General 
Directed Contemplative Writing—a variation on free writing(3)
July 1, 2008
I’ve started a new writing project—working with my longtime friend and writing colleague, Stephanie Farrow who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In the last weeks we’ve developed a way of working which I’m analyzing into steps below in hopes it might help those writers among Riehlife’s readers. [Note: This is filed in the Write, Pen! [...]
Creative Collaboration and Compassion Adventures & Blog Duet with Yvonne Perry’s Writers in the Sky
Click here to read about my Nashville trip last week.
Click here to read Yvonne Perry’s report “Janet Riehl’s Nashville Visit” on Yvonne Perry’s Writers in the Sky blogspot.
The Riehl Family on the Homeplace…everyone played music or wrote poetry as a matter of course. Anna Riehl, my grandmother, in foreground, wrote the poetry collection “On [...]
Riehl’s “Sightlines” Spotlighted: Life in the Modern World on Dianne K. Salerni’s highspirited site
Dianne K. Salerni offers monthly Spotlights of Independent Author Guild books on the pages on her High Spirited site. This month’s spotlight theme features non-fiction, poetry, and contemporary fiction for Life in the Modern World
“Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” shares good company with these other Independent Author Guild Members and their books.
Floyd Orr
Kevin Thompson
Shirley Mahood
Lynn Osterkamp
Shannon [...]
Writing Critique & Releasing Question: What other poems are inside this poem?
When you receive a “Listenback” from a critique on your work, what can you do next?
Use the feedback you’ve received to set up exercises to try things out.
Use this releasing question: What other poems are inside this poem?
Editing and re-writing are like sculpting.
More in this category:
- Smith Magazine’s Six-word Memoir Project (as heard on NPR)…and now…Story Circle Network Podcast
- Writing Secrets: write when there’s no time to write—by Erwin A. Thompson
- Creative Outing, Lake County California-style: John Frary and Nan’s Hopland Grade Journey to buy a copy of “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”—and to see what they could see
- How to pitch your creative work without losing your mind: 4 guidelines actors, authors, painters, and musicians can use
- Riehlife Rejection Resources from the WRITE PEN! archives
- Jammin’ Journal Prompts
- Janet Riehl guests on PIVR program “Marketing for Fun and Profit” hosted by Janet Elaine Smith…and other internet audio links to hear Riehl reading from and speaking about “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”
- Writer’s Burrow—What does your safe writing place within look like? How are your writer’s requirements met?
- Listen to Riehl’s “Memento Mori: Life and Death, Moment by Moment” at Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside
- Flying on Julia’s 65th birthday, up there in the sky together—I’m writing thank you notes: this one’s for you.
- Riehl’s poem “TREASURE CHEST” from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” tells father’s life of service…in the service [World War II] and back home
- Writers in the Sky February Newsletter presents Riehl’s poem “Window Frame” from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”
- Riehlife Back of the Envelope Book Marketing Plan for “Pen to Print” Panel at SCN National Memoir Conference, Austin, Texas
- Riehlife Writing Idea: Sensory Scan as Memory Prompt
- Publishing Strategies Examined in Redwood Coast Review article by Daniel Barth, “Staying Afloat: The poor devil author in the 21st century”…”Sightlines” author Riehl interviewed along with Bruce Patterson & Hal Zina Bennett
- Riehl’s poem “Crocus” from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” featured in World Audience’s “Audience Buzz Newsletter” for January 2008—Just in time for my mother’s memorial birthday, today
- TCM’s Ernest Dempsey Reviews Riehl’s “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”
- Teaching Philosophy She Lived—by my mother, Ruth Evelyn Johnston Thompson with commentary by my father Erwin A. Thompson
- Riehl’s Aphorism on Rules of Writing–Three Foundational Rules tried in our test kitchen–& an example of revising
- “Home Sweet Home”–poetic excerpt from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”
- Riehl’s “Relishing Writing Rejection” featured on Eliot, a literary blog…St. Louis Writers Guild
- Riehl interviewed on Writers in the Sky
- Riehl’s poem “Fall at the Lake” observes & celebrates the shift in season
- Riehl’s “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” Awarded Honorable Mention in DIY [Do It Yourself] Book Festival (Los Angeles)
- Hal Manogue on “Grace Riehl-ly” (Short Sleeve Insights: Live An Ordinary Life In A Non Ordinary Way)—The Connection of Friendship
- Writing Prompt: Finish the potato salad story
- Linda Della Donna’s Little Red Mail Box Interviews Janet Grace Riehl about “Sightlines” and “What’s it like to be living your dream?”
- Listen to “Memento-Mori: Life and Death, Moment by Moment”
- A Father Supports His Daughter, and a Daughter Honors Her Father and Family—”Memento Mori: Life and Death Moment by Moment” at Alton, Illinois, First Unitarian Church
- Nancy Connally’s Critique Case Study Day 3: New Insights Dawn
- Nancy Connally’s Critique Case Study, Day 2: How wisdom from an on-line writing village gave her perspective–5 specific tips
- Nancy Connally learns some important lessons on critics and critiquing: Day 1 of 3
- Janet Muirhead Hill Tells Writers How to Separate our Personhood from Our Work When Receiving and Using Criticism
- Janet Muirhead Hill Identifies Categories of Critics a Writer Meets
- Janet Muirhead Hill’s Advice on How to Use Criticism and How to Spring Back from Rejection: 5 excellent tips
- Janet Muirhead Hill Explains Why Writers Are So Sensitive to Rejection
- “Up Under the Pine Rows,” a poem from Riehl’s “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary
- My Sister Julia Ann Thompson’s Third Year Anniversary: In the world of our ancestors (excerpt from “Anniversary” poem by Janet Grace Riehl)
- Editing Tip by Nancy Connally: Recording and Listening–with an addendum for MAC Users
- As the pen goes, so goes the universe–Daniel Holland’s wisdom on writing
- (excerpt) “My Girl’s Life in My Pink Room,” by Janet Grace Riehl
- Visualization: Coming Home to Your Childhood Room
- Objects as Muse: Sequined Treasure Purses Provide True Serendipity
- Writing Prompt List from Riehl’s “Always Coming Home” workshop in Texas
- “Crooked House”–a poem written with her non-dominant hand by Cindy Bellinger
- “Bus Run,” a poem by Janet Grace Riehl rushes down time’s hill hoping not to be late
- “Gully,” a poem by Janet Grace Riehl tells of erosion of land, time, and memory
- “Gated Community,” a poem by Janet Grace Riehl tells of a girl coming of age on a hilltop kingdom
- “NESTING,” a poem of life-long love between my parents Erwin and Ruth Thompson
- “Up Under the Pine Rows,” a poem from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” on the themes of ecology, memory, place, love and loss
- “I Remember”–workshop exercise and group poem for Giving Sorrow Words
- Poetic Keys Open Door Upon Door at the End of Life
- Riehl to Present Poetry and Grief Workshop for the 5th Annual Integrating Spirit & Caregiving Conference
- World Audience Interviews Janet Grace Riehl: “The Poetry of Life and Death, from the author of ‘Sightlines’ a book that discovers the peace following a trauma.”
- Two Poems by Two Poets: Eamon Grennan and Janet Grace Riehl
- 30 Things to Do to Celebrate National Poetry Month–Plus Three More–What about enclosing a poem in your bill payment!
- “Reaper” for my sister Julia Ann Thompson
- Sightlines Podcasts
- Washing those Words Right Out of Your Head
- Don’t Sell Your Soul to the Company Store
- Shooing Away the Yapping Censor Dogs
- Write, Pen! Connecting to Our Wisdom Selves
- Skeeter