meditations and dialogues about family, books, ideas, and the writing life
Posted in Family, Meditations on life, Writing on Mar 27th, 2011
Perhaps the very essence of human nature calls for naming things to make sense of the world. I imagine the first humans touching rocks, blades of grass, newborn babies, and the fur of animals they killed. And making sounds — the first sounds that named the things they were touching. In my mind the sounds [...]
Posted in Authors, Guest Writers/Authors on Jul 25th, 2010
Anne Michaels is one of my favorite writers. Her “Fugitive Pieces” is one of my favorite novels. In her novel, not only was she able to resurrect for me the most mystical places of Poland, like the city of Biskupin, but she also was able to draw a magical map of the most beautiful places [...]
Posted in My first novel on Jul 16th, 2010
When I started writing my first novel, the one that will be published in November this year, I came up with a working title: To Kill the Other. I have to admit that throughout the many years of working on the novel, the title found a place in my heart and mind. But I always [...]
Posted in Meditations on life, My first novel on Jul 12th, 2010
I have been imagining the moments of going through the last edits of my first novel for years now. In my imagination, I could see myself staring at the woods behind my window with a “satisfying feeling of fullness,” as one of my friends once described it for me. I could see myself leaning back [...]
Posted in Meditations on life on Apr 17th, 2010
Have you ever heard the words I love you? Have you ever asked someone Are you an alcoholic? Have you ever been told by your mother I have an ovarian cancer? Have you ever heard the words Mom died this morning? Have you ever heard the words You are the woman I have been looking for all my [...]
Posted in My first novel on Apr 14th, 2010
The initial stage of editing of my novel started on April 1st. I won’t hear from Emily, my editor, for a month. Then I will receive my manuscript, with her suggestions, back. I want to share with you my thoughts about writing my first novel, but I am overwhelmed by the process that brought me [...]
Posted in Guest Poets on Mar 23rd, 2010
Have you ever tried to write haiku? I have attempted to write haiku several times throughout the years. But I have never succeeded. Finally, I had to ask myself a question: What is it about haiku that makes it difficult to learn? The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of haiku [...]
Posted in Guest Poets on Mar 17th, 2010
I found an interesting poem about poetry last night after teaching my ESL Writing class at Howard Community College. I saw a poster with this poem on a wall (close to room 118) in the Duncan Hall. Later, I tried to find this poem on-line but couldn’t. After a long search I had decided to ask for help and voila! [...]
