So far, the results from my poll on subscriber interest and visiting schedule have been small but consistent.
Readers who expressed an opinion, said that they visit about 3 times per week, and want more writerly content–actual writing, or discussions on writing.
What prompted me to ask these questions? Continue Reading »
Posted in Writing | Tagged blogging, creative writing, Writing | 2 Comments »
I once knew a girl.
She was beautiful, with happy eyes and apple cheeks and long, black hair. She was quick to smile, her eyes turning into crescents, her laugh quiet and shy, like a secret. She was quiet, like me, and thoughtful, unafraid of deeper questions. She played the violin, not very well, but well enough to enjoy the challenge, the process, and the camaraderie of the shared anguish of second violins. From my seat in the viola section, we would share a glance, a wink.
She was kind. When I told her of my growing affections, she suggested we take a different course. I decided my life was better with her in it, and agreed. We remained friends, wrote letters, flirted without romance, talked of life, of dreams, of the future.
In time, though, our paths diverged. Other loves and other dreams led us both away from our hometown. Our letters grew infrequent, then stopped.
Decades passed.
Then, a note. An email. Is that you? Do you remember me? Continue Reading »
Posted in Culture | Tagged creative writing, friendship, gaku, grief, loss, old friends, vignette, Writing | 3 Comments »
The simplicity and durability of the codex book is hard to match. A decidedly low-tech marvel by today’s standards, a book is still a nearly magical thing.
I have books in my house that are hundreds of years old. I have one was made in the early 1700s. That’s three centuries, my friend. And all of them still work.
The printed book has held many secrets. A lover’s note hidden between the leaves. Scribbled marginalia penned by a previous owner. Messages constructed with the first letter of each physical page. Code keys built from characteristics of specific editions.
And here’s a new one. “Fore-Edge Paintings.” Continue Reading »
Posted in Books, Low Tech | Tagged books, fore-edge painting, hidden paintings, Robert Mudie, University of Iowa | 3 Comments »
Over the Labor Day weekend, I talked with other bloggers about frequency of posts. I wondered what my subscribers might want by way of frequency and topics.
Well, the best way to find out is to ask. So I’m asking.
…and…
Thanks for the input.
k
Posted in Writing | Tagged blogging, Writing | 6 Comments »
Echoes from another time.
“You’re too sensitive.”
“I was just teasing!”
“You need to come out of your shell.”
“You spend too much time in your head.”
When I was young, adults labeled me with words like “shy” and “bookish” which didn’t sound bad but I was pretty sure they weren’t compliments. I had no such confusion with the schoolyard taunts of “pussy” and “faggot.”
These were the judgments pronounced upon me. They were the phrases that defined me. They were spoken so often, I believed them. I believed that I was defective, inferior. I believed that I was somehow less. Even with all my gifts–of concentration, of perseverance, in music, as an autodidact–I still felt that there was something wrong with me because I didn’t fit in, because I rarely spoke up, because I enjoyed solitary activities, because I preferred walking in the hills to traveling with the pack.
So, when a friend recommended Susan Cain’s sociological study, Quiet, I was intrigued.
Posted in Books, Culture, Writing | Tagged believable characters, book review, books, creative writing, introversion, introverts, quiet, society, susan cain, Writing, writing tips | 7 Comments »
When I went to sleep, I was thinking about the story I’m working on.
When I woke up, I was thinking about the story I’m working on.
This is exactly what I hoped would happen, when I decided to put off working on my new novel and pick up a short story instead. The novel was too big a project, what with all the other drama in our lives. The short story was more manageable, more…realistic…given my current state of mind.
So, what have I done on this old story? Continue Reading »
Posted in Writing | Tagged believable characters, Characters, creative writing, novel writing, short story writing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips | 4 Comments »
When my Earthbox garden produced more cucumbers than I could consume, I naturally looked into pickling. As a child, I never cared for sweet pickles, but then again, the only sweet pickles I had came in the form of hot dog relish, so it wasn’t a good introduction. Then, earlier this year, I saw “bread and butter” pickles on the store shelf. Curious, I tried some.
Now that’s a good, sweet pickle. I set about devising a recipe.
“Bread and Butter” pickles got their name in during the Great Depression. Cucumbers are easy to grow, and very fruitful, so every home had some in the garden. A common Depression lunch during the growing season was bread, butter, and cucumbers. When the plants produced more fruit than could be used immediately, they pickled them and ate them through the cold months–with their bread and butter.
Slicing the cucumbers lengthwise, they’re easy to lay out onto a slice of bread. Take two thick slices of whole wheat bread, slather with some nice, salted butter, add a couple layers of these pickles, and tuck in.
Yum!
Posted in Food, Recipes | Tagged bread and butter pickles, cooking, cucumbers, Food, Recipe, recipe bread and butter pickles, sweet pickle recipe | 2 Comments »
Kurt R.A. Giambastiani 