The 100th Corner: On Never Giving Up

What a difference a year makes. One year ago, I was reeling from abrupt setbacks and disappointments. My beloved dog of 13 years had passed, my job suddenly changed, and my writing aspirations continued to elude me. When I was 21, an optimistic college graduate whose future shown bright with possibility, my path had been […]

Running, Writing, and When an Addictive Personality Can be Useful

I’ve had people ask me recently, “How did you write a novel, with a full time job? And how are you, a forty something Jewish chick who was never a sports or exercise enthusiast, suddenly running every day?” Because of motivation and discipline – sure. Both are required to complete an arduous and lengthy task […]

Is Your Work Who You Are?

If you’re anything like me, an ambitious and neurotic New Yorker, it’s likely that your job has pretty much taken over your life, or it’s constantly trying to. Pushing its heavy presence against your weary resolve daily, and you either push back, or give up and let it become not only an expression of your […]

When Facebook Friendships Are Stronger Than 'Real' Ones

When I began writing my memoir, I realized that I was lacking a writing community. While writing my previous books, which were novels, I had unwittingly created a protective bubble around my self. My creative instincts at the time were undeveloped, my voice shaky. When I would hit writer’s block, friends would suggest I workshop […]

Embracing Rejection: Turning No into Yes.

I’m used to rejection, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when it happens. The rejections in my life are professional and two-fold – both as a sales representative and a writer. As a sales rep, “no” is more frequent than “yes.” I represent ten directors, talented and seasoned pros for whom I secure commercials […]

A Writer's Retreat into Beauty

About two months ago, a writer named Dani Shapiro who I admire and whose spiritual memoir, Devotion, inspired me to write mine, posted on Twitter that she was going to be teaching a writing seminar based on her latest book, Still Writing, at the Kripalu Center in the Berkshires. I had never heard of Kripalu, […]

Is introversion a prerequisite to creativity?

Just in case any of you believe that writing a decent blog post weekly is easy, allow me to dispel this notion.  When I have an idea brewing or an obvious story to tell, it is less difficult.  When I’m emotionally unsettled or my subconscious is working through something, it rises to the surface of […]

And all along, I've been married to my novel...

So far this blog has been about my relationships: with my parents, sisters, young cubs, and with myself. But I haven’t written about the biggest relationship I’ve been in over the past three years, my novel.  When I first decided to write “The Virgin Wife” (oddly, the title came to me before the story did) […]