Autumn class

This week I start a short story writing class at the community college. I've taken memoir and novel writing classes but want to experiment with shorter pieces. I want to understand how short stories differ from longer pieces. I have generated several ideas for stories over the summer and now need to understand the structure and pace of short stories. Great way to get motivated in my writing again.

New writing projects

I'm always amazed that when I just write from my heart, my brian follows. Riffs help free my mind and allow my heart to take the lead. This summer I've written pieces without knowing where these will lead me. New characters spring to life, new settings emerge, and I simply don't try to understand or organize these pieces. Maybe these are beginnings of short stories or maybe these are pieces of a novel. It doesn't matter - I'm happy to just keep writing.

Writing my grief...

I struggle writing about my grief in a way that is not too intense for the reader. I strive to balance the raw emotion of my experience with a narrative that distances me from that emotion. The story has three parts: the time between the diagnosis and his death; the year following his death; and the year of trying to create a life without him. I write about the good times in our relationship, the not so good times, and the insights I've gained as I've traveled along the journey of grief.

See new post on Dubious Grief page.