I first participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2012, back when I was the faculty advisor to a creative writing club. I felt happily pressured to set an example for […]
How to Win NaNoWriMo When You Don’t Feel So Good
How to Be Creative When the News Kills Your Muse
The news can be addictive. You know why? Because it’s all bad. Bad news is seductive. You like it—even if it makes you miserable. Despite cellphones, space travel, and Axe deodorant spray, […]
August Siren Salon: Does the Latest Breaking News Kill or Cure Your Creativity?
Does staying informed tune you into the zeitgeist or plummet you into paralysis? Are you able to stop the 24-hour news monster from gobbling up all your writing time? Do you secretly fear that if you unplug, your art […]
Let Us Help You Build a Better Writing Life
Is Your Writer Self Lonely, Frustrated, and Overwhelmed? Does it feel as if the demands of daily life keep pulling you away from your writing? You have to be a perfect parent, […]
Don’t Look Back
There was once a time when I did not live without the specter of illness around every corner? I lived a life that wasn’t conditional on the spread of a virus? I spent almost five decades making plans that weren’t likely to be cancelled anywhere, any time, with little notice, because of a nasal-swabbed test result? Could it be true?
“4 Ways To Become More Creative For The New Year”
Have you made a New Year’s Resolution to be more creative? Are you at a bit of a loss on how to make it happen? Have you already broken your promise to […]
The Sensory Wonders of Fall — Even in Florida
On the second to the last day of October it was finally chilly enough to light a fire and sit outside with my feet in fuzzy socks, crammed in their flip flops. […]
Is It Okay to Drink and Read Anne Lamott?
It seemed a fair question to ask myself, since that’s exactly what I was doing. I don’t have a clear answer, possibly due to the drink. Lamott is famous for writing […]
7 Reasons Dog Tricks Can Save Your Life
They say depression has tripled in the United States since the start of the pandemic, with corresponding increases in suicide rates, domestic abuse, and addictions. If you’re feeling down or even desperate, and scrolling through puppy pictures just isn’t enough for you, consider teaching a dog a trick. And here’s why:
What She Said, October 11: Maxine Hong Kingston
In a time of destruction, create something. A poem. A parade. A community. A school. A vow. A moral principle. One peaceful moment. -Maxine Hong Kingston
The Gloria Sirens 