Writing advice
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Owning our mistakes
“Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts.” ~Nikki Giovanni, American poet and activist It’s one of the realities of being a journalist or a published author: The mistakes you make on the job are glaringly public and might remain in print forever. I recall times I made errors that were, luckily, caught by my editors before they made it to print. But sometimes they weren’t caught — and I was humbled when readers pointed them out. (You really need to grow a thick skin in this business.) As sociologist Brene Brown advises, if you’re going to put yourself out there, expect to…
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Working from home
“Let her have a chair, her shadeless lamp, the table.” — Jane Hirshfield, “The Poet” The pandemic has changed the way most of us work. Today, “working from home” is no longer just a temporary option for parents of young kids. More than ever, we all need a safe workspace where we can be productive and creative — whether it’s the kitchen table, a home office in the guest room, or a studio in the basement. The following poem is another favorite of mine, reminding me of my early years of motherhood and the challenges of starting a writing career at home. (I scheduled my deadlines around nap time or…
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Memoir Writing for Mental Health
“Each of us is a book waiting to be written, and that book, if written, results in a person explained.” ~Thomas M. Cirignano If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of writing a memoir, now is the ideal time to gather your journals, photos, and memories — and get started. Did you know that writing about your experiences can boost your mental health? I’ve always believed in the healing power of writing about our lives — and one of my missions is to encourage others to write their stories. To learn more, please look for my new feature story in the “Things to Do” section of today’s Oakland Press. To…
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Funny Friday: Staying productive
“I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.” ~ Steven Wright Cindy La Ferle ______ For social media sharing options and expanded content, please visit the home page.
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Revisiting “The Artist’s Way” workshop
“No matter what your age or life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it’s not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.” ~ Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way Cindy La Ferle ______ For social media sharing buttons and more content, please visit the home page. Please share with your friends. C. La Ferle Please join me at the Royal Oak Public Library for “Rediscovering The Artist’s Way: A Two-Part Writing and Creativity Workshop.” Julia Cameron’s guide is now considered a classic — and its basic tools have become standard practice for writers and artists in a variety of genres.…
