Blog
Latest Post

November Writing Challenge
NaNoWriMo is Defunct--let's write anyway! I was surprised when I went to update my NaNoWriMo page and there was no NaNoWriMo. I did know there was a debate about the allowance of AI in NaNoWriMo. Probably better for the founders to have said, "No Way, Jose." And I agree. The process of spinning a tale from your mind is not only creative, it is important for brain function. Fellow writers, we...
Older Posts
Luminous Nature: Upcoming June show @ Inn at Lynden
Artists: Nancy Canyon and Ron Pattern 2022 unfolded with events that stopped us in our tracks. Fortunately, my husband, Ron Pattern and I live on high ground, keep a stocked larder, and stay busy making art. After the flooding, we had beautiful snow and super cold...
Whatcom Artist Studio Tour
Lilies Brother, Acrylic on Canvas, 14"x14" 395.00 The first two weekends in October each year are dedicated to visiting local artists in their studios. Talented artists offer greeting cards, glass, jewelry, pottery, paintings, wood carving, and tooled leather that are...
The Illustrated Journal Class
Drawing and Journaling Techniques for Your Daily Journal Keeping the Illustrated Journal Class begins March 9th, at 6PM. To sign up, please go to Whatcom Community College at Whatcom Community Ed Classes. The only requirement to take this class is a desire to describe...
Holiday Reading Suggestions
Over the holidays, there will be downtime to sit with a cup of tea or eggnog, perhaps by the fire, and read. When I was a kid, I wanted to write books. In grade school, I started several hand-printed and stapled mysteries. Now, as I work on my second memoir, "Finding...
Illustrated Journal Class & Book Club
My daily Illustrated Journal is keeping me sane during COVID-19. I decided when we went into lockdown to pick up daily journaling again. In my illustrated journal, I record everything from a successful new recipe to a chickadee watering at the birdbath. In addition, I...
Writing Dialogue
Writing Dialogue in Memoir and Fiction When writing dialogue, it is important for the author to capture the voice of the character. We can hear a person's speech in our minds. When I think of my sister talking, I hear her voice as well as her words. One way to create...
PLACE–Where Do We Live?
Like most readers, I visualize the details of place when I read a book, while arranging a room, while giving directions. While on my daily walks, I observe my surroundings, though sometimes I obsessively observe details of place. As I pass Scudder Pond, I say:...
Chuckanut Writers Presents: WhaMemWriMo
Aristotle's Incline: How to Plot Your Memoir or Novel Back in the 1990s, I learned from Jack Remick and Robert Ray to plot my novels and memoirs using Aristotle's Incline: the three act play structure. It is an easy way to keep track of your scenes. Bob and Jack said,...
Virtual Event with Nancy Canyon in Conversation with Cami Ostman, Celia’s Heaven
JOIN VILLAGE BOOKS as Nancy Canyon presents her long-awaited novel, Celia's Heaven. Nancy's novel is the winner of the Cygnus Award: Paranormal Fiction from Chanticleer Reviews! She will be in conversation with fellow Bellingham author, Cami Ostman. This will be a...
Celia’s Heaven: A Novel by Nancy Canyon
https://www.chantireviews.com/2020/07/17/celias-heaven-by-nancy-canyon-magic-realism-family-saga-contemporary-literature/ "Star sat on the edge of Celia's bed watching Johnny pull on his pants. Oh, how she'd obsessed over him while dusting the aisles of organic peas...
Why Practice?
The Importance of Practice If you want to write or paint or play music, or dance, you must practice. I believe this to be true in all artistic endeavors. I have danced on stage, taken lessons on the Hammond organ, sang in choirs, and currently I paint and write....
Celia’s Heaven: A Novel, is now available!
Exciting news about Celia's Heaven After nearly 17 years--not all of them spent on writing this book--the final version of my award winning paranormal novel, Celia's Heaven, was released by Penchant Press International. To purchase a copy, see http://sidekickpress.com...
Nancy Canyon & Ron Pattern, Western Washington Alumni Virtual Studio Tour – June 12th, 4-4:45 pm
Purple Bloom, Acrylic Painting on Canvas, 30"x50" $1,500 Live Interview: Sign up for the Virtual Studio Tour ZOOM event and enjoy learning more about local artist-couple: Nancy Canyon and Ron Pattern. See their studios in the Morgan Block Building in Historic...
The First Word From the Bottom of Your Mind
Writing Practice for Generating Story To generate story easily, I use Natalie Goldberg-style writing practice rules--write fast, don't edit, don't hold back, and ignore grammar and spelling. After the week long class in Taos, New Mexico in 1997, it took me awhile to...
Fairhaven Art Walk, Friday February 28th
This Friday, February 28th, The Morgan Block Artist Studios and Galleries will be open to the public from 5-8PM. This is a great chance to come see the artists working on their craft in the beautiful historic Morgan Block Building. Ron Pattern, Ben Mann, Marijo...
Artists Nancy Canyon & Ron Pattern Featured
Artist couple to show nature paintings, including forest, water, and mountains.
How to Get to Carnegie Hall…
Why not practice your writing daily using Natalie Goldberg’s writing rules?
Books for Writers: A Few of My Favorite Books
The Writer's Portable Mentor, by Priscilla Long The Writer's Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life distills 20 years of teaching and creativity by the well-published author Priscilla Long. The Writer's Portable Mentor helps writers understand...
Subscribe to My Newsletter
Find out about classes, studio tours, work in progress, and get the latest updates from my blog.
Address
Canyon Creations
Morgan Block Studios
1000 Harris Street, Suite #6
Bellingham, WA 98225
Call
(360) 710-7139
nancy@nancycanyon.com
















