Drema Drudge

To Kiss a Frog You’ve Written On

I’ve never been the type to need a lot of things.I don’t collect lots of keepsakes. I don’t hoard tons of mementos. I keep some of both, of course. I’m not a monster. Usually, when my family divides up what’s left behind (too often in recent years), I say:“As long as someone has it, that’sContinue reading “To Kiss a Frog You’ve Written On”

Rick Neumayer’s Three Foggy Mornings

Rick Neumayer is no stranger to these pages. Faithful readers may remember that we met in an intense novel-writing workshop in Ireland. Five of us and a mentor, immersed in a couple of weeks of reading, critiquing, and talking writing in both Dublin at Trinity College and then onto tiny Oranmore for the remainder ofContinue reading “Rick Neumayer’s Three Foggy Mornings”

Serial Killer Games: Not Just For Reading Anymore

Now Playing: “Lovefool” by The Cardigans I woke up this morning and found Word Raccoon in my blue chair downstairs reading. “Hey,” I said. She waved a paw in which she was holding a protein bar. In her other, she clutched the novel we’d fallen asleep reading the night before. “Give me that,” I said,Continue reading “Serial Killer Games: Not Just For Reading Anymore “

Drema Vs. the Long Weekend

Word Raccoon is out of the hammock and coming for the to-do list. 🎵 Now Playing: “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield (It’s Word Raccoon’s Tuesday morning mood. And don’t give me any shizz about this feel-good song.) Yes, it’s Tuesday. But don’t tell Word Raccoon that; it’s her Monday, and she’s got pages to devour. PoemsContinue reading “Drema Vs. the Long Weekend”

Anne Tyler’s Quiet Brilliance

For years, I’ve counted Anne Tyler as one of the three living authors who’ve most shaped my writing, alongside Toni Morrison, who at the time was still with us, and Amy Tan. When I listed those women on my grad school application as my greatest writing influences, I decided that if the program didn’t findContinue reading “Anne Tyler’s Quiet Brilliance”

Five Poems, One Moon, and a Word Raccoon: Holiday Morning on the Porch

Pictured: The Moon, According to Me Last Night. The holiday morning started with poetry. I was on the porch early, before the neighbors were up. I had promised myself just the five poems I mentioned in my previous blog. That was IT, no more. POEM ONE I started in. The first one, Why Scrambled Eggs,Continue reading “Five Poems, One Moon, and a Word Raccoon: Holiday Morning on the Porch”

She Cleans Up and She Writes. Because of Course She Does.

Now Playing:“She Cleans Up” by Father John Misty Okay, heat, now it’s personal. Word Raccoon and I have not been to the dunes once this summer, and we are pissed. Well, mostly we’re pissed. Also, we’re hot. Remember my post the other day saying I’m fine sitting in the heat? No, really, I’m fine. IContinue reading “She Cleans Up and She Writes. Because of Course She Does.”

Word Raccoon Stumbles Over a Poem for You

Now Playing: Latch (Acoustic version) — Sam Smith Word Raccoon and I struck a deal today: if she would quit messing around and get ready for the café, I would let her choose our earrings. (As if I had a choice.) She whined that it was too early, and that she had written on theContinue reading “Word Raccoon Stumbles Over a Poem for You”

🗂️ The Epic (and Occasionally Maddening) Quest to Organize My Poems

This morning I have spent time doing the bane of my existence: busy work. Administrative shit. You know, wrangling the poems—because apparently they can’t wrangle themselves. Word Raccoon is not happy. We wrote a poem this morning, and she says writing about a clock’s tongue is way too engrossing to now be dealing with digitalContinue reading “🗂️ The Epic (and Occasionally Maddening) Quest to Organize My Poems”

John Green Recites Peak Hoosier Poetry!

Eff Yeah! Mic drop from a mile up!Not sure I need to say more. (But of course I will.) Word Raccoon went nuts for this video. She won’t stop playing it! John Green (and video guy) for joint Hoosier Poet of the Year! Green is a guy (no offense) who has left cool so farContinue reading “John Green Recites Peak Hoosier Poetry!”