Writer’s Idea Box: when i think of… Photo by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash You know how it happens. When you think of a certain person, say your mom for example, there are memories that surface that are particular to her. In the case of my mom, I think of the way she used to rub her back on the door jamb after a long day at her desk or the way we used to sing while we cleaned the kitchen.

Writer’s Idea Box: when i think of…

Photo by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash You know how it happens. When you think of a certain person, say your mom for example, there are memories that surface that are particular to her. In the case of my mom, I think of the way she used to rub her back on the door…

New poem on TPA Quarterly Image credit: Christina Dellisante via Unsplash How to write camouflaged poems of dissent was the topic of a recent workshop I attended with Editor, Laurence Musgrove of Texas Poetry Assignment Quarterly. I chose to use what he calls an “environmental shell” as my camouflage so that the poem reads at first like a nature poem. But, read metaphorically, is indeed a poem of dissent.

New poem on TPA Quarterly

Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry: pockets! Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash Celebrating National Poetry Month 2026 fws offers its inaugural poetry contest, the Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry! Deadline: August 1, 2026. Judge Rod Carlos Rodriguez, renowned San Antonio poet and Assistant Professor in the Writing Program at the University of Texas, San Antonio, will award three prizes for the best poems on the theme of "pockets" from a long-list created by editors d.

Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry: pockets!

Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash Celebrating National Poetry Month 2026 fws offers its inaugural poetry contest, the Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry! Deadline: August 1, 2026. Judge Rod Carlos Rodriguez, renowned San Antonio poet and Assistant…

Interview with photographer Esther van Overbeek "suspended in silence" used with permission of the photographer: Esther van Overbeek You may recognize this image as the cover image of my newest collection of poetry, book of common breath. Isn't it simply stunning? I am indebted to Netherlands photographer Esther van Overbeek who agreed to let me use the image. Thank you, Esther!!!!! Another of her images graces the cover of…

Interview with photographer Esther van Overbeek

"suspended in silence" used with permission of the photographer: Esther van Overbeek You may recognize this image as the cover image of my newest collection of poetry, book of common breath. Isn't it simply stunning? I am indebted to Netherlands…

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New collection of poetry: book of common breath. Thanks to Kelsay Books for publishing. Signed copies available here. Cover image used with permission of the artist: Esther Van…

formidablewoman.org/2026/03/09/book-of-commo...

Writer’s Idea Box: the object as subject

Photo by Lovely N on Unsplash Almost every object in my home tells a story: the devil's tooth ivy sitting on the hearth was a gift from my mom, the seascape painting that hangs over the piano was one of the first gifts my first husband gave me, the…

Writer’s Idea Box: Winter Rhymes

Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash I keep telling myself, "It's February. It's February." I have to do this because today, here in South Texas, it's eighty-five degrees. Yep. That's crazy! And, a week or so ago, the winter storm "Fern" brought us SNOW! And ICE!…

Writer’s Idea Box: story building

Photo by Karl Abuid on Unsplash Although the focus of this syllabus is on writing memoir, it could easily be translated and used to build a fictional story, too. For example, here I suggest that the writer write about the loves of their own life; however, a writer…

winter solstice, d. ellis phelps Image credit: Farsai Chaikulngamdee via Unsplash winter solstice blessed be the darkness hoveringunder this black moonlet demons wakelet chaos comelet chaos comeinto the womb of these wee hours—the reckoning oneswhen thoughts devour& life itself is a candle spent:lit burnt dissolvingthat turns the heavy scent of what has beeninto the hint of what’s to come…

winter solstice, d. ellis phelps

new work on Texas Poetry Assignment "Christ of the Abyss" or "Christ of the Deep" is a 9-foot bronze statue of Jesus Christ anchored to a platform in about 25 feet of water at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. (image thanks to unsplash +) Here we are Feeding Texas by writing poems. Many thanks to Editor, Laurence Musgrove, for choosing my poem, some nameless god…

new work on Texas Poetry Assignment

"Christ of the Abyss" or "Christ of the Deep" is a 9-foot bronze statue of Jesus Christ anchored to a platform in about 25 feet of water at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. (image thanks to unsplash +) Here we are Feeding Texas by writing poems. Many thanks…

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Writer’s Idea Box: day-tripping

Photo by Alin Andersen on Unsplash Today's writing exercise gets you up and going! I mean, it's fine to write from your writing studio or from your…

formidablewoman.org/2025/12/04/writers-idea-...

orange pots & pods Here you may notice that these fanciful pots full of abstract seed pods and blooms seem to defy gravity, leaping and hopping with sheer delight.  This is no ordinary still life.  Instead, this image is the expression of pure joy as the artist works in one of her favorite pallets: orange & yellow and the flowers and pots, mere figments of her imagination coming to life. Frame this tiny art or set it on an easel among favorite books or other treasures.  It will surely pop you right out of any melancholic state and remind you to play, to leap, to indulge in fun every day!

orange pots & pods

Here you may notice that these fanciful pots full of abstract seed pods and blooms seem to defy gravity, leaping and hopping with sheer delight.  This is no ordinary still life.  Instead, this image is the expression of pure joy as the artist works in one of her favorite…

happy pots in a wild wood Deliciously mysterious, this original 8X8" watercolor with mixed media painting will imbue your space with a delightful sense of wonder and joy. With oversized vessels overflowing with magic and full of vivid green, yellow, and orange hues that suggest trees and other forest vegetation, the loose, suggestive quality of this piece sets a playful mood to brighten your spirit.

happy pots in a wild wood

Deliciously mysterious, this original 8X8" watercolor with mixed media painting will imbue your space with a delightful sense of wonder and joy. With oversized vessels overflowing with magic and full of vivid green, yellow, and orange hues that suggest trees and other…

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Come write with us!

formidablewoman.org/2025/11/08/writers-idea-...

this too–a prayer, d. ellis phelps Photo by Abdullah Fahad on Unsplash Once, my son-in-law, asked me "How do you pray?" All I could think to say was, "I breathe, mostly." That is still true today, but I would add: I sit. Especially in nature and as one Buddhist friend says, I listen for clues. This poem is one example of one such morning, me sitting in the shade of the ligustrum in my backyard.

this too–a prayer, d. ellis phelps

Photo by Abdullah Fahad on Unsplash Once, my son-in-law, asked me "How do you pray?" All I could think to say was, "I breathe, mostly." That is still true today, but I would add: I sit. Especially in nature and as one Buddhist friend says, I listen for clues.…

blue owl This fun, funky ceramic owl sculpture will bring a sense of playful wisdom to any space it inhabits.

blue owl

three vessels in a wood 6X6" watercolor with mm on paper, (c) d. ellis phelps, 2025 Own this original painting now... Woods, vessels, florals, and figures, especially faces, hands, and feet are recurring images in my paintings. Trees become dryads, vessels become bodies, bodies become spirit guides, floral impressions become bounty, fertility, and beauty. In this painting, vessels seem to become trees in a dark wood, their canopies full of bountiful fruit, blooms, and leaves of many colors, reminding the viewer of the fertility, mystery, and abundant life. Let this painting bring beautiful mystery into your conscious awareness and remind you that you are surrounded by abundant life! 

three vessels in a wood

6X6" watercolor with mm on paper, (c) d. ellis phelps, 2025 Own this original painting now... Woods, vessels, florals, and figures, especially faces, hands, and feet are recurring images in my paintings. Trees become dryads, vessels become bodies, bodies become spirit…

three vessels in a wood Woods, vessels, florals, and figures, especially faces, hands, and feet are recurring images in my paintings. Trees become dryads, vessels become bodies, bodies become spirit guides, floral impressions become bounty, fertility, and beauty. In this painting, vessels seem to become trees in a dark wood, their canopies full of bountiful fruit, blooms, and leaves of many colors, reminding the viewer of the fertility, mystery, and abundant life. Let this painting bring its beautiful mystery into your conscious awareness and remind you that you are surrounded by abundant life!

three vessels in a wood

Woods, vessels, florals, and figures, especially faces, hands, and feet are recurring images in my paintings. Trees become dryads, vessels become bodies, bodies become spirit guides, floral impressions become bounty, fertility, and beauty. In this painting, vessels seem to…

light worker Indigo is the color or light frequency associated with the third eye or spiritual insight often known as intuition. It is associated with the energy of clairvoyance and connection with the divine, …

New work: #watercolor original

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new work: light worker Own this original now... I have been practicing light work or energy work for decades. I began with Reiki Level 1 in the early 1990s (yes. I'm from the 1900s). I have continued my studies and practice of energy healing since then and have found it to be the singular most important thing I have ever done. As a tool for healing on all levels, emotional, mental, spiritual, & physical, it is beyond comparison.

new work: light worker

Own this original now... I have been practicing light work or energy work for decades. I began with Reiki Level 1 in the early 1990s (yes. I'm from the 1900s). I have continued my studies and practice of energy healing since then and have found it to be the singular most…

light worker

Indigo is the color or light frequency associated with the third eye or spiritual insight often known as intuition. It is associated with the energy of clairvoyance and connection with the divine, the ability to see clearly from the highest vibrational frequency. When I paint, I often…

Writer’s Idea Box: writing horses Photo by Fabian Burghardt on Unsplash Writing warm ups can be of enormous value for developing fodder for future in-depth explorations. This month, I depart from the standard syllabus I usually offer to offer, instead, a rich writing warm-up exercise I call "writing horses." This exercise, it may surprise you, has nothing whatsoever to do with actual horses, the animal, but is instead named after an exercise athletes sometimes do.

Writer’s Idea Box: writing horses

Photo by Fabian Burghardt on Unsplash Writing warm ups can be of enormous value for developing fodder for future in-depth explorations. This month, I depart from the standard syllabus I usually offer to offer, instead, a rich writing warm-up exercise I call…

Please, delete this…

Image courtesy of Dibakar Roy via Unsplash Whatever message is inside this being in its personal fragrance that is the root cause and maybe unrecognised cause of suffering within me, I pray ‘Please delete this message.’ ~Mooji I have been “attending “ satsang almost daily with…

beauty heals. find it here. Photo by Egor Myznik on Unsplash a thing of beauty is a joy forever ~John Keats Beauty heals. Here Keats explains how: A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:Its loveliness increases; it will neverPass into nothingness; but still will keepA bower quiet for us, and a sleepFull of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

beauty heals. find it here.

Photo by Egor Myznik on Unsplash a thing of beauty is a joy forever ~John Keats Beauty heals. Here Keats explains how: A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:Its loveliness increases; it will neverPass into nothingness; but still will keepA bower quiet for us, and a…

Writer’s Idea Box: write about place

Photo by Sam Jotham Sutharson on Unsplash I simply adore a good box, a unique box. I have four boxes in which I keep jewelry: three are music boxes, one is antique and belonged to my great-grandmother, one is mid-century gold and was given to me by my father. I…

exuberance: two pots with flowers This playful floral abstract will bring a sense of ease to  your space in vibrant multi-colored exuberance!

Thank you for your interest, Eddie.

This piece is now showing at the San Antonio Ecumenical Center in the "Art Heals Hears" show, opening Sept. 11. Please contact the curator, Lejla Cenanovic if you would like to own the original: 210.616.0885https://formidablewoman.org/product/exuberance/

Thank you. You are very kind.

formidable Woman sanctuary - random beauty ii notice beauty (broadly interpreted).  write about it.  paint it.  photograph it.  submit 1-3 poems, cnf, memoir, prose, images, hybrid work.  submit in one file. you may submit more than one image fil...

Call for submissions: random beauty ii, deadline Dec. 31, 25 but submit now as work is being published upon acceptance.

moonshadowsanctuarypress.submittable.com/submit/33434...

STUNNING!

verdant flambeau Visit the post for more.

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