Click here to view Part 1. Final sentences from Part I: When I graduated I had no idea what I was going to do with my art degree, so I enrolled in a two-year training program at my local hospital to become a radiologic technologist. Bad idea. I found myself in a class full of […]
Confessions of a Bad Monkey (Part II of III) Read More »
Note to readers: I have gotten a response from a publisher who has asked me to make changes to my novel and resubmit it. I am very excited and for the next few weeks I will be busy revising my novel, so I am spreading out this post into three parts. Enjoy. In the first
Confessions of a Bad Monkey (Part I of III) Read More »
Every November a fervor sweeps writerdom, an evangelical commitment to write fast and write more. This effort is called NanoWrimo or “National Novel Writing Month.” The objective is to write a novel in a month, or at least the rough draft of one. For many it is a way to end procrastination, cut through resistance,
Why I Said No to NanoWriMo Read More »
As an adolescent I was obsessively polite. I had learned that people were less likely to hate me if I never contradicted them, and I tried desperately not to offend anyone. As a result, I had few enemies but not many friends either. Writing was the place where I went in order to say what
Writing and the Risk of Offending Read More »
For most of my life, especially since college, I have kept journals. Most of my major life events since then have found their way into notebooks. But I will have to omit the most major life event of all: death. This is unfair. I think I should be able to write a journal entry afterward
I love Halloween, and not just because it is the day right after my birthday, although I am sure that is part of it. Having been born in late October, I do see Halloween as a wonderful swirling blend of colorfully wrapped boxes, cake and candy. But I also associate Halloween with early creativity. During
Why Halloween is Not About Death Read More »
When I was a student in my college painting class, my professor gave the class an unusual assignment: it was called “the extraordinary painting.” The professor did not go into detail about what was expected. Each student was free to decide what the word “extraordinary” meant. My mind churned with possibilities. Some slumbering part of
The Extraordinary Painting Read More »
I have been wondering: What is the true meaning of an apology? In my experience, there is more than one type of apology. There is the kind where I accidentally bump into someone in, say, a grocery store. In that case, I am quick to apologize. What I mean is, “Hey, this was an accident.
The Perils of Apology Read More »
I could not get over feeling stunned. All this time I had thought I knew myself. My inability to stop staring went beyond vanity. I played the video several times, feeling like a monkey. I read that some monkeys, when you hand them a mirror, get that they are looking at their reflection. Fascinated, they
How Meeting My Other Self on Video Confused Me Read More »
Maybe I went a little crazy. But last weekend I had an idea that took hold of my imagination and would not let go. I thought that if I could pull it off it would validate my entire existence and vindicate me after years of past wrongs. The more I thought about it, the more
Why There Has Got to be a Shy Pride Parade Read More »
