Monthly Archives: August 2014
Taming the grammar beast
Posted on August 29, 2014 Leave a Comment
Writers and academics and linguists and regular folks argue incessantly about grammar – what IS proper grammar? Is it really necessary to follow stringent “standard American English” grammatical rules when writing? The myriad answers you receive to these questions can be frustrating, daunting, and confusing. Because there is no one answer. Here’s my take on […]
Midweek Writing Prompt: Landscape Memory (8/27/14)
Posted on August 27, 2014 Leave a Comment
In my classrooms and workshops, I strive to create safe, welcoming writing communities where individuals feel free to explore ideas, stories, and concepts without judgment. After all, we need those spaces to get started. The judgment – of editors, professors, critical friends – will come later. But in the beginning, we need that soft, friendly […]
Try something new
Posted on August 25, 2014 Leave a Comment
As today is the first day of the semester at my university, and I will be meeting my first class of students this afternoon, I wanted to honor the idea of the new – new semester, new season, new students, new challenges – with a brief post about trying something new in your writing. If […]
You’re not (revising) alone
Posted on August 22, 2014 Leave a Comment
The revision process for any writing is daunting, especially when done alone. So don’t remain alone! Join or create a writing group with two friends or colleagues. It doesn’t matter if you all prefer different genres and styles and subject matter. The important aspects of a writing group are support, encouragement, and revision suggestions. Last […]
Midweek Writing Prompt: The Power of Repetition (8/20/14)
Posted on August 20, 2014 1 Comment
In my classrooms and workshops, I strive to create safe, welcoming writing communities where individuals feel free to explore ideas, stories, and concepts without judgment. After all, we need those spaces to get started. The judgment – of editors, professors, critical friends – will come later. But in the beginning, we need that soft, friendly […]
Demystifying “a good fit”
Posted on August 18, 2014 Leave a Comment
The phrase “a good fit” is often deployed in rejection letters and is rarely expanded upon, leaving the recipient wondering WHY the piece wasn’t a good fit for that publication at that moment in time. If you’re like me, you don’t care what the reason is, you just know that the editor wasn’t interested for […]
Releasing the Mental Brakes: Where Ideas Come From
Posted on August 15, 2014 1 Comment
One of the greatest challenges facing any writer is to create original, fresh, compelling prose. But where do these ideas come from? Students often say they don’t know what to write about. Workshop attendees often sit quietly, staring at the blank page or at the wall across the room, willing inspiration to strike. Even when […]
Midweek Writing Prompt: Three Things You Know to be True (8/13/14)
Posted on August 13, 2014 Leave a Comment
In my classrooms and workshops, I strive to create safe, welcoming writing communities where individuals feel free to explore ideas, stories, and concepts without judgment. After all, we need those spaces to get started. The judgment – of editors, professors, critical friends – will come later. But in the beginning, we need that soft, friendly […]
Amanda Morris, Ph.D. 