The Barn Project
Writing Process
Day 38: What Makes a Novel “Succeed”?
A designer friend of mine shook his head when I suggested a choice for our kitchen renovation. “No,” he said, “I don’t think that will succeed.” It was the…
posted May 30, 2018
Journal
The Barn Project
Writing Process
Day 37: Reasons for Hope in the age of President Toupee
There is so much bad news. Just now, I learned about the NFL’s stupid new policy, fining teams if players take a knee during the (racist, war-mongering, unsingable) national anthem….
posted May 23, 2018
Writing Process
Day 36: Pretend MFA
There seems to have been some confusion about the last post I wrote. We did not, for instance, get another dog, nor did we (would we) name her Dolly Parton,…
posted May 18, 2018
The Barn Project
Writing Process
Day 35: Spring Fever
And the flowers budded and bloomed on the trees, who finally and swiftly grew leaves so green it hurt to look at them, and the air became friendly and you…
posted May 10, 2018
The Barn Project
Writing Process
Day 31: Just Write
With the first crocus, all possibilities open up. Finally the ground is beginning to shift. The siding is going up. There are chimneys in the roof for the two…
posted March 29, 2018
The Barn Project
Writing Process
Day 28: Pause
The framing is complete. Plumbing begins tomorrow. Next week, windows and then maybe doors. The roof comes soon. I am supposed to be writing songs. I have bits and…
posted March 1, 2018
The Barn Project
Writing Process
Day 23: Architecture and the Novel
My Tuesday writing group is scribbling away in the front room, while Hudson and I sit back in Couchland, gazing at the new building. The guys are taking a break…
posted January 23, 2018
The Barn Project
Writing Process
Day 20: Son is Better and I Wrote a Song!
Last day of retreat. I hate when retreats end. I want more time to write, and to listen to these amazing people who somehow find my house and the circle…
posted January 14, 2018
Nields
The Barn Project
The Big Idea
Writing Process
Day 19: Why Write Songs in the Age of Free Downloads?
My house is full of writers. I am sitting in Couchland North; two others are in Couchland South. Writers are at my dining room table, in my music parlor and…
posted January 13, 2018
