Something I learned about writing today: to write or have written?

February 5, 2013.Reading time 1 minute.

“Why do you write?” My mom asked me this question yesterday afternoon, and after my automatic eye rolling response had passed (there are some parts of adolescence that just won’t die) I thought of a quote from Gloria Steinem: “I do not like to write – I like to have written.” (sourced from goodreads) Do […]

Something I learned about writing today: Don’t worry about monkey tails

January 29, 2013.Reading time 1 minute.

Why doesn’t George have a tail? Did he lose in a traumatic jungle event involving zebras and those plastic soda can things? Or did Hans just run out of ink? As I reader, I often stop and wonder about plot twists and character traits, and yes, what it or isn’t on the end of […]

Things that inspire me to write #4: Ted Harrison’s Northern skies

January 25, 2013.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Like a tea kettle in a Disney movie, there are some paintings which almost seem to breath with life. Ted Harrison’s renditions of Northern Canadian landscapes are like that for me—the colors so brilliant, the lines so fluid, the scale so grand, that I feel like I’m sitting on a stretch of Yukon tundra every […]

Things that inspire me to write #5: Meg Tilly

January 23, 2013.Reading time less than 1 minute.

She acts, used to dance, and has published a growing list of highly acclaimed Young Adult novels. Meg Tilly is one of those people that have the annoying tendency to excel in whatever art they take hold of. And as a writer whose painted mountainscapes look like something out of Dr Seuss book (and not […]

Things that inspire me to write #6: Paint Chips

January 22, 2013.Reading time less than 1 minute.

I like pretty colors as much as the next girl, however what I love even more than a perfectly balanced purplish grey are the words paint companies come up with to describe it. Corn silk yellow, ice sculpture blue, buttered yam orange, Queen Anne pink and of course Misty Memories Violet. Leafing through a catalog of paint […]

Things that inspire me to write #9: Ida Frosk’s breakfest

January 20, 2013.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Most people either see it as nice way to start the day or an annoying step before work best filled with coffee or Red Bull or both. Then there is Ida Frosk. This Norwegian food enthusiast makes breakfast into an art form in itself, turning everything from oatmeal to boiled eggs into adorable and elegant […]

Things that inspire me to write #12: Flat Handbags

January 17, 2013.Reading time 1 minute.

As a former bike commuter, I went through a hell of a lot of inner tubes at one time (I swear someone must sprinkle my street with prickles and really rusty nails on a regular basis). However, not once did I see my wheel innards as anything more than dirty dump destined rubber. But this […]

Things that inspire me to write #19: Crayons

January 10, 2013.Reading time less than 1 minute.

There is nothing like a box of crayons to blast me with creativity on a grey, bill paying and carpet cleaning winter day. Just looking at all that rainbow potential makes me want to go sprinkle sparkles all over my car and make giant Smartie cookies for dinner. So thank you crayons, you inspire me.

Things that inspire me to write #22: Jonathan Livingston Seagull

January 7, 2013.Reading time 1 minute.

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.” ― Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull My bed creaks like an elderly cat. Constantly. It is very annoying–especially whenever I think about replacing it with one […]

Things that inspire me to write #25: Fairy Tales

January 4, 2013.Reading time 1 minute.

Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk…with Philip Pullman’s recent re-release of the Brothers Grimm, people are once again talking about the incredible power and endurance of fairly tales–and as someone who reads these same stories to a two year old on nightly basis, I can only agree. I don’t know […]