Hi ,
Do you remember Highlights for Children? Most of us who do remember, read it in the waiting room at the doctors or dentists. I used to love flipping through all the different games like Hidden Pictures TM. Here's one complete with the 21st century computer validation of your find, you might want to play it just to practice focusing a bit.
I always looked forward to getting magazines in the mail when I was a kid. It was a world of writing, pictures, recipes, and a portal to possibilities, plus there was advice about boys. It predisposed me to writing books and newsletters for the last 30 years. I love my subscribers.
 Highlights for Jill's Readers
Highlight Number One: Not So Hidden Pictures ^
In my painting at the top find: a heart with wings, two fish, a rocket ship, a window with a hat, a scaredy-cat , two window suns, a star flower, a bird with a crown and one with a party hat, love, and a little person getting some air in a time when the world has been told to stay home. Kinda easy, right? But if I made you focus on something other than the news, junk food, or ruminating thoughts for at least 30 seconds, my work is done here.
Highlight Number Two:
Sunday, April 19, 3pm pacific, 4 mtn, 5 central, 6 eastern
Last month we had a wonderful turn-out of poets, writers, storytellers and people listening as they colored or painted. Come join us this month for the same, but this time singer/songwriter John Bosley will be playing songs throughout the gig. He sounds a bit like Willie Nelson, has humor similar to John Prine, but is his own unique, wily and wonderful, John Bosley as well.
Showing up on video is optional (you can see what's going on and still be off-screen), coloring pages to all who attend, and if you'd like to read poetry, prose or share some music, you are welcome. We will keep it to 4-5 minutes per person. Register here
Highlight Number Three:
Short Creative Prompts: For daily prompts, join me on Facebook. Short enough for compromised attention spans. Example:
Highlight Number Four:
Sublimating Frenetic Energy into Easy Creative Writing
Saturday, May 2, 2020 11 am pacific, 12p mtn, 1 central, 2 eastern 1 1/2 hrs
A drastically inexpensive cost workshop because it's my way of giving, we need it now, and I want to write with you.
For intimidated beginners, writers who can't concentrate, seasoned writers wanting a novel approach, and anyone who love words. No critique, only the spilling of feelings, thoughts, and subconscious ramblings onto the page.
Donations go to Feeding America
Donations start at $5
Let's face it. This will reluctantly be one of the most memorable times in our lives. We have been yanked out of habits and behaviors we were used to making it a good time to develop some new ones. Also a good time to capture the essence of what we are experiencing or let it catalyze something deep inside of us completely unrelated to the virus.
Once we get over the initial shock, this can be a rich time of creative expression. But not if you can't focus or show-up for yourself because you're distracted or captive to fear. Right now structure, community, and a nurturing (non-critique) environment are crucial to our sanity and for some, creative output.
The writing prompts I design start with lists, random thoughts, and fill-in-the blank sentences so constructing poems or prose is like assembling a collage from effortless free associations. We catch the stifling inner critic off-guard by choosing to write with abandon and focusing on fun not quality - that comes later.
As we move a little beyond the traumatic onset of this temporary new reality, our wild reactions may be settling a bit. Focus is coming back maybe 2% and it's a good time to sublimate some of the frenetic energy into writing, if you love writing as much as I do.
Highlight Number Five:
I’m making little imperfect zines, inspired by Linda D'Amario and Austin Kleon.
I was a little intimidated until I realized the culture of Zines is to be imperfect. Consider making some too while watching Netflix or Amazon Prime...
This YouTube that shows you how.
Here's one of mine.
Highlight Number Six
Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for Quarantine Humor in case there are a few you haven't seen yet.
Last highlight
My Rose Garden A tour of my thorns
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