My Summer Reads
It’s been a pretty good summer for reading. Backpacking and camping trips gave me extra time to read, and I worked less than normal in June and July. Also, when I lead retreats, I go to bed early and read. It’s how this introvert recharges. I read for pleasure, I read to be a better […]
Continue readingJust Because Something is Hard Doesn’t Mean Anything’s the Matter
I came around the corner of the Mabel Dodge Luhan house Friday morning. I’d just finished my morning run to the cross and back. After I caught my breath, I noticed one of my lovely students Lisa sitting under the nearby pear tree. “Morning,” I said. “How are you?” “I’m great. I had a realization […]
Continue readingHow to Recover from a Vulnerability Hangover
After 11 years of failed books and ideas, I hit send on a book proposal I’m truly excited about. More than excited: committed. The plan was to send the book proposal to my agent during a live Facebook event because I wanted support and a dose of confidence from my community (thanks for being there […]
Continue readingSelf-Care Isn’t Always a Sublime Goddess Kind of Experience
There is an idea floating around certain corners of the internet that self-care should always feel delightful or be soulful or important somehow. Maybe involve scented candles and make you feel like a goddess. Or a unicorn. But I want to talk about when we don’t want to take care of ourselves. A lot of […]
Continue readingAre you too tired to dream?
Over tea with a friend I love and who lives far away, after catching up on our kids and partners and parents, we got to the yummy stuff of talking about our dreams, our “bright shinies” as we call them, the new creative inklings beckoning to our hearts. I sipped my lemon ginger tea and I waited for my friend […]
Continue readingHow to Start
Accept that there’s no right way to start because a trackless wonderland has no maps and not a single do not trespass sign to speak of. Gently tug your dutiful mind away from trying to begin at the beginning. Who knows what that is? Begin where there is energy or an image or a line […]
Continue readingLose Your Voice to Find Your Voice
I can get so darn sick of my writing voice. Too acid, too cheerleader, too dull, too… There are days when I want to never write another word. Sometimes this does mean I need a break, that I’ve been forcing myself to produce too many words without taking in enough of the world. Or without […]
Continue reading[June] Jen’s Monthly Round-Up
From time to time I’ll share what I’m learning from writing my new book. Not excerpts, at least not yet, but peeks into what I’m discovering. I have a lifetime habit of starting easily and strong – my first book remains my biggest seller, my first foray into art was the most satisfying, my first […]
Continue readingWhen the News is so Bad it’s Impossible to Concentrate on Your Creative Work
I was doing pretty good limiting my news intake. Just enough to be informed on what to call my representatives about. Just enough to know where to give money this month. Then the zero tolerance border policy in my country took effect. Bam! I was back to obsessively reading the various new sites, crying, bullying one of […]
Continue readingMaking Space for New Voices – Guest Post with Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola
I feature a woman of color’s work once a month. Please click the links and explore! Nnenna was introduced to me by my first guest in this series, Kerra Bolton. I was immediately so curious about her creation, Radiance magazine. What a cool and giant undertaking. I couldn’t wait to learn more about her. What […]
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