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Articles by Susan Foster
The Neuroscience of Flow: How to Silence Your Inner Critic and Unlock Your Best Writing
Every writer knows the agony of the blank page. We sit down to work, only to be met by a chorus of internal doubts: Is this plot working? Is this prose clunky? Am I even good at this? When these anxieties take over, writing feels like a grueling uphill slog. (The Joy of Writing for Yourself.) But there is an alternative.
Fake News
Be Wary When on Social Media How I got duped and why it matters Susan Foster · Follow Published in ILLUMINATION · 5 min read · -- Photo by the author. The forecast on my weather app for our location in Montana was (-)14 Fahrenheit, but our thermometer recorded (-)19.3 F. When I woke up yesterday, I reached for my phone to check the weather. No snow was in the forecast, but the predicted temperature made me shiver.
Ten Tips for Attending a Writer's Conference
When you are surrounded by 350-plus female writers, you can't help but feel inspired. (Image by Susan Foster, author) I recently attended the 2023 WFWA 10th Anniversary Conference in Chicago. It was my first time at a writer's conference, and I came away with a ton of new information, renewed faith in my writing, hope in my publishing future, and lots of new friends. WFWA stands for the Women's Fiction Writers Association.
This Street Art Spoke to Me
A grasshopper's shadow. Was it Jiminy? No, wait! Jiminy was a cricket, not a grasshopper. But it was him (the cartoon version) that I imagined as I read this whimsical street art poetry in North Beach near Chinatown, San Fransisco. This mural is located at the Vesuvio Cafe and across from the City Lights Bookstore. Everything about A.O.'s mural spoke to me. The vibrant colors. The whimsical poem. But, mostly, the concept of a grasshopper's shadow.
She's Always Ready to Play Jenga
The tower falls. We try again. When I saw that "play" was the prompt for July six-word photo story challenge, I immediately knew what my photo and two-sentence "story" would be. Like Sandi Parsons, my story was inspired by my dog. Be sure to check out her story because her dog, Chilli, looks like a real cutie. More photos and an explanation My author bio claims I live with a Jenga-playing dog, and in this photo story, I offer up some proof.
5 Ways to Cheat-Proof Your Relationship
Never hesitate to secure the bonds that tie you to your lover and best friend. — We all want trust in our relationships—to give it and to receive it. Few things are worse than finding out you cannot trust your partner, or that they are unreasonably jealous which can drive your partner away. Often relationships don’t survive it.
When Do You Read the Most?
By Susan Foster Image by author, Susan Foster Some people think of summer as the time for reading novels. Their favorite time to read is at the beach, on an airplane headed to a vacation destination, or maybe even during a long car ride, if they're traveling as a passenger and not prone to motion sickness! Other people may be more likely to pick up a novel during the winter and read curled up...
It Requires Patience to Profit as a Writer
By Susan Foster Writing life Telling the story sometimes feels like the easy part Tools of the trade. Image by Susan Foster Once I get an idea for a story, it usually spills out of me. I love the process of writing. Editing what I've written and coming up with a title and tags is harder, but doable. After that though, is when I become impatient.
If You Do These 5 Things, He'll Never, Ever Stray
By Susan C. Foster We all want trust in our relationships — to give it and to receive it. Few things are worse than finding out you cannot trust your partner, or that they are unreasonably jealous which can drive your partner away. Often, relationships don’t survive it.
Privacy and Security Risk Factors Related to Telehealth Services - A Systematic Review
Save citation to file Format: Add to My Bibliography Your saved search Name of saved search: Search terms: Frequency: Which day? Which day? Report format: Send at most: Send even when there aren't any new results Optional text in email: Create a file for external citation management software
Dogs' Lives Seem as Fleeting as Their Shadows
By Susan Foster Six-Word Photo Story: Freestyle I miss her, even her shadow. Many, many months ago, Mary Chang Story Writer issued a six-word photo challenge: "Another August Dare: I dare you to play with the shadows in your life and see what you can capture on your camera and write a story about it - in six words."
A Splat, a Schlurpppp, and a Smooch from Mom
A word prompt flash fiction story I wrote this piece of fiction using word prompts. See below for more details. “Sooo.” My mom crooned, in a soft persuasive murmur, “Are you going to help me?” “Mmmmm.” This sound came out of my full mouth garbled and non-committal–I uttered it both as a platitude and a moan of pleasure. The piece of steak I was chewing was so rare I almost heard it moo before I put it in my mouth, just the way I like it. My mother was not placated! My mother was not placated.
He Wasn’t Standing Where He Was Supposed To Be
Word prompt flash fiction …but Billy was Image by author, Susan Foster via The Most –of Every Moment This piece of fiction was written using word prompts. See below for more details. I rushed to the door and darted out from beneath the shop canopy into the street. Behind me, in hot pursuit, was the cashier. Despite his age, he was almost as fast as me, thanks to my gimpy gait. Minutes earlier, he watched me sneak a chocolate bar from the candy aisle into my pocket.
Workmen are remodeling our house: why do I have to keep telling them how to do their job?
Image by author Workmen are remodeling our house: why do I have to keep telling them how to do their job? I rarely write a rant, but this is one. Be prepared. We hired a construction company (with an awesome reputation) to remodel our house. They began in October, and we have yet to see light at the end of the tunnel. The contractor and the subcontractors have made some avoidable mistakes; slowing the process and increasing their workload. Some delays were COVID-19 related.
Costco shopping on a Saturday makes me grumpy, but today a brief encounter lightened my mood.
Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash Costco shopping on a Saturday makes me grumpy, but today a brief encounter lightened my mood. Cars packed the parking lot and crowds of people poured in and out of the store. Walking toward the entrance, I watched a man pushing his shopping cart at a good clip. He flung it into the cart corral just to my left, turned on his heel, and headed back to his car. Two jars of spaghetti sauce remained in his abandoned cart.
My Favorite Coleslaw Recipe is Flavorful and Not Too Sweet
It’s perfect with ham, fish and chips, burgers, or almost any dish. Image by author, Susan Foster Normally, my husband finds most coleslaw too saucy and too sweet. That was not an issue yesterday after I tinkered with a recipe from Guy Fieri. When I served my version of the coleslaw as a side dish with our dinner, my husband said it was “just right,” and he even had a second helping. I like most coleslaw, and it’s hard for me to praise my own cooking, but this is one of the best I’ve tried.
After you wake up tomorrow, (April 1) don’t forget to say “Rabbit, rabbit” before you say anything else. This good luck superstition is thought to have originated in 1909. Supposedly, if you say… - ILLUMINATION - Medium
Image by Susan Foster After you wake up tomorrow, (April 1) don’t forget to say “Rabbit, rabbit” before you say anything else. This good luck superstition is thought to have originated in 1909. Supposedly, if you say rabbit before you get out of bed on the first day of any month, you will be lucky during the rest of the month. Saying rabbit twice is extra insurance that good fortune will occur.
My Selection - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
By Rachel Joyce A smile, a kind word or an invitation to go for coffee may make a difference in someone’s life. It was a barista at Stumptown Coffee who created this beautiful beverage. Image by Susan Foster. Our lives are not easy. We all struggle, at different times and in different ways. Rachel Joyce provides a very moving insight into a person’s hidden pain in her novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
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