Archive | April, 2018

Why Dogs Make Us Better Writers


One year ago today, I said goodbye to Blue, aka Boo Boo Blue, Princess Abooboo, Bluester and so many more silly names. Grief fades, love endures. And yet, all I have to give you in a post today is a reminder (repost) of why opening yourself to this kind of grief is essential for writers. […]

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Boost Three Habits with a Writing Buddy: Guest Post by Katy Perry


I loved having Katy Perry in my Loft classes. She not only gave the Three Habits “a try” as she writes, she embraced them and made them her own. Katy came into class with an abundance of native talent and already honed craft skills. Her willingness to make, track and honor commitments brings her writing […]

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Free Your Writing With Limits


I love a good paradox and this is one of my favorites: the best way to set your creativity free is to impose creative constraints. Poets do it all the time. The sonnet, haiku, sestina, villanelle, quatrains, even the common limerick are all examples of the structures and constraints poets use to keep their writing […]

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How Recommitting to the Art Side of Writing Eased My Resistance


Publishing is business; writing is art. Writers must attend to both the business side and the art side of their lives, but in what ratios? Challenging as it is, creating art is where we find joy. Publishing is where we hope to find satisfaction and success, but where we’re far more likely to find disappointment. […]

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