Childhood Reading

My town’s little library had a children’s section where I devoured books like The Bobbsey Twins and biographies of famous people like Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley. Somehow I moved from there to the adult section where I started reading completely inappropriate books I seldom understood. I skipped all the great children’s stories like “The Secret Garden” and “Little Women” until I was an adult reading to children.

A self-made education is a spotty thing.

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Big Magic

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert is must reading for any writer. Or any artist of any kind. This book made me feel as if my entire life was given validation. Reading it gave me the sense that I have been right about everything I’ve done, that my creative life wasn’t a mistake or a waste of time but an example of big magic.

All those unseen pages in the file cabinet. All those books that only sold a few copies. All those blog posts with 8 views. All part of Big Magic.

Read it.

An Open Space for Your Story

I just began My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem. The Prelude made me cry when I read this line, “. . . inside each of us has a purple motorcycle. We have only to discover it – and ride.” (My dream has always been a Vespa.)

Then I read the Introduction and found the page I photographed above. In honor of Gloria Steinem, who has been my lifelong inspiration, we will no longer have comments. We will have an open space for your story on every page.

I hope

Have you read Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed? I read it some time ago. At first I saw some parallels between societies that fail and the US. As time has gone by the the country’s political climate and income disparity grow, I see more and more. I hope our country can avoid the collapse described in this book. I hope.

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The Speed of Thought

The world changes at the speed of thought. If you are having trouble tying your thoughts to the discussion of racism now going on in America, may I suggest the book “Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism” as a way to get your mind and thoughts closer to understanding.

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Happy Holidays

It’s a holiday week, so my posting will be limited. Happy holidays to everyone! Read a good book, write something you love, and thanks for writing with me.

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I’m Reading

I’m reading. Are you? What are you reading today? I just finished Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot by Masha Gessen. That book that should be in the pocket of every person marching because #BlackLivesMatter. Now I’m about halfway through The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez. I’m thinking Cristina Henriquez may turn out to be one of my favorite writers.

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I’m a Blogger

I’m a blogger. I guess you knew that. Are you a blogger, too? Do you ever use the prompts from this blog to get writing ideas for your own blog? That would thrill me if you do. But maybe you blog about something completely different from writing. Tell us about it. Generally one link in a comment will get through the spam filter, so go ahead and add a link to your blog.

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My Favorite Writer

You know those games you play where people say, “Who’s your favorite writer?” or “If you could have dinner with a famous person who would it be?” My answer is always the same: Alice Walker.

I spent last week in a place where some amazing and inspiring women shared their wisdom. One of those women was Alice Walker. Whenever I get anywhere near Alice Walker, I feel completely opened up, alive. Being around her is like being in love. Everything is more wonderful – colors, scents, contact. She thrills me completely.

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Jamie

I’m a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. I love Claire Randall with her modern eyes looking onto a world 200 years in the past. I love Jamie Fraser, the handsome Scotsman she meets and loves in that long ago world. I’ve spent many a day reading my eyes out with one of Gabaldon’s huge novels propped on a pillow on my lap because they are too heavy to hold up. Now the novels will be a television series. Will this beloved series of novels be as good on a TV screen as they were in the panorama in my imagination?

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