Today is December 28th—my birthday! I have officially turned 58! I’m writing this from Florida, where I’ve been since Christmas, and I cannot express how much the sun and warmth this time of year always lifts my spirits. What New Gifts and Challenges Will the Coming Year Bring? In just a few days, we will…

I first learned of Alison Taylor-Brown from reading one of Dan Blank’s newsletters: http://wegrowmedia.com/choosing-the-writers-life/ (Dan, of WeGrowMedia.com, helps “writers and creative professionals share their stories and connect with their audience.” I have taken one of Dan’s MasterMinds, and Dan has helped Alison clarify her platform as a writer and get her message out on social…

So …I’m in California right now, smack in the middle of my 10-day residency for my Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction at Antioch University, Los Angeles. It’s wonderful! There is so much learning and inspiration taking place here, and my program is filled with wonderful, eager writers of all shapes and sizes, all…

*This piece was originally published in Lunch Ticket on November 2, 2018. I sit at the keyboard rapidly typing, as my student and I are brainstorming for his college essay. My fingers get tripped up on the simple words. I type “adn” for “and”. In the next sentence, “gaol” for “goal”. While reading it over,…