So, as I promised last week, I’m attempting a draft of something based on notes I took at a literary reading here in PDX last week. And, thanks to a conversation in the comments with EJ Runyon, I decided to try the story about rearranging furniture. She opened the door but it stopped on itsContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: notes from a reading (the results so far)”
Tag Archives: Writer's Notebook
A Writer’s Notebook: notes from a reading
When I go to literary readings, I always take my notebook. Before I got my iPod, I took my notebook everywhere, but now that I can rely on the much slimmer iPod for emergency idea-jotting, I sometimes leave the thicker notebook at home. But at readings? I have to have paper and pencil to scribbleContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: notes from a reading”
A Writer’s Notebook: wing walkers
This happened a bit by accident. But I’ll explain below. I get all sorts of pilots coming in on the little grass airstrip out on my farm: crop-dusters, helicopters, daytrippers coming in from the next state, on their way south or north like migrating birds. But the other day I had an honest-to-god biplane roarContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: wing walkers”
A Writer’s Notebook: yearbook memories
I don’t know what this is or where it would ever go. But it felt good to write. In my 8th-grade yearbook, on the inside covers where people are supposed to leave their indelible wisdom for the ages alongside their silly doodles and autographs, there is a fantastically artistic signature from Shanna J. She claimedContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: yearbook memories”
A Writer’s Notebook: an old poem
This is an old poem. I’m still not happy with it. In retyping it here, I’ve made some small changes. Always tinkering. Sunrise. A cold wind moves only the surface of this pond. Down in that quiet, muddy mass, small fish doze while above, a blue heron stalks through the waters, more tai chi thanContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: an old poem”
A Writer’s Notebook: photo story
Long-time readers: by now, you should know the drill. Here’s a photo. Below there’s a draft of something. And then I explain it all. Outside, on the driveway, the dozen black garbage bags stacked up against the siding are beginning to stink. Inside, the bleach is reacting with the glue in the particle board andContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: photo story”
A Writer’s Notebook: response to Junichiro Tanizaki’s “In Praise of Shadows”
This is an old crib from a class assignment. I was in grad school taking a creative nonfiction workshop (which, this fall, I will be teaching myself, so hey, progress!), and I’d missed a day. (I forget why.) To make up for the missed class discussion, I had to write this response to an essay,Continue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: response to Junichiro Tanizaki’s “In Praise of Shadows””
A Writer’s Notebook: crayons
A couple of weeks ago, I was at the campus of the Pacific Northwest College of Art, where, in the lobby, I found a pile of crayons on a table. I don’t know why. It’s a college of art — why wouldn’t there be crayons just lying around? Anyway, I sorted through them — weirdContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: crayons”
A Writer’s Notebook: Why I cried at the Superman trailer
I mentioned last week that I’ve been writing an essay on Superman. I gave it up for a recollection of the ’96 Olympic Games, but the essay has still been on my mind. Then, the other day, a friend of mine posted an outraged link to Newsarama’s list of the 10 Worst Comic Book-Based MovieContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: Why I cried at the Superman trailer”
A Writer’s Notebook: Olympic history
I’ve been writing an essay on Superman for almost a day straight, intending to post it here as an essay draft. But then I remembered that today, this evening, we will get to see hundreds and hundreds of superheroes, representing the whole planet, competing in peace and camaraderie during the Olympic Games. Not that I needed reminding. My wifeContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: Olympic history”
Samuel Snoek-Brown 