Category Archives: Writing

Dear Reader, This morning began in the blue chair. Tea in hand, book in lap, rain doing its persuasive drip: stay home; stay cozy. I had the vague and lofty intention of making oatmeal, which made Word Raccoon’s ears perk up. But oatmeal is not always to be trusted. If I make it in theContinue reading “An Improvised Morning”

Dear Reader, Word Raccoon and I had a dilemma today. We are about 125 pages into Still Life by Sarah Wynn and loving it, though it’s not a quick read. And then the library texted that they have a book in that WR and I cannot wait to read. We actually mentioned it to aContinue reading “Still, Life”

Dear Reader, Today I tried something slightly rebellious: I did the day backwards. Word Raccoon insisted. We went to the gym before caffeine, before breakfast, before any of the usual negotiations. It felt almost suspiciously efficient, like I had skipped ahead in the book of the day. I wasn’t mad about it.  Breakfast came after,Continue reading “Backwards and “Maybeness””

Dear Reader, It has been a day of attempts. Which is fine, I guess.  First of all, the hotel reservations did not happen because the man who answered the phone said he would call me back. He didn’t. They’re a boutique hotel, so they “don’t do online reservations.” Sigh. I was going to print andContinue reading “An Attempted Day”

Dear Reader, Today has Monday energy, even if it is Tuesday. Yuck. Word Raccoon was slow moving this morning. She knows I am planning to work on the novel and she is not interested. Not today. I let her write a poem. “Let…don’t you mean required?” she asked. She’s so ready for April to beContinue reading “Monday Energy on a Tuesday”

Dear Reader, This afternoon has been a That Thrifting Show afternoon. I started off with a poem about the weather. Original, I know. But it took a turn, as they always do, so that’s something. I won’t say what turn because I’m still going WTH??  I followed through with my plan to clean the porchContinue reading “Twist and Shout and Sob”

Dear Reader, It’s Day 25 of National Poetry Month. I have written at least one poem every day. Not always willingly. That wasn’t the goal anyway. The goal was to touch it: to write, submit, revise, even just think toward it. To keep a hand on the thread so it didn’t disappear into the walls,Continue reading “But Doubtful”

Dear Reader, This morning, the gorgeous poem, “This is Just to Say,” was brought to my attention once again. I quote parts of it often, but I just realized today that I have been misattributing it. My poem, below, a first draft, is the result of this. Thing is (pun intended), knowing WCW’s stance onContinue reading “This is Just to Say”

Dear Reader, An unintended consequence of poetry month? Word Raccoon has been sitting with me today while I work on…gasp…my novel!  It’s been a minute.  I gave a character a book to read and wow, what a difference that made. She went from scary distant to relatable. That’s a thing brought up once in aContinue reading “Windsor Chairs and Novel Ideas”

Dear Reader, Not only did Word Raccoon manage two hours at the cafe yesterday, she also managed to go to the gym for a short workout. I told the guys when I got there, “Hey, I’m not staying long, but I’m here.” They were fine with that. I gave her a Coke Zero as aContinue reading “Poetry Al Dente”