Poetry and Me

Today, I am working on my poems, and I must have hit a nerve. I began to squirm. Writing from a place of vulnerability can be exhausting, in part because of the emotional toll it can take on you. Exploring past issues, rehashing out experiences that were once dead and done, reliving memories can be…

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Puerto Rico

I am writing today from within. I write from the roots of my being. I am an American, a Puerto Rican. I am the daughter of an island born on the mainland of a country in turmoil over identity. Today, I see inaction on behalf of other American citizens, on inhabitants of an island in…

Music Mondays: Sabor de SALSA

These are some of my favorite Salsa songs. https://youtu.be/Gs7YfJlIx2Q https://youtu.be/f9Tt5CTajSY https://youtu.be/g33TxmtQ5VM

Music Monday: Moon Night

I almost forgot about Music Monday. So for your listening delight in keeping with today's theme here's the supernatural delight of dancing in the moonlight.  This is also for a dear friend who is no longer here, Linda, I remember when you played this song and danced in your seat because you loved this version.…

Music Mondays: Changes

Change starts with you! Remember your history as a warning, learn from the lessons of the past. Changes start with people like us-it is up to us to make things all right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHgnOnI6uZ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AV8lxGjdZ0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaGUr6wzyT8   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrY9eHkXTa4  

Dear Lady Liberty

Dear Lady Liberty, As you stand in the harbor watching over our nation, I imagine the tears falling down your face. I imagine your heart has been broken by the problems we have created. I imagine that as you are standing in the harbor you are watching how we systematically kill your children.  Today, you…

Music Mondays: Tell Me

Today, I will invite you to share some of your favorite songs for Music Monday. What's on your playlist? What are you listening to right now? Are there any artists or songs you want to hear next week? 🙂

Music Mondays: Residente’s Rap

Residente is one of my favorite rappers. If you don't understand Spanish, then you may not understand my fascination with this artist, but regardless I am going to share. My children listen to everything I listen to because they are always with me. Usually, my oldest daughter does not like my music choices but when…

Let’s Share: What Stephen King Taught Me

K.D. Dowdall states: “I was a competent mimic.” Why does this particular line speak to me? Well, because it encomapsses everything that any artist needs in order to perfect their craft. The reason is because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. For writers if you do not know how to imitate the style of those authors you love then you can’t write. You will not be able to take your reader on a journey and loose them within the creations of life you penned and you’ll loose them to the world in the first line.

I heard this at the writers conference critique, “The begining should be a promise to your reader.” That stuck with me, it is a powerful concept to think that as a writer I promise to guide my reader on a journey.

If you can’t keep that promise then how can you write?

 

 

 

Pen & Paper

Stephen King wrote a seminal work on fantasy fiction writing—a memoir of the craft on writing by the same name: Stephen King: A memoir of the Craft – On Writing.

When I decided to write fantasy fiction, instead of just dreaming about it, I decided the best place to start would be with Stephen King. Who better to learn from but a master fiction writer?  So, I purchased his book in the year 2005, read it several times, high-lighted tantalizing concepts, tabbed with sticky writable tabs until I had outlined the entire book.  I soon learned that reading about writing, tabbing every conceivable point of interest does not necessarily create a master fiction writer or even a mediocre fiction writer.

So, I stopped reading books on writing and just started reading books I loved: Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Edgar Allen Poe, Harry Potter, Hans Christian Anderson, and so many others.  I…

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Let’s Share: Patricia Bell-Scott

Again, I am going to talk about another wonderful woman I met over the weekend at this writing conference I attended. Patricia Bell-Scott, I don't even have words to describe the friendship that emerged. She is an award winning published author and all around humble human being. Please check out her website: http://patriciabellscott.com/ Then purchase…