Halloween Poem by Nanette Jones

A one-eyed Jack O’Lantern sat on a wall
He for sure didn’t want to fall
Along came a black cat, Furr-ocious by name
Who looked up at him and said “for shame”
You’re taking my space on that wall, at least
For that’s where I wait for my Halloween feast
I don’t do tricks, I prefer good treats
I don’t do goblins, don’t do beasts
The children all love me, this I know
Because Milk Duds to me really flow
I’ll share them with you, my orange colored friend
If you’ll just move over and let me in

A Self-Coaching Journey through SARK's "Make Your Creative Dreams REAL" Book
By Chris Dunmire, Publisher

Attending the workshop was a life-shifting event for me that went beyond a workshop/retreat high. What I learned at the workshop and since then through the book are timeless tools that continue to serve me well today.

To further inspire and help other readers of SARK's book to make their own creative dreams come true, I've written a self-coaching journey guide of pointed questions that complement the material through the book. You are invited to use the questions for your personal use. More »

Scary Christmas! Contest Results
A hearty Halloween thank you goes to Nanette Jones (nanettejones.com), the fearless artist who responded to my creative writing challenge for a chance to win a copy of my Scary Christmas! Halloween Creativity e-playbook. Since Nanette's poem (featured above in the Quoteworthy section) was the only submission I received, I'm pleased to shine the spotlight on her and, with her permission, tell you something that made her submission extra special.

After I sent Nanette a copy of my playbook, she confessed to me, "How happy you have made me! I have not written a poem since I was in the third grade. I had to read my poem in class, and a boy whose name I will never forget said 'Nanette's poem doesn't rhyme.' It hurt my feelings. I was very introverted at the time — I've come a long way since then."

Indeed she has. Nanette is now 80 years young! You can imagine the joy I felt knowing that my little newsletter contest helped inspire this marvelous woman to write another poem that she has so graciously allowed me to share with you. And Nanette, your poem DOES rhyme this time! The lesson here? We're never too old to express ourselves creatively. Thank you so much, Nanette. You've made my entire year!

Chris Dunmire
Creative Director and Publisher

P.S. Have you ever seen a Halloween Scare-rot? It's the most bizarre joke ever to grow! I'll send a PDF of the printable joke Scare-rots seed packet to the first 10 subscribers who e-mail me the correct answer to this question:

"Chris signed up to coach a 6-week __________ league." (fill in the blank)

Hint: The answer is in the "Explore Everything" article.

26 Ways to Nurture Your Creative Life (an A to Z List)
Explore EVERYTHING that Interests You!
By Chris Dunmire
When I say explore “everything”, I mean everything: the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the people, places, and things you've always been curious about, attracted to, afraid of, or opposed to.

Love of the Craft
You don't have to wear a blindfold, but you might find it helpful to close your eyes.
By Dave Duggins
I have a confession to make: I have no idea what I'm doing.

Southwest Series Photo Writing & Blogging Prompts
Inside the Haunted Bird Cage Theatre
By Chris Dunmire
After seeing Tombstone's Bird Cage Theatre profiled on the Sci-Fi Channel's Ghost Hunters, I visited the famous landmark on three different occasions between 2006 and 2007 and toured its upper and lower rooms with curiosity and intrigue.

Creative Careers in the Arts Interviews
An Interview with Chick Lit Author Cathy Yardley
By Molly Anderson-Childers
Author of the fabulous new book, "Will Write for Shoes: How To Write a Chick Lit Novel."

Art of the Song Creativity Corner
Writer's Block and Creative Blocks
By Vivian Nesbitt
It’s a big question: how do you deal with blocks to the creative process?

"My Technique's Bad and I'm So Sad" Intuitive Painting Blues
By Chris Zydel
Over and over again, I hear a common complaint from students in my intuitive painting classes that goes something like this... “My painting doesn't look the way I want it to because I don't have enough artistic training."

Your Book Can Heal the World: Looking in the Mirror of Our True Nature
By Naomi Rose
Rather than despairing that you have no choice but to follow the marketplace’s view of what sells, you can raise the bar to match what you write and who you are.