Notes from the In-Between

5/30/22 5/30/22

The buzz of being done

3/15/21 3/15/21

Keeping bees with Sylvia Plath

What do beekeeping, motherhood and post-partum depression have in common? Sylvia Plath! And me, as I dream up a new essay and writing project.

2/22/21 2/22/21

Honoring Zitkala-Sa

From telling her people's myth stories to advocating for her people, Zitkala-Sa's work exemplifies writing as activism.

2/21/21 2/21/21

My dog's bone cancer was in his kidney

My dog was diagnosed with bone cancer in his kidney, but one nephrectomy and one month later, he's feeling better. Now I'm looking for ways to keep him healthy -- and I'm hopeful.

2/16/21 2/16/21

Baldwin's America: A challenge and a lesson

2/9/21 2/9/21

Encountering new (to me) voices

Learning the history of the phrase "Black Power" helps me understand why the phrase feels incendiary to some still today.

2/4/21 2/4/21

The gift of literacy

Can you imagine being illiterate? During Black History Month, consider learning about Black authors -- and the amazing journey literacy has been for an entire group of people.

2/3/21 2/3/21

Black History Month offers lessons for everyone

No matter what you know about American history, Black History Month is a chance for you to learn more about this country and Black culture.

1/31/21 1/31/21

Docs for your shots

We may not be able to travel right now, but art and the imagination have no borders and require no vaccines.

1/29/21 1/29/21

Lookin' at you, fledgling little habit

Good plans invite challenges to them, but if you've got some structure to fall back on, accomplishing your goals is still doable.

1/18/21 1/18/21

Fighting not just inaction, but disregard

Knowledge is power, and sharing it is my form of activism.

1/5/21 1/5/21

The reinvigorating cliché

No one wants their writing to be littered with tired phrases, but if you can pick up that trash and use it, as a writer, you should. What's your favorite cliché?

1/4/21 1/4/21

Word by word

If you're an artist with a "real job," what advice for creative time has helped you accomplish your goals?

1/1/21 1/1/21

Feasting on the burned bits at the bottom

What does it mean to be on the lookout for the crunch and crackle of things? Can you see these experiences as new flavors that add to the dish that is your daily life?

12/31/20 12/31/20

After 2020, everyone could use writing to heal

How will you put 2020 behind you? Maybe you should write about--honestly and with all your emotions.

12/28/20 12/28/20

Sixteen years later, still on the road to recovery

Recovery from a life-changing event comes with its own dips and drops and curves. Sixteen years after a stroke I'm still learning this; I think we'll all be dealing with this truth in some way after 2020.