Here are my current favorite things!
Coffee Share
Let’s sit and have a hot cup of coffee and watch the snow outside. Finally, there is snow here! I wish it had been here for the holidays but I will take it now.
If we were having coffee I would tell you this week flew by. It was busy. I had some really great food this week. With it being so cold I had the hankering for soup. Tomato soup with rustic bread croutons really hit the spot for me.
If we were having coffee I would tell you this week has been full of sadness for me. I am missing some things in my life. I am trying to focus on the positive but it can be hard. A friend of mine was dealing with a tragedy this week as well. It added to the sadness but I was glad to be her friend and talk through some things. It made me feel more connected in a weird sort of way.
If we were having coffee I would tell you I had some great morning writing time this week. I was full of inspiration. When I leave the house it leaks away but I took advantage of the time when I had it.
If we were having coffee I would tell you I have listened to some great podcasts. One of the best was Stop Writing Alone. Two of my great writing friends were on which only took me 13 minutes to stop the podcast and write my own essay.Episode 57: Jenna Britton talks Personal Essays, Podcasts and NewslettersEpisode 57: Jenna Britton talks Personal Essays, Podcasts and Newsletters listen on iTunes listen on Stitcher listen on…stopwritingalone.com
If we were having coffee I would tell you I wrote some poetry this week. You can read that here:TrappedA Poemmedium.comStars and Teeth Streaming in the WaterA Poemmedium.com
If we were having coffee I would tell you my #100rejections project is going well. You can read some of my insights here:100 Rejections ProjectAn Update On the Project that is Changing Memedium.comWhat I Have Learned the Last 23 DaysA Reflection on Life and Rejectionsmedium.com
If were were having coffee I would want to hear about your week! What was the best thing that happened to you?
What Does Support Mean to You?
What does the word support mean to you?
My ex husband used to tell me just being there physically for him was how I could show support. I could not even watch the event he was coaching and he would still feel supported. I could grade or write or read. I just needed to show up.
Sometimes support to me is a listener.
Sometimes it is someone who stands with me.
Sometimes it is someone who does something for me I simply don’t want to do.
Lately it has been a person who engages with me in life giving conversation. To feel fueled intellectually by the words being exchanged. To share things that people are passionate about or what they are learning. I love to learn what people are reading and what is resonating with them.
What does support look like to you?
Is it different personally or professionally?
Please share with me!
Stars and Teeth Streaming in the Water
A poem: https://medium.com/the-partnered-pen/stars-and-teeth-streaming-in-the-water-408ce33957d8
#IWSG FEB!
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
The awesome co-hosts for the The awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG are T. Powell Coltrin,Victoria Marie Lees,Stephen Tremp,Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!
February 5 question – Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
I have used pieces of art or photos several times over the past several years as a springboard for my writing.
In Storyaday May and September Julie Duffy has used pieces of fine art as the inspirational prompts.
The most recent piece I used was Van Gogh’s Starry Night in a Skillshare Class from Kathy Fish. I like the piece from Kathy’s class. It has more movement in it than some of the other pieces. During the exercise I was also focusing on unexpected descriptions so it was fun to write.
Maybe someday soon you will see that piece published somewhere.
Weekend Coffee Share
A Cup of Coffee and a Conversation
Welcome back to the weekend! I am so happy you are joining me for coffee today. This weekend it is really winter again. There is snow falling, and then it rains, and then it freezes. Coffee is necessary — as always. I am having black coffee as normal, but I have lots of add ins for your cup.
If we were having coffee I would tell you this week has been full of frustration and exhilaration.
Monday was a full day at work. I was testing students and attending meetings. Working with students put me in a great mood. I was quite sprightly that day. Tuesday was busy as well and I woke up not feeling right, so I canceled yoga class.
If we were having coffee I would tell you my #100rejectionsproject is going strong. I received an acceptance this week. Actually, I had one writing and one other type of acceptance. More on that second one next week. I wrote every day. I submitted several pieces this weekend and also did some revising and composing.
If we were having coffee I would tell you a friend went to a retreat and she generously shared her learnings and insights. It was exciting to connect with her and our creative group with this experience as the center.
If we were having coffee I would tell you I had a video chat with a writing friend that was awesome! We were pressed for time but I always feel enlightened after I speak with her. We both had good news to share which made it even better.
If we were having coffee I would tell you I listened to great podcasts this week. I am also going to tell you that I am tired of podcasts about 2020 goals. I also am tired of the 2020 vision play on words. Enough already. I listened to a podcast interviewing Erin Morgenstern about The Starless Sea which was magical.
I am also tired of hearing writing podcasts and finding articles about about carving out writing time and creating a writing practice. I understand a lot of people are in that space, but I am not one of them. They are getting deleted immediately.
If we were having coffee I would tell you my writing practice with Sarah Selecky has been wonderful. I used it Saturday morning and it was just what I needed. She suggests doing the “I don’t remember” prompt using your non dominant hand. It was an interesting experience. When I was little I used to practice with my left hand because I was afraid I would break my right arm and not be able to write. The thought of that scenario was devastating and I made a plan “just in case”.
If we were having coffee I would tell you I have many writing friends who have started the NYC Midnight writing challenge. They are given a genre, a character and an object and have to incorporate them into a story. I have participated before. You are able to get feedback from your story when you turn them in as well which is a great benefit to this contest.
I hope this week finds you well! I cannot wait to hear what antics you are all up to! Has anyone read anything really great this week? Let me know!
#IWSG January!
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
The awesome co-hosts for the The awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG are T. Powell Coltrin,Victoria Marie Lees,Stephen Tremp,Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!
January 8 question – What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just “know” suddenly you wanted to write?
The compulsion to write began when I was 8 or 9 years old . Writing has always been a constant. At times of transition such as marriage, divorce, remarriage and graduations the words have roused me from sleep and demanded to be recorded. Many pages have been written in a half-
awake trance early in the morning.
Throughout school, my favorite assignments were essays. In third grade, I was chosen for a creative writing group that unfortunately only met a few times. I remember the yellow folders and the special feeling, but it didn’t last. I always worried that I had done something wrong, or didn’t write well enough which caused the cessation. A respected teacher praised my description in a fifth grade essay, but the act of writing was always just a hobby even though I spent a lot of time doing it. If I wasn’t reading, I was writing. It was just something I did.
In high school, I was forced to do an outline for a response to Macbeth. I was praised for the organization of this essay. The little feedback I received was not enough to make me a better writer. I read voraciously but never had anyone really make the connection that I could learn to be
a better writer from reading. I didn’t know how to take what I knew about reading a good story and make actionable steps to transfer to the written word.
Back to It #sol
On the commute this morning a few thoughts went through my head.
Why does it feel like one day of work after break erased all the rest and rejuvenation from the winter break?
Yesterday felt like 4 days smashed into one. I travel from building to building and even asked someone a question where I let it slip I thought it was later in the week.
These transitions are not easy for me. I struggle with the weather right now because there is no snow on the ground. I struggle with the abrupt change in schedule from the writing life to the coaching life.
The day even started well:
I had a great morning complete with my coffee ritual.
I wrote even though the words were not flowing easily.
My shower was hot.
I even put on makeup which is not an every day thing.
I picked an outfit I am comfortable in.
I still felt off.
I am exhausted.
Again I think: I’m uncertain how one day of work can unravel 2 weeks of rest.
I know logically this doesn’t make sense and I shouldn’t feel this way.
But I can feel the tears pushing at the backs of my eye and I’m not an emotional person on the drive in.
Yesterday the most energizing part of my day was my creative group ZOOM call.
Tomorrow I will restart again and hope it gets better as the week goes on. Otherwise, just send positive thoughts my way!
Weekend Coffee Share
A Cup of Coffee and a Conversation
Welcome to 2020! This is the first year roll over that I have not had the “scratch outs”. Where you write the date with the wrong year and have to scratch it out to put in the new one! Usually this happens to me on checks and my notebooks but not so far this year!
Let’s have some strong black coffee but I want to experiment with the Butter Beer recipe that I like at my local cafe. I bought the ingredients before you got here for our chat so we can try that if you are game!
If we were having coffee I would tell you I am SUPER excited for the new year. It is the year of the STAR for me which is abundance and optimism. There are big things planned for this year and one of those big things is happening next month! Stay tuned if you are a teacher!
Please read this post through the link at Medium!
2020 Word of the Year
My word this year is:
