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Pairings by Jann Alexander include creativity, inspiration, books, writing, photography, art, history, travel, Texas life, lore and more
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Jann Alexander
May 2, 20151 min read
The Intricacies of Entanglement
Tangled Web by Jann Alexander ©2015 “Oh, what a tangled web we weave / When first we practise to deceive!” — Sir Walter Scott, Marmion...


Jann Alexander
Apr 12, 20151 min read
Lily Pads Afloat
Lily Pads Afloat by Jann Alexander ©2015 Lily pads mysteriously afloat Their long tendrils an unseen connection to Nutrients and life...


Jann Alexander
Apr 5, 20153 min read
Why Kill Two Birds With One Stone?
You can express yourself much more elegantly, and much less violently, with some alternatives to a common idiom of murky origins. How...


Jann Alexander
Apr 3, 20154 min read
A Letter from a Writer to Her Characters
The thing I’ve discovered about writing a novel like A Habit of Hiding is that its presence is always with me. Even when I’m not writing...


Jann Alexander
Mar 27, 20151 min read
How Papa and POTUS Got Their Words Down
Look closely at the logos on the writing machines chosen by famous men for decades. Why trust your precious words to anything other than...


Jann Alexander
Feb 25, 20151 min read
Surprise Someone on Wordless Wednesday . . .
. . . with your words. Pull out your favorite pen, and write a note. Let this picture show you the way on Wordless Wednesday: Surprise...


Jann Alexander
Feb 20, 20152 min read
Today’s the Day for Small Acts of Compassion
1000 Voices Speak for compassion today, thanks to Yvonne Spence – Credit: #1000Speak Small acts of compassion can make a difference....


Jann Alexander
Jan 28, 20153 min read
Why Your First Novel Will Always Be Your Favorite
Click to Tweet This Your first novel will always be your favorite, because of your innocence when you wrote it, though it is unlikely to...

Jann Alexander
Jan 17, 20153 min read
What’s Everyone Got Against Adverbs?
16 Dreaded Adverbs , According to the Hemingway Editor Adverbs are terribly out of favor , and I frankly cannot understand why. I...


Jann Alexander
Dec 16, 20144 min read
What You’re Most Expecting Doesn’t Happen Until You’re Least Expecting It
Holiday Expectations by Jann Alexander ©2013 I was so certain I’d have those cowgirl boots under the Christmas tree that year. After...


Jann Alexander
Oct 1, 20141 min read
Time to Tap the Keys
Kerouac said it best. ©2014 Jann Alexander Want a free download of this poster that you can print and frame? Subscribe Here . Are you...


Jann Alexander
Sep 10, 20143 min read
Knowing When to Stop
When to Stop Art by Jann Alexander ©2014 Hemingway was notoriously negligent with his drinking, his wives and in the end, his own life,...


Jann Alexander
Sep 3, 20143 min read
How to Create Just to Create
Having trouble getting into the studio to create? Here are a few tried-and-true tricks I’ve developed. Trot these out when you need that...


Jann Alexander
Aug 27, 20143 min read
Blogging Rocked My World—And Showed Me the Greater Good
Tell a lifelong news junkie she can’t read the morning news? Anathema. Since high school, as newspaper editor, my wakeup routine was...


Jann Alexander
Aug 11, 20141 min read
How Creative Thinking Improves Quality of Life
Achieve a few goals with creative thinking, and you can improve your quality of life immeasurably. Here are three proven methods.

Jann Alexander
Aug 5, 20142 min read
Death Becomes Us . . . on Social Media
When it’s time to play my great deathbed scene on social media, it might just go something like this. Scene: hushed hospital room, sole...


Jann Alexander
Jun 25, 20143 min read
Are You Important Enough to Have Writer’s Block?
Setting by Jann Alexander © 2013 Paul O’Dwyer :“What are you writing?” Pete Hamill: “Nothing Paul, I think I have some kind of block.”...


Jann Alexander
Jun 22, 20143 min read
Finding My First Sweet True Love
Beautiful That Afternoon Later, I painted what I missed while reading. ©2014 Jann Alexander I was lucky to never lose my first true...


Jann Alexander
Jun 21, 20142 min read
What’s Your Creative Personality?
Do you recognize your creative personality from among these eight types? Road Trippin’ by Jann Alexander © 2014 The Traveling Creative :...


Jann Alexander
Jun 8, 20142 min read
Why Cities Are Ideal for Creative Voyeurs
All of us who practice the creative arts are voyeurs. As writers, we use our imaginative powers to conjure up insights into others’...
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