A couple of months ago, I checked out two books on weaving from my local library. I was inspired by the lovely items a good friend of mine created and gifted to me over the past couple of years. I’m well-seasoned in the crafts of crochet and sewing and have boxes of fabric and yarnContinue reading “Over Under: One Row at a Time”
Tag Archives: writing
Do Something!
I’m not an activist. I was too young to demonstrate during the sexual revolution or civil rights and Vietnam protests of the 60s. By 1971, at the height of second-wave feminism, I was married and had a child. I applauded the women’s movement victories but had no time for protests. Frankly, I had no timeContinue reading “Do Something!”
Choose Change: You never know where it’ll take you
Last year, I finished a memoir about my eight-year career as a science teacher to teen moms, called Subject to Change. My story emphasizes the human capacity for and willingness to change when unexpected things happen. Sometimes we choose change, too. When I started this Substack newsletter last year, it seemed only natural that IContinue reading “Choose Change: You never know where it’ll take you”
What Now?
… after the last revision I’ve poured my energy and my passion into a memoir manuscript for the past two years—Subject to Change: What Teaching Teen Moms Taught Me. Some days, words tripped over themselves to beat other perfectly precise verbiage onto the laptop screen. Other days, words had to be forcibly pried from theContinue reading “What Now?”
Dig Deep
Even memoirists need to do thorough research In my previous post, Respect the Truth, I shared one of the tips I presented last month to a group of nonfiction writers. I suggested the foremost consideration before beginning a writing project is understanding why you want to write it. It’s important to know who you wantContinue reading “Dig Deep”
Respect the Truth
I took part in a workshop called “How to Write a Nonfiction Book” last weekend, hosted by the San Gabriel Writers’ League, a writing group I belong to. Two other members and I were asked to share our writing journeys, including our failures and successes. Like many such judgements, we each define our own ideasContinue reading “Respect the Truth”
Things We Keep
My journaling habit first kicked into gear in the mid-90s. Julia Cameron, in The Artist’s Way, advised writing morning pages every day—three was the magic number. Mine were just scribbles, really. Three pages to clear my mind and maybe unclog creative impulses. Cameron gave me permission to write whatever I wanted without fear of exposure.Continue reading “Things We Keep”
Conflicted Interests
What is it about conflict that readers find so engaging? Every writing class, book, or instructor emphasizes the need for writers to introduce conflict in their stories. The sooner the better. Page one, paragraph one, if you can manage it. It should accompany the introduction of a sympathetic character. We need to care about theContinue reading “Conflicted Interests”
A Podcast Experience
I was interviewed for a podcast last week: How to Write a Book from A to Z, a product of the San Gabriel Writers’ League. The host is Lisa Greinert, a League member. So far, all the guests have been members as well, but it’s only a few months old and expected to expand. TheContinue reading “A Podcast Experience”
Ideal Reader
“I loved your book,” the email said, referring to my memoir, Mother of My Invention. “I would love to talk to you about mental health if you are free.” This message came a couple of weeks ago from a woman in my community I’d never met. She said she was a schizophrenia and suicide attemptContinue reading “Ideal Reader”
Janice Airhart 