Posts on Writing:
Living from a Softer Place
For as grateful (and amazed) as I am that I've completed my book, it is an incredibly odd thing to place it in someone...
In Praise (and Pursuit) of Normal
I turned my book's manuscript in to my publisher just over three weeks ago. It’s a bit of a shock, given that for the...
About My Book
It feels WAY too far away to actually talk about, let alone celebrate, but still, I’m naming it: On 10.3.23 my book...
The truth is almost always personal
I recently read Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir, by Beth Kephart. On the back cover are these words: It...
Daily Life and the Spiritual Journey
I read and highlighted these two sentences recently: The spiritual journey is what the soul is up to while we attend...
Not practicing what I preach
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my desire. No. That’s not quite true. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my...
1 quote and 3 (tiny) topics
The Quote: Re-vision–the act of looking back, of seeing with fresh eyes, of entering an old text from a new, critical...
About hearing voices…
Yes, let’s talk about hearing voices…And (just a bit) about RAISING our voices and being countercultural! Over the...
About angels in black tights…and signs…
This post is about signs. Looking for them. Spotting them. Trusting them. ‘Seems right to start things off with a sign...
About my recent book-proposal rejection
A month or so ago I got a rejection letter from the publishing company to whom I sent my book proposal. To be fair,...
3 ways to be fear-defying in writing and life
When I look back over 17 years of blogging, here’s what stands out to me: My voice has fluctuated, depending on the...
Your Wild Voice Within
...the shadow of Wild Woman still lurks behind us during our days and in our nights. No matter where we are, the...
Smart. Responsible. Steadfast. (Or not…)
Smart.Responsible.Steadfast. These three are jailer’s cell.A clanking of keys;lockstep required. They demand,silence,...
Write Toward Vulnerability
If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you...
A late-night text
I’ve been thinking about the wisdom that has shaped much of my life. I’m grateful for some of it, to be sure. There’s...
What’s left on the cutting room floor?
Each morning, lately, I have been reading from a book with 365 reflections. Some I resonate with; others, not so much....
Go Deeper Still, Still…
(I first published this post on 12/31/14. It seems to me to be as relevant as ever.) Go deeper still... You already...
Remember who you are
I was in a queer mood, thinking myself very old; but now I am a woman again – as I always am when I write. I love this...
She was a voice
I ordered and read The Book of Longings last week. Written by Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees and...
In tribute to Mary Oliver
At the end of last week, in reflecting on Mary Oliver’s life – small respite in the wake of her death – I ran a search...
Stories that Still Speak
I’ve been awake for hours. Christmas tree lights on. Coffee made. Fire lit. Snuggled up on the couch. Laptop on. I’ve...
The birth of my blog…
When you write, you have to attempt something greater than you can possibly hope to accomplish. That is the only way...
When Things Don’t Go as Planned
I’ve been thinking a lot, even more than I normally do, about my daughters. About the trials and tribulations that, by...
12 Years of Blogging
I find it almost impossible to believe that 12 years have passed since I meekly created a WordPress site and began...
My Inner Critic = The Patriarchy
I was recently organizing files on my computer (something I do when I intend to write, but instead find busy work…)...
Holes. Gaps. Cracks. Miracles. Light.
When you write you have to attempt something greater than you can possibly hope to accomplish. That is the only way...
Why do you write?
"Why do you write?" was a question recently asked of me. Here’s my answer: I write because it is the space in which I...
Sacred Conversation with Your Heart – #6
Today concludes this 6-part series on (Sacred) Conversation with your Heart. I am hopeful, though, that it is just the...
Sacred Conversation with Your Heart – #5
We’re moving toward the end of this 6-part series. I am hopeful it has done your heart good – especially given that...
Sacred Conversation with Your Heart – #4
PART FOUR – SPEAKING DEEPER TRUTHS Conversation, of course, is more than just listening. At its best, it is filled...
Sacred Conversation with Your Heart – #3
PART THREE – HEARING DEEPER TRUTHS My heart does not steer me wrong. It may speak to me of things I’m not yet ready...
Sacred Conversation with Your Heart – #2
Today features Part 2 in a 6-part series that’s all about Sacred Conversation – not with me, but with your heart. You...
Sacred Conversation with Your Heart – #1
Today starts a 6-part series that’s all about Sacred Conversation – not with me, but with your heart. Each post will...
Why Stories Matter
We live in a world of stories. Childhood fairytales shape our dreams and hopes. Family legends, imparted over kitchen...
A Reflection on 12
12 represents the completed cycle of experience. 12 is the symbol of cosmic order. There are 12 months in a year. Time...
About Fall, Writing, and Letting Go
Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape...
So, I’ve written a book…
The subtitle is “A Braided Essay on Women and Silence and Shame.” And it’s published, printed, physical, able to be...
On Writing – #4
This week, I’m offering a series of posts on writing – ones I’ve written before, new ones yet unseen, anything and...
On Writing – #3
This week, I’m offering a series of posts on writing – ones I’ve written before, new ones yet unseen, anything and...
On Writing – #2
This week, I’m offering a series of posts on writing – ones I’ve written before, new ones yet unseen, anything and...
On Writing – #1
This week, I’m offering a series of posts on writing – ones I’ve written before, new ones yet unseen, anything and...
The New Colossus
By Tanya Geisler For the last two years, I’ve been writing with a group of amazing women writers. Each week we...
Is beauty worth $8 + tax?
As I sat down to journal this morning, I spotted the fresh tulips I bought just four days ago. They are already...
Boom-Boom, Boom-Boom
I often listen to podcasts in the morning. Out of the shower, getting ready for my day. Today’s didn’t really offer...
Today: 10 years of Blogging!
10 years ago today, November 15, 2005, I wrote and published my very first blog post. No one knew but me. And that was...
Using a Pseudonym
I’ve been wondering lately what I would write if I had a pseudonym, if I wrote with some super-secret name. Countless...
The Wild Voice Within
There is a voice within that says more and edits less. It digs deep and dives down. It is impossible to embarrass and...
A freewrite on faith
There have been times in which my own writing has taken me to places of surprise, insight, and even tears. Some...
Telling Myself (no more) Lies
I have recently uncovered an interesting belief I hold within. It’s not pleasant. And frankly, I’m not all that crazy...
A poem. Some story. Lots of truth.
“Please understand me!”she cried.An impossible premisean impossible promiseimpossible, period. She cried“Please...
The Unanswerable Question of “Why”
Every day we are confronted with realities that confound us, enrage us, and break our hearts. We sift through their...
The perfect way to stop a woman.
"I’ve seen women insist on cleaning everything in the house before they could sit down to write.... and you know it’s...
On moving and writing and coming home.
This week we moved from our house of the past 13 years to a condo. Well, to say “this past week” wouldn’t really be...
(Not) throwing the baby out . . .
When you grow up steeped in religion, attending church every Sunday, knowing Bible stories better than fairytales and...
Holding my Breath.
I’ve been holding my breath lately. It’s a trying season as a mom. I feel heartache over a relationship’s end. And,...
A letter to myself
Dear Me: Exhaustion. I see it. It’s down deep, far beneath the surface. A weariness that comes from holding on to your...
Speak the language women speak.
“We must learn to speak the language women speak when there is no one there to correct us.” ~ Helene Cixous You know...
Transforming Your Story (Part 1)
A transformed story is what I want for you: that you would see your life as story, step into it with the same intent...
Inspiration Incarnate
I used to believe that the words, verses, chapters, and books of Scripture were composed by God – the writer’s hand...
Still and always a writer . . .
Just one quick phone call and my entire week’s schedule unexpectedly, miraculously, and graciously cleared. Upon...
Elegance & Crudeness
A quickly-composed and deeply-felt post in the middle of my day... Despite all obstacles placed in my way, many of...
A Lament
I’ve been tricked. ‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus is playing on Pandora. What? It’s an instrumental station –...
Spiritual wisdom from Elizabeth Gilbert
I’m about 2/3 of the way through Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Not only do her words make me wish I could...
How to make sense of ambivalence…
There is a verse in the book of Job that captures ambivalence - without making much sense of it at all: Will you...
364 Days
364 days have now passed in 2007. I woke up early this morning for a vacation day and no alarm. I found myself lying...
Happy 47th Birthday to Me!
After writing posts for both of my daughters on their birthdays, I thought it only fitting that I do the same for...
I’m Tired
There’s much to be done these days with work, children, life. All press for my prioritization. All require much. And,...
Remembering Madeleine L’Engle
Just last week an amazing woman died. Madeleine L’Engle, the author of the well-loved A Wrinkle in Time and over 60...
My lie about writing and time
I’ve been thinking more and more about writing – my desire to so, the things I so want to be able to say, the hopes I...
Will I tell you what I want?
A friend loaned me a book last week that I can’t put down. It’s called Women and Desire: Beyond Wanting to beWanted by...
My Out Loud Voice
I was talking with a friend this morning about how common it is for women to lose their voices – not...