by Debbie Bateman Photo by evgenyatamenko on iStock. Public domain. A Useful Revision Technique It started innocently enough as a revision technique I learned from Stella Leventoyannis Harvey when I was in The Writer’s Studio program. She suggested we retype our manuscript really fast without thinking too much. What an idea! I love speed. That…… Continue reading My Strange Writing Habit
Tag: creativity
The Deep Meaning of Play
by Debbie Bateman Image use purchased from Adobe Fun Is the Reason Not so long ago, I joined a drumming circle in my neighbourhood. We get together once a week to play our djembes. We have no real purpose other than to connect. We’re not preparing for a concert, or even necessarily learning specific songs…… Continue reading The Deep Meaning of Play
Sitting With Discomfort or Really, Do I Have To?
Image by Cup of Couple, Free Use via Pexels That Backyard Is a Mess It’s happened enough times I should not be surprised. I’ll reach a moment in my writing that is so blessed unpleasant and uncomfortable that I simply cannot continue. At such moments, I’m likely to find clever justifications for not writing. I…… Continue reading Sitting With Discomfort or Really, Do I Have To?
The Feedback Loop
Image use purchased from Adobe Types of Feedback Over the years, I’ve experienced a lot of different forms of feedback on my writing—from encouraging rejection notes to varied insights in workshops and in-depth analysis from a mentor. Most of this has been helpful. I would not be the writer I am without that support. And…… Continue reading The Feedback Loop
Working the Empathy Muscle
Image use purchased from Adobe First Comes Reading My urge to put words onto the page began with reading. Owen Meany, an elephant whose name is Mud, an Irish boy called Henry, couples sat about a table drinking and talking foolish about love—these encounters with fiction can be as real and meaningful as my actual…… Continue reading Working the Empathy Muscle
Flying Pigs
Photo by Debbie Bateman Say Hello to My Friend It’s a good life, no lie. In my office, I have this delightful creature at my back on a bookshelf at eye level. Whenever I turn around, I see its protruding snout and clever wings, and I remember to believe in the impossible. Those beady eyes…… Continue reading Flying Pigs
Ideas That Stick
Image use purchased from Adobe Stock About First Drafts In the earlier days of becoming a writer, I’d panic at any lack of fresh ideas. A lot of the advice I read said to keep going no matter what, that first drafts were all a mess, and the trick was to continue. Good or bad,…… Continue reading Ideas That Stick
The Starting Line
by Debbie Bateman Image use purchased from Adobe stock. Once upon a klutz In a former life, before hip pain encouraged me to seek an alternative, I devoted myself to long-distance running. Okay, the truth? It was my religion. I liked how my mind would untether from its troubles, how my body became its truest…… Continue reading The Starting Line
Debbie Bateman 