Women wrote more classics than we learn about in school. Introducing my new project, which celebrates overlooked and unknown female… Read more Chick Lit THIS
The Stylish Semicolon
Semicolons are like perfume; used correctly and in proper measure, they’re sophisticated and add richness. If you use them incorrectly and… Read more The Stylish Semicolon
Writing Effectively When English is Your Second Language
I have a lot of regular clients for whom English is not their first language. They have something important to… Read more Writing Effectively When English is Your Second Language
Does the Artist Matter?
A piece of art, when completed, encapsulates its own reality. As its architect, the artist’s task is to craft it… Read more Does the Artist Matter?
Dualities, Dichotomies and Do-Overs: John Berryman’s “The Animal Trainer”
In his two poems, “The Animal Trainer (1)” and “The Animal Trainer (2),” Berryman explores the possible effect of writing… Read more Dualities, Dichotomies and Do-Overs: John Berryman’s “The Animal Trainer”
The Line Break: Making and Breaking the Poet’s Element
As readers, we have certain expectations when we read a sentence. The rules of grammar provide a stable foundation for the thoughts, emotions, and information contained within it. While we can use punctuation with a certain level of flexibility, omitting commas for pacing, throwing in a fragment for urgency, line breaks throw a wildcard into the mix.
The Second Person Pronoun in Robert Pinsky: Who is “You”?
Poems written in the second person can be complicated for the reader. The “you” to whom the poem is addressed… Read more The Second Person Pronoun in Robert Pinsky: Who is “You”?
Learning from Jack Gilbert
In his poem “Horses at midnight without a moon,” Jack Gilbert weaves an ephemeral scene for the reader, accentuated by… Read more Learning from Jack Gilbert
How to Write a Sentence
Correct grammar isn’t enough. It takes more than a great plot to make a great story, and it takes more… Read more How to Write a Sentence
Can you be a creative editor?
Is editing a creative act? Can a writer who makes a living as an editor find something fulfilling in the… Read more Can you be a creative editor?
