Our greatest desire, greater even than the desire for happiness, Is that our lives mean something. This desire for meaning is the originating impulse of story. ~Daniel Taylor I believe that everyone’s lives, however “ordinary,” are filled with experiences that speak to universal human experience and are therefore interesting to […]
‘Tis the season for sending holiday cards and letters. Personally, I love to receive these newsy letters from friends and relatives. Sure, they can be a little on the rosy side (who wants to write about life’s depressing details and send them out during the holidays for heaven’s sake!), but […]
A confused student recently asked me about the difference between legacy writing and memoir. “Aren’t they pretty much the same thing?” she wanted to know. “Aren’t they both just writing about life?” “Well, yes and no,” I said. Not the clearcut answer she probably wanted. Yes, they are both forms […]
In every discipline and art form, it’s important to practice the fundamentals in order to keep them sharp. Years ago, I was a competitive ballroom dancer; yet, no matter how skilled or accomplished I became, my accomplishments were all built on the solid foundation of the fundamentals of each step: […]
In my class on “Finding Your Voice,” I define a writer’s voice as “… the who (the personality) you hear in your imagination while reading or, conversely, the who your readers hear in their minds when reading your work.” While a writer may evoke a number of different personalities through the […]
My heart is filled with gratitude for you, my dear friends and readers — for your feedback and encouragement and the comments and insights you have shared with me over the last few years. May we continue our journey together in peace. Sincerely, Amber Lea Starfire _________________________________
When my mother left behind a lifetime of letters and journals, she thought it likely that no one would read or care about what she had written. I know because she wrote as much. But she was wrong: I cared, and have read most of what she left behind. Her […]
All Hallows’ Eve — Halloween — has never meant much to me. When I think back to my childhood, an image surfaces of a dingy, frayed rabbit costume, handed down from child to child and worn until each of us grew too large to wear it. And I remember my […]
There are times when it is easier to focus on what’s not working in our lives than what does work. And, once the “not working” mindset has taken hold, it’s difficult not to live precariously from one challenge to the next in a downward emotional spiral. I have been reminded […]
A Week’s Worth of Journaling Prompts Usually, when I write about “making connections,” I’m referring to connecting ideas. Today, I’m writing about making connections with people, and about building relationships. In spite of my outgoing roles as teacher, trainer, and public speaker, I’m a bit of an introvert, more comfortable […]
Stress is a normal, physical, chemical reaction to danger, to change, deadlines, and the unknown. Stress can motivate you to action and help you meet the challenges of everyday life. It is meant, biologically speaking, to help you in the short term. But in this age of over stimulus from […]
Imagine that you’re standing on the side of a highway and you suddenly notice a truck bearing down on your beloved dog and another person, who both happen to be crossing the road at the same time. You can only save one. Which do you choose, the human or the dog? […]
