As I write this, All Hallows Eve ends and the Day of the Dead begins. So does National Novel Writing Month. Once again I am about to immerse myself in the deep waters of creating fifty thousand words in thirty days. (There's enough mixed metaphors there to wake the dead and keep them dancing all … Continue reading It starts in a cemetery
creativity
Good luck comes in the strangest of ways
The tagline for this blog comes from a song by master singer, songwriter, and slide guitarist Chris Rea from Great Britain. The song is called "God's Great Banana Skin," and how can you not love that title? It's message is simple: as soon as you start to believe you have this thing called life figured … Continue reading Good luck comes in the strangest of ways
The spirituality of goats, and Elmore Leonard
I love goats. It's entirely abstract, this love of mine, because I've never owned or had to care for an actual goat. I've met a few, scratched their funny goat ears, and been slightly unnerved by their spooky goat eyes. I love that they can bring to mind the devil and unchecked lust, or they can … Continue reading The spirituality of goats, and Elmore Leonard
An invitation to trust
The most important things I learned from attending the Pacific Northwest Writers' Association conference in Seattle last week: Our creative process is powerful and tenacious. Our job is to translate the gifts our imaginations give us as accurately as possible. Our work is to build the craft to allow us to complete that translation. Our … Continue reading An invitation to trust
Roslyn Writing Marathon
Earlier this week I joined six other writers for the first ever Roslyn Writing Marathon, part of the Fresh Air Artists' Festival sponsored by High Country Artists. Led by writer and educator Janine Brodine, we wandered around town, stopping at various lovely, interesting, and spooky places to write together and read our work to one … Continue reading Roslyn Writing Marathon
Like a painting
I thought about writing a poem inspired by the nightly painting in the sky over our valley, but then I realized: it's already a poem.
Inspiration, Part 2
Maybe I should do a whole series on finding inspiration, as right now, it seems to be everywhere. I'm reading voraciously to help develop what my old psychology professors might call a "felt sense" of the middle-grade reader. On a whim I picked up The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster from the Ellensburg Public Library. I … Continue reading Inspiration, Part 2
Forgiveness Haiku
When I teach graduate students about writing master's theses and doctoral dissertations, I ask them to write a haiku that describes their topics. I tell them: if you can't put your topic into a haiku, you don't know it well enough yet. So, as I'm working on the structure of The Law of Immediate Forgiveness, … Continue reading Forgiveness Haiku
Interview Outtakes
Two of my favorite responses to interview questions from the wonderful people at Long and Short Reviews wound up on the cutting room floor. But you, dear readers, get to enjoy them. Think of this as the "outtakes" section... If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be? I wrote a whole novel … Continue reading Interview Outtakes
Guess I’d better go find out…
It's been quite a week since An Alien's Guide released on April Fool's Day. I'm amazed at the ways readers have responded so far. I hope this story continues to touch people, make them laugh and wonder who else in our world might be from another planet, for a long time to come. And, tonight, it … Continue reading Guess I’d better go find out…
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 