Writing

This past weekend I had the joy of facilitating a Women’s Circle for women over 60. The focus of the 2-hour event was “Calling Forth the Poet Within.” The participants lit up as they tapped into the hidden poet inside of them. It was especially fun when I gave them prompts to write about significant memories…

I’ve heard it many times in my classes: Your family and friends want you to write your memoir. They say you’ve had an interesting life, and you have such great stories to tell. They want it all in writing for their kids, your grandkids. But who has the time? And really, is your life all that interesting?

I loved helping new families through pregnancy and childbirth as an obstetrical nurse. In addition, the intensity and energy needed for my job, especially in a high-paced unit like labor and delivery, required a level of focus and knowledge that energized me. One of the non-nursing tasks I enjoyed included writing…

October is breast cancer awareness month and a reminder to have our mammograms. If you’re unfortunate enough to brush up with breast cancer, you hopefully have a great support system. During the course of my two breast cancer journeys, writing has always been my panacea…

There probably has never been a better time to become a published author. Just 15 years ago, your best chance of getting published meant submitting to traditional publishers and keeping your fingers crossed while you wait months for them to respond with whether…

I first became interested in teaching small children how to write during my undergraduate work as I trained to be an elementary teacher. In the 1980s, the teaching of writing was shifting in a new direction. Influenced by educators like Donald Graves and Lucy Calkins, the focus moved away from rigid rules, drills, and worksheets and toward a child-centered approach.

I was honored when the editor of Sixty and Me asked me to share my author’s journey with the community. I have read many other articles and blogs where authors share their journeys, and it is always fascinating. There are so many different motivations and paths that authors…

Poetry is a powerful genre because it allows self-expression and thus can increase your sense of well-being. In addition, reading and writing poetry not only leads to healing and transformation, but it can make you a better writer. In general, writing poetry fosters the development…

Over the last decade or so, memoir has grown into one of the most popular reading genres. But the truth is, personal stories have been part of the human DNA for a very long time. We have been telling our tales to each other for centuries. But in modern times, more…

On a recent trip to Ireland, Wales, and England, I was hoping to keep a daily travel journal. Although, I’m a writer by trade, it seemed a daunting task. Taking the time each and every day of the trip to consider what I had seen and experienced is one…