Becoming a writer is like becoming who you are meant to be. It’s uniquely personal. No two lives, and no two writer’s journeys are the same. Here’s what my journey toward becoming a writer has looked like so far: Throughout my book-wormish childhood and adolescence, I kept picking up pen and paper, writing stories, poems, […]
You want to write a fine poem, don’t you? Poets.org says that the effect of a sestina, achieved through intricate repetition, is often spectacular. In a sestina, six words, repeated in a prescribed pattern, take the place of a rhyme scheme, weaving an enchanting web of sound for six, six-line stanzas plus one three-line stanza. I
How to write a Sestina in 6 (not-so-easy) steps Read More »
Are you interested in writing poetry, and connecting with other writers? Are you wondering whether there are any benefits to writing and reading poems? To explore these questions, I’m inviting you to eavesdrop on my long, virtual conversation with Violet Nesdoly, as we cyber-talk (or, more accurately, as we type back and forth) about
How poetry ignited a long-term online friendship: a conversation with Violet Nesdoly Read More »
Should you or shouldn’t you write that book? 3 WRONG REASONS to write a book: You think the life of a writer is enviable and glamorous. BZZZTTT. Any real writer will unfailingly tell you that writing is not glamorous. It’s a lot of lonely, hard work. You figure if you can just write a best-seller,
5 right reasons, and 3 wrong ones, for writing your book Read More »
For you skimmers, here is the bulleted list right up front– 9 principles I learned from a great writing instructor: Don’t be in a hurry to be published. Love learning; read copiously. Especially love literature. Memorize poems. Don’t take yourself or your writing too seriously. Take the acquisition of wisdom seriously–live decently, courageously, and well. Trust; you
What writing instructors should pass on to their students Read More »
If little boys are made of– snakes; snails; puppy dog tails… Then, what are writers made of? hope? the visible and invisible creatures that traverse the woodlands’ borders? creativity? the fading spots of fawns? Maybe. But I think what writers are actually made of is: So what are writers made of? ancestors, and atoms; events, and
10 things writers are made of Read More »
Have you been infected by the writing bug? Do you want to know how to get somewhere with it, or maybe you want to know how to get over it? And is it contagious? This overview will give you the information about the origins, the communicability and the known treatments for “The Writing Bug.” Those
The Writing Bug: causes, transmission, and treatment Read More »
After the terrorist attacks of September 9, 2011, the citizens of Providence responded by making art. The process of creative expression served to offer children, teens and adults a way to express feelings and seek healing, Thousands of these tiles line the walls of an inspiring tunnel between Union Station Square and the Water Park–
After Grief, We Might Make Something Read More »
“We wish and command that everyone who values our good grace shall bring only cheerful news… wherever he may come from, and whatever he may hear or see.” Giovanni Boccaccio, “The Decameron” (written in 1348, in Italy) When circumstances become challenging and discouraging, it sometimes helps me to take a broader perspective. History shows that
10 steps to happiness, from 14th-century Italy Read More »