Tag Archives: Lesley University

Writing in a Time of Climate Anxiety

Screen shot of father and son characters from the movie The Road
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A couple of weeks ago, I took part in a panel discussion during Lesley University’s 2020 Creative Writing MFA winter residency. The topic: “Writing in a Time of Climate Anxiety.” Together, I and the other panelists talked about the need for writers to start writing stories that matter.

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The Biggest Pitfall for Aspiring Authors

Pit Fall
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It’s the first Wednesday of the month, and you know what that means.  It’s #IWSG Day! The question this month is…   What pitfalls have you encountered on your journey to publication that you can share with others? Well, uh… hmm. I don’t actually know of many pitfalls from direct personal experience. To date, I …

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The Value of a Creative Writing MFA – A (sort of) IWSG post

Lesley University Student Center
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I did it. I graduated. I am a creative writing “master,” which is a little weird to write. The title “novice” would probably be more accurate. But, two days out from having received my handshake and diploma (not really, just a certificate. The diploma will arrive in the mail a month from now), I am feeling most grateful for the people I met and the relationships I forged.

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Writing That Hooks Readers – Neuroscience Hack #1

Amazing Stories 1948
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Regardless of the quality of the actual story being told, the writing can either engage us or bore us. Understanding the neuroscience of reading can help you grab readers by the brain and engage them more effectively.

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Surviving the Creative Wilderness—Attitude is Everything

Forest Night Sky
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Countless talented artists wander into the creative forest with good intentions and never make it out again.  They get lost, hit that moment of doubt and despair, give up, and die.  The thing is, getting lost is a hazard of living a creative life.  In some ways, getting lost really is inevitable, because the creative path is not well-travelled.  I’d argue that if you’re doing things right as an artist, you’re blazing a new trail through the deepest, darkest woods of your own psyche.

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IWSG February Post – Why Write for Kids?

Fairy Tales
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This month’s IWSG post asks the question: What do you love about the genre you write in most often? Books for adults are all well and good, but books for children are far more important.

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Writing is like Baseball: You Gotta Swing for the Fences!

Babe Ruth
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Writing is like baseball.  Most of the time, you recognize the pitch coming in and you manage a solid single when you swing at it. Occasionally, you strike out.  Every once in a great while, though, you hit a grand slam.  Or, if you’re new at it, like me, you dream about hitting a grand …

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From the Heart of the Bombogenesis

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Before I dive into what “living through a Bombogenic event” felt like, allow me to begin by saying that as of this morning I failed at one of my three New Year Resolutions.  If you’re curious about which one that might be, keep reading and see if you can figure it out, or click the …

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The Plot Bunnies Are Winning!

Attack of the Plot Bunnies
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I’m usually pretty good at handling the plot bunnies when they take up arms and attack. At least, that’s what I’ve always told myself. Upon reflection, however, I’ve reason to question that. Trish Marie Dawson wrote a funny little blog post on this topic (I grabbed the drawing from her article). Check her out, folks. …

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Good News, Bad News, and Trouble in Writing Town

Fourth Semester
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I’ve got a thirty-minute break before my next parent-teacher conference, so I thought I’d use this time to do some writing. I know I won’t be able to get any meaningful creative writing done, sandwiched as this moment is between long and stressful blocks of trying to calm down nervous parents and stressed-out students. My …

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