(Re) Considering Trauma In my new day job, I work tangentially with people in drug and alcohol recovery. I say “tangentially” because I do marketing and am not a therapist, but being around it starts to seep in. Most of us have either had some sort of trauma or have known someone close to us who has an addiction problem. One thing about trauma is that once you start to see it or recognize it in other people you begin to see it in yourself. Looking through the lens of trauma puts your own in focus. Most people have trauma – it is very hard to get through your life without an accident, … [Read more...]
Why Personal Essays are Important in the ‘Age of Trump’
How can we build trust and empathy in society in order to practice respect for all people? I am a teacher focused on helping writers communicate their personal truth. I am deeply concerned about the current administration’s support of “alternative facts” and “fake news.” I believe there is a pathology in America right now that uses self-deception, lying and deceit as a winning tactic. Over and over I’ve watched ignorant people get the attention they crave by saying outlandish and disturbing things. Last year a popular rapper made news by stating his belief that the world is flat. Republican … [Read more...]
10 Books to Inspire Your Personal Maps
As a personal mapping enthusiast, I have been collecting books that inspire me to keep drawing detailed pictures, even though I would not consider myself a visual artist. The pen to paper, having no idea what forms will come out, thrills me. It is pure emotional drawing....much like we did when we were children. The colors, shapes, images and words all come from a very deep and personal place. It feels good to have an intimate map of my internal state - it gives me a release and it is a "visual aid." I have explained my pictures to friends and suddenly we have a glimmer of understanding and … [Read more...]
Best Web Sites for Personal Essays
Curious about where to find personal essays that engage on both craft and storytelling? Here is my curated list of the websites that are publishing the best personal essays around. I go back to these sites over and over, for inspiration and entertainment. I love the variety of voices and dedication to publishing under-represented groups. These stories are inclusive and salty, unafraid, bold and emotional looks at life. We Are Mel/ Mel Magazine: The first-person essays published here are not afraid to take a hard look at what it means to be a man today. Focused on the sociocultural, Mel … [Read more...]
Why Essays are the Perfect Way to Improve Your Writing Skills
Whether you are applying for a school program or looking to get published online here are some of my best tips for using essays to improve your writing skills. Finding your story. Everyone has a story, no matter where you are from or how old you are. To identify what makes you unique take a deep look at the details of your prospective story. An example: Instead of being sporty in high school you were a debater. Ask yourself the 5 questions: Who is in the story - write character descriptions of each of the people from memory. Getting stuck? Try to dig out material such as letters, … [Read more...]
Orienteering Your Life With Personal Maps
The lyrics from the song Once in a Lifetime from the Talking Heads plays in my head sometimes: And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack/ And you may find yourself in another part of the world/ And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile/ And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife/ And you may ask yourself, "Well... how did I get here?" There have been quite a few periods of drastic change in my life. You look up, the dust has settled, and you wonder, where does this leave me? Where do I go now? What are my new, and bigger dreams? … [Read more...]
Inspiring Writing Prompts for Self-Care
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” ― Audre Lorde Writing is a way for me to hit the "refresh" button. To wring myself out when I feel like a crumpled rag or just get my feelings out in one long diatribe (that no one will ever need to see). I have definitely been through difficult times when I began to wonder if anything made me feel calm and at ease. Whether it was local trouble - seeing the homeless line the freeway underpasses here in Los Angeles and the pain of knowing how unkind society can be. Violence on the news … [Read more...]
Our Ten Most Popular Writing Prompts
Sometimes you just need to be able to choose the writing prompt you are in the mood for or see what calls out to you. Remember to turn off your ringer, put on some headphones, and maybe meditate for a few minutes to find your focus. Rewrites are for later. Keep your fingers moving and remember that your best friend is the word "AND" because it begs you to keep going. 10 Most Popular Memoir Class Writing Prompts Writing a Letter to Your Teenage Self Contemplating Your Unique Life Gifts Writing Your Recipe For Resistance Metamorphosis: A Writing Prompt Your Life is a Writing … [Read more...]
Three Contemplative Books for Hard Times
Most of last year I was in a contemplative mood. I was traveling back and forth from Los Angeles to Chicago trying to help my mother manage my father’s illness. I needed some books to hold me while experiencing some of the most grueling emotional days of my life. The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen: This is the book that comes up when you search for something to read while you are grieving. The book is a travelogue of the writer’s trip hiking in the Himalayas in 1973 with two hopes: to make it to the Crystal Monastery and to see a snow leopard. Along the way he wrestles with his thoughts, … [Read more...]
Writing Advice to My Fifteen-Year-Old Self
New Writing Prompt: How to write a letter to your teenage self! Try starting out with second-person to make it intimate (I recorded a video here on YouTube about the second person if you need a refresher). A good jumping off place is "You think that..." or "When you try...." Really imagine yourself - get out a photograph. One of those hideous school photos or a yearbook. Doesn't it look like a different world? What would your teenage self be the most shocked by? Is it something personal that has happened to you? Have you overcome something you never thought you would be capable of? Can you … [Read more...]
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