Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. A Pantoum for Constance Demby By Leigh Anne Caryl They said she died almost without notice Thank God her music lingers Beautiful transcendent videos Visuals of stained glass gothic cathedrals Thank God her music lingers An unapologetic exploration of meditative melodies Lifting me above the Ethos Grand Visuals of stained glass gothic cathedrals An unapologetic exploration of meditative melodies Beautiful transcendent videos Visuals of stained glass gothic cathedrals They said she died almost without notice ______________________________________ Tribute to a Marin County Friend I will never forget Leigh Anne Caryl is a pen name. This is her poetic inner child and muse that has been a lifelong writer and constant internal friend, who feels safe to reveal the emotions, and deepest secrets within her soul. Her first published poem was in 1989. She was printed…
Month: April 2022
The Story of Jazz and Vihar
“The Story of Jazz and Vihar” by Kathy Guthormsen is a sweet story and the author’s love of these three birds comes through on every page. I look forward to sharing this book with my grandchildren and taking them to see birds like this at a bird rescue center near them. —B, retired teacher and team manager, and grandmother of 3 The richly textured, vibrant artwork accompanying each page portrays Poe, Jazz and Vihar—their appearance, plumage, talons, even expressions —in realistic detail. Explanatory sidebars, also in color, flesh out the story with facts about great horned owls and ravens.—G, retired librarian and Bird Rescue Center volunteer I like it because it because it feels like the story is set by Poe and it’s just like you can see the point of view from the owls and what they go through. I also like the pictures a lot and honestly give this book a…
The Disappointed Housewife
Notes from The Disappointed Housewife editor Kevin Brennan: “The Disappointed Housewife is a literary journal for writers, and readers, who are seeking something different. We like the idiosyncratic, the iconoclastic, the offbeat, the hard-to-categorize. Out of the universe of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, we want to attract work that plays with form and presentation. Work that’s not just outside the box but turns the box inside out.” Excerpt from Mission Statement I took a long time debating whether to launch this literary journal. I wondered whether there’s really a need for another online gazette of literature and image, when readers hardly have time to read their friends’ Facebook pages much less an actual book now and then. But I got to thinking, there are an awful lot of writers out there, looking for places to share their work. And while blogs offer a kind of outlet for works of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry,…
Don’t Tell Anyone . . . Prompt #643
Writing Prompt: Don’t tell anyone . . . #justwrite #iamawriter #iamwriting
Divine Candy
Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. Divine Candy By Sandra de Helen On Route 66, Dead Man’s Curveour house with an outhouse on seven acreswith no running water,no candy store in sight. We ate the eggs our chickens lay,beans, potatoes, and greensMom picked in the woods.No sweets except on holidays. Grandma baked pies,Aunt Mame made candy:Chocolate fudge, peanut butter bars,and her heavenly divinity. Billowy clouds of white sugar,studded with walnuts Mame herselfpicked out with her prized nutcracker set. Black walnuts the family gathered togetherto gather from alongside gravel roadsof the nearby countryside. Once each year every small familywithin our larger familywere gifted a decorated boxof Aunt Mame’s treasured sweets. We rationed them, made them lastby savoring each bite with the mindfulnesswe’ve long since forgotten. Only my sister and I are left to recallour Aunt Mame and her gifts.No one thought to ask…
A Safe Place . . . Prompt #642
Today’s writing prompt starts with a visualization. Sit back. Relax. Breathe in deeply. Release and relax as you breathe out. Let go. Let your mind relax. Settle into your chair. Nothing for you to do right now, except be here. Nowhere for you to go. Let your mind drift. Go back to a time when you were little … 4 or 6 or 7 years old. A time when the world was fresh to you. Filled with new sights, adventures and exploring. A time when there was magic in the air. Full of possibilities. Take a deep breathe in and settle into your comfortable space. No worries. No hurries just now. This is your time, in your special place. Imagine or remember what your world was like when you were 4 or 6 or 7 years old. When everyone was taller than you. Everyone seemed wiser than you. But you…
Jon Batiste, radar, and writing
“I believe this to my core, there is no best musician, best artist, best dancer, best actor,” he began. “The creative arts are subjective and they reach people at a point in their lives when they need it most. It’s like a song or an album is made and it’s almost like it has a radar to find the person when they need it the most.” — Jon Batiste, during his 2022 Grammy winner for best album acceptance speech I think writing can be included in the creative arts category. When we’re lucky, our writing radar picks up news and events when we need them to enhance our writing. And that includes writing communities like The Write Spot. Welcome! I’m so glad you are here. The Write Spot Resources Page: Writing Blogs and Websites Places to submit writing Community groups Writing magazines ~Marlene #justwrite #iamwriting #iamawriter
Shaman Heart, Turning Pain Into Passion and Purpose
“Shaman Heart, Turning Pain Into Passion and Purpose”, a Brave Healer Production, invites readers to develop a shaman heart — one that can only be obtained by coming through our darkest moments more healed and whole and then lighting the way for others. As the anthology’s lead author, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and teacher Stephanie Urbina Jones writes, “Whether it’s a death of a loved one, divorce, illness or depression, we can turn our pain into an initiation and be a sacred witness or messenger in these bittersweet, crossroad moments in life. From this place of humbled, broken-open wisdom and grace, we can then walk with others and assist them as they journey through their own darkness to the dawn of a new beginning.” The genesis for Shaman Heart occurred on January 5, 2022, when Urbina Jones and 25 other leading spiritual teachers, preachers, and healers spent a week together at the Dreaming House in the heart of Mexico. “Each author…
Brevity Blog seeks submissions
Brevity Blog is the place to discuss issues related to the writing of creative nonfiction. “Though we don’t shy away from important issues in the writing community, the Brevity blog can also often be colloquial, personal, and at times irreverent or humorous, and our most popular posts tend to be those that are the least academic.” Appropriate topics for the Blog include the craft of writing nonfiction, issues in editing and publishing, writing conference and creative writing classroom experiences, interviews with writers or editors, prompts, close reading of essays or essayists, or specific issues that challenge us as we attempt to capture true experiences on the page. Word Count: 500 to1,000 word range (sweet spot is 850). Brevity Online Journal also welcomes submissions.
The next thing . . . Prompt #641
Writing Prompt: The next thing I want to do . . . Just Write! #justwrite #iamawriter #iamwriting