Category Archives: Writing

Misheard and Misread

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Jeff

Mishearing as a creative act lays out the case for misinterpretations of other people’s words/lyrics/statements as potential sparks for new creative works. I’ve several poems in progress like that: I knew my wife said, “You can’t lead where you haven’t … Continue reading →

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Going to Work

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Jeff

This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. … Continue reading →

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Poetry and Politics

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Jeff

Poetry has always had a connection to politics. Much of the Hebrew prophets are recorded in poetry. In an interview with poet Michael Astrue, politically conservative, who goes by the pen name “A.M. Juster” he cites “For the Student Strikers” … Continue reading →

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Original vs. Unique

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Jeff

Annie Neugebauer does such a wonderful job of explaining the difference between original and unique, I’m going to just link to her post of the same name, Original vs. Unique. They are not the same and the distinction is important … Continue reading →

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Level of Difficulty

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Jeff

Poetry contest winners are frequently about violent, traumatic, scary circumstances. I could imagine or make up such, but the result probably wouldn’t ring true. Why spend time and money pursuing something that’s unlikely? My wife and I recently sponsored a … Continue reading →

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LeGuin on Dystopia

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Jeff

Earlier I wrote about several of Ursula K. LeGuin’s books in Dystopias with Light Visible. In Words Are My Matter (an excellent collection of her essays about writing, book reviews, etc.) she says: Dystopia is by its nature a dreary, … Continue reading →

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The Third Self: Mary Oliver

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Jeff

Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets. She has also written many essays on poetry and the artist’s task. Maria Popov’s Brain Pickings is an excellent way to learn about writers and their writings. The Third Self: Mary Oliver … Continue reading →

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You’ve got to be kind

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Jeff

The headline writers for MarketWatch have to be humble or have strong egos. The market moves after they write often falsifying what they wrote. Writing anything in a public place can be like that. The day after I wrote Kindness … Continue reading →

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Dystopias with Light Visible

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Jeff

Most of the Ursula LeGuin books I’ve read are dystopias, not unescapable darkness, but unsettling visions of possible futures or scenarios. The Word for World is Forest is a disturbing portrait of evil even more relevant in these days of … Continue reading →

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Three Bookmark Journal

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Jeff

Like most writers, I carry around a notebook for ideas, first drafts, Morning Pages, and the occasional class assignment. I bookmark my progress filling pages. Later I edit and rework on the computer. A bookmark marks the next draft needing entry. … Continue reading →

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