Category Archives: Writing

Sign of the Times

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Jeff

I read too much news, trying to get some sense of the way the world is going. People get stupid when they grasp for certainties. Michael Ventura Reading Failed Haiku, a monthly on-line publication, is probably a better way to … Continue reading →

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Improvisation

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Jeff

I’ve been playing guitar off and on since the 70s. I’ve learned enough to play electric blues and blues/rock at the amateur intermediate level, but I’ve had no success improvising beyond mixing various rhythm guitar riffs. Recently I’ve realized I … Continue reading →

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Lifesaving Poems

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Jeff

As Anthony Wilson tells in The most popular lifesaving poems, he pivoted his blog several years ago to the afore mentioned topic. Mary Oliver’s The Journey tops the list. They all are worth reading. Naomi Shihab Nye’s The Art of … Continue reading →

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Author Mission Statement

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Jeff

How (And Why) to Create an Author Mission Statement is a guest column on the Writer Unboxed blog. It’s a five step process to getting clear about the goal of your writing: What you write (e.g., poems, essays, novels)? Who … Continue reading →

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John McPhee on Writing and the Relationship Between Artistic Originality and Self-Doubt

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Jeff

Impostor Syndrome is an occupational hazard of any creative endeavor. John McPhee’s discussion of the problem and its solution (taken from his book Draft No. 4) on Brain Pickings both nailed the problem and its solution. Read it and bookmark … Continue reading →

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One Fine Day

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Jeff

“I complete my tasks, one by one. I remove my masks, when I am done..” David Byrne and Brian Eno One Fine Day: David Byrne Performs His Hymn of Optimism and Countercultural Anthem of Resistance and Resilience with the Brooklyn … Continue reading →

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Textual vs. Graphical

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Jeff

I’m a visual learner. I’m more likely to remember something if I see if, text or pictures, than if I hear it. If I encounter a podcast, I look for the transcript. Occasionally, I’ll listen to the podcast if I … Continue reading →

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Nick Cave: What are your plans for the corona pandemic?

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Jeff

Nick Cave (of the Bad Seeds) writes a blog, The Red Hand Files, answering questions from readers, usually several at a time. I don’t know his music, but I like how he thinks. I’m writing an essay on “How I’m … Continue reading →

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Order & Chaos

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Jeff

These are two heavy duty words. My definition of order for the purposes of this essay is predictability. In an orderly world, actions have predictable results, not necessarily the same every time, for example, the result of throwing dice is … Continue reading →

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Six Questions For …

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Jeff

As I look for new places to submit my work, the Six Questions For … blog is helpful. Every week Jim Harrington posts an interview with the editor(s) of a literary journal. The last question is always, “What one question … Continue reading →

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