Day Says

“My talent is making connections.  That’s why I’m an essayist.” 

– Stephen Jay Gould

"I don't dream at night, I dream all day; I dream for a living." - Steven Spielberg

The word, essay, comes from the Latin verb exigere, which means to examine, test or drive out.  Mary Oliver advises to pay attention and be astonished.  Dreams add spice. Then write!

My mind plays as it flicks among ideas.

Ten years ago, I began to test my views each day in a Blog. 

Today marks 3615 entries.

Encouraging writers to write and interact with me energized the focus.

Now, I consider them, Day Says. Notions and ideas fire from a variety of stimuli.

They leap to access arrangements of fun and fantasy.








Magenta to tangerine to cream.



Creatures pose for word capture.

Textures of leaves and frog sounds sprout in unexpected places.

Scents collect in cedar and sunlight and attach to memories.

A collage blooms as I write.

My mind whirs during morning runs. I re-arrange wording in menus and gain ideas from horoscopes.

Overheard conversations add to the mixture.

Messages appear at odd times as words drive my day.

While reading a variety of subjects, my kaleidoscope turns.  I reflect on patterns and edges, then search for connections to examine and drive out ideas!  

A taste of caramel reminds me . . .

Senses stalk and roam in nature for details.

Photography chooses slants and close ups that assist the process.

Like a tree in the forest, do the words fall silent?  

Might they roar?

Although I appreciate an audience and responses, the Day Says motivate my writing practice.

Day Say fragments often arrive the night before. They flash during dreams. By morning the text has awakened.

Collect and collate ideas for a day. Write to let them lead you on an adventure. Develop a writing practice based on weaving the threads.

Experiment with Cooking and Writing

I love to stretch my creativity and dabble in the kitchen devising recipes. Experimentation with taste and ingredients stretches beyond recipes. I cook to sight, scent, taste and texture.

A recipe for sweet potato banana bake arrived in the mail as promotion for a cooking book.

2 c mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 egg
1/2c reduced-fat sour cream
¾ tsp curry power
½ tsp salt

Combine all ingredients until smooth. Transfer to one quart baking dish and bake covered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

I substituted for what I did not have – or want. I used yogurt for the sour cream, omitted the egg and salt, used pumpkin and then added texture. I thought about granola. Along with cranberries, this completed my texture component.

My recipe advice works to help also with writing. Once the elements of short story are learned and understood, substitutions and eliminations become possible and necessary.  I discover by experimentation what to add or leave out. Alteration requires creativity and risk. Dexterity with craft flavors the basics.

Writers need to try items never considered and develop an experimental mix.

I advise - Learn the elements of cooking and writing.  Then, cook and write to taste.

Take a look at a variety of stories, essays and poems. Ask what the writer left out. Why do the stories work with or without those elements? Would you define the "short short" story as a slice of life or a snapshot view?

Also, consider if the elements occur in another, less obvious way. Then experiment with your own.

A World Into Words

 “The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.” 

~ William H. Gass

The bridge from idea to imagery to result arrives in details. Sounds of a creek bed release in a rush of croaks and twitters.

Fairy hats add flair.

Texture teems in tangerine.

Angles and shapes surge  nature's joy.

Feelings arrive in tastes of green.

Dew dapples a rose's scent.

Imagine a squirrel's point of view.