Site-Wide Activity

Been on medication most of my adult life for depression. New docs (old one retired) are a little stunned; apparently anti-depressants aren’t supposed to be for long-term use. Okay,fine, but I go off them I eventually migrate to a couch and stop functioning. Wanted to die for as long as I can remember as a child. Brain chemistry? Trauma? A mixture?…[Read more]

RJ, that’s a good idea!

I didn’t so much have a story in mind as just a situation. I was going to go into more the juxtaposition of memories of military combat with domestic life, how violence from the past can become its own “layer” on top of current reality. There’s so much hope for the future in these characters: wanting to get better jobs, wanting to start a…[Read more]

I liked the tone of the story. What were some of your ideas for where you wanted to take it? What do you think you found so hard about it?

I like your additions! I was taking notes on the book and I decided to reframe the 31 failures as their opposite (that is, if you were able to successfully avoid these failures, what would it look like) Here’s the list I wrote as Causes of Success, with asterisks by the ones which I feel are important for me…[Read more]

Thank you Ellen. I remember what Steve said that women write from a more internal place and men from a more external place. I have always had stories flow from an internal place. I don’t know if this makes me a weak writer or is this something I can turn into a strength?

Hi Steve,

My emotions varied. I felt very in sync with the character and could describe her inner world at that moment very well. I was deeply touched and overcome in some instances by the story of Kalief Browder. That is who the story is based on. His life and death really pierced my heart.

Not only got to read a good story, but learned some Canadian history and learned about the Short Story Challenge. Thanks, Ross!

Well done!

I should clarify: it doesn’t seem to happen in the main topic, but in all the ensuing comments that are inside the table/frame below it.

*blink*
*blink*
… failure…as…roadmap?

Huh. I can see that in my writing but I don’t apply it to my LIFE. That’s a rich vein of thought to explore.

I get dinged a lot in critique for not having physical descriptions (I can’t see your characters), and I’ve been thinking that’s because I see my characters as psychological beings first, and…[Read more]

Thanks, Ross!!

Share what you wish to, and ask for the support you desire. We ALL fall off the tightrope with practices like meditation, exercise, dietary control, etc. The trick is that if it is a transformative practice, you CANNOT perform it daily unless your internal states have already changed for the better. Your ego will try to tell you otherwise–it…[Read more]

Sweetie, part of your homework is interacting, asking questions. You are BRILLIANT to notice that the impact of a neutral phrase changes drastically depending upon your mood.

The best thing I can recommend if depression dogs you is that “Morning Ritual”–10-20 minutes of movement combined with emotionalized affirmation, remembering things you…[Read more]

Powerful. That really put the protag in the emotional hotseat. Well done!