Tom's Life Bits

An occasional feature in which writers describe, in 100 words, their writing process Mornings mostly.

First thing as we say. By hand as we say. To slow me down. Black portfolio with white paper tablet. I like that word tablet. It has a biblical ring to it and also reminds me of first grade where the letters were perfect over the blackboard and so there was the possibility of the perfect words being formed. Black Papermate medium point pen. Not that I'm obsessive. I just figure that if you keep most things constant it's easier for the flux to come through.

Michael Chitwood who writes the N&O's poetry column The Weave Room, lives in Chapel Hill. His latest book is “Spill” (Tupelo Press)