Archive for October, 2010

happy halloween, goblins.

[painting by Tess Ptak]

walk into fire with us and write your heart out.

My recent writing rant was borne of a recognition that we spend more time talking about wanting to write than actually writing. We spend more time trying to be clever than just picking up our ordinary and writing. We spend more time on the shape of the outcome than on the process of discovery. What keeps us from the writing?…
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thinking thursday : vote is a verb. and so is inequality.

In this desperate slide toward election day, I am being bombarded by hate that is fueled by ignorance and fear and power and vast amounts of money. Bombarded. Vote is a Verb, friends. Don't let hate win. I was surprised recently by a comment on my Facebook page that indicted me for advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and…
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book tour in watercolor – connecticut sky

I am documenting my book tour in watercolor. Here's the backstory: I recently met Jane LaFazio, a San Diego-based artist who was teaching in Western North Carolina, and staying in a bed and breakfast just across the street from my house. Because she would be there on her birthday, I traipsed over with a postal service priority box covered in…
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Creatively stuck? Come, learn The Six Creative Commitments to get you unstuck!

[Rock My World rocks by Kim Mailhot] I'm so excited to hit the road and share The Six Creative Commitments from my newest book, Creative is a Verb: If You're Alive, You're Creative. I hope you'll join me at one of my stops starting October 16th – there will be magic and laughs and bookmarks and inspiration and beautiful touchstones!

surfacing

Tonight I'll be celebrating for all of the Chilean miners and their families, and for everyone who has had a long, dark stuck period in their life–only to be pulled to the surface at the last minute. -Amy McCracken With prayers for their safekeeping. And for all of us, above and beneath the surface. May we all surface.

mindful monday : thanks for coming out.

[art by Kim Joris] On this National Coming Out Day… I want to tell my many LGBTQI friends that I love them. I want us all to recognize that LGBTQI people have to come out every single day of their lives … and that we should work toward a world in which that isn't true. I want to ask people…
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BOOK TOUR!!

CREATIVE LIFE and / or HOT FLASH BOOK TOUR! I bought myself some new red boots online the other night because I can have a mid-life hot-flash crisis with the best of them, and I included a gift tag to be sent with the shipment: "Congratulations on your new books! Love, Patti." Me and my new boots–and two new…
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thinking thursday.

Well, well, well. My "Aha!" moment, filmed in an Airstream that visited Asheville earlier this year, is one of 75 semi-finalists nationwide. Would you take a moment and vote for it and ask others in your network to? (very simple, no registration, takes 5 seconds). Otherwise my mother may hunt you down and feed you jellied orange slices and…
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poetry wednesday : stand up

"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim." -Elie Wiesel The "It Gets Better" videos are poetry in motion. Poetry that might save a life. Poetry borne of pain, and of recognition. Pass them on. Make one and post it. Ask your local schools to order this free film as part of their anti-bullying program. Reach out when you see evidence…
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