The Blotting Paper Syndrome

The Blotting Paper Syndrome

Long, long ago, back in the Dark Ages when I was young, we had a writing utensil known as a fountain pen. In fact, I still have one or two tucked away somewhere. The pens got the job done and worked great but they required a blotter. You see, the ink from a fountain pen had to dry or […]

So, What’s With That Dream, Anyhow?

So, What’s With That Dream, Anyhow?

Do you believe that dreams have significance? I don’t know about your dreams but my dreams are often a mishmash of a niggling worry, a fervent hope, something I heard someone say, or people who have been or are in my life. I don’t think any of them give me a message. But, sometimes people […]

A Gathering of Writers

A Gathering of Writers

Yesterday, the Ozarks Electric building in Fayetteville was, once again, the scene of the NW Arkansas Writers’ Workshop. Published writers, wannabe writers, vocal writers, shy writers, all ages and genres gathered as we do each year. Admittedly, I stayed only for the morning session. Dusty Richards, who has published his 150th book is an accomplished […]

“Beware the Ides of March”

“Beware the Ides of March”

To Julius Ceasar, the Ides of March was not such a wonderful day. To the rest of us, it is only the day that falls in the middle of the month, a short distance from the official start of spring. Here in NW Arkansas, the Ides of March is beautiful, clear-skied and sunny. Trees are putting out new leaves. […]

My Bag of Tricks

My Bag of Tricks

I want to thank my subscriber who asked what was in my writer’s bag of tricks. I wasn’t sure, myself, what was in there, so I took a look. Mostly what I found was a very active, often obstreperous imagination, but also, in that bag was the small phrase, “What if?” A current event, a past […]

A Harvest of Years

A Harvest of Years

Yesterday was one of those rare, golden days, a day when I reaped the bounty of years gone by. Dad planted some grape vines a long time ago; I don’t even remember how many years ago. Yesterday, I gathered what he had painstakingly planted. His great-grandchildren will be beneficiaries of those lovely grapes made into jelly. That’s, let […]