Art and Literature

Manet and Modern Beauty

Manet and Modern Beauty: The Artist’s Last Years, edited by Scott Allan, Emily A. Beeny, and Gloria Groom, is the catalogue for the eponymous exhibit of Édouard Manet’s later works. Filled with lush color representations of the paintings and ephemera on display, the expansive book also delights with authoritative, informative essays for those who mightContinue reading “Manet and Modern Beauty”

My Story, “Hunger Pangs,” is Now Online at Under the Fable!

I promised a link to my short story, “Hunger Pangs. Read it here. (My story begins on page 29.) Hunger Pangs is the quirky story of a lonely young woman who meets a group of food enthusiasts. Claire is quickly fascinated by her education and initiation. Let me answer a frequently asked question: To my knowledge,Continue reading “My Story, “Hunger Pangs,” is Now Online at Under the Fable!”

Creative or Rule Follower?

My first conscious act of creating was in response to my elementary school principal’s command. She gave us a sheet of paper covered in circles and told us to come up with ONLY things that did not exist. I was in the fifth grade. This principal was the strongest woman I knew — she wasContinue reading “Creative or Rule Follower?”

Writing and Little Women

I’m reading Little Women with an online group, and in my excitement I went to dig out my copy only to discover — gasp — that I couldn’t find it. The novel is one of the foundational books of my childhood, of my life. That I couldn’t find a single copy in our house shockedContinue reading “Writing and Little Women”

Easy Steps to a “Quick Write.” (Borrowed from Mary Allen.)

As the title of this post reveals, I am sharing a technique that I have borrowed from memoir writer Mary Allen: the “Quick Write”. I alluded to this technique in my last post, and it’s both simple and effective. Instead of an old fashioned writers group (I have experienced a couple go sour, for variousContinue reading “Easy Steps to a “Quick Write.” (Borrowed from Mary Allen.)”

Honor Your Process: Know When to Write and When Not to!

Saturday Barry and I spent a luxurious two hours eating breakfast…unheard of for us! We drank two pots of tea, sitting and chatting, and finally we decided it was time to get on with our day. A wonderful benefit to me of Barry becoming a Spalding MFA in Writing student is that he has writingContinue reading “Honor Your Process: Know When to Write and When Not to!”

Guilty Secret: I Like Editing!

Some people hate editing. I don’t. Now I’m not talking about that prissy brand of “You really need a comma here” editing. That’s important, and it can certainly be useful, but people who like that sort of editing tend to be those who are less involved in creative writing and more all about the rules.Continue reading “Guilty Secret: I Like Editing!”

Shh…I am reading! Lisette’s List

After waiting ALL DAY, while I was on my walk my husband texted to let me know that UPS had been. So I am happy to report that I am now blissfully reading Susan Vreeland’s newest book, Lisette’s List. Shhh…you may not hear anything from me for quite some time. Ah, writing about art. Is thereContinue reading “Shh…I am reading! Lisette’s List”

Literary Term Larcency: the Co-opting of Narrative

In “The Cognitive and Anthropological Origins of Narrative,” Richard van Oort argues for the “coeval origin” of narrative and language. If that’s true, maybe I have no business complaining about this, but I’m going to anyway. As a writer, we have certain literary devices and terms which we call our own. They are the toolsContinue reading “Literary Term Larcency: the Co-opting of Narrative”

A Writer’s Retreat…in Changzhou, China!

Until recently my body was in China, my mind in France, and my heart in the United States. Let me explain. I apologize for having been silent for some time. My last post was actually written while in Changzhou, China. Drat these days of having to be so careful when one travels that one can’tContinue reading “A Writer’s Retreat…in Changzhou, China!”