Put Pen to Paper

So who knew it was National (or World - reports vary) Letter Writing Week & why weren't we informed? Coincidentally, letter writing is happening here again, slowly & not all that sparkling with wit, but it's happening. We all know that the personal letter (or postcard) means so much to the recipient, so make time. What holds many back, including yours truly, is the idea that this letter must make up for months (years) of their lack. No, no, no. A short note or postcard is just fine. Think of how you feel when you receive any sort of personal correspondence. xoxo

How to write a thank-you note. A helpful review. (h/t to Lori)

Letters of Note - see how brief a missive can be so effective, there are scores of examples. Here's a favorite.

 After the children have written their thank-you notes, let them play at the online National Postal Museum Activity Zone as a treat.

(Vintage Royal Mail poster via Retronaut)

What Do You Remember?

Read this excellent & moving essay-prose poem, I Remember, I Remember by Mary Ruefle. Then write one of your own. This makes a terrific writing exercise. Well, what are you waiting for? Go, shoo. (Some ways to unblock.)

ciao/xo

PS: Yes catching fireflies. And the first time seeing the ocean. Amongst hundreds of quick thoughts.

(photograph by Lissie Elle Laricchia)

Some Ways to Unblock

Writer's block. It happens. So here are some ideas--in no particular order--to help you unblock or at least make it less painful. It might just be a slowing down. Remember to rewrite/edit what you already have done.

1. Walk, swim, ride your bike. Get away from the desk (or wherever you usually work). If you garden, go into high gear. Experience shows that extreme weeding does clear the mind. Fact.

2. Museum/art gallery visits

3. Listen to music (yes, of course you already do. Something new, old, different. This is why the gods invented YouTube.)

4. Re-read a favorite book/short story/series of poems.

5. Compile a list of favorite poems on The Poetry Foundation website. Or a virtual notebook on Poets.org

6. Bake or cook, complicated (or not). Something requiring a bit of ceremony is always a good diversion. (Share it or you'll have yet another *big* problem:)

7. Write something else: catch up on correspondence. Quaint word. Write some postcards. If at all possible, walk to post them.

8. Look at photographs (books, flickr, photographer's websites). Choose a few that particularly hold your attention & write about it...the person or the scene portrayed. Don't think too much, just do it.

9. Tell someone; it might break the spell. Choose your confessor wisely, though. And don't get irritated by the suggestions on offer, especially by non-writers. (If the response is rude, you're a writer, you can, uh, exact your revenge later.)

10. We hate to recommend spending a dime but The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron has helped many people (& not just writers).

11. Watch little kids play - at the park, the pool, wherever they are. Instructive. (Plus, they're super cute.)

12. Take a bath. Preferably this kind. If you can get to a large body of water: do it.

This too shall pass. Really. It just might take longer this time.

ciao/xo

PS: Play with your hair. Seriously.

(photograph by Cig Harvey -You Look at Me Like An Emergency is out now)

Writing in Bed

Writers like Orwell, Proust and Churchill liked doing it. Could it have been because writing in bed can help access the unconscious? ~ The advantages of writing in bed. The Guardian

How convenient to do a search on what afflicts & then fit it to particular, present circumstance. Sold. We'll take it. Back as soon as possible, most likely Sunday.

ciao/xoxo

(photograph by Maria Stigjer via lovely Pia)

Letters of Note

It's a rainy day (we need it!) & a sleepy one, too. Off for coffee & to write some letters. If you already read Letters of Note, you are dismissed. If you don't you might want to explore the archives. Here's a beautiful letter from John Steinbeck to his son, Thom, on the subject of love. It is worth bookmarking.

ciao-meow//GGCM

PS: Last year's Les Parapluies de Cherbourg post

(photograph by L. Weisse via heavens above)

Writing in Coffee Shops

Friday a.m. update - Giulia's editor remains in exile (for writing purposes) at a coffee shop. The little redheaded one remains at home. It's hot. As the kids say, this blows. All of it. Don't even get us started on the debt ceiling talks.

An article on writing in coffee shops. So far the charm eludes us. Fume.

ciao-meow/the Management

(photograph by Henri Cartier-Bresson)

Write2Win - Calling All Writers & Editors

Writers and Editors: Will You Help Us?

Write2Win is a new nonprofit organization that brings the writing community into 6th-12th grade U.S. classrooms via email to provide personal mentoring to struggling students. Our goal is to make a difference by helping teachers and administrators who are working hard to turn around failing schools and galvanize effective educational innovation.

Low-achieving students in our Chicago and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pilot programs have been raising their writing grades an average of over 19% working with our editors’ one-on-one guidance. For many of them, this has been the difference between a D and a B! Teachers report that students look forward to their personal notes and encouragement each time they receive our edited files.

Too many of our young people are falling through the cracks of the public school system, and too many are dropping out or graduating with very low academic confidence. We want to help them succeed, and having strong writing skills leads to success, not only in college but in just about any career they might pursue.

To that end, we are asking everyone who has taught writing or made their living as a writer or editor to consider volunteering an hour or two a week (or even an hour or two a month). Joining our team of volunteer writers is easy, flexible, and absorbing. You will notify us when you are available to take on a few papers, with no pressure from us. We usually have four to five days' turnaround time, so our editors find it easy to fit this into their schedules.

Many of us enjoy reading the students' papers and finding creative ways to encourage and mentor them. I hope you will consider joining us. Please go to this page on our website to see our small but mighty (and growing) wall of heroes: http://www.write2winonline.org/editors.html

You can view and open sample edited papers from this link to see the color-coded system we use to provide guidance to the students: http://www.write2winonline.org/system.html

Please write Linda Wolf at info@write2winonline.org for more information on becoming part of our team. More info: http://www.write2winonline.org/index.html

**************

As seen on Work-in-Progress. How about it?

(photograph via Spanish Vogue)

Blue mosaic

We're very busy trying to dig out from under snow & piles of paper. This fabulous blue typewriter collage is by Yvonne Stehle (she also has an etsy shop, moline) & we thank her for her permission to use it.

a ciao-hurried-meow,
GG's editor

Desktop déshabillé

We know it's Carla B's desktop. But really, it's not so far off from our own. And we mean déshabillé as in artlessly chic...not just 'messy.' Ahem. (Photograph by Bharat Sikka via CB's site).

ciao-meow
redactrice de GG

Send in those submissions now!

No more procrastinating....the July/August issue of Poets & Writers magazine is still on the stands if you don't subscribe. [If you do, Giulia & her editor cannot urge you strongly enough: go through the submission guideline pages & highlight those that pertain to you. Do it!]

Yes, that is Marilyn Monroe...and yes, she did read books. Look it up!