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Carol S. Mann
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Bits and Pieces
“He knew everyone had flaws. People fell from grace all the time. But some people fell further than others.” From “Ferrelli’s Fall” (Creek Songs).
Category Archives: blogging
Welcome to Quilling
A recent birthday card introduced me to an old art form. It’s called quilling. When I first looked at the card, I thought its design was simply raised. On closer inspection, I found the design was three dimensional and composed … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Creativity, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, Reading, Writing
Tagged birthday cards with quilling, examples of quilling, filigree basket, filigree box, filigree work, Jane Austen, quilling, Renaissance, scrollwork, Sense and Sensibility, uses for quills
5 Comments
The Garden of Ethos
It’s always a time for congratulations when creative associates receive recognition for their work. A fellow member of the Palm Springs Branch of the National League of American Pen Women was recently recognized by NLAPW on its national website. I send my … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Creativity, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, poetry, Reading, Writing
Tagged artist Dianne Benanti, artist Lynn Centeno, Book - All Ways A Woman, community of women, definition of ethos, Ekphrasis, ethos, National League of American Pen Women, NLAPW Palm Springs Branch, Painting - The Garden of Ethos, poetry, women supporting women, writer Carol Mann, writing about art
2 Comments
Valet Wisdom & Writing
The other day while waiting for my car to be retrieved by a valet, another valet who was waiting for new arrivals engaged me in conversation. It was one of those quick philosophical talks about life, its whimsies, its tricks, … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing
Tagged Atropos, Carl Sandburg, chance, Circumstance, Clotho, Destiny, fate, Greek Mythology, Lachesis, life philosophy, luck, philosophy, The Three Fates, Thread of Life, Valet parking, What controls our fate?, What if ...
7 Comments
Feet, do your stuff.
Do you ever have a day when everything seems to go smoothly, when life flows without any hangups? You feel good. Your husband feels good. No appliances have broken down. The car seems healthy. You haven’t screamed at a telemarketer … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Creativity, memoir, personal essay, Reading, Writing
Tagged Chico's, Foot care, foot pain, Having a good day, nose bleed, Old Town La Quinta, Pain, Parking, podiatrist, pre-stress fracture, stopping nose bleed, Taking care of your feet, The book All Ways A Woman, Tranquility, Writing Critique Group
6 Comments
Marketing Your Book – Again
Your book has been out for a while. What do you do now? How do you keep the marketing fresh? You do two things. You stick with what works and … you try something new. All Ways A Woman came out … Continue reading
Posted in Authors, blogging, Books, Creativity, Inspiration, poetry, Reading, Writing
Tagged Advertising your book, Art Fairs, Art Patron Magazine, Book - All Ways A Woman, Book Expos/Festivals, Keep your book marketing fresh, Laguna Beach, marketing your book, Merchandising your book, Palm Springs
6 Comments
Layers of Loss
A loss leaves a feeling of sadness, of hollowness, like part of you is missing. Not all loss is equal. The deepest loss is of a loved one. My experience has been that this kind of loss hovers, emerging unannounced in … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, memoir, personal essay, Reading, Writing
Tagged earrings, grief, loss, loss of a gift, loss of a loved one, loss of a pet, loss of an inanimate object, memories, pierced earrings, sadness, Zia Jewelry
13 Comments
The Art of the “Acrylic Pour”
It’s sometimes fun to venture out of your comfort zone and try something completely foreign. It may make you uncomfortable. It may even feel risky. On occasion, I take that step away from writing and try a new creative experience. … Continue reading
Earthquakes and Primary Research
Okay, this is bizarre. It’s about 6 p.m. in the evening. I’m working at the computer on a short story titled “The Phone Call.” It opens with a woman standing in her kitchen drinking a cup of coffee when an … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing
Tagged aftershocks, anxiety, earthquake kit, earthquakes, epicenter, fear, fight or flight, how do people react during an earthquake, primary research, secondary research, short story character, writing a short story
9 Comments
Written Beneath the Palms 