“Our language has wisely sensed the two sides of being alone and has created the word 'loneliness' to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word 'solitude' to express the glory of being alone.” Paul Tillich They say writing is therapy. It has taken me some time to appreciate the truth... Continue Reading →
One day this week I was driving on a usually open stretch of highway between Paso Robles and Cambria. The drive is gorgeous, with expansive vistas of ranches, mountains, and the ocean. Occasionally I’ll share the ride with trucks or tourists, but once past the main wine tasting road I’m usually alone. Not this week.... Continue Reading →
My local library system gives me the ability to checkout audio or ebooks onto my phone. Their search criteria include the choice of 118 “collections” or I’ll use the word genres. Some are overlaps, still, that is quite a few ways to hunt for what you want to read next. Many readers find a writer... Continue Reading →
I’m privileged to belong to a kick-ass writing critique group. Several of our writers have been working on memoirs and personal essays. They inspired me to write this piece. Cardinal rule of photography – have something red in the picture to focus the eye. A little boy in a red sweater was running around in... Continue Reading →
Many of my readers are active in book clubs. One of those readers made the following request. “Tell me about book reviews and where they come from.” To that question I’m adding: “Does a book review make a difference in the sales of a book?” and “Who is Kirkus?” Let’s start with “Where do reviews... Continue Reading →
Most of my journeys from my home to anywhere, include driving on a highway. Be it the grocery store, the bank, into town for lunch or on my way to one of the beach cities on the Central Coast, I’m usually on 46 East, 46 West or the 101. There, I did it. A unique... Continue Reading →
The older man with gray hair and a rugged jeans jacket stood behind me in line at the grocery store. He had an envious selection of goods for 10 am on a Monday morning. Two quarts of ice cream, a bottle of wine and a large bag of mixed candy. When I commented that his... Continue Reading →
I’m sharing this from a site I follow called Purple Pants. Happy Poetry Day – a day late!
Writing is a vulnerable process. Pulling your guard down and decorating all your thoughts on a store window rack in just 26 alphabets.
So on this poetry day I sincerely wish for all of us to be strong enough to break down that wall, dress up its evaporating contents on a glossy paper and rebuild the structure again. Then repeat.
And in the end be strong enough today and everyday to do it all over again.
Happy Poetry Day everyone!
Best wishes
and much love,
Shikha
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These 5 questions will start you looking at a book as an author does. This list doesn’t summarize all that goes into writing a book, but then you aren’t writing a book. Coupled with the questions available at the resources available on-line, you should be up for a great discussion at your next book club!
