Directed Contemplative Writing—a variation on free writing

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!…

Shared Story—Martin Prechtel: Remembered through being in the story together

“They welcomed me by letting me know that they hadn’t let me go. I was remembered. As far as they were concerned, no matter how far I roamed or what we’d had to do to survive, I was still in the story with them, and had never actually left the village.” Martín Prechtel Artist Writer…

Riehl’s writing life revealed in Story Circle Network National e-letter

Click here to read a profile by Joyce Boatright that gives a snapshot of some areas of my writing life. Story Circle Network National e-letter July 2008, Vol. 9, No 7 To read this e-Letter on the Story Circle Network web site, click here. Click here to go to the main Story Circle Network web…

How to offer condolence…what I learned from watching my father

Photo by Susan Tweit From witnessing my father at ceremonies surrounding death, I’ve learned a new approach to being at these events. He is completely natural. He visits. He chats. He may even make a joke. He tells stories. These are transmissions of comfort through the transmission of culture. I have never heard him utter…

J.K. Rowling on the benefits of failure…& how empathy and imagination re-builds worlds

In her Harvard Commencement address J.K. Rowling is funny, dignified, deep, and delightful. Speaking of the lowest point in her life and how it prepared the way for writing her big idea, she says: “So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I…