Fluency

When we ask too much of the reader, they revert to word calling or parsing at best. At worst, they focus so intently on each syllable or phonetic sound that they are taken completely outside the text. Don’t send your reader away!

Exercise

Punctuation, creative ideas, chronological writing, detailed writing, concise writing (paring it down with repeated removal of extraneous words), and other exercises make us a more balanced writer.

Darkness

A piece would be boring and unfulfilling without some sort of chiaroscuro (light vs dark) to bring out the characters, the story line, and our own investment in reading.

Cycles

We’ve lost momentum and really don’t know where to pick it up again. I’ve been in that mode. While at times we do need to step away and let our subconscious work, don’t get stuck.

Beginning

Sharing your ideas will evolve out of your introspection. Simply having an idea or opinion is not enough to expound to others. What is the point?

#1: An introduction

I offer this post as a sort of intention-setting moment, as I believe what I intend to do here is more noteworthy than who I am. I come to this position of writer-in-residence with an interest in engaging more deeply, both with myself and with this place I call home, Racine. I come with the…

OBSERVATIONS #20 – 12.31.24

Call – Last Theme of the Year Response – Thee Bunny Show, 2025 By – Mimi Peterson , WIR #17 Change is Coming – Details To Be Announced To the January-June, 2025 Racine Writer-in-Residence Grantee #18 – Congratulations! Best Wishes to our new WIR program coordinator! Formal announcements will be made shortly. In the meantime,…

OBSERVATIONS INVITATION – 12.1.24

Call – Color Feel, Theme of the Month Response – Winter’s Light From – Heather Novotny and Adam Booth, Vintage and Modern Books Mimi Peterson, Racine Writer-in-Residence Erik R. Peterson, Vital Art Project YOU ARE INVITED: “Follow winter’s light to a community gathering of thinkers and talkers, makers and do-ers.” ( Mimi Peterson planning the…

OBSERVATIONS #16 – 11.23.24

Call – Color Feel, Theme of the MonthResponse – My SpaceBy – Mimi Peterson My Space The sunlight is loud, It’s noise breaks the silence, Like a comforting blanket, Surrounds me, you, us, With both narrow and broad streams of brilliant sounds, Soon turn into murmurous shadows, At once dark and transparent, Casting familiar silhouettes,…

OBSERVATIONS #14 – 11.10.24

Call – Color Feel, Theme of the Month Response – Cast A Net By – Mimi Peterson Cast A NetCast a net into the sky,Toss into the white not blue,Sky that feels like water looks.Cast a net into the sky,Casually pull apart its soft conceal,Uncover fields of pearlescent fluffs washed in light.Cast a net into…