For reasons I won't go into, 2010 has not been my favorite year. But, inspired by the year-end list posted by fellow Tennessee writer Susan Cushman on her Pen and Palette blog, I've realized there have been plenty of things I've enjoyed, especially in the area of books and music. So here are my personal favorites of 2010, which I share in hopes that you might find something here that will inspire you. Happy reading, happy listening, happy following your muse. POETRY Favorite new poetry … [Read more...]
Archives for 2010
MTSU Writer’s Loft Graduate: "Well-Directed Program, Wonderful Mentors"
September 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Poets & Writers just published their rankings of both traditional and low-residency MFA programs for creative writing. I confess, I took a peek. The idea that I somehow need an MFA nags at me ever so often, although to date I haven't quite mustered any full-board justification or enthusiasm for starting to file my applications. But as I scanned the rankings, something unexpected caught my eye. It was an eight point - disclaimer, if you will - posted in the rankings' Guide to the … [Read more...]
Where Have I Been? Writing More Than I Thought About a Creative Life
September 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
So, when I last posted in late April, I really wasn't planning to take off from blogging for the entire extended summer! But here we are in September, and I find myself with plenty of ideas to share with you. First, though, I've realized I should cross-link to some of my posts on the Risk a Day blog, where I did NOT take a summer vacation. Here are several which relate to writing and/or living a creative life: A Daily Audacious Goal: Can I Do It? Can You? Twice in recent months, I’ve heard … [Read more...]
Delightful Contemporary Tennessee Poets
April 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The folks over at Chapter 16 are doing a great job of promoting both poetry and prose by authors who have connections to Tennessee, but in honor of National Poetry Month, I couldn't resist making my own list of contemporary Tennessee poets whose work I enjoy. Here are 3, … [Read more...]
Nothing Trickier, Nothing More Eloquent: Dani Shapiro Questions Personal Faith in Devotion
March 16, 2010 By 2 Comments
“Aren't we all just waiting for bad news?” advice columnist Carolyn Hax wrote in 2009. She was responding to a reader who had asked for advice about waiting for a loved one’s medical test results. Her question – right there in the morning paper beside the daily TV schedule and across from Arlo and Janis and the Peanuts gang– struck me as profound. I clipped the column and have a poem in the works using that quote. I know a few folks - like my dear Mama - who are most definitely not waiting on … [Read more...]
