Creative Writing

Today I had the idea that I should change the way I post on my blog. Although I am a mindfulness writer of a specific practice that I have developed, I am also a writer. This is new for me as I’ve only been writing for about 12 years, and only 5 years since self-publishing my first book. Since establishing the blog, I have only written mindfulness-oriented entries which tend to be less personal and more academic. I am sure I will continue these, but right now I am toying with the idea of making this more of an author blog where I write in a more free-flowing manner about my life.

As writing still feels like a new career for me, the writing life feels strange and unfamiliar. As I used to be a modern dance performer, teacher and choreographer, a body-worker (teacher of the Alexander Technique) and parent of 2 small children, this feels like a lot of sitting around. Though I am always working on some writing related project in one fashion or another, usually editing whichever book I am on (now that is Book 3) or writing a blog post, the work feels like it moves in slow motion. I am yet to feel comfortable and familiar with this pace, which is why my mindfulness practice is so personally therapeutic, reminding me that this is how I am spending my time, so it is what is correct! Writing is so deeply process oriented and sometimes it is just gratifying to produce something more quickly than once every couple of years! Blogging helps 😊.

I will give you a glimpse of my life. I live in a cozy, adorable apartment on the East End of Portland, Maine, a block away from Casco Bay. It is an incredible little neighborhood, with great opportunities to take beautiful walks as breaks from the sitting life of writing. I am 54 years old, divorced and have 2 children in college. I am deeply engrossed in the practice I write about. I still dance recreationally and teach a little bit of the Alexander Technique. I also have an academic background in International Relations and Communications (master’s degree), which leads me to a fair amount of interest following the news, sadly and unfortunately growing by the day. As Book 3 includes discussions of evolution, morality and politics, all of this will be put to good use!

When I was in graduate school, I took a creative writing class. Most of the papers I wrote had a very academic feel to them, as tended to be my inclination. However, I once wrote a paper that was a personal account of a special time I had spent overseas, which I wrote in an entirely different manner, much more personal and creative. I will never forget that the teacher commented to me that this displayed much more of my voice, and she wondered what I would do when I “grew up.” I am thinking that this new way of blogging could be an opportunity for that as well. We will see where it goes.

That is all for today. Those of you who are familiar with my work, I always invite questions and themes to blog on. Thank you for joining me on this journey!