This is the writer’s desk, an overview of all posts.
(Photograph by Greg Stout) In response to The New York Times article “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing” 99. “What Family Traditions Do You Want to Carry On When You Get Older?” Traveling alone, you know, teaches you a lot about yourself. Likewise, traveling with your family teaches […]
ivanBRAVE_La Albiceleste6_700 El final The final Who will you chant for next summer?
There are as many methods of producing great literature as there are pens. Nevertheless, one way of sabotaging our output as writers is to criticize before we’ve concluded our daily production of words. When you are writing, write. When you are editing, edit. Both are as essential to great work […]
marioLEVRERO_7august0231_ivanBRAVE Funny how the therapist asked for five sentences. Could you answer that questionnaire?
In response to The New York Times article “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing” 80. “To Whom, or What, Would You Like to Write a Thank-You Note?” To my high school theater teacher, Mr. De Los Reyes, would I like to write “Thank You.” Strange how one […]
ivanBRAVE_La Albiceleste5_1000 How do you pronounce your name? Would you spell it the same in another language?
When pressed to describe a person, most admit to noticing the “eyes,” the “hair,” a “smile.” This works in conversation, but in writing, where readers thirst for deeper introspections, a new charter will need more than: “Big blue eyes,” “long, red hair,” with “a smile that stretched from ear to […]
marioLEVRERO_6august1720_ivanBRAVE Chl is introduced in this chapter. Notice how her character develops. Her relationship with Levrero will form the emotional core of the diary.
In response to The New York Times article “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing” 53. “Do You Think You’re Brave?” This question changes meaning depending on how you pronounce the emphatic last word. Do I think I’m brave? Yes. I take risks, I meet challenges, and I […]
ivanBRAVE_La Albiceleste4_2000 “My family and I moved back to our country, so my parents could finalize their divorce. And everyone blames someone else for it, except me. I blame myself.”
Writer of many home-study courses for Time-Life Educational systems, Ron Bradley, was the English learning trainer who helped certify me to teach others. He has this to say about reflection: “[Use] reflective practice to improve your teaching and professional growth: ‘If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll […]
marioLEVRERO_6august0009_ivanBRAVE What do gazebos symbolize in dreams? What’s the last dream you had about your childhood?
In response to The New York Times article “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing” 10. What Are You Afraid Of? I am afraid of answering this question. I am afraid of answering any of the “Overcoming Adversity” questions. I am afraid of uploading my answer to this blog. […]
ivanBRAVE_La Albiceleste3_1200 ¿Será Semis un renovado héroe, un nuevo cosmos, un hombre redentor?
Today’s exercise comes from a Writer’s Digest article by Brian Klems, where he gives 12-days of writing exercises. This is day-6’s exercise: “Select a book on your shelf and pick two chapters at random. Take the first line of one chapter and the last line of the other chapter and […]
marioLEVRERO_5august2228_ivanBRAVE D’Arienzo was one of the foremost tango conductors/composers of the last century. Here is a clip at his best: (notice the strength of the down beat, BUM BUM BUM)
ivanBRAVE_twentysomething_ending I’ve ridden miles and miles on Greyhound. Once, on the way back to Austin, I met a man who had been in Huntsville Prison for twenty years. He had left an impression on me, to such a degree, that I tried to capture as much of our […]
ivanBRAVE_La Albiceleste2_500 What do you think will happen next to these two fulanos?
Writers, does writing come easy, or is it hard? Either way, I’m sure you’d prefer it to come naturally. … Today’s writing exercise comes from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, a book with 12-weeks of exercises to get yourself unblocked, and write (/be creative) naturally. She calls the exercise “Forbidden […]
marioLEVRERO_5august1802_ivanBRAVE To paraphrase Levrero, pay attention to the time of the entry: it is important. Hint, he usually woke up in the afternoon.