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Tag: Creativity

Avatar 3: Inadequately Imaginative

twp Na'vi people from "Avatar" sitting in theater seats with popcorn
January 7, 2026January 7, 2026 ~ Kana Smith ~ 14 Comments

We went to the movies last night, to see "Avatar: Fire & Ash." It's the second time in a month that we've been to the movies, which is mostly noteworthy because we usually don't see the inside of a theater above twice a year. For the most part we prefer the comforts of our own … Continue reading Avatar 3: Inadequately Imaginative

Dragon Biography

December 21, 2025December 22, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 16 Comments

Yesterday morning I saw this writing-prompt: "Would you rather have a pet dragon the size of a cat, or a cat the size of a dragon?" As I read the responder's list of advantages to cat-sized dragons, I realized I was grinning. I have lived with a cat-sized dragon! When my son was an infant, … Continue reading Dragon Biography

Wall of Heroes

writer surrounded by the faces of her heroes
November 26, 2025November 26, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 30 Comments

I've always been drawn to the aesthetic of collage, and my office door in our house is a perfect example. Actually, two examples---the door to the room that used to be my office (now our guest room) is entirely collaged with stickers about books and reading and travel and ocean and prayer, with some photos … Continue reading Wall of Heroes

Avoiding “Sketcher’s Block”

an open book of drawing prompt, with watercolor paintings for each prompt, and the open watercolor box
November 10, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 10 Comments

I have a weird relationship with drawing and painting. I'm utterly ignorant, have never taken so much as a weekend workshop, couldn't tell you if that Italian word describes a painting technique or a musical instruction. I've figured out some stuff, just playing---some stuff about light and shadow and perspective, at least. You can generally … Continue reading Avoiding “Sketcher’s Block”

Portofino

AI-generated image of Portofino---citrus-colored stucco buildings and anchored fishing boats.
November 9, 2025November 9, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 16 Comments

I've been revisiting old poetry, thinking of taking up the poet's quill again... It's poetry-writing in which I took my Master's degree, but I discovered "creative nonfiction" (the personal essay) late in the game, and it's that genre I really fell in love with. They didn't offer a degree in creative nonfiction, anyway, or I … Continue reading Portofino

Cross My Heart

photo of the writer's wall with cross-stitch pictures pinned to it
November 8, 2025November 13, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 4 Comments

When I was a kid, I loved paint-by-number kits. I remember they always came in three-packs (three paintings of horses, three paintings of lighthouses), and I loved everything about them. I loved the tiny paint-pots, all connected in a little plastic row. I loved stirring up the oil paints with a toothpick, watching the sludgy-looking … Continue reading Cross My Heart

The User’s Manual: 13 Rules

AI-generated cartoon of the writer's desk, with a thick manual labeled "Kana" beside her typewriter
November 7, 2025November 7, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 17 Comments

Joshua Pantalleresco, who recently had me as a guest on his podcast, "Just Joshing," has ten Life Rules he tries to live by. I asked, after we went off the air, and he rattled them off for me. Number One is "Show up;" Number Ten is choose the option that's more fun (all other things … Continue reading The User’s Manual: 13 Rules

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"As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."

~ Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

  1. Penn,…'s avatar
    Penn,… on A Pain in the NeckJanuary 9, 2026

    Sending warm wishes and hopes that the pain becomes more manageable, … a friend of mine went through the surgery…

  2. yusefasabiyah's avatar
    yusefasabiyah on A Pain in the NeckJanuary 9, 2026

    Joanne, ramble on, into my arms, into my farm, into my blarmy, into my disregulated fold, not of sheep, or…

  3. yusefasabiyah's avatar
    yusefasabiyah on A Pain in the NeckJanuary 9, 2026

    My interest here is he has a problem money can't solve, nor can love, in any meaningful sense. Philanthropy can't…

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    damagedskullwriterandreviewer on Firefighter BobJanuary 8, 2026

    Thanks for sharing Boboo with us! I grew up without a dad and was constantly seeking people to fill that…

  5. Trish's avatar
    Trish on A Pain in the NeckJanuary 8, 2026

    I hope this route helps with the pain. My brother has been dealing with the VA for back issues for…

"It is not down on any map; true places never are"

~ Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

A Pain in the Neck If the Present is a Gift, so is the Past Cow Physiology 101 The “Year in Books” On the Palm Tree as an Antidepressant Untitled Dragon Biography The Christmas-Tree Trade-In Technology & the SickBed-Nest
  • A Pain in the Neck
  • Avatar 3: Inadequately Imaginative
  • If the Present is a Gift, so is the Past
  • The Accidental Cat Lady
  • PSA for Readers: Hello, FREE BOOKS!
  • Amazing Grace, how sweet the SOUNDS
  • One of My Very Bad Habits
  • Project Petroglyph
  • Breaking my own Rules: Observations from the NaNoWriMo Lab Notebook
  • 'Mythbusters' Edition: How NOT to Blog

"Not all those who wander are lost."

~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

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