Category: Writing as a Discipline

Flash Memoir Prompt: Nils and the Farm next to the Fjord

In the spring of 1975 when I was 22, my boyfriend Nick and I decided we would go to Europe after I graduated from college in June. (He was already finished with school and up for an adventure). The goal was to go for a year and the original plan (or at least the one…

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Flash Memoir: November 22, 1963

I remember exactly where I was when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. I was in my 4th grade class at Bailey Inglish Elementary School in Bonham, Texas, which is 70 miles from Dallas. I can’t remember exactly how we received the news, though I think it was over the loud-speaker. That seems insensitive…

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Tribute to My Daddy

I wrote this a while back but in honor of my beloved father, I’d like to put it here on my blog today. I was blessed with a fine father who knew the value of love. “Have I told you today how much I love you?” This was a question my father asked me every…

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Today One Boy’s Life Was Changed. Thank You, President Obama

I was eating lunch at a Chili’s in McKinney, Texas today when over my husband’s shoulder I saw President Obama’s face appear on the television screen mounted on the wall. The caption read: Obama moves on Dream Act. I tried to read the rest but the waitress came with our check and when I looked…

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Prompt: No Internet

For some reason, my computer won’t go online.  I’m not sure why, but after a day of helping Rachael take photos all over town for an English project, and then assisting with the writing of two stories, I don’t even care.  Tomorrow I will muster up concern, but tonight has bed calling my name.  All…

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Flash Fiction Prompt: What Can I Do?

“What can I do?” I asked and they said, “Nothing.” I didn’t know what to say so I left and headed down to the river where I could hear the waves lapping onto the shore and I could sit in the dark and feel safe for the first time all day. I wasn’t a bad…

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Critical Components of Flash Fiction and Flash Nonfiction

Flash fiction and flash nonfiction differ clearly in content, but many of the needs are the same given the conciseness of the form. In an excerpt from The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Flash Fiction, Nathan Leslie in his article, “The “V” Word,” states, “By focusing on language, scene, voice, and character, my students…

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Flash Poetry: Whipped Cream

The house is quiet Night wraps itself around me A familiar quilt These days stretch out long Like a cat in cool green grass Hummingbirds flutter My eyelids grow thick Too heavy to stay open I dream of whipped cream

To Michael

Here is Michael with my daughter Rachael at their graduation from Beverly Hills High School. My beloved student Michael Bina is graduating from NYU right now and I want to just say congratulations to a boy who has made me proud as his writing teacher. Michael came to me as a 7th grader. In our…

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