Tag Archives: writing tips

A Riddle for Writers

Image of the Sphinx in Egypt from Wikimedia Commons A Riddle for Writers:  I am… the path that leads your reader from point A to point Z and all stops in betweenthe light that illuminates your argumentthe thread that binds your ideas to a cosmic conversation of ideasthe lens that brings your thought processes intoContinue reading “A Riddle for Writers”

The God Who Looked Both Ways

Image of the Roman god Janus from Wikimedia Commons The month of January was named in honor of the Roman god Janus, the god who looked both ways. While Janus may have been a careful pedestrian, it’s unlikely that he gained his tag line – the god who looked both ways – because of theContinue reading “The God Who Looked Both Ways”

No Matter How Small

“Who?” – “You.” “You, who?” – “You, you.” “Me?” – “Yes, you.” “Seriously?” – “Seriously.” “But why?” – “Why not?” “I’m too young.” – “Doesn’t matter.” “I don’t have anything to say.” – “I know this isn’t true.” “I’m not a good writer.” – “No one is a good writer at first.” “My grammar isContinue reading “No Matter How Small”

Nevertheless…

Like most working-class kids of my generation (I suspect), I grew up convinced that writing in a book – even a book that you owned, and even with a pencil – was a crime that ranked pretty close to murder on the scale of awfulness. My beliefs about writing in books may have been influencedContinue reading “Nevertheless…”

Beginning, Middle, End?

I was flabbergasted. I’m sure I looked like an exaggerated cartoonish caricature of astonishment, with my eyeballs popping out of their sockets and my jaw on the floor. Have I mentioned that I was flabbergasted? The students in my first-year college writing class were equally flabbergasted. All twenty-four of us stared at each other inContinue reading “Beginning, Middle, End?”

Time (What to do when you haven’t got any)

Last week’s post was full of magical ideas about words falling out of your mind and onto a blank page, arranging themselves in no particular order until several drafts later, after you, all of your friends, one or two teachers or tutors, and every expert on writing who happens to live in your neighborhood (doesn’tContinue reading “Time (What to do when you haven’t got any)”

Setting Realistic Expectations about Your First Draft

In my work as a writing instructor and tutor, I’ve often been asked simply to sit with a student as he or she drafts a writing assignment. My role in such situations is to provide moral support while simultaneously serving as a sounding board, a dictionary, a thesaurus, a grammar rule book, and a cheerleader.Continue reading “Setting Realistic Expectations about Your First Draft”