AWWYP Author Spotlight- Tiffany Vakilian!!!

As part of our ongoing series interviewing writers , authors and poets in the AWwYP stable, we’d like to highlight Tiffany Vakilian. Read on about her practice of writing (and singing) and about what grounds finding your voice.

You can read my interview HERE

With words, song & prayer,
TiMo

Yours Truly, Summer 2011
© Tiffany Monique

What Andrew Learned from the Marines

Just found this... considering the recent holiday I thought I'd share...

Andrew is still teaching

The Few, the Proud..

Throughout my life, I have had the honor of having my life shaped by military life, specifically the United States Marine Corps. From my humble beginnings, in the inner city of Baltimore, Md., to my current assignment... at every level and stage, my life has been shaped, molded and impacted by the Marines.

I attribute much of what I have learned about honor, character, excellence, leadership and life to the Marines. It is these valuable “Life Lessons” I would like to pass on to you, to the end that you might be able to “sharpen your axe”, and be more productive, effective and excellent in life.

• Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
• Good Initiative, Bad Judgement
• Always Be Prepared
• Honor the Rank, Not the Person
• Correct in Private, Reward in Public
• Efficiency vs Effective
• 5W’s and an H 

Ever the teacher-mentor. Love you Drew.

With words, song & prayer, TiMo

Andrew and Yours Truly, 2009

Just checking in...

Here's the latest update on the time capsule-

Book is in process and progress. I'm excited about it. the work, but I have home life to think about and it makes for some interesting workarounds. It is beautifully silent in the grass green field of my mind. I've even had time to write letters that I put off for months after the wedding and home making.

I have been storing up energy and inspiration and I feel good about what's coming. The next project is the workshop, and I have at least a third of the class filled. I haven't touched the play I'd planned on, and the book gets a little time here and there, but the brunt of my creative energy is in the chapbook, and at the rate I'm going it'll be done next month. I'd like to thank A Word With You Press for their input and some key characters for their editing skills and feedback.

Just got a new project, so I best get to it, but HAppY NeW YeAr!!!

With words, song and prayer,
TiMo
Here's where you can read me
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Chrysalis-Transformative Language Arts Journal

A Brief Review by Tiffany Monique

Chrysalis: The Journal of Transformative Language Arts

Transformative Language Arts is using spoken, written, sung or embodied words art to facilitate social change. And now, after years of bearing fruit with the Goddard TLA Program, there is a new Transformative Language Arts journal online.

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg founded TLA after “years of working with people to develop something that encompassed the written and spoken word, social change and personal transformation” (I interviewed her in 2010 when I first began my studies at Goddard College). The first article in Chrysalis is her story of founding, entitled To Make a Prairie.

I'm in there too, having written a review about Dani Shapiro's creative memoir, Still Writing, and I'm still glad to engage my own transformation due to my TLA graduate students in Pme, Qme dual expression and the spectrum of authenticity. I am actively developing my "art, activism, studies, and livelihood.” Studying Transformative Language Arts has encouraged me to begin some of my best creative work. Once I found my way to engage my own story, it became my Transformative Language Arts mission to help others (mainly women) see within themselves their own spark of inspiration.

It's a wonderful rite of passage for TLA, and Editor Amber Ellis is on top of keeping the flowing nature of Chrysalis in top form. This is a maiden voyage, a first run, and according to Ellis, "The articles, essays, poems and reflection pieces collected within the inaugural issue of Chrysalis mirror this period of transition, this struggle, to become something greater, something whole." In addition to my Masters in Transformative Language Arts, I have been accepted into the Transformative Language Arts certificate program. 

"The certification provides participants with a thorough orientation to TLA, some avenues for developing a TLA practice and connecting with others involved in TLA, and encouragement to be part of the TLA community, help grow that community, and further define and develop TLA in the world. The Goddard program is a much more intensive immersion into TLA" 

Work with people. Love what you do. Spread the word. Change the world. “Simply write”. For whatever your artistic talent, this is wonderfully simple advice to hear. Artistically do what is in you to do, “anywhere and anytime”. It will take years. It will take collaboration. It will take education. Now that certification is possible for TLA Practitioners, there is yet more opportunity to engage and share what is transformative within an artist, and have that artist be a more powerful force for change within a local community. And of course, I've signed up. Care to join me?

With words, song and prayer,
TiMo
Here's where you can read me
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Educational?

Welcome back! Here is this Saturday's post!

2011 - Montpelier, Vermont

I am finding myself reaching out to my Goddardites... in thought, letter and verse.

I find it a good thing. One of my most harrowing rites of passage and "best platforms from which to jump beyond myself..." is singing silly memories to me.

Or maybe I just saw that student loan letter.

Hmmmm.

With words, song & prayer,

TiMo
Here's where you can read me:
www.alwaysalreadyalright.blogspot.com 
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Saturday Post 1.25.14

Good morning, I Don't Want to Write

I have writing to complete

I really do

My character has been nagging me

Saying "we don't hang out 

Like we used to"

She says, "You're avoiding me"
I have

"You've been avoiding me"
I have

"Forgetting to set time for me"
There were good reasons
Life for one

She says, "my buttbone is still on fire"

Because that is the last scene I completed
And she is still sitting there

She would very much like to 

Fight

Or pass out

Or stand up

Or something

Anything to move forward

She is insistent

Almost rude

"Write me out of here!"

She says

"Let me breathe!"

She says

"Only you can save me!"

She says

But I don't want to write

I don't

I'm busy

I'm sleepy

I'm out of my rhythm

And secretly

I don't want to let her go

I don't want to share her

I don't want her to go to school

Where I can't protect her
From the others

"Please"

She says

"I'm dying of boredom and Yna needs to go down!"

She cajoles

I laugh

I acquiesce

I sigh

Ok I say

I'll write today

But I'm not so sure about tomorrow

"Today is all there is, so good morning"

She says

"And you can reward yourself after
A paragraph
A page

Feel smug

Secretly accomplished

Only

Please write!"

She says
And I know

I will write today

Despite the fact that

I don't want to

I dedicate this to the writers who have school papers, stories, reviews, essays, poetry, or WHATEVER they need to do that involves that "thing" that calls to you in sleep, asking for interaction because they have something wonderful to give you, the writer, simply for stopping by and spending time with them. Get up, go to that door and walk through. I commend you for doing so, especially when you don't want to.

With words, song & prayer, TiMo
Here's where you can read me:
www.alwaysalreadyalright.blogspot.com 
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Friday 11.1.13 - Percolating

I am still here. I am just not, here right now. I am molting right now, and my wings are still wet...

© Barndog Photography 2009

Sometimes this is a good thing to admit. Sometimes it is not.

While there is poetry in me wanting (begging, nay aching) to come out, I must admit to not having the energy to present it at its best just yet. Work, art, friends and family are occupying my mind, time and space and I have to experience those things in order to write about them later. Those of you walking with me right now are smiling, laughing, praying and waiting.

Stay tuned.

And in the meantime, please check out my submission to A Word With You Press's first annual  Write-of-Passage Contest in honor of our recently passed friend and writer Peggy Dobbs. Here's the link. It is a tribute to both Peggy Dobbs and William Shakespeare.

Please let me know what you think about it.

With words, song & prayer,
TiMo
Here's where you can read me:
www.alwaysalreadyalright.blogspot.com 
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Yours Truly, Summer 2011
© Tiffany Monique

For Peggy - A Write of Passage

My first interaction with Peggy Dobbs was this comment:

Peggy's 1st Comment (May 2013)

She became my Facebook friend, and true to her word, commented on my stuff (Jaded and Abbey Normal and the Fool - either directly or on the book of Face) before she left this earthly realm in June.

A Word With You Press felt her absence so acutely that fearless leader Thornton Sully immortalized her via The (First) Annual Peggy Dobbs Write-of-Passage contest... 750-1000 words in an original piece of fiction or nonfiction that must contain the words, “I swear, it’s not too late.”

I wanted to do something really special for Peggy. So I wrote Shakespeare... ish. 

For Peggy Dobbs.
Click to read "But Biding, I Live Beyond My Own Love"
© Tiffany Monique 2013

He's timeless, as she is timeless. I hope she would like it. I hope you do to.

With words, song & prayer,

TiMo
Here's where you can read me:
www.alwaysalreadyalright.blogspot.com 
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Yours Truly, Summer 2011
© Tiffany Monique

Here's the fine print for the contest:

Submit up to THREE entries. Each entry must include the author’s name and email address (which we will not share except with Edward Snowden). Entries should be sent to thorn@awordwithyoupress.com. Entries should be submitted as a Word .doc attachment, double spaced and in twelve point Times-New Roman font. For those who have submitted an entry to previous contests there is no fee. For all others there is a fee of $10 per entry by Paypal (also submitted to thorn@awordwithyoupress.com). 

However, once you have entered three of our contests you will be considered part of the family and there will be no additional fees to enter, except in extraordinary circumstances, such as a highly monetized prize.

A Contest From A Word With You Press

A Contest I Say! A Contest! From A Word With You Press!

h

There is no greater pleasure than helping a student discover the beauty and power of the written word, but of course I am preaching to the choir.

We currently have a contest open to cyberspace and to all local students that allows them to see their work on line and to get valuable feedback from other writers who read their entries. Writers must create an original work of between 750 and 1,000 words that contain somewhere within the text the phrase "I swear, it's not too late."

Here are the parameters of the contest, which will accept final entries up until Thanksgiving Day.

http://www.awordwithyoupress.com/2013/09/19/500-reasons-to-read-this-entry/

To kick start some interest, AWwYP is offering $500 to the contest winner.

A Word with You Press will select six finalists who will then write a new piece to a different prompt to by judged independently.

I look forward to meeting you and discussing plans to save the world.

best

--

Thornton Sully
Editor-in-chief

A Word With You Press

Publishers and Purveyors of Fine Stories

106 North Main St.

Moscow,Idaho 83843

***

A Word with You Press is a consortium of writing and publishing professionals whose purpose is to see that new and used authors reach a broad audience both on line and in print, and that their work loses fat and gains muscle tone.

We achieve this by hosting writing and publishing workshops, by editing, designing, illustrating and publishing both fiction and non-fiction manuscripts and by sponsoring inter-active writing contests from our website,

A Word with You Press would very much like to establish itself in their new community. We have since our founding in 2009 published ten books, including a Pulitzer Prize winner and award winning poetry and fiction, and we have sponsored over a hundred and fifty events for writers. 

Let's get the word out!!!

With words, song and prayer,
TiMo
Here's where you can read me:
www.alwaysalreadyalright.blogspot.com 
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Yours Truly, Summer 2011
© Tiffany Monique

Balboa Park with Jeff Mudgett

Jeff Mudgett is a down to earth guy, despite having written a genuinely creepy book about his family -- the person of note his great great grandfather.

Imagine waking up one otherwise normal day to be told you are the direct descendant of the Doctor of Death and the Prince of Darkness. That Herman Webster Mudgett, aka H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer and most prolific mass murderer, the very embodiment of evil, the devil personified, is your Great-Great Grandfather.

-From Jeff Mudgett's website .http://bloodstainsthebook.com

(c) 2013 - Tiffany Monique
Despite this image, Jeff smiles a LOT... look at him playing with a blade of grass...

"It's all about choices", he said. "I'm here talking to you today because of the choices [H. H. Holmes] made." Jeff's nature was so easygoing, I had no problem getting comfortable. He withheld nothing, but his candor was not heavy. "I came from the worst... the outer limits of what the human species is capable of..." Jeff suffered physically, mentally and emotionally as he wrote. Despite all this, he put ink to paper to remember, research, write and rewrite. He chose to share it with the world. Upon completion of this book, he said all his physical suffering ended. As he spoke that morning, he smiled a lot, and gently gestured with his hands in a slow dance of peace and calm, despite the subject matter.

(c) 2013 - Tiffany Monique

And he wasn't scared, nor was he scary. He just sat there tellin' the truth about himself, his writing, his biggest mistakes, good advice, etc. with his calm air and smiling eyes. According to Jeff, where marketing is concerned:

• Facebook is your friend (His book turned movie deal, came about via Facebook)
• If people love (or hate) your story, that is a good thing
• No matter what, have your book professionally edited (and formatted for that matter).
• You're first chapter has to be HUGE

And while he disagreed with the idea of selling e-books for 99 cents to get higher in the lists, one of my favorite bits of advice from Jeff was, "Have confidence in your writing... in your story".

That and, "You can't sign an e-book".

(c) 2013 - Tiffany Monique

He signed my paper book though, with the proviso that I finish and publish my own book so I could sign it for him in return.

(c) 2013 - Tiffany Monique

Stay Tuned,
TiMo
Here's where you can read me:
www.alwaysalreadyalright.blogspot.com 
www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Yours Truly, Summer 2011

Dedicated to A Word With You Press

Last night I was having the time of my life-ish.

Without reading one word of my own; while simply being my normal outrageous self - I was said to be part of an axis of evil (in a "term of endearment" kinda way... I know, right?), and that I should have my own talk-show with my Tiffanyzed Dr. Phil flare called "Dinner at Tiffany's". I read two pages of a new author's coffee shop book that made me feel wonderfully emotive. I ate salad that made me flip out. I read Shakespeare, and gave literary responses to poetry from a beautifully-in-love Slovak woman that started the whole "Dinner at Tiffany's" commentary. I bucked up and asked to submit dual-expression to a larger audience, and wasn't rejected. I coveted a steampunk light-ray. I free-styled for a new friend to his "griot tracks", and I listened to two beautiful songs, the more beautiful one being about Frankenstein.

(c) 2000 Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

It was a crazy four hours.

The reason I joined this group initially was to get out of my writing comfort zone.

I have admittedly grown to love this group of people (in a pretty initial, rather shallow way to be sure). We listen to or read each other's work and comment with constructive criticisms. We don't pull punches, but we aren't jerks (mostly). And when something is good, we say so, even as we offer opinions on how to tighten loose screws and oil gears that need it.

We are writers. We want to improve. Our group does all kinds of things, not the least of which includes Dime Stories submissions, A Word With You Press Writing Contests, and of course our Anti-Social Writers and Creative Misfits weekly writing club (the basic rules of which you are about to read -personal highlights in bold):

GATHER TIME: 615PM. ( The plan is to give folks time eat food and drink drinks, anti-socially chat a bit. AND THE REAL WORK STARTS PROMPTLY AT 7PM. )

-- EVERY GAME HAS RULES--SO PLAY NICE:

-We a convivial group & serious writers (many of us have been published in various forms). Please bring up to 5 pages each session of your novel, memoir, short story, screen play. And be prepared to listen closely and critique others' work, intelligently and respectfully.

-We do have fun and then clear the desks and work hard. Please come only if you are willing to both read and critique others' work.

-IT IS OK TO "JUST SHOW UP, MAGICALLY APPEAR!" But it is better to RSVP so others attending will know how many copies of their work to bring.

-READERS 'n RESPONDERS WELCOME! Those who love to write and have a story to tell will love this meetup! Come prepared to read your work (5 pages) and have the schmartest, most insightful, and useful responses to offer on your fellow writer's work. So if this sounds like you--come be our Hero! ;-)

-If you cannot make a meeting and have RSVP'd YES, please change your RSVP to NO, as there may be people on the Waiting List who can use your seat at the table!

-Please try to bring enough copies of your work for all members who have RSVP'd YES.

-You can submit as long a piece by email as you want. And those who receive it can read as much or as little as they want. But at the meeting, the number of pages each person can read is determined by the number of folks who show up, divided by available time, square by the orbit of Uranus, allowing for solar drag, of course.( We tend to average 5 typewritten double-spaced 12 pt Times New Roman pages per participant...)

Double-spaced, size twelve Times New Roman font on tap.

Image subject to copyright

I've heard some amazing stories, some beautiful poetry, and some offensive commentary. It's all in there. I wanted to take this moment to say THANK YOU to some of the people like Thorn, Russ, Ed, Kyle, Michele, Billy, Ronnie, Akesha, (the really tall poet guy who's name escapes me), etc. who reminded me that I write because...(that's another blog post). You guys inspire me to TELL THE STORY.

By definition, this post is breaking the rules. How funny would it be to read it at next week's session to hear that very thing?

I think I will. Stay tuned!


With words, song & love,
TiMo

By the way, I'm working on my Dual-Expression workshops (which started me on the path to even think about joining this group). Thorn Sully (oh captain my captain of A Word With You Press) and I are currently discussing how best to share our love of words and wordsmithing with the known world (and perhaps parts unknown...). Again I say, stay tuned.

Here's where you can read me:

www.alwaysalreadyalright.blogspot.com 

www.pmeqme.blogspot.com

Bhanu Kapil Rider Question #5 – What is the Shape of Your Body?

It's part of American culture

Hips

Skin

A nose

Teeth

those shoes

so last season

do you have the new

is it shiny enough

is it new enough

will it get the spotlight

I AM NOT AN IT

I am not just breasts

I have them

I am not just a face

or a haircut

Can your camera zoom someone's smell

Can you mass visualize a tasty kiss

Is this all I am

All you are

Are you just hands

Can you be beautiful w/ cellulite

and acne

and dandruff

and unwanted hair

who said it was unwanted

You

Me

them

those daggone theys

Don't blame FOX

you can choose to follow

chose to beat yourself up

for not being a 5'10” 125 androgen

an alien

built of spare parts

we bought on QVC

as seen on TV

we're just full of this crap

pieces

parts

chunks

I wanna be new

whole

ME

2008... A Testimony Vignette

I cleaned up my computer and found this old video clip. This is from July of 2008. Only roughly four years ago... so far back, and yet, right on time with where I am mentally. Well, in a way. On that steamy day in Baltimore, I went to Artscape. I wasn't there to walk around and sweat (though I did do that). I performed on the Mainstage with Mia Miata as a member of Alpha Rhythm, a local group. I gave supporting vocals to Mia Miata as she sang originals from her first release Mia Miata's Urban Arias. As it is now 2012, my perspective of what was going on really has shifted (DUH!). My Uncle Jellybean (yes, I call him that) came to see me sing, but I have to say that this is one of my favorite clips. There are others. I uploaded one to YouTube to show off a brief solo. I am grateful that my uncle showed up, let alone recorded anything. I made sure I got him a backstage pass so he could come see and shoot away with his camera. There was also a professional photographer there (which became its OWN chapter of my life -- read on). As we sat in the back room waiting to go on, I remember the photographer took a lot of photos (as did my Uncle). What I remember most was that I had a breath-stealing crush on that photographer. Not only was he attractive to me, he was talented as a photographer, and he knew how to talk without sounding like an idiot. I wanted to get to know him better. In true Tiffany style, I asked him about his prices for photography, and he said he was building his portfolio so maybe we could work something out. I made plans to go over to his studio that weekend. We dated after that photo shoot for about a month, but I practically stalked him for about four because I thought he and I were meant to be. I forgave him for 'breaking my heart' after I finally got the message that we weren't meant, but I have to take this moment and tell the truth. Everything that happened was caused by my own myopia. I didn't want to see anything outside of what I wanted. I wanted that man. Period. Now this man is not a bad man. But I have to admit to myself that I derailed myself artistically trying to be and have what I thought I wanted. I could have gone with Mia Miata to a performance in Pennsylvania the night of the photo shoot, but I canceled with her at the last minute, just as the photos began. By the time the night was over, the photographer and I were taking photos together, one of which is a personal favorite. We just clicked somehow. I was a model. I was a coach. I was a guest in his house. I stayed way longer than I should have. I drank glass after glass of wine trying to impress him with my... who knows what. Some day I am going to have to go through the arduous and embarrassing process of finding any and all photos that may be online. Some of those photos were quite beautiful, and some were suggestive to the point of crass. I was proud of my sensuality, but I had no clue what it was I was doing. I grossly misrepresented who I was, and I now wonder if I was sexually trafficking myself to people who didn't even know they were buyers. I have been humbled by this memory, and the turning point I now realize it turned out to be in my life -- to God be the glory for all that He has done in changing and teaching me who *I* am. Still, I have to own the consequences of my choices. I am not ashamed of the past, but I am not about trying to act as if I don't have one. Ruslan of theBREAX has an awesome lyric that says: Learn from it Turn from it I know it's permanent I just don't wanna burn from it It makes me think of Crystal Lewis' song, "What A Fool I've Been". The woman I am now is vastly different from the woman I was then, and yet we share the same skin. We feel the same cramps, and are annoyed by the same stiff joints after a long walk. And now I am going to try and pay it forward. I don't want anyone to go down that wrong road. If I keep a young lady from hurting herself pretending to be what someone told her she was, then I don't mind being a "don't let this happen to you".   @--}--}--- I'd like to thank Ann Harding and Keke and David Buche for making this post possible, and for helping me laugh through hard lessons. Thank you for being such good Godly friends.

From an artist in DC

Hi Tiffany,

Thank you for connecting, and I appreciate your message - same goes to you. I regret that I won't be able to witness how your piece is going to unfold in the classes that follow, but I trust you will do a beautiful performance.

Without going into much detail, sometimes we spend lots of time and energy (and money) just to learn, at the end, that what we had learned holds no value to what we do - the irony of which, by itself, becomes the most valuable lesson :) We all have our roles to play in this lifetime, and all we can do is to be the best of what we aspire to be....

Fear and terror are normal in the process of giving a birth to new work. It takes a lot of courage, but you have a inner light that shines your way. Best wishes to your creative journey, and please be in touch.

"Our deepest fears are like dragons guarding our deepest treasure." - Rainier Maria Rilke


This most excellent missive was sent to me by a digital music artist whose work I have yet to see live. In our lab, she was always peaceful, but powerful. Everything she said had a smile on it, even her story about how she began to compose, which was quite poignant and touch sad.


But what she said is so true on so many levels. The last two blog articles I wrote were about dealing with this very thing. Someone once told me that sometimes you just have to look at something that has happened as a lesson. Sometimes the course fees in the school of life are quite costly. Some of those "student loans" are never gonna be paid off. But when you give birth to something (a baby, a book, a lifetruth), you have to deal with a lot of these very fears in order to prepare yourself.


Prepare yourself.


And do it anyway.


So you can say you did it.

Imagine, plan, prepare, execute...

"And you will know them by their fruit"

The Magazine of Yoga published my article about Joanna Tebbs Young

This is one of the articles I was working on at the New Orleans Cafe. I received a comment from my last post, which listed the things that get in the way of writing, and it made me feel like all the pushing, pain, stress, and work was WORTH IT.

Thanks Tameka.

Last Wednesday, I pushed through the negative and my article got done. Now I feel good sharing it. I am also sharing the 2nd half of the list created at "Write to Think". During this workshop I remember feeling hopeful when Jim Sparrell was kind enough to cover the negative list with the positive list (much to Katt Lissard's feigned dismay). That is what I am trying to do- cover the negative with the positive, and learn from BOTH.

Things that help you write

• Getting enough sleep
• Not discussing an idea
• Discussing an idea
• Sex therapy
• Animal therapy
• Self-medication
• Self-care
• Smoking something
• Visualization
• Acting it out
• Reading what you love
• Coffee shop or communal spot
• Unplugging from the internet/email/Facebook
• Watching movies
• Silence
• Music
• A place to track interruptions and intuitions

o   E.g. having a notebook next to you to write down interruptions in thought

• Mind map/Clustering/Webbing
• Writing on something beautiful with something beautiful

o   E.g. physical pen and paper

• Lowering my expectations

o   E.g. 250 words/day

• Setting parameters
• Time – setting a timer
• Dark chocolate
• Exercise
• Going outside
• Changing locations
• Drinking tea
• Starting project in journal
• Writing something else
• Not being self-conscious
• Imagining a sympathetic audience
• Interested person to share with

I have people listening to me.

Do it .

I can help people with my words.

Do it.

When I finish this, I can talk smack about doing it!

Do it.

And keep doing it!

Imagine, plan, prepare, execute...

"And you will know them by their fruit"

Mental Key Turn Part 4- Humility

Mental Key Turns 1, 2, and 3, are important. Another mental point that is quite important as knowing the humility of your place in the grand scheme. You can, and sometimes must, go it alone for a while (See Key Turn 3). That time of your life should never be taken for granted or treated like anything other than the life-blessing that it is, but like most things, moderation is the key.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Mental Key Turn Part 4- Humility

Imagine, plan,
prepare, execute...
"And you will know them
by their fruit"

Mental Key Turn Part 3- Weed your support group

Transformative Language Artists have a plethora of support and inspiration at their disposal, and Mental Keyturns are just one of the many tricks in the bag. In Part 1, word-bridges were a refreshing romp in the random. Paper, shower, trash bag. What can be done with these words together. How do they intertwine? Does it inspire poetry? Does a dress pattern come to mind? Could it inspire a new song? This whimsical perspective can prove to be quite helpful with Part, 2 Braving the Mental Attic. When you know who you are, you are more ready and able to transform. You may uproot fruitless constructs, and rewrite your foundation to better build upon.

Being random, and knowing yourself can definitely help with Part 3 because sometimes there are people in your life that just shouldn't be there. More...

Imagine, plan,
prepare, execute...
"And you will know them
by their fruit"

Mental key turning part 2- Brave Your Mental Attic

“Lay in bed, wondering about the madness three steps down in your mind, and yet, know that there is greatness in there, if only you are brave enough to take the first three steps.” -Tiffany Monique

There are so many things that open artistic eyes and help open the world changing doors of artistic voice. Closed doors. Jasmine. Let’s start with this word-bridge to facilitate the next Mental Key Turn, “Braving Your Mental Attic”.

In my love of words and their power, I am beginning to believe that we are all Transformative Language Artists. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...my heart is the pen of a ready writer..."

Check out my DC Examiner Articles about Mental Key Turning for Transformative Language Artists- by my evolving definition of TLA, this now includes the world entire.

Mental key turning part 1- Word-bridges

In my love of words and their power, I am beginning to believe that we are all Transformative Language Artists. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...my heart is the pen of a ready writer..."

I have started sharing tips and fun tricks to unlock wordsmithing doors for your inspiration and pleasure, and (eek!!!) growth.

Check out my DC Examiner Articles about Mental Key Turning for Transformative Language Artists- by my evolving definition of TLA, this now includes the world entire.

Feel free to share your zany word-bridges here... let's make some together!

A moment with Transformative Language Arts creator Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg

From her website CarynMirriam-Goldberg.com


It is December, and Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg is, like most of us, very busy enjoying changing seasons, cold weather, and family visits. Unlike many of us, she is managing her schedule as an award-winning writer and performer, workshop facilitator, Poet Laureate of Kansas, and Graduate faculty for Vermont's own Goddard College. Mirriam-Goldberg founded of the Transformative Language Arts Program at Goddard. Her ability to peacefully “be patient and loving” while waiting for her words to flow in writings has resulted in at least ten books, including her award winning Write Where You Are, and many other literary publications and anthologies. She is also a mother of three, the self-acclaimed owner of a menagerie, an advocate for self-care, and very diligent about her own artistic vitality, and how it affects her physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. This formidable artist voice, is an active TLA Artist and Writer with many awards, honors, and successes to her credit.

Mirriam-Goldberg founded TLA after “years of working with people to develop something that encompassed both the written and spoken word, social change and personal transformation”. She and those supporting her solicited articles from students, alumni, faculty, and other people in the field they were defining. They put out a call for proposals, and then worked with those writers who were able to fill the various needs of the publication. Soon after the new study program came to be, Mirriam-Goldberg co-edited the first TLA book, The Power of Words: A Transformative Language Arts Reader, with Janet Tallman over a year. There is now a Transformative Language Arts Network which uses this book as one of its main sources.

Caryn has been leading workshops in her community for over 18 years and doing readings and performances for almost 30, so “word of mouth” works well for her at this point. Performing collaboratively with Kelley Hunt and dancer Laura Ramberg, the groundswell of her art is able to fulfill her artistic and financial need. “Laura and I did a performance as part of a panel I was on last week called "Who Dances?" I read a poem she danced to (rising out of the audience as I read).” This is just some of the spontaneous artistic happenings that occur when experiencing Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg the artist, in her performing element.

“I love writing very much, and I find it pretty easy to simply write. Sometimes I take walks, do yoga, watch movies, etc., but generally, I figure if I show up at the page, the writing will come, and if it doesn't, I need to be patient and loving with it, work on something else, and then return. I write anywhere and anytime.”

Work with people. Love what you do. Spread the word. Change the world. “Simply write”. For whatever your artistic talent, this is wonderfully simple advice to hear. Artistically do what is in you to do, “anywhere and anytime”. It will take years. It will take collaboration. It will take education.

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg is a shining example to follow.

Websites:
http://www.carynmirriamgoldberg.com
http://bravevoice.com
http://carynmirriamgoldberg.wordpress.com
http://www.goddard.edu/carynmirriamgoldberg
http://arts.ks.gov/poet_laureate/mirriam-goldberg.shtml