Reading Intention

The end of a year is filled with ‘best of’ book titles. Last year I composed my own list, specific to young adult literature. This year I couldn’t—not because I didn’t have any, but because I couldn’t remember. Welcome menopausal brain.

Some folks in the literary world set intentions for their reading practice; a bookish resolution of sorts. I’m jumping on that train and plan to keep a log, listing all the books I read in 2016. From time to time, I’ll post a couple of updates so you can follow along or join in. Thus far I’ve finished Brene Brown’s, Rising Strong; Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic; Raymond Carver’s, Cathedral; Emma Mills’, First and Then, and am in the process of reading Theo Pauline Nestor’s, Writing is My Drink; and Ha Jin’s, The Bridegroom: Stories.

Hopefully, next year I’ll be able to check my log and offer up my best book list like everyone else.

Now if I can only remember where I put my pen.

Dead Blog

I realize blogs are dead. That said, I continue to write them. Why? I write because that’s what I do. I can’t imagine my life without writing.

Although my blog is often informational and I write a highly controversial column for the local paper, my passion is writing fiction. When the creative muse fails me, I write in a journal for personal musings. I script old-fashioned letters and poetry and notes. I write because that’s what I do.

If you are a writer, I suggest you keep your blog going, maintain your journal, and write more poetry.

It’s a brand new year: resolve to write. Write every day. If it does nothing else than clearing your head, it’s worth it.

Happy New Year. Now go write.