Memoirous

Still on the theme of Remembering/Memories, John Legend Remember Us John Legend, Rapsody This song is a playful reminder of past times, better times It is also a soulful, slow groove, a romantic song Perhaps a good WRITING PROMPT might be to layer some sentences that follow this pattern, build a memory   Oh, I remember this: I remember you and I was like lightning and thunder (lightning and thunder) 'Member that night you met my daddy and mama? (Daddy and mama) Got drunk for the first time, we laughed all summer Laughed at Martin, we starved, it was part of the come-up Actin' juvenile to Juvenile, backin' it up Actin' a nut in the Acura, the number one stunna (oh, yeah, yeah) I remember you the same, you made me laugh 'til we cried Had knots in our stomachs (that's right) You remember parties, nights up at the skating rink? (Oh) Goin' crazy, watchin' Kobe win another ring (goin' crazy) We would argue, kiss and ma...

This blog has been in the past about memories, those imagined and those substantiated. I came across recently a trailer for an indi art house movie: The Secrets We Keep It is about a young woman, a refugee transplant after World War II now living in New York with her family, seemingly the hard war years behind her—until, memories are stirred by the sound of a whistle. A stranger whistling for his dog. One could say this is a thriller, a suspense film as she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth and coming face-to-face with herself and her haunting memories. So I’m not going to the movies right now and will likely miss seeing this film in the theater—but I love the premise and the struggle between what is true and what we thing is true—and the grey area in between.

 I can’t begin to describe how much I hate 2020. Suffice it to say it has been difficult. I’m constantly on the lookout for wellness solutions. I rode my bike 2,500 miles to the West Coast. I bought a Britta water pitcher. I either run or take an hour-long walk, getting outside daily. I don’t hesitate to eat ice cream. I’m intentional about scheduling calls with friends to catch up, sending cards and letters. Yet nothing can dispel this unease with myself and my life. Part of it is a lack of routine. At least when I was on my epic bike ride I knew what my job was each day: to get somewhere, to pedal and make miles. There was never a problem with motivation; I had a purpose. Since returning home I’m left with discovering what I need to be about. Even writing feels like tossed salad, words chopped and mixed up, trying to find meaning. What feels good? Standing yesterday at the edge of the sand and watching the water wash in. There was a duck on a raft of tree corp...

Check out a new flash piece at Syndrome magazine online. Ever wonder if what you're doing or experiencing now will one day become obsolete --Imagine no birthday candles https://thesyndromemag.com/cant-hold-a-candle-to-this/

Sue Maynes 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Fantastic Resource! Reviewed in Australia on November 21, 2018 Verified Purchase I am a huge fan of flash fiction and lurking in my writing interests has been the desire to document my personal history - but it is a daunting process, coming that close to hurts and pains, without just documenting all the good stuff and making a one-sided biog. Jane Hertenstein has made this process soooo much easier by teaching the writer in me to touch into my history in small flashes. That single 'freedom' has made this book so valuable that I have read it twice in the 9 days I have owned a copy! And the second time around I found I was - for the first time - drawn to a style of poetry I feel I could tackle! So two victories in this book for me! (Can't wait to see what I get when I read it third time around!) I read a LOT of writing books as I learn and try the various styles and genres of writing - but of all the books I have read - this gave me...

  AMC 5.0 out of 5 stars   A good book for writers Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2015 This is a lovely and helpful book. Sometimes just the right quote is all it takes to remind me that we writers are in this together--that it's hard for all of us, but that a writing life is a considered life and a terrific life. I came across a number of quotes in this book that I had never read before, almost all of them provocative and useful. I recommend this book to other writers to dip in and out of, for that little bit of inspiration and affirmation whenever you need it.

When my daughter was in college and would call home with a crisis—and believe me they were, not to belittle them—I’d say this isn’t the end of the world. That is going to look a lot different. It was my attempt to interject some perspective. Now that I’m in a crisis of, well, too much to list at the moment, I feel I need some perspective. Except it is the end of the world. Who could have imagined a worldwide pandemic and the United States falling behind, losing status? Its people tearing each other apart. I mean I did imagine it. Ages ago, in 2011, I wrote a flash called “Before the World Changed” that has been reprinted and anthologized since then. In this piece I lyrically laid out the incremental steps that take over a middleclass couple. How they shifted and adjusted their lifestyle either because of environmental pressures or even an ecological outlook and events rapidly took over and directly began to impact their life and economy. See story here: But, now that the wo...