Donna

Holds a B.A. in English Education and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine.

I used to scoff at people who told me that the "writing life" could be a one-way ticket to Hermitville, until late one night I found myself writing by the light of a lava lamp in my basement office, wearing Scooby Doo pajamas for the second full day straight. I'd also forgotten to brush my teeth. Hence, this blog, which rests on this foundation: The writing life should not be a solitary life.

Okay, so perhaps the act itself is solitary, but this is my belief---personal stories are connection points. Our shared histories weave our lives together, create community. They become channels of light where we can see ourselves through the lives of others. That story your father told you at the dinner table, night after night, until you wanted to whack him over the head with a baguette? That's important. The fact that your grandmother swore like a sailor and hid a bottle of Jack in the basement freezer? That's important. What? You grew up in a small town in the Northeast West Willywacks and you don't have one interesting thing to say? I beg to differ. We are brought together person by person, time and time again, by shared stories. A story floating on the air from another place or time permeates the here and now and irrevocably alters it. We are shown what has been, which frees us to change what will be.

There are all kinds of creative ways to record and share our stories (writing being just one!), and this blog will explore them. We'll also explore how creativity enhances our lives, and meet people who make a living pursuing creative endeavors.

Join me! We'll write. We'll read, draw, paint, scrapbook, collage, and play with art supplies. We'll have prompts, we'll have resources---all with a sprinkle of personal musings and such. I just hope you don't mind my Scooby Doo pajamas!