Michelle Patterson

A poem titled Grateful Today I cannot see beyond the darkness of the world. It closes in around me, but I'm the distance, there's a light. I strain to see what shines so bright and cuts through the blackness. It is love. It is beauty. Echoes of heartbeats saved just for me ring out like church bells. The warmth of arms holding tight and cozy blankets and hot, nourishing meals surrounds me. I see the places I've been, near and far, like beacons guiding me through the storm. I feel the emotional weight of a masterpiece filling my head and my soul. In these hopeless moments, I find my solace in being grateful.

Today's writing exercise was a practice in gratitude ending in writing a poem. I'm not a poet, but I don't think this is too bad. This mini writing retreat is amazing. I feel inspired again and have tools to help me write more and better. Feeling grateful. #writingcommunity #poetry #gratitude

OMG Little Toot and Bedtime for Frances?! That's a good haul!

I joined a writer's group at my library, so I'm going to see what they think. Thank you so much for the dialogue! It has been really encouraging. Especially from a successful author.

Speculative fiction about how far you would go for the life you want. I was very passionate about it a year ago when I got serious about it. Now it's like an albatross. I think it's important, but I feel like a shitty storyteller. I might be too close to it. It's personal.

Thank you so much! I am, and it has been slow and painful. I'm hoping doing some of these exercises and reflecting on the basics will get me back on track. I'm starting to wonder if I'm writing the right book.

Written text that says, "Last night I dreamt of a forest. It was dark, but not like night - shadowed by the towering trees choking out the sun. The ground was soft from the previous night's rain, soaking the dried leaves and needles. I was glad I wore boots because the spongy earth caked them with mud in the bare spots. I could hear rustling in the branches as a gust of wind caused me a chill. My jacket wasn't warm enough for the cool damp air in these woods. I wasn't sure where I was going or what I was looking for, so I took my time feeling the forest and noticing every tiny detail. There was thick, soft moss growing on the rough bark of a tall tree. A fallen trunk was home to tiny mushrooms and assorted insects. I narrowly missed walking through a spider web as I ducked between a narrow gap in the trees. The forest became close, as if the trees were gathering around me. The previously chilly air was now warming. My too light jacket was now too heavy. My boots, covered in mud over the..."

Written text that says, "...toes were weighing me down. Despite the feeling of being closed in, I chose not to panic. I took as deep a breath as I could manage and felt the green of the woods fill my lungs. I was swallowed by the earth and became a pile of moss."

In January, I signed up for a free online writing retreat. I finally decided to start it because I need inspiration to get my writing flowing again, so today I did the first exercise - GREEN. The prompt was "Last night I dreamt of a forest," and I had 10 minutes. Pardon the errors. #writingcommunity

I think you'll love the book. The main threads are very similar to the show, but it is definitely different. I like both equally in different ways.

Reading 6 Weeks to a Hollywood Body for tips on exercising to get my desired results. There are whole chapters on the nutrition plan, which eliminates every food I love. Life is too short to not enjoy food. I don't need to be skinny. Taking the workout lessons and ignoring the rest. #health #booksky

Looking for more people to follow on @thestorygraph.com. If you lean towards sci-fi, speculative fiction, fantasy or classics or you're just looking to connect with fellow readers, send me a message. #booksky

In case you're seeing this for the first time, I don't want to be contacted by random guys looking for new "friends". Most people aren't here for this purpose. Don't be a creep, especially if you're a man. We don't trust strangers.

If you DM me about anything other than my content, I'll block you.

I just can't with the fucking news today. The emotions are swirling together into a terrible soup of anger, disgust, sadness and anxiety. I know this is what they want - for us to be so overwhelmed we can't do anything. I will eventually compose myself and move forward, but right now, I'm paralyzed.

January 2 - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) I wanted to read this after watching the Apple+ show, and I wasn't disappointed. Since I'm trying to write a novel about parallel lives, this wasn't just for fun - it was also research. Compelling story that challenged me to explore new ideas. #booksky

I'm reading this year with more intention than I've had in a long time. I thought it might be nice to post about the books I read.

January - Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1872) Gothic novel about a female vampire with heavy lesbian undertones. Loved it! Easy read and enjoyable. #booksky

If anyone walks away from the #ANTM documentary thinking anything positive about Tyra, I would be shocked. I'm profoundly disappointed in everyone involved with that show for not protecting those girls, but Tyra owned that shit. Women who step on other women to get ahead are the worst.

It's sick. And she's not even a little sorry about it. She's a sociopath.

The majority of women have no one looking out for them to help prevent assault. It was even worse back then. It was really hard to hear the full story, because they painted it so differently when it aired. My heart breaks for Shandi.

I'm really upset about learning what really happened to Shandi. Maybe I should have known then? I had such a limited understanding of the breadth of assault back then. It seems so obvious now. The fact that no one will even apologize to her is appalling.

I wish I could say I was outraged then, but I wasn't. Every woman I know experienced the same terrible things, and no one spoke up. No one protected us. I'm so sorry Shandi and Keenyah for what you went through publicly and that no one has taken accountability. I'm sad I ever liked this show. #ANTM

Watching the America's Next Top Model doc, and those were different times. I was 26 when it aired, and it didn't occur to me how wrong they were. It's so obvious now how horrible it was, but we were conditioned to accept that as the norm. People should have known better. Women deserve better. #ANTM

I love my governor!

This brought me more joy than it probably should have 😂

I'm really sad about James Van Der Beek. He was the same age as me. Fuck cancer. #JamesVanDerBeek

I was born in the 70s in a closed adoption, and I have mixed feelings. My birth mom found me when I was 23, and I wasn't looking for her. I see both sides of it. There is a benefit to children knowing where they came from and also in them not dealing with their birth parents' guilt. It's tough.

a couple of men standing next to each other with the words `` you got this '' written on their faces . Alt: a couple of men standing next to each other with the words `` you got this '' written on their faces .

You can do it!

If you love the person, your values align and there are no red flags for you, then there is no appropriate length of time. I think going through a crisis together is a good thing to do to see how you support each other (family death, move, illness, etc), but it's up to you. Trust your gut.

So accurate

a woman standing in front of a phone with the words you have years ahead of you still on the bottom Alt: Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek wearing a red, curly wig and a shiny black dress with the words "you have years ahead of you to collect a cortège od adoring mourners" on the bottom

Watching #SchittsCreek in honor of the great #CatherineOHara. The world is a little dimmer today without her. I'm so grateful for all the joy she brought to the world. She certainly collected a cortège of adoring mourners.

Buffy. I'm sticking with that forever.

Do you ship to the US? My friend's son is obsessed with Godzilla, and I think she'd love some of your pieces. Your art is really cool.

This story is for everyone, but especially existentialists, lovers of speculative fiction, and (middle-aged) women whose souls are screaming with primal rage refusing to be invisible any longer, who want to reclaim their lives. #bluepit #bluepit📖 #A #W #SP #thriller #GenX #existentialism #feminism