Last night I briefly worried that a writer friend of mine – who was working holiday shifts at a Portland Macy’s – might have gotten caught in the Clackamas melee of December 11th, 2012. Relief that she was ok was followed by grief – for the 3 people who died, including the shooter. The story … Continue reading Mid-December Meditation: Diffusing Dread through play — cosmopolitanism and the pastoral, part 1
Storytime Sunday, 12/09/12. What Clara wants.
as promised.... silly, and a bit suggestive. for children over the age of 12. Clara would like to make love to the Nutcracker. Or marry him. Whichever comes first, and whatever that means. I think that's obvious, but what is perhaps less obvious (although Freud understood it) is that the Mouse King has his good … Continue reading Storytime Sunday, 12/09/12. What Clara wants.
Story Time Sunday, 12/02/12 — Guess who’s coming to town? (not Santa)
Jesus is coming to eat all our bagels. What kind of car does he drive? my daughter asks. A gold Cadillac I say -- retrofitted -- it runs on french fry oil. That's silly, she says. I say no, it's logical. He's done with the modesty thing, he wants to make a statement - it … Continue reading Story Time Sunday, 12/02/12 — Guess who’s coming to town? (not Santa)
Storytime Sunday — nanonotes from the front finale – NaNoWriMo 2012 – 11/25/12
Once upon a time there was a woman who wanted to be a writer. She wanted to write poems when she was a girl. So she learned how to read and write letters, and wrote one, that is to say, a poem, but her parents didn't like it because they were afraid because you never … Continue reading Storytime Sunday — nanonotes from the front finale – NaNoWriMo 2012 – 11/25/12
Nanonotes from the front… Storytime Sunday 11/18/12 or a question of belief
Dear Friends – At week 3 of NaNoWriMo, we arrive at the heart of the matter. Or rather the heart of your matter. Here's what I'm talking about: At the halfway point of Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, this dialogue happens between Oscar and Mr. Black : Mr. Black: “Stalin found out … Continue reading Nanonotes from the front… Storytime Sunday 11/18/12 or a question of belief
Storytime Sunday, 11/11/12: Nanonotes from the front #2 or let your writing be haunted
Dear Friends of the Unreal -- As NaNoWriMo founder Chris Baty warns in his book, week #2 is tough. For those of us who have trouble with plot, week #2 feels plodding, and uncomfortable, and at this point just a tad strange. This morning I found myself haunted by books I've loved and characters I … Continue reading Storytime Sunday, 11/11/12: Nanonotes from the front #2 or let your writing be haunted
Story Time Sunday, 11/04/12: nanonotes from the front — daring to write bad on a very tight schedule
Dear Magically Real friends -- Well, two days into NaNoWriMo, I have written some of the worst trash ever. I have plot points that do not make sense. Accessories and accoutrements abound that have arrived too early in the narrative and that will not ever get employed again. Assuming that I even remember what they … Continue reading Story Time Sunday, 11/04/12: nanonotes from the front — daring to write bad on a very tight schedule
Story Time Sunday, 10/28/12 — the Story of the 21
Once upon a time there were 21 people. “Wait! “ you say, “that’s too many people for a fairy-tale, but not enough people for an epic like the Iliad which ends badly but has a lot of cool fighting and a lot of gods, but not so much sex as you might expect if you … Continue reading Story Time Sunday, 10/28/12 — the Story of the 21
Storytime Sunday, October 21, 2012 — “Seniors at War”
Dear Friends: Today, I'm linking you to one of my favorite stories, that appeared first in RiverSedge, and now is republished online with Necessary Fiction -- curated this month by the amazing, Stefanie Freele. Please take a look at this site. There is wonderful work here, and of course be sure to pick up one … Continue reading Storytime Sunday, October 21, 2012 — “Seniors at War”
Story Time Sunday, October 14th 2012: “Turtles”
We became artists at the same time. We were tiny, timid critters hurtling towards the shore of representation I thought she might not make it – she was very small -- and I feared the birds, falcons, eagles would grab her,. But she ducked, retracted her head and limbs (reptiles know how to hide). I … Continue reading Story Time Sunday, October 14th 2012: “Turtles”
Stephanie Barbé Hammer Writing (Un) Real 