I've long felt the week between Christmas and New Year's was weird, unsettled, drifting in some kind of void. Even back in my retail days when this week meant harried hours at work, the time still felt unlike any other. Well, of course I'm not alone. Austin Kleon introduced me to the term Dead Week. …
In the heat of summer (in this northern hemisphere), the holiday season seems so far away. Now, as I type, Christmas Eve arrives within the hour. It's that time when we often look back and look forward. What did we accomplish? What did we lose? What will we change? What is to come? For many …
I suppose I could write one of those end of year lists. But I'm not together enough to list top ten movies or top ten books. Do you keep track? Maybe list-making is something to try first thing in the morning when more energy zips through my brain. What can I even remember about this …
Have you ever been in an abandoned house? In 2001, This American Life told a fascinating story of a house whose family disappeared. And certainly, even if we don't venture inside, we've all seen houses that appear abandoned. Do you ever wonder what's inside? What happened? Why do people just leave so many things? Sometimes …
I subscribe to a ridiculous number of newsletters and, of course, I can't keep up with them: Interview Notes, The Imperfectionist, The Whippet, The Art of Noticing, Claudia's Many Worlds Vision, Anti-Racism Daily, Feminist Giant, Austin Kleon, Notes from a Small Press, Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter, Intimations: A Writer's Discourse, I Barely Live in this …
I chose some of my work to make prints, and I've posted them on Etsy. A few bunny Christmas cards are there too. I'd love for you to take a look, share, and get the word out. I'm selling one image that isn't something I drew. It is a photograph of the lake I grew …
How goes National Novel Writing Month, you ask? Okay. Maybe you have not asked, but it is a question I'm asking myself. I've managed to pick up a cold this weekend, which hasn't helped. (I've taken two covid tests, and both came up negative. And I've checked various websites about symptoms--cold, flu, or covid19? Cold. …
Like a fool pulled by the moon, I've signed up for National Novel Writing Month. What lunacy is this? And the title of the work in progress? Karma and the Bright Full Moon. What is it about? Why, it's a sequel to a book I shared on Patreon--Drowning Karma. What's happened to Deva Martin's sisters? …
'Tis the spookiest weekend of the year! This morning I listened to some pieces on fear. We seem to live a lot in fear these days. Haven't we always? One of the segments talked about why we are attracted to horror. Google the question if you want! You'll find plenty of articles. I'm someone not …
Twenty years ago, when I first heard of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), I thought, "Whoa. That's madness." But I was also intrigued. The next week year, I gave it a try, and I loved it. Did I write the best novel ever? No. Of course not. Some folks complain about NaNoWriMo producing too many …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 