Dear friends, I have begun an extraordinary career and life shift. I have made three critical choices: I am no longer Poet Laureate. I resigned in mid-September. There was no grand announcement, no press release. In an effort to maintain my creative integrity and explore this very different, very exhilarating new career path, I chose… Continue reading Three Life Changes, a Letter
Category: On Writing
What if…
I've decided to step away from Facebook. I've also deleted my Twitter accounts. I have kept my Instagram accounts (personal and Gertrude's Writing Room), but I don't know for how long. I've been toiling about getting off social media for years, but with the recent experiences I've been having, I've made myself think more deeply… Continue reading What if…
In this state of mind…
Today's truths... The magic is everywhere…the clock gives me 34s and 11:11s, each song on the radio is a message from an angel…the title of the song, the lyrics…the birds swoop above me, reminding me how to fly…family and friends storm me with love…in voice, in texts, in emails…I'm a grateful and could not breathe… Continue reading In this state of mind…
Ten Truths & Summer Recap
Ten Truths TRUTH #1: I have started writing this blog over and over and over. Today, I commit to writing and finishing it. TRUTH #2: Since I began my post as Poet Laureate, I have retreated. I have felt fears I haven't felt since I was a child. I have felt small, humiliated, weak, ugly,… Continue reading Ten Truths & Summer Recap
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 