Avoid Editing while you Write, and Writing while you Edit

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 […]

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53. “Do You Think You’re Brave?”

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 […]

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La Albiceleste — part(e) 4

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.”

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Write to reflect on action

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 […]

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10. “What Are You Afraid Of?”

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. […]

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Mario Levrero — 5 August 22:28

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)

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Twentysometing — the end

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 […]

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Write ten Forbidden Joys (from The Artist’s Way)

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 […]

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Does Santa Cry?

ivanBRAVE_DoesSantaCry_900words Deep in the heart of downtown Hanoi, I walked down to the hostel lounge for some cheap breakfast. There, among a handful of hungover backpackers, I turned to what I thought would be the next empty page in my moleskin notebook. What I found, at the top left corner […]

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