Writing Process is Cool

If you're an artist - painter, writer, designer, creator of any kind - you can be in the starkest place - like a dank, dark railroad station - and still be inspired.


The hardest part about writing is finding your own voice. You've done the homework, researched the background of the story, interviewed the central figure. The next part is the hardest. Taking a step back and processing all of it so you can tell the story in your own words.

Cool Interviews … Connecting to myself

The best part of writing articles for a local magazine is that moment when I arrive. And even though I may have driven by the location many times, this is the moment of discovery – new place/new person. Park the car, turn the ignition, open and close the driver’s door, step out, take that first step.

And experience this place for the first time in this way. As an observer, an absorber, an eventually a storyteller.

What jewel will I find within the walls? What gem of wisdom will I hear from my interviewee?

Recently, when I interviewed a dance instructor, something she said struck a chord with me – the arts are about making a connection … to myself. Maybe that’s why I write. To stay connect to me.

To my reactions, my impressions, my experience. What resonates with my life.

Cool Delicious Weather

It’s the kind of weather my first mother-in-law called “delicious.”

And that description fits today perfectly. The weather smells clean. Walk or stand in the midst of it. Look at the clear sky. Feel the gentle breeze. Even open your mouth and breathe in the fresh cool weather.

There's a line from my favorite show of all time - HBO's In Treatment - where an older actor is looking outside and says something about it being spring. And the lead actor, Gabriel Byrne, says: "It's a wonderful feeling when the winter finally breaks."

Cool Running

Running on country roads at 5:30 a.m. How cool! When I started running three decades ago, my goal was to run in as many different states as possible. At the time, I was newly married and we lived in Portland Oregon and would make the long trek to family in Chicago a couple of time each year. That gave me plenty of opportunity to run in the states between here and there.

These days, I'm pretty settled in a small town in the heart of lower Michigan. I have a desk job that doesn't give me much time to run outdoors in the winter. But it's June 1 and alas the light started peeking out of the sky around 5:25, so I grabbed at the chance, put on my running shoes and was off.

It was remarkable. A slight breeze and I was well rested so at the top of my game today.