Today is the first day of a class I am teaching through Story Circle Network on writing as a means to heal. We are using the book, Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives by Louise DeSalvo. I have not taught this class before so this will be a…
Category: How To’s on Writing
Healing Through Storytelling
Tonight I read my online students’ Week Two flash stories/memoirs and I literally was sitting at my computer crying. The class is tiny – three woman – a perfect size, really, for a class. They are sharing such deeply personal and painful stories with such grace and beauty, I might have to go upstairs and…
The Joys of Teaching Writing: Online and Off
I am sitting here in my living room – night outside – and I am ready to finish up my work for today. I have been busy all day, as usual, but not crazy busy. My “Flash Fiction/Memoir” online class started on Monday through Story Circle Network, so I’ve been occupied responding to students’ comments…
My Old Student and His Ambitions
Today I had a treat. My student, Shaun, came to see me for the first time in three years. He is a junior at Boston University and is home for spring break. He called me a few days ago and started his conversation with, “Len, this is Shaun. Shaun Herzig. Do you remember me?” Now…
Two Short Entries: 4 pm and 8:45 pm
I am sitting with my 6th grade student, Charlotte, and it’s time for a “quick write.” This is when we do free-writing for usually 10 minutes, but in my case it’s 6 today because I made Charlotte popcorn, and got her a glass of iced water while she started her quick-write. So, now she is…
Tricksters in Stories and a Few in My Life
I am sitting with one of my students, Aaron. He is taking an online class on mythic structure and today’s lesson is on the trickster archetype. According to Christopher Vogler’s book, The Writer’s Journey, a trickster “embodies the energies of mischief and desire for change.” Tom Sawyer is a trickster we all know. Who else…
Aristotle, Tragedy and My Student, Cameron
My student, Cameron, is writing for 20 minutes, so I’m going to use this time to write my blog for today. Cameron is sitting over in one of our recliners with her feet up, her computer in her lap, and a cup of Tetley’s tea on the table beside her. She is 15-years-old, already a…
Good for Huck Finn
I spent the early part of the day with a student writing an essay about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This is a book I have read several times since I’ve helped many an AP high school student and a few college students write analytical essays about various aspects of the plot, characterization, controlling irony,…
Lessons from John Steinbeck
I have just begun reading John Steinbeck’s Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters, a compilation of Steinbeck’s letters to his editor and friend, to whom he addressed a journal entry every day before writing his manuscript pages for his novel. East of Eden is one of the first books I read years ago…
My 401st Post and a Big Thank You
Switch Sexes and You Have My Current Life This is my 401st blog post, which seems amazing to me. I began this process a little more than a year ago to see how 20 Minutes a Day of writing might be helpful to my writing process. I would say so far it’s proving to be…
20 Minutes a Day 