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Got Writing Tic Fever?
A tic is not a tick, not a tock. It is “a habitual, spasmodic muscle contraction, usually of the face or extremities.” However, in writing, a tic is an unconscious construction or usage that shows itself only to others, not the writer. Tics might include: habitual repetition of one word, (It happened to me with the word…
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The Courage of Writers
This week I sat in a local diner with other writers who impressed me by their willingness to approach tough stuff. One had the courage to describe his mother in more or less balanced terms without the sentimentality or vitriol that inherently sneaks into this mother of all topics. Another wrote about her insecurity and…
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Poetry & Public Courtesy
As you may recall I cohost a monthly open-mic poetry reading and here are a few tips to make yourself welcome if you attend such an event; some of this advice applies to both readers and audience, most have to do with respect for the entire concatenation. Arrive a little ahead of the start time and sign in…
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Concentrated Looking
Here’s an exercise I came up with and it worked well in a writing group this week. The purpose is to sharpen your descriptions. Use it as a journal exercise or to deepen the meaning of a significant object in a poem or piece of prose. Concentrated Looking Select an object to enrich your setting and explore it in the…
Karen Douglass, Author 