Month: April 2021

Look How High I’m Going! #SOL21

Swings and Sun – The Perfect Partnership on a Monday afternoon.

“The swing is tickling me!” – one of my kindergarten students exclaimed as she pumped her feet back and forth in the afternoon sun yesterday.

At first I thought she had said, “The sun is tickling me.”

The joy of being together – even masked – on the equipment is hard to describe.

After pushing another student for a few back and forths I realized what she meant.

I asked her,” Does the swinging make your tummy feel funny?”

YES! The recognition of someone understanding what she meant was priceless. She doesn’t know that is the same feeling as being on a rollercoaster….yet.

One of my favorite parts of kindergarten is how they chose their words to describe something. It is one of the many areas we can learn from them!

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Two opportunities are coming soon:

Fabulous Flash Fiction class – sign up for info here: https://mailchi.mp/d376163c35bc/fabulous-flash-fiction

What Do I Do With All These Freewrites?? course – sign up for info here: https://mailchi.mp/866f580e114c/freewrites

by Categories: Delights, Kindergarten, Slice of Life, Writing Exercise, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 9 Comments

Weekend Coffee Share

Welcome to the weekend. Thank you for joining me for coffee today. I am always glad when we can sit down to chat.

Thank you to Natalie for hosting the link party for all things Weekend Coffee Share!

If we were having coffee, I would tell you I went to the dentist this past week. I do not like the dentist. I had to wait for 30 min and was in the chair less than 30 so it was a great visit. It was strange to actually sit in the waiting room. I haven’t had that experience for over a year.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you April is all about poetry. I have been taking a class on Thursday evenings and also sharing poems with my students. Friday we read Pickles and Cheddar which my students thought was delightful! I attended a poetry reading on Zoom on Saturday which was fun. There are so many poems coming to my inbox and I love it! I sent out two poetry submissions this week as well so I am happy about that fact!

If we were having coffee, I would tell you a writing book that was recommended to me has been amazing: Writing Open the Mind. I have been doing the exercises and loving what pieces are coming out of them. It has become my new favorite writing book.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you I am planning a class about what to do with all the freewrites that you accumulate! If you are interested in keeping up with updates you can sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/866f580e114c/freewrites

If we were having coffee, I would tell you it rained all day Saturday here so it was an indoor day. I wrote and read and watched movies. It was a glorious way to spend the day!

If we were having coffee, I would tell you I have my writing circle this weekend and I am looking forward to it. I find the class so life giving and encouraging.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I have been using the Sprinkled Inspiration prompts to write in my notebook. I really like them and they come right to my email every morning. You can check them out here.

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Thank you for joining me for a coffee today. I always love when we chat!

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I would love to hear what you are working on and what you find inspiring.

Are you wanting to generate FABULOUS FLASH FICTION?

This unique flash writing workshop is built for beginning to advanced writers who want to generate short pieces of fiction.

There will be prompts, a live meeting, writing time, feedback, and support In June! Sign up here to get all the details!

by Categories: Challenge, Family Life, holidays, Questions, sarahselecky, Short Story, Weekend coffee share, Writing Challenge, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 5 Comments

Poetry Month Day 10

In my class this week with Chris LaTray he shared this poem from Jim Harrison.

Harrison is not a poet I was familiar with before this month and this poem resonated with me when Chris read it aloud. It served as a mentor text for us to write our own I BELIEVE poem.

My poem ended up being a lot of one liners that are different things I believe. A list poem almost.

Here is an excerpt of my draft:

I believe how the numbers lay on your W2 does not dictate your worth.

I believe 5 year olds should be listened to and heard.

I believe your title doesn’t mean jack shit to whether I respect you or not.

I believe reading is the gateway to everything,

But coffee is another.

Others that shared in our Zoom class took one belief and expanded it.

It is always fun as a writer to hear other people’s approaches to prompts and their process.

I suppose I could take each of my lines and expand it as well for a different feel and more in depth look at the emotions and experiences underneath.

I Believe
By Jim Harrison

I believe in steep drop-offs, the thunderstorm across the lake
in 1949, cold winds, empty swimming pools,
the overgrown path to the creek, raw garlic,
used tires, taverns, saloons, bars, gallons of red wine,
abandoned farmhouses, stunted lilac groves,
gravel roads that end, brush piles, thickets, girls
who haven’t quite gone totally wild, river eddies,
leaky wooden boats, the smell of used engine oil,
turbulent rivers, lakes without cottages lost in the woods,
the primrose growing out of a cow skull, the thousands
of birds I’ve talked to all of my life, the dogs
that talked back, the Chihuahuan ravens that follow
me on long walks. The rattler escaping the cold hose,
the fluttering unknown gods that I nearly see
from the left corner of my blind eye, struggling
to stay alive in a world that grinds them underfoot.

What is inspiring you this month?

by Categories: Challenge, creativity, Poetry, Questions, Reading Life, reflection, Writing Challenge, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife Leave a comment

Poetry Month #Day8

I submitted two poems last night. It seemed only fitting after I held the SEND IT OUT section of the Unpublished to Published course I teach through my Patreon.

Today I am using the #verselove post as inspiration. You can read the post here.

The mentor poem used is Nazim Hikmet’s poem, “Things I Didn’t Know I Loved,” which can be found here: https://poets.org/poem/things-i-didnt-know-i-loved

The phrase, “I didn’t know I loved…” resonated with me this morning. There is also a mention of paper lanterns in the poem which struck me this morning.

I often like to use multiple prompts in one writing just to see what happens. Other prompts I am using today are a business card and exposed wood beams in a structure.

We will see what happens!

I had never seen this poem before but really like it. What do you think?

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Are you wanting to generate FABULOUS FLASH FICTION?

This unique flash writing workshop is built for beginning to advanced writers who want to generate short pieces of fiction.

There will be prompts, a live meeting, writing time, feedback, and support In June! Sign up here to get all the details!

by Categories: Uncategorized Leave a comment

#IWSG April

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https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

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!

April 7th’s question, if you’d like to answer it, is:  Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?

Thanks to our awesome co-hosts for the April 7 posting of the IWSG! PK Hrezo, Pat Garcia, SE White, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diane Burton!

This month’s question gave me pause. I usually consider myself a risk taker. I have burned down my life several times in order to find happiness and start fresh.

I do like to play with my writing, more so than in real life honestly. I will try exercises and classes to see where it takes me. I am not afraid of the page. Those pieces don’t typically make it out of the notebook unless there is a real draw from it for me to do something with it.

I do love it when my own writing surprises me.

Right now I am playing with dreams and my subconscious. I have an amazing writing book that I am working through the exercises called Writing Open the Mind.

I am also playing with a Personal Universe Deck!

In the past, I have played with the same piece and written sections from a different point of view or a different type of first sentence. You just never know where those experiments will take you.

#happyreading #happywriting

by Categories: Challenge, Insecure Writer's Support Group, IWSG, Mywriting, Questions, sarahselecky, Short Story, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 4 Comments

Bio Poem #SOL21

I haven’t used this form in a long while! Thank you to Elisa who reminded me of it today. You can read her poem here.

Tammy.

Passionate, curious, writer

Partner of Jon; mother of Sebastian, Grant, Leah, and Tommy.

Lover of life-giving conversation, books, my family and nature.

Who wonders if the gap will ever be closed.

Who fears heights and people seeing too much of her.

Who feels happy when she’s drinking coffee.

Who would like to live closer to the mountains.

Who has dedicated her life inspiring others to read and write.

Who dreams of writing retreats and writing something everyone reads.

Breitweiser

by Categories: Uncategorized 5 Comments

#NAPOWRIMO Day 5

What are you currently obsessed with?

Have you heard of a Personal Universe Deck?

My fellow blogger over at ARHtistic License posted about it.  It is my new obsession.


For a Personal Universe Deck you make a deck of 100 words that represents your past, present, and future. The rule is that you have to choose words that sound beautiful together. You include words that are represented by the 5 senses.


You can use them for your own writing sprints or poetry.

Today I share 4 of my words. I wrote a poem with them today.

What will you write?

Have you made a personal universe deck? Do you want to????

Here is a link with the rules!

All you need is 50 index cards. I would love to know if this idea appeals to you too! Let me know in the comments.

by Categories: creativity, Mywriting, Poetry, wordshare, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 1 Comment

April Weekend Coffee Share

Can you believe it is April!? Thank you for joining me for coffee today. I am always glad when we can sit down to chat.

Thank you to Natalie for hosting the link party for all things Weekend Coffee Share!

If we were having coffee, I would tell you my spring break was this week and it flew by. If I am honest, I am not looking forward to next week but feel like it is a “rip off the band-aid” moment. Once I am in the thick of it, it will be fine but the anticipation is not fun. I keep trying to reframe things unsuccessfully.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you April is all about poetry. I have been enjoying reading old favorites and new ones that show up in my inbox every day. Writing a poem every day has been a breath of fresh air too. Since I have been remembering more of my dreams they have been more of a part of the poetry that I write than ever before.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you a writing book that was recommended to me has been amazing: Writing Open the Mind. I have been doing the exercises and loving what pieces are coming out of them. It has become my new favorite writing book.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you we went camping this weekend to a favorite spot. It was great and I was able to hike in the sun and sit around the campfire.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you I bought a new car this week. I pick it up on Monday.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you I enjoyed the walks I was able to take this week during the day. I went in the late morning which was the perfect time. It was colder than I thought it would be this week though.

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Thank you for joining me for a coffee today. I always love when we chat!

I would love to hear what you are working on and what you find inspiring.

by Categories: Challenge, Family Life, holidays, Questions, sarahselecky, Short Story, Weekend coffee share, Writing Challenge, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 7 Comments

Poetry Prompt Day 2

It’s Poetry Month! Day 2!

This is the poem I used as inspiration for my own poetry writing today.

“On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins

Click to access 9780822938934exr.pdf

This is a poem I have used with countless students and adults over the years. There is the idea of imagination that I am always drawn to. What did you pretend to be when you were little? I always pretended to be a mermaid or a fairy. This can be a beginning for you.

What lines sparkle for you?

I wrote my own version in my notebook today.

I hope you enjoy reading this poem and/or writing in response to it.

*****

I will tell you I am having issues with the transition back to a world of extroverts. People seem to be wanted to hit a delete or rewind button and have not reflected or learned from the last year. I will admit that the lock down was comfortable to me and it is closer to my ideal life than I knew before the shelter in place orders. I struggle now that the world is going back to “normal”.

My poetry class started last evening and it is an interesting group of people! The teacher is using The Daily Poet a book I have used often and was actually looking for on my kindle earlier yesterday.

I am eternally thankful that I have had the opportunity to take so many classes and workshops over the last year+ because so much is offered on Zoom now.

Do you have beloved poetry resources to share? I would enjoy seeing them in the comments!

by Categories: 321 Creative Sparks, Challenge, creativity, Delights, Poetry, Reading Life, Writing Challenge, Writing Exercise, Writing Group, Writing Prompt, WritingLife 3 Comments