"Everything Peggy Payne has critiqued for me has gotten published and in venues such as Image, Shenandoah, and The Missouri Review. Her advice on structure was indispensable in revising my memoir, Gods of Noonday." Elaine Neil Orr

Welcome to a conversation about writing, imagination, going for broke as an artist, self-employment, conquering fears, coming up with ideas, making a living, keeping going, and the inner travels and spiritual quest of creative work.

After 35+ years as a freelance writer, 2 novels, 2 nonfiction books, travel writing from 25+ countries, a few seasons as a TV reporter, writing for ad agencies, a winter in India, development of my consulting services for writers, and hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, I'd like to invite you to take part in some creative shop talk here on this blog.

   Peggy

 

My Beaded Fish: A Writer's Cross-Training

Last week, during my stay-home-and-clean-up-the-house vacation, I finished this little craft project that I'd let sit for about two years.

Because of popular demand (one request, thank you, Mamie) I'm displaying it here. I mean for it to go outdoors, hanging from a tree near our little "farm" pond. But I hung it up overnight in front of the curtains in the den, and decided for the moment that I like it there.

She's a quarter of an inch shy of three feet long. This kind of goofy free-hand playful handiwork does a lot for loosening up my creative juices for writing. It's very helpful to me to switch gears so radically: to place little physical widgens of color rather than words.

And to not have to meet any standards of quality or of market limitations. Very freeing. It's also nice to literally tie up some loose threads.







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