Algo de ti [An Ekphrastic Exercise] Algo de ti me recuerda a casa; no la de hoy, de otros tiempos– Las tortillas de la abuela sobre su comal ardiente; el perfume de la buganvilla en el jardín Tus pestañas estrelladas– de niñez como las estrellas mismas que contemplaba yo, me parece hace siglos ya. Algo de ti me llama en la noche cuando te estrechas en tu cama como te imagino que lo haces,…
Continue readingIn recognition of National Poetry here is a poem I written in 2018 in commemoration of the first African American woman president at my alma mater in Chicago, NEIU. I had the distinct honor to read it at her inauguration ceremony. Enjoy! These Times I In these times, you and I share, amidst the air you and I breathe, inspiration we take from day to day thriving, opposition we meet, the sacred conch…
Continue readingHola Comunidad: As promised–I’m online until 5 p.m. CST. Thanks to those who’ve participated, commented here and sent emails. Today starts Nat’l Poetry Month. Please post your own favorite poems in the comments section here. It goes without saying we can also use it in these 21st c. pandemic times.
Continue readingApril Fool’s Day takes on new meaning to a world that is forced to reckon with unleashed microbios. We start this month having to look in rather than start bug-eyed at the mess we’ve created as human beings. In the comments section you may leave a poem of yours or the title of a favorite poem for us to look up. For now, I’ll start us off with the title poem from this book.
Continue readingThank you to those who’ve made comments here (and sent to my email at anacastilloworkshops@gmail.com) Why didn’t I use Zoom? Not because my skills are at Jitterbug Cell Phone level but like many these days–I’m just not up to being ‘looked at.’ I also wanted participants to focus on the writing & not their hair. Social media places a huge emphasis on showing off our best selves through filters, makeup, etc.–and this is about getting…
Continue readingThese Times I In these times, you and I share, amidst the air you and I breathe, inspiration we take from day to day thriving, opposition we meet, the sacred conch shell calls us, drums beat, prayers sent up, aromatic smoke of the pipe are our pledge to the gods. An all-night fire vigil burns where we may consume the small cactus messenger of the Huichol and of the Pueblo people of New Mexico, red…
Continue readingTime’s up for our writing workshop this afternoon. I hope my suggestions and feedback were helpful. It’s always a privilege and pleasure to work with other writers. If you have writing that comes out of today’s session and would like to post it in comments, please do. If you’d like to keep it private and would like to show it to me please send to me at anacastilloworkshops@gmail.com. I promise I’ll read it. Wed.,…
Continue readingIt may not be on your top five but maybe not much more has provoked the imagination in the human mind than the fear or at least awareness of one’s own mortality. In dealing with an unprecedented world pandemic and growing numbers forced to stay indoors, isolate, even not touch outside objects–let’s take a minute to think about the worse. (You may say you don’t fear death but fear the death of your loved ones.…
Continue readingLet’s put this one under speculative fiction. As those of you who write fiction know, some of fiction is based on non-fiction (people, places and actual experiences we’ve had.) We’ll take 15-20 minutes to sketch out this next exercise using Fear #3. You’re walking down the street one day and you catch a reflection in a window. At first it startles you. You stop to take a closer look. You realize that person is you…
Continue readingHow did the interview with Fear #2 go? Did they want to be interviewed? If not, why dod you think not? More questions for you to consider. Remember you may do this with any of the fears on your list. Pick #1 or #2 and ask yourself the following (make notes): How you now feel about that fear? Have your feeling shifted at all? Don’t be afraid–look over at those two, Fear #1 and Fear…
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