Recently, I visited Sarah Heden's blog and read her pensive words, so timely for my personal experience as a writer aspiring to publish: "The process of creating, whether it be art, music, poetry, or story, requires a certain amount of bravery.  Bravery to look yourself in the eye and acknowledge the weakest parts of yourself.  But …
Reconciling with “the Day Job”
Many of us artistic types envision working all day at what we enjoy. Our fantasies consist of becoming the next famous writer or musician or painter. We toy with the idea of traveling the world dispensing our wisdom and talents to those who listen with the fascination of children gazing in toy shop windows. Then we crash …
In Search of my “Desire Line”
Recently, I read an insightful article titled, "The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir" by author Adair Lara http://writersdigest.com/article/elements-of-an-effective-arc/. The author's approach to creating a narrative arc simmers in my mind as I seek to craft my memoir: "The first step in drawing an arc is to answer this question: What did you (as the …
My Little Asian Beauty returns soon…
My daughter will return home soon after working in Seoul, South Korea for over a year. Select this link to read the entire post located on my creativity blog http://refrainfromtheidentical.com/?p=2159 I can barely contain myself at the thought of hugging her once again. I miss her so much.
Becoming your Own Best Friend
My best friend lives far away. And although we talk to each other several times a week, both of us feel the pain of not being able to sit across the table from each other sipping a cup of Joe while discuss the day. We often sigh and dream aloud, "What if we lived in …
You know you miss your kids when…
You know you miss your kids when...you take screenshots of your daughter while Skyping with her from Seoul, South Korea. You miss your other daughter so much that your weekly highlight is reading her latest blog post: You know you miss your son, and his girlfriend, when you spend far too much time poaching their picture …
The Bewitching Hour
The bewitching hour, I strongly suspect, occurs between 3:00 and 4:00 am because that’s when I’m waking up with all kinds of oddities on my mind. Art by Elya Moline Sleep falls gently, tucking expectations snugly under chin…until the early morning hours when, I am convinced, the creative fairies spring wide-awake. During these 3 o'clock risings, phrases …
Keepers of our Souls
You craft your words to heal our pain Then stir our hearts to live again Through prose, our wings of soul take flight Yet circle back on truth alight Oh keepers of our souls I know That one day in your league I'll go To steady hearts from fear and shame Then faith release to give …
Memoir Check
"God, keep me in reality!" My former Twelve-step sponsor used to pray these words every day. She knew her mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being depended upon staying "denial-free." Also married to a recovering sex addict at the time, I embraced her wisdom and chanted the same mantra in hopes I, too, would retain my …
JoDee Luna Art 