If you are hoping for a surprise, you will be disappointed. Surprises are always greater than hope. Story is greater than hope. Making is greater than hope. One of the wisest women I have ever known told me that hope is a con – while we are hoping, we are not taking action. I am… Continue Reading >>>
Category Archives: Latest News
Kinship: Breakthrough Writing for Now, 1/6/2022
I invited all of you to write about the eerie Now for Breakthrough. Cin Norris responded: The days are bleeding. There are some vagaries of wind and weather in Nature’s futile effort to break up the monotony, but frankly I don’t think She cares that much. I was distressed, at first, by my apparent inability… Continue Reading >>>
I write in the last of 2021 grateful to those of you who have donated to BTW
You know who you are. All two of you. Your donation will not only relieve my stretched-to-breaking budget (I can hear my mother’s spirit gasp: “We never discuss money, Liz.”), but your kindness feels like an affirmation not just for BTW, but for the importance of good writing. My good writing. And, yours. And, because… Continue Reading >>>
Breakthrough Writing Needs Your Help
I bet I’m not alone. Between Covid and the social media epidemic and the corporate take-over of so many levels of publishing; good writers, agents, editors and serious writing students stare into that old cliched Abyss. It might stare back, but it sure doesn’t pay for good writing. I confess that I read the New… Continue Reading >>>
Please be patient – my on-line access is verrrrrry fussy right now, but here’s this week’s prompt
It is a good thing I come from stubborn Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. I am in grief over the loss of the beloved Boo. My beloved Boo. Our beloved Boo – Cowboy Benez and Mr. Pickles. And – some of you may be able to understand this: I’ve lived with seasonal affective disorder nearly my whole life.… Continue Reading >>>
Nothing, indeed, will be the same: My beloved black cat, Boo has cancer
Here is Boo. As you can see, she has magical powers. Nonetheless, she also has cancer in her mouth. I will have her put to death – no cute euphemisms here, though I devoutly hope that there really is a Rainbow Bridge and she gets to hang out with her pal, Ruti, the Red and… Continue Reading >>>
Nothing Will Ever Be The Same
There will be no going back to normal. There is no normal. I’ve posted Denise Levertov’s stunning words at least once before in BTW. As each week begins, I find them more and more essential. I want to pretend that nothing has changed in human world, but you see: We have come to the shore; there… Continue Reading >>>
There is no map. There is only the writer’s willingness to move forward
HARJO: Yeah. I know where I want Season 2 to end and I think with anything you have to have room to learn things, right? Because you don’t know what you got when you’re first making it, you know. You write these parts and you cast them and then all of a sudden, you’re looking at… Continue Reading >>>
9/10/2021: Meet the Doc
This is an old-fashioned story about an old-fashioned man with old-fashioned notions. He believed that he had a responsibility to other people. He believed that justice can lie in our choices. He believed that those who have, should give to those who have not. Imagine that! And, I want you to give. I hope you… Continue Reading >>>
So You’re Afraid to Write? Breakthrough for the week of 8/22/2021
The night of delusion is over; it’s almost dawn. The sun is rising, dispelling thick nets of darkness, and lotuses are blooming…If even the planets can’t fathom Here, who will break up these fun and games? —Meditate on Kali! Why be anxious? – Ramprasad, part of an English version by Rachel Fell McDermott If, “As… Continue Reading >>>
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