National Novel Writing Month starts November 1. The commitment: write fifty-thousand words in thirty days. The insanity for which one should be committed: agreeing to write fifty-thousand words in thirty days. Last year's tale, You Jane, is coming down from this site's NaNoWriMo Story page on Sunday, October 23. The great empty space that will be … Continue reading Warning: NaNoWriMo Dead Ahead
Ode to a Giant Mini-Schnauzer from Mars
Our dog Charlie is now in doggy heaven. The truth is, the only thing to say about him is that he was The. Best. Dog. Ever. But I’ll say a bit more. He loved us with all his doggy heart, and those of you who have been loved by a dog know how powerful their … Continue reading Ode to a Giant Mini-Schnauzer from Mars
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear
Transitions. Are. Exhausting. Have you ever seen a car or truck lose its load along a highway? Seen the boxes of things that someone was trying to get from one place to another in some kind of order, now scattered down the roadside, some torn open, contents flung to the weeds and gravel? That's how … Continue reading Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear
The Book: a new character
I've updated The Book page with a new selection - click here to read it. Here's a quick recap and preview: In chapter one, Louie found an agreement that seemed to show her boss is an alien, working for an organization that bought her company three years earlier. In chapter two, she confronted her boss, who … Continue reading The Book: a new character
Say yes
Say yes. Stay a while under a tree and talk; hold someone's hand. Listen to a friend. Accept a gift. Say yes when life issues you an invitation, and you might just get to see something like this.
Write your congressperson
Okay, that's a trick title for this post... although, after reading it, you still might decide to write your congressperson, and I would wholeheartedly support that. But I wanted to warn you, I am going to get on a soap box. (Metaphorically, of course. There is no soap box in my house that would support … Continue reading Write your congressperson
Panic attack
A year ago, I was preparing to leave on an adventure - two months working in central Europe. I've been thinking about that a lot, because this month I'm preparing for another adventure - only this time I'll be traveling to a new version of myself, as a teacher and writer. Guess which journey is scarier? … Continue reading Panic attack
Here’s a good poet. Seriously.
I am not big on contemporary poetry - here's an exception. It mentions animal sweatshirts, but it is not, like many contemporary poems, an ode to the adorable-ness of a cat, nor does it invite us to know waaay too much about the poet's inner angst, like many other contemporary poems. Instead, it's funny. It … Continue reading Here’s a good poet. Seriously.
Poised to take off… and easy to root for
In the last week I've been lucky enough to see Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs twice: headlining a bill at Raw Space in their hometown of Ellensburg, and playing a free show at Hiawatha Community Center in West Seattle. Two completely different venues, audiences, atmospheres. (Fortunately, no one at Hiawatha needed to be bounced … Continue reading Poised to take off… and easy to root for
It gets better… but only if we all make sure it does.
Only four major league baseball teams so far? Come on, guys... Seattle Mariners, be the fifth team to do this. Give us something to be proud of this year. Baltimore Orioles become the fourth MLB team to join the It Gets Better Project. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning youth - too many of our young … Continue reading It gets better… but only if we all make sure it does.
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 