Over Hill or Hollow

Hey, hope everyone is doing okay, all things considered.

I recently came across a piece of writing advice emphasizing the value of trying out different styles and formats. I completely agree. I’ve written for magazines and newspapers for over a decade and since I began working on fiction, I immediately noticed an improvement in writing profile pieces and essays.

Maybe if you’re more of a short story writer, try writing flash fiction once in a while. If you’re a screenwriter, maybe try converting a scene into a short story. The idea is to continuously challenge yourself and learn to get comfortable with discomfort (which is also how you develop a thicker skin!).

Lately, I’ve been sort of dabbling in poetry. While I have no actual way of tracking my progress, I’m enjoying the freedom it allows, and I’ve found that it has helped me develop a stronger sense of rhythm, which is essential in all forms of writing.

This one is dedicated to one of my favorite pastimes: walking without a purpose. If you have time, spare a few minutes and I promise it’ll be well worth it.

Please enjoy, and feel free to leave comments. :)

—France

OVER HILL OR HOLLOW

Meander, I go—
Whither,
and in what manner?
Feet fall repeatedly,
forward like seconds into hours,
days as the ember glows.
And I cast a shadow
showing me I’m too late,
yet still early for tomorrow.

Morning
beckoning a new path,
off the beaten.
In heat and in rain,
jagged terrain,
lush or barren,
o’er hill or hollow,
through the burrow.

Don’t follow me—
lest you get lost,
unless you long to be
like yours truly:
flailingly,
marching fearlessly
toward the far unknown,
to deeply search inward,
find the closest you own.∎

Originally published on my Substack. Photo by Shinta Kikuchi on Unsplash