When the singer-songwriter’s life turns tragic
It’s been my theory that fans of bands fall into one of two camps: 1) They like the music. 2) …
Category Archives: Writing
Storytelling in creative nonfiction: At odds?
Photo from Creative Commons via Flickr Sometimes you can teach something over and over and finally it sinks in for …
Ek….what? Writing about art in nonfiction
In my MASS436 Specialized Writing class at MSU-Mankato on Monday, I introduced students to ekphrasis — writing about art. We …
How to tackle overwhelming projects
Photo Credit: pom.angers Flickr via Compfight cc. Some days feel like floodwaters that are out of control. Do you ever …
A writer’s challenge: Staying organized
I’ve been reorganizing my colossal mess of papers and boxes. My excuse is that I’m a writer — of course …
Patty, Patty, all Patty: CNN docu-series on Patty Hearst begins tonight
I’m eagerly awaiting this CNN docu-series on Patty Hearst that begins tonight. I’ve been studying and researching the SLA for …
What’s your writing schedule?
Photo Credit: marcoverch Flickr via Compfight cc I created a writing schedule recently. I have found that I literally have …
3-Act structure for nonfiction (Part II)
A good narrative twists and turns, and something changes from beginning to end. Photo Credit: daveynin Flickr via Compfight cc …
3-Act structure for nonfiction (Part I)
How the 3-act structure looks for fiction (taken from https://www.nownovel.com/blog/three-act-formula-novels/). The 3-act structure is a common form for storytelling. Movies and …
Disappointments in the writing life
Photo Credit: MacBeales Flickr via Compfight cc I spent a large chunk of 2017 working on a project I hadn’t …
If You Have Five Seconds to Spare 