Tag: Writer Zen Garden

  • D Is For… Demos and Discussions!

    D Is For… Demos and Discussions!

    Contributed by Laura Rios.

    Image of an adolescent orange and white cat curled up on top of an open laptop on a desk.
    Photo: Pixabay (CC0)

    “When you open YouTube for ‘one quick tutorial’ and suddenly it’s three hours later.”

    In most creative endeavors, one of the challenges most of us face at times is finding inspiration. What to paint/sew/knit/weave/write? Beyond your favorite website, supportive Facebook group, Pinterest, magazines, and other media, YouTube has thousands of ways to get ideas flowing.

    As an artist, I turn to YouTube repeatedly. There are tutorials and demos for every medium, from acrylic paint to watercolors. If you enjoy calligraphy, you will find practical demonstrations as well as discussions on supplies, complete with product reviews. In addition to helping you get ideas, demos are great instructional tools. If, for example, you want to practice your “wet in wet” technique in watercolor, or you’d like to work on painting more loosely, simply search the term you like, and hundreds of demonstration videos will emerge for your consideration. I like to use tutorials as a stepping-off point; I can easily change things up to make the final painting or drawing my own. Using a demo is not copying, it’s a fantastic way to get you motivated and on your way to making masterpieces.

    Not an artist? Let’s say you enjoy needlework. A quick search on YouTube will provide you with endless ideas for cross stitch and embroidery pieces, crochet or knitting projects, and garment making. Demos can teach you to make French knots, knit cables, set-in sleeves or operate a loom. Choose your fabric, fiber, and colors to create a fabulous original!

    Writers will also find inspiration and assistance on YouTube.  YouTube offers videos to help with grammar, style, crafting a riveting story, writing clearly and effectively on the job, and any number of other topics. You will find book discussions and reviews. You can listen to Pulitzer winners discuss their techniques and find all sorts of how-to-do-whatever it is you may be struggling with so you can create again. When a slump of any kind has you feeling hopeless or sluggish, demos and discussions can be your best friends.

  • B is for… Bravo!

    B is for… Bravo!

    Contributed by Tina Holland.

    We’re so good at pushing forward—chasing the next goal, starting the next project—that we forget to acknowledge what we’ve already done.

    Recently, I published How to Love a Lord, and instead of enjoying it, I jumped straight into the next book… and started a short story. (To be fair, that short story is due this month—but still.) I should have savored that soft release a little more.

    Instead, everything started to feel rushed—finessing the paperback, juggling deadlines, moving on too quickly.

    Truthfully? I need to pause long enough to congratulate myself.

    Because this is what I usually do:

    For every 1,000 words? I get a sticker.
    Yes, really—and it’s become such a thing that I now buy stickers before I even start the book.

    Every 5,000 words, I level up the reward:

    • Flowers
    • A bookstore trip
    • A small online splurge (I match dollars to word count—$30 for 30K)

    And when the book finally goes up for preorder? That calls for a proper celebration. I usually convince my dear husband to take me out to dinner—anything from fancy to a cozy night in where he cooks.

    It’s a little like turning writing into a game… and honestly? It works.

    Now I just need to apply that same energy to the rest of my life. (Imagine folding laundry for points. Revolutionary.)

    So here’s your moment:

    Bravo.
     For showing up.
    For creating.
    For growing—even in ways no one else can see.

    What have you accomplished lately? And how are you celebrating it?

  • A is for… Attention to Practice!

    A is for… Attention to Practice!

    Photo by: Pixabay
    License: Pixabay License (CC0 — free for commercial use, no attribution required)
    Source: https://pixabay.com

    Welcome to Day 1 of the 2026 A to Z Challenge here at Writer Zen Garden!

    This year, our community of writers, artists, and makers is exploring the A to Z of Creative Practice — the habits, rituals, reflections, and small moments that sustain a creative life.

    We’ll be sharing posts throughout April from a variety of WZG authors, each offering their own perspective on what it means to build and nurture a creative practice. Some posts will be reflective, some playful, some deeply practical — all rooted in the shared belief that creativity is something we return to, tend, and grow over time.

    Today’s “A” is for attention: the quiet, intentional noticing that allows ideas to take root. Attention to your energy. Attention to your materials. Attention to the sparks that become stories, paintings, poems, or insights.

    We’re excited to spend the month with you, letter by letter, practice by practice.

    Happy A‑Day, friends.

  • 2026 A to Z Theme Reveal — Writer Zen Garden

    2026 A to Z Theme Reveal — Writer Zen Garden

    A to Z of Creative Practice

    Hello, Gardeners!

    We’re delighted to join the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge again this year. If you’re new to the Garden, welcome — Writer Zen Garden is a community space for writers, makers, and creative souls of all kinds. We believe in gentle practice, shared growth, and the magic that happens when people create together.

    This April, our theme is:

    ✨ A to Z of Creative Practice

    Throughout the month, we’ll explore the many facets of living a creative life — one letter at a time. Expect a mix of:

    • writing prompts
    • creative rituals
    • gentle craft notes
    • reflections on process
    • community wisdom
    • ways to nurture your creative flow

    Whether you’re a seasoned writer, a returning member, or someone dipping a toe into creativity for the first time, this series is meant to support you. Think of it as a month‑long invitation to reconnect with your practice in small, meaningful ways.

    We’re still in the middle of our site redesign (thank you for your patience!), but the heart of the Garden is alive and well — and we’re excited to share this journey with you.

    If you’re participating in A to Z this year, let us know so we can visit your blog and cheer you on. Creativity grows best in community.

    Here’s to a month of exploration, inspiration, and gentle creative practice.

    — Noony and The Writer Zen Garden Team

     

  • Z Is For… Zed!

    #AtoZChallenge 2025 letter Z

    Our theme this year is Growing!, with the exclamation point.

    Why?

    Growing is tumultuous. It happens in a messy fashion, in fits and starts. It’s not neat, and it’s not stepwise.

    We got to the end of April, and completed the challenge. Endings are bittersweet. Sometimes it means that something didn’t survive that we felt an attachment to. Sometimes it’s relief that something is over. Sometimes endings speed past so quickly, we don’t even notice they’ve gone until later, when we sit up and say, hey way, where did that thing go?

    I like to do the challenge because it stretches me and it brings me back to my blogging, which I love.

    I forget, sometimes, how much I enjoy it.

    I invite you, Dear Reader, to think a moment. What do you enjoy, that you’ve forgotten? What pastimes have you zoomed by, without stopping, and all of a sudden it’s April 30th?

    Furthermore, dear ones, I invite you to think about how you might spend some of your time on that thing this week. Just fifteen minutes. Not a lot of time.

    But if we don’t take the time, it’ll be taken from us.

    And sometimes, time is all we have.

    Thank you for reading along with us during the challenge, and I hope you’ll come back for our Reflections.

  • Y Is For… Yes!

    #AtoZChallenge 2025 letter Y

    Contributed by Tina Holland

    Yes! We are almost done with the #atozchallenge. So let’s “Yes!” or celebrate the wins.

    Our theme for this year was Growth. When was the last time you celebrated your growth or accomplishments?

    Having completed a recent writing project, I can appreciate the work I put into it and I make a point of rewarding myself along the way – sort of a micro-celebration.

    For every 1K I write – I get a sticker. This has become such a thing with me that I’ve started buying stickers before the project.

    And for every 5K after that I reward myself with things like flowers, a trip to the bookstore, online purchases equaling the word count ($30 for 30K) and so forth. Once I’ve gotten the book on pre-order I usually persuade DH to take me out for dinner. They range from fancy to having him cook for me. 🙂

    I still need to apply some of this gamification to other aspects of my life. Who knows maybe I’ll grow into it.

    What growth have you celebrated lately? Or what ideas do you have to celebrate your Yes!

  • X Is For… Xanadu!

    #AtoZChallenge 2025 letter X

    Contributed by Evey Brown

    “In Xanadu did Kubla Khan, a stately pleasure dome decree…”  In this poem we see that even the mighty Kubla Khan needed to take a break from conquering the world to relax.  The same is true for us, in the midst of personal growth, there must be pauses to rest.  There must be places to meditate, look inward and catch our breath before more progress can be accomplished. I am suggesting you find a small place in your home where you can build your own Xanadu.

    When you close your eyes and imagine a perfect spot, where are you?  In a fairyland meadow, at the beach, or maybe Grandma’s kitchen table?  Can you relax and just for a moment forget the cares of the moment and center?  Then you’re off to a great start.  Let’s build one together.

    Your own personal ‘pleasure dome’ could be something as grand as a whole room, or as small as your bedside table. A window sill or your half of the bathroom counter would fit the bill nicely too.  I suggest you fill it with objects that help take you there through your five senses.

    First, Touch.  A lace doily, a strip of satin, a woven placemat of jute.  Or maybe you would prefer some faux fur?  Imagine touching it, stroking it, does it take you to that happy place?  Driftwood worn smooth by the waves, the pearly sheen of the inside of a seashell with the gritty outside for contrast would give you double the tactile stimulation.   I suggest finding these items at the dollar store, a quick trip to goodwill  or maybe you have something already.  I found an out of style velvet skirt for four dollars and turned it into a table runner. There is no reason to spend a lot of money on this.

    Second, Sight.  Have you or a loved one sketched a favored drawing?  Maybe that Christmas card from Aunt Sue with the snow falling around a cabin.  Or you found the perfect sunset online.  Frame it, and choose a frame that elevates the scene.  The dollar shop has a nice selection for, you guessed it, a dollar.  You could double down and match it to your touch item.  I have a picture of my Grandma Etta on my strip of velvet.  She always had a red velvet table runner on her windowsill.

    Third, Sound.  Can you hear the ocean in that seashell? Maybe a small wind chime that tinkles when you touch it.  You could use a crystal bell, a metronome, or the sound of your purring (or snoring) cat at your feet.  Don’t forget technology; download an app that could help you find the sounds of rain, ocean waves or soothing music.  My Grandma Etta’s house was seldom quiet but when it was, the sound of her heavy wooden mantle clock was special to me.  The dependable ticks, the Westminster Chime that went off on the hour sounds like peace to me.

    Fourth, Smell.  This one is as easy as buying a candle, a wax warmer or incense.  There are air diffusers, sprays, and essential oils.  My favorite option though is breaking out a package of cookie dough and tossing it in the oven.  Nothing is better in my experience than chocolate chips and vanilla in real time.

    Which brings us to the fifth sense, Taste. When my cookie dough is done, I can eat it too. Make a plan to have something that tastes like your personal Xanadu in your cupboard.  Lemonade for the beach, hot chocolate if you are going for the Christmas vibes, and sweet tea would fit nicely into an outdoor garden theme.  What was your favorite food as a child?  Banana slices in red jello?  Chocolate pudding?  Grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup when it rained?  My grandma had Worthers candy.  Why not add your fifth sense and a little nostalgia into your escape from stress?

    In the long run you may only spend five or ten minutes relaxing in your personal ‘pleasure dome’ at a time; but that break, that rest will make your continuing efforts to grow and improve yourself easier to continue.  I know it has worked for me.

  • V Is For… Verdant!

    #AtoZChallenge 2025 letter V

    Contributed by JaeSage

    The Verdant Embrace of Spring: A Fresh Revival

    “V is for Verdant, Verdant is for Green, Green is for Growing.” This simple yet profound progression encapsulates the very essence of springtime, a season of vibrant renewal that I have witnessed countless times throughout my life here in the heartland of the Midwestern United States. Living amidst the rolling fields and ever-changing skies, I’ve come to appreciate the unique character of a Midwestern Spring – a dynamic period that mirrors the unpredictable yet ultimately hopeful journey of life itself.

    A Microcosm of Life: The Unpredictable Dance of Spring

    Midwestern weather in the spring is a fascinating study in contrasts, a microcosm of life’s own fluctuating nature. Just when you think you’ve settled into a pattern of gentle warmth, the skies can turn dark, unleashing torrential rains, followed perhaps by a sudden burst of intense sunshine, or even a surprising late-season dusting of snow. High winds whip through the landscape, and the distant rumble of thunder sometimes hints at the raw power of tornadoes. This inherent unpredictability, this constant shifting between extremes, somehow prepares us for the ebb and flow of life, teaching us resilience and the ability to adapt to change.

    The Triumphant Arrival of Verdant Life

    And then, as if by magic, after the tumultuous weather has run its course, the green arrives. Verdant. Alive. Bursting forth with irrepressible energy. It’s a visual symphony of newness, a palpable sense of freshness and rebirth that washes over the landscape. The once-bare branches of trees begin to swell with the promise of delicate buds, and the fields transform into a tapestry of emerald hues. Even the humble dandelion pushes through the soil, its bright yellow flowers a cheerful counterpoint to the dominant green.

    Preparing for Growth: A Season of Action

    This verdant transformation inspires a parallel awakening within us. Garden plots are diligently prepared, the rich earth turned and readied for the miracle of seeding. Yard tools, long dormant in the shed, are brought out, oiled, and sharpened, ready to assist in nurturing the burgeoning life around us. We become active participants in this season of growth, eager to cultivate and tend to the potential that surrounds us.

    The Gentle Stirring of New Life

    The verdant growth is accompanied by the subtle yet enchanting appearance of new life. Tiny baby birdies chirp tentatively from their nests, their calls a fragile melody in the spring air. Small, fluffy bunnies cautiously emerge from their burrows, their movements a delicate dance in the newly greening grass. These tender signs of new beginnings serve as gentle reminders of the cyclical nature of life and the preciousness of each new generation.

    Embracing the Elements: Puddle Jumping and Preparedness

    With the spring rains comes the inevitable allure of puddles. Out from the back of the coat closet reappear the trusty raincoats, colorful umbrellas, and well-worn galoshes, ready to equip us for the simple joy of puddle jumping. These practical items become symbols of our willingness to embrace the elements, to find delight even in the wetness, and to navigate the sometimes-muddy paths of life with a sense of playful resilience.

    A Call to Mindful Awareness and Grace

    The verdant growth all around us serves as a powerful reminder to cultivate mindful awareness. To truly see the delicate unfolding of leaves, to hear the vibrant chorus of birdsong, and to feel the gentle warmth of the sun on our skin. This season invites us to extend grace, both to ourselves as we navigate our own growth and to others as they navigate theirs.

    The Gifts of Gratitude, Empathy, and Connection

    Springtime fosters a sense of gratitude for the beauty and renewal that surrounds us. The vibrant green serves as a constant visual reminder of the life force that permeates everything. This sense of gratitude naturally extends to empathy, as we witness the vulnerability of new life and the efforts required for growth. It encourages us to connect with others, to share in the joy of the season, and to care for both ourselves and those around us.

    Hail Springtime! A Celebration of Life

    Therefore, let us wholeheartedly hail springtime! Let us embrace the verdant energy that surrounds us, the promise of growth, and the inherent beauty of this season of rebirth. Let us celebrate life in all its unpredictable glory, finding joy in the simple act of witnessing the world awaken around us. For in the verdant embrace of spring, we find a renewed sense of hope and a vibrant affirmation of the enduring power of life itself.

    Be your own joy!

    JaeSage

  • U is for Understanding (“What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding”

    #AtoZChallenge 2025 letter U

    Contributed by Mary Economou Green PhD.

    Lately I’ve been in music madness mode,
    or at least, that’s what I call it –
    a music nostalgia moodiness, songs
    triggering memories, some exciting, enriching;
    some confusing, nightmarish, timeless.

    On our way to university, in 1978
    we heard about tickets being sold
    to an Elvis Costello and the Attractions show
    at the El Mocambo in downtown Toronto,
    stood in line for what seemed like hours.

    I felt so fizzy, bubbly, carefree, wearing
    red go-go boots, “you know the angels wanna wear my red shoes”
    was plunked by friends onto a table top,
    danced crazily, joyously to “The Beat,”
    made serious black-dressed Costello break into a smile.

    A year later, 1979, uncertainty, misunderstandings, changes –
    electrifying, exhilarating love, then devastation, defeat;
    sensational, memorable travel, then surrender, retreat.
    Elvis sings “What’s So funny ‘Bout Peace Love and Understanding”
    which whispered to me then, shouts to us now. We listen.

  • T Is For… Turmoil!

    #AtoZChallenge 2025 letter T

    Contributed by Anka 

    Growing turmoil

    It was Easter Sunday and I was on my way back home by train after visiting my family. I sat diagonally from a young woman, our two benches facing each other. Next stop a young man sat down next to her. He got comfortable spreading his legs wide open and almost touching the young woman’s legs. Her’s were crossed. She was closely leaning against the wall next to the window busying herself with her cellphone. How slim she was, taking almost no space on the bench. Moderate make up, moderately dressed, flattened long black hair. Nothing outrageous. What hit me were the lips unproportionally big compared to the rest of the body. Botox comes to mind.

    At this point I was debating if I should jump in if her neighbor succeeded in touching her. I mean why do men have to be so confident in spreading their legs? Excuse me for generalizing. Botox lips irritate me, nevertheless I decided to defend her if need be. Her looks should never be an excuse for not taking her side in case of sexual harassment. So I kept controlling the sitting arrangements.
    Meanwhile I was reading excerpts of Hildegard von Bingen’s book about her visions, Scivias – Know the way of the Lord. The language and argumentation didn’t speak to me. They felt indoctrinating.

    I kept reading and controlling the widespread legs of the young man sitting next to the young woman with the slight frame. They were engaged now in separate conversations. She was talking to a girlfriend standing behind me about a drunk who was holding an almost empty bottle of sparkling wine (This is Germany.) in our compartment. He caused havoc because he needed to pee badly and there was no tollet on the train. “I know the German law”, he yelled. Alcohol inhibits the secretion of the antidiuretic hormone. It does not inhibit bad behavior. He was debating peeing into the trash container. She was laughing and said to her girlfriend that the drunk was wearing a sharp looking suit and complimented his blond dyed hair. He was forgiven. The widespread leg guy on his side was talking to his friends in another language. Time went by. I still did not like Scivias.

    After what seemed like an eternity the young Lady with the Botox lips and her girlfriend left the train. The widespread legs guy moved over next to the window. His legs were closed now. His friend in a grey suit sat down next to him and opened his legs wide! Maybe it was the position of the seat? Maybe they were just trying to be further away from my legs?

    While I was bouncing back and forth ideas of what I could do or say if need be, nothing really happened. People who noticed me on the train might have wondered about the old lady with the grumpy look on her face.

    Writing down the whole event I realize there was nothing to feel upset about. Turmoil was me.