Writing Articles

Secrets of the Terrarium: Day 19/20 of National Poetry Month

Is it cheating to combine days when I wrote two a day for other days? I say no. It’s not.

Renewal: Day 18 of National Poetry Month

Does “recreation” require destruction? Does “rebirth” require death? Do opposites attract or repel?

Quintessential, Querulous Quintet: Day 16/17 of National Poetry Month

I could no longer count or recite the alphabet in order. Last time that happened was in college, when I briefly worked in the Library – after hours of shelving books by Library of Congress numbers…

Pixellated People: Day 15 of National Poetry Month

Does technology bridge the divide between us? Does it inspire creativity or resist it? You be the judge.

It's a horror show, all right. I tried to get "an ingenue crab-walking up dimly-lit stairs to creepy music" and got a little girl walking up creepy stairs next to a giant crab. Whatever. That's AI for ya. Doesn't always give you what you want, but sometimes gives you exactly what you need.

Jump Scare

How is it that we know the tropes – they are, by definition, cliché – and yet, they can still make us feel something like fear or anticipation?

A bully faces off with a scrappy little girl on the playground.

Naani Naani November’s Here!

Not doing NaNoWriMo these days, but maybe I can write 30 poems in a month. Or not. One of these is inspired by Robert Brewer’s 11/1/25 prompt for the PAD challenge; the other is a form I was challenged to try by Barbara Ehrentreu.

person lying on white textile beside beach

From the Sky to the Depths

It broke her heart to bits, each time. If she were in charge of all things, the three of them would never have to part. Dylan and Bram, her reasons for being. Dylan lived with Bram most of the year, but he was a young adult who could come and go as he pleased. Dylan knew that he was loved. And he knew he had the best of both their worlds.

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person writing on brown wooden table near white ceramic mug

Creative Outlet

This story brought to you with inspiration from Creative Copy Challenge #674 | Writing Prompts – Creative Copy Challenge (wordpress.com) and the words Struggle, Adventure, Nature, Curiosity, Creativity, Freedom, Resourcefulness, Imagination, Outlet, Contentment.

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lake under blue sky during daytime

Pygmies at the Lake: A Tall Tale (or IS It)?

I have received urgent pleas from the Allegheny Mountain Ecotourism Board to update this and inform you that it is truly fiction – please, please stop trampling the natural surroundings looking for the indigenous peoples described herein. Or at least support local businesses, you determined adventurers, you.

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fire burning on the road with high rise buildings during daytime photography

Extinguish the Flaming Social Media Trashpile!

If you can get followers to spend a little more effort – to change the thumbs-up to a heart emoji, for example – you got something like a “reaction” out of them. But the holy grail of engagement – getting a thing to “go viral” or “spread like wildfire” online – requires the equivalent of fuel, a heat source, and oxygen.

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So You’re NOT Leaving Facebook?

So You’re NOT Leaving Facebook?

If you’ve considered all the reasons to leave Facebook and still don’t think Facebook is more trouble than it’s worth, at least take an hour or so to batten down the hatches and secure your account – and keep your friends safer, while you’re at it.

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