We have four distinct seasons here in the pine forest. It is three weeks until spring. The transition from winter to spring is not a pleasant one. As the ice and snow melt, everything turns to water and mud, mud, and more mud. Creeks and rivers rise with the melt and ice break-up creates jams and flooding. The point being that change is rarely easy even if the results of the change are both good and necessary. I look forward to getting past the ugly start of spring and into t

The equinoxes are nice, heralding the ebb of Fall and the flow of Spring. The summer solstice is fine, marking the longest daylight of the year. However, it is winter solstice that is really special to me. I love winter. I love snow. We don't have any of it here right now. Well, just a few small smatterings of left over from a wet flurry a while ago. The yoga teacher's kids are freaking out because they have never seen a green Christmas and the old-timers say they have only e

Here in the pine forest the outdoor activity is transitioning from shoveling snow to raking pine needles. The interlude between these activities involves a lot of melt and mud. And so I greet the Vernal Equinox with huge enthusiasm, a light heart, rising energy in my body, and a mop. It may not be the same for you. The equinox might be taking you from Summer to Fall instead of Winter to Spring. You might live somewhere where the seasons are barely discernible. This is my firs

Yes, another rejection: Thank you for sending us "The Furnace". We gave it careful consideration but unfortunately have decided it is not right for our magazine. Best of luck placing this piece elsewhere. This is good because it means I am doing the work. Work, work, work. If you want your art to get anywhere you have to be willing to work harder than the next guy. Do the work. #Rejection #Writing #Inspiration

Yes! Another one! It came with a lovely and kind email about how the rejection does not reflect on the quality of the work. In support of those kind words, please read this. Keep writing! Submit! And please, use the comments box to let me know how you are doing. We can count our rejections together. Or, talk about why you are not getting any. Or...wildly celebrate acceptance! Peace, love, and joy, Diana #Rejection #writersresources #Inspiration

Yes! Success! Rejection letter #1 received on January 29th. I was so excited when it came, because it meant that I had been working. I had been productive. I had crafted a piece of writing to the point that I felt it was worthy of making public and I had put it out there. And it had been recognized. Not published, but looked at, read, considered, and rejected. There are many reasons why submissions are rejected. Sometimes it is because the writing is crappy. But sometimes it

Are you ready to sit down and write in 2017? How did you spend New Year's Eve? I spent mine in a cold, dirty, garage with a couple of 60 year old guys who have survived cancer and open heart surgery and are just really glad to be alive. One my lover, one our friend. Can't say I've ever appreciated New Years Eve more. It snowed all day. The walk home, for me and my lover, was magnificent. All thick and white and quiet and sparkling with the possibilities of a new year. Possibi