The Twelve Days of Writing
I Write, Therefore I Am…
When do you call yourself a writer? This seems to be a complicated dilemma for many. Some people feel they can’t truly call themselves a writer until they’ve received some sort of exceptional endorsement for their work. I disagree. There is no test, no exam, no screening method, no extraordinary circumstance that suddenly makes one … Continue reading I Write, Therefore I Am…
A Writing Sanctuary
Sometimes the only thing I need to inspire me is a quiet place to call my own; a creative sanctuary that unlocks my imagination and leads me to new possibilities. I am always seeking different places to stimulate my creativity – parks, coffee shops, libraries, restaurants, museums - but in the spring and summer months, … Continue reading A Writing Sanctuary
Vacancy
The blank page is the writers’ canvas. Don’t be intimidated by its stark whiteness, its vacant stare, its arrogant lines undulating across the page - know it is there to fuel your imagination and give you permission to write anything you desire. It is not there to restrict or impose rules but to inspire, to … Continue reading Vacancy
Writing My Life
"Is there a blanket ban on writing about my life if it involves anyone else?” – Brooke Wyeth, Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz I began writing stories in my childhood. It started with writing in my diary, then graduated to the more intricate skills of writing poetry, essays and short stories. I wrote … Continue reading Writing My Life
