A student of mine, Lona Tehrani, wrote a superb college essay that deals with the transgender restroom issue that recently has gotten so much press. This essay won a regional Silver Key award from the Scholastic Artists and Writers contest, the oldest and most prestigious art and writing contest for youth in grades 7 –…
Category: Reflections on Writing
Last Days of My “Writing Short” Class
10:22 pm. I have been working on the final critiques and line editing for my Story Circle Network “Writing Short” class, which is on writing Flash Fiction and Flash Memoir. The class officially ends on Monday. I had the special treat of meeting three of my students in this class at the Stories of the Heart conference…
Day 2: Story Circle Network Writing Conference
Today I went to classes on poetry, marketing, the value of place in writing and developing a writing voice. There were so many great options that it was hard to decide which classes to pick. I was very pleased with my four choices: the presenters were excellent in each and I came away with information…
Heading to Austin!
I am heading off to Austin tomorrow morning to take part in the Story Circle Network Stories from the Heart writing conference which begins on Friday. I will also have the good fortune to see lots of family while I am in town since my relatives there have graciously agreed to meet for dinner on…
Repost: Great Quotes on Writing from Brenda Ueland
I have been reading several books in preparation for my presentation at Story Circle Network’s “Stories of the Heart” memoir conference coming up in Austin in a couple of weeks. One is If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland. This is considered by many to be one of the very best books on writing…
Cozy Mystery Book Review and Interview With Author Judy Alter
I recently had the pleasure of reading the cozy mystery, Murder at Peacock Mansion, and talking with author Judy Alter about this Blue Plate Cafe mystery. Murder at Peacock Mansion is a page turner. Set in a small town in East Texas with the main character, Kate Chambers, acting as full-time cafe owner and part-time sleuth, this…
Congratulations to Western Regional Scholastic Award Winners
I am proud to announce that two of my students have received Western regional awards from the Scholastic Artists and Writers contest in personal essay, critical essay and Senior Portfolio. The contest sponsored by the Alliance of Young Artists and Writers is the oldest and most prestigious writing contest for youth in grades 7 –…
Interview with Susan Albert, Author of Loving Eleanor
I have had the pleasure of recently reading Susan Albert’s new book, Loving Eleanor, which is a historical novel about the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist, Lorena Hickok. This is a wonderful book that explores the many levels of friendship as well as the difficulty national figures face when trying to maintain a sense…
Online Essay Class: Why You Should Take It
Hello to my women friends, I am offering an online essay class that begins tomorrow through Story Circle Network, an organization that celebrates women’s writing. The price is right: $160 if you are a Story Circle Network member; $200 if you are not. This is for 5 weeks of lessons, with a chance to learn about…
Book Review: Finding Grace
I am very proud to say that I was the story consultant and first editor on Finding Grace, this very fine book by Patricia Dunn-Fierstein. This coming-of-age novel set in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement tells the story of Charlie, a thirteen-year-old girl, whose new friendship with a…
20 Minutes a Day 