Category Archives: Writing

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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Corona Creatives – Austin History Center

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Jeff

The Austin History Center is soliciting materials for their “The COVID-19 Files: Austin Responds to a Pandemic” archives. Their archivists encourage you to keep a journal, write poetry, pen a script, draw or paint, start a video or audio blog … Continue reading →

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C-19 Pandeme

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Jeff

In a recent open mic, Geoffrey Hall, an Austin poet, proposed a new poetry form, C-19 pandeme: 100 words in 19 lines. He read two fine examples. C is the Roman numeral for 100. Pandeme is not an English word. … Continue reading →

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Visual Rhyme

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Jeff

One thing new I’ve learned from on-line Open Mics is visual rhyme, also called eye rhyme. During a recent on-line open mic, the poet shared the word processor screen as he read the poem. The first three lines all ended … Continue reading →

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