The Russian Matryoshka doll opens in half, right in the middle of the abdomen. Inside her is another doll that opens in half. Inside that one, another. Many dolls open in half until there are no more. The innermost remains whole. My father was born in Russia and I have been exploring my many selves …
Category: blog posts
Apr 16
If An Editor Gave You Carte Blanche
Decades ago when my personal essays were just starting to be published, a series of events had me sitting before an editor of Philadelphia’s major newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer. I was trying to pitch a story idea I was very passionate about — vital octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians in our city. “What makes Joan Leof an …
Apr 16
Get Naked
“Mr. Duffy lived a short distance away from his body.” James Joyce, Ulysses Nietzsche tells us we must “come to love our scars.” Our inability to feel our “negative” emotions often leads to strokes, heart attacks, and other organic problems. according to Elaine de Beauport in The Three Faces of Mind, our feelings are exercises for the organs …
Apr 09
Your Seed List
“Let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it, there will be a fish.” – Ovid Whether you are just keeping a journal or have other writing goals, it is extremely helpful to keep an ongoing SEED LIST. If you’re journaling, the list can be about “issues” you’d like to …
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