I have set a deadline for finishing the first draft of my memoir. I set it by using left-brain planning. I took the total number of words, and I divided it by the number of writing days left in the year. Is that a reasonable number of daily words? Yes? Okay, that’s the deadline. I’m […]
Take a Step Back: Gaining Perspective Read More »
Greetings from Mono, Ontario. I’m taking time off from my writing retreat to tell you about one of the presentations I attended this week. We are quite a diverse group, yet we have this vital thing in common, that we want to help other people write and heal through their writing. A fellow AWA-trainee talked
How to Be a Clown: Rules for Life Read More »
This weekend, I will be traveling to the Hockley Valley, about 45 minutes north of Toronto, for a reunion. It’s been two years since I became certified in facilitating writing groups through Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA). On Friday, I will be attending an AWA Professional Development and Writing Retreat. Two years ago, I applied
The Experience of Illness: Finding Support in Literature Read More »
Healers write; writers heal and grow. I wouldn’t be who I am today without writing. Writing has given me insight into my most difficult relationships, including the one with myself. There are some people who don’t know what they are thinking until they hear themselves say it. It’s useful for me to know that because
Musings of a Memoirist: Looking at My Former Self Read More »
June 30th is a milestone for me. Three months ago, on the first Friday of April, I set out to write a weekly newsletter for the second quarter of the year. As of today, I’ve reached that goal. It’s time to stop and take stock of what I want to do over the next quarter.
Staying Connected: Writing and Yoga Read More »
Sometimes, it’s a break in a poem that surprises and informs, whether it’s a line break or a stanza break. Perhaps that’s why I am drawn to poetry forms that emphasize the end of a line, whether by rhyme as in a sonnet or a villanelle or by repetition, as in a ghazal (pronounced “guzzle”). Sometimes,
Line Breaks: Changing My Perspective Read More »
I’m writing my newsletter this week from Tallahassee, FL, where I am on vacation for a few days. Today’s post is about the stress of getting away. The days leading up to vacation involve catching up on work and making sure I have coverage. The day of travel itself can be especially stressful, at least
Healthy Living with Brain Waves: Daily Altered States Read More »
This week in the clinic, I struggled with the loss of control over my patient schedule. Emergencies happen, so control of office hours is always an illusion for a physician. But I also struggled with my tendency to overbook myself in my writing life. In addition to working on a memoir and publishing a weekly
Time and the Writer: My Struggles with Time Management Read More »
I’m comfortable in both right- and left-brained pursuits. My love of science makes the practice of Infectious Diseases interesting, but my priorities are shifting into becoming a creative. In my creative and spiritual life, I am open to concepts that my logical self considers to be “woo-woo.” At the same time, my science brain is
Ritual and Discipline: Developing Good Habits Read More »
I witness the passage of time outside my window. Rhododendrons burst, suddenly, into bloom. One day there is a hint of petal, the next day, there are dozens, then scores of dome-shaped flower clusters. Almost as suddenly, the blossoms are going; they are fading and brown, and only the dark-green almond-shaped leaves are left behind.
Writing Is Meditation: Developing a Daily Practice Read More »
