K. Tempest Bradford's Blog, page 7
February 27, 2020
I’m teaching a workshop at the Willamette Writers Conference
The Willamette Writers Conference recently announced the lineup of teachers and keynote speakers for this summer, and for the first time I'm one of them!
Continue reading I’m teaching a workshop at the Willamette Writers Conference on my blog
December 21, 2019
December Microfiction: Standing Still
In the hour before dawn a chariot climbed through the desert hills toward the Western mountains, the full moon above illuminating the way. The sky was not yet even the barest pink and every star embedded in the body of Nut winked down at the driver and passenger as they broke the night's silence. They drove past the sealed tombs in the rock, the monuments to past kings, until the beating of the horses' hooves echoed off the stone of the new monument ahead. Hatshepsut tapped her driver's shoulder to indicate where they should stop, then squeezed it to keep balance once they did.
Continue reading December Microfiction: Standing Still on my blog
December 15, 2019
Daily Writing Exercises – New Year’s Resolution Edition 2020
Is one of your New Year's Resolutions to write more? Do you want to try building a daily (or at least regular) writing practice? Looking for some creative inspiration for new stories? This class is for you.
Continue reading Daily Writing Exercises – New Year’s Resolution Edition 2020 on my blog
December 10, 2019
Originality podcast episode #31: Being Transparent About Hating the Process
In this episode Aleen talks to Rosemary Orchard and we discuss getting over barriers to creativity, not holding yourself to impossible standards, and establishing a writing ritual that works for you.
November 13, 2019
November Microfiction: The Initiate
The halls of the temple were quiet; the dawn song sung, the morning light just beginning to peek between the columns. Maatkare passed between them as silently as possible, bare feet barely making a sound on the alabaster floor and just a gentle swish from the linen wrapped around her body. Only sacred sound was permitted here.
Continue reading November Microfiction: The Initiate on my blog
October 21, 2019
Originality podcast episode #30: The XOXO Episode
In this episode we discuss how to find your tribe in the context of the XOXO Festival and why creating intentional community spaces at conferences like this one matters.
Continue reading Originality podcast episode #30: The XOXO Episode on my blog
October 16, 2019
October Microfiction: Even When We Don’t Want to be Ourselves
She discarded the rabbit face in the water where the moon self still cast some light. Now that she was here on the earth she wanted a single identity. To be one of the persons.
No matter. The Earth's rabbits found her, anyway. In the swamplands they approached her in uncharacteristically untimid ways. They knew her for one of them. And she loved them for that.
Continue reading October Microfiction: Even When We Don’t Want to be Ourselves on my blog
October 8, 2019
Squad Goals – Or: We Need Better Communities
Recently, I finished 2+ weeks of amazing conference experiences. It started with the XOXO Festival in Portland, OR, which I attended for the first time this year. And then a few days later I sailed off for my fourth stint on the Writing Excuses Workshop and Retreat Cruise. Having these back to back gave me more insights into a thing I've been thinking a lot about lately: the value of communities; how we need both large ones and micro communities; how the two types serve different but necessary purposes; and how to foster the best parts of both. Recent events also have me thinking about where communities and friend groups fall down, why that happens, and who tends to feel the impact of it the most.
Continue reading Squad Goals – Or: We Need Better Communities on my blog
October 5, 2019
Originality podcast episode #29: Pantser, Plotter, Architect, Spy
In this episode we talk about the F word: failure. Bob Ross didn't want you to be afraid to fail, and neither do we. So we discuss mistakes and how to frame those experiences to be productive instead of destructive. It's not as woo-woo as it sounds, I promise.
Continue reading Originality podcast episode #29: Pantser, Plotter, Architect, Spy on my blog
October 2, 2019
Originality podcast episode #28: 50% Art Stuff, 50% Life Stuff
In this episode we have four guests discussing when and how to create a space where everyone shares a similar worldview, trusting your community, productive work parties, and why there should be somewhere you can say those things you can't say publicly.
Continue reading Originality podcast episode #28: 50% Art Stuff, 50% Life Stuff on my blog
