There’s a great article in yesterday’s NY Times that looks closely at how we are to understand the word 'platform' when used in different contexts. It compares Bannon’s use of it when discussing his “platform for the alt-right,” suggesting that Bannon’s website provides valuable … [Read more...]

When I was a kid, I was lucky enough not to be hungry. Not only did I live in a family that could afford food regularly, I rarely banked my own appetite. I ate a lot, and stopped when I was full. But then, around the age of eight, self-consciousness kicked in. My older sisters … [Read more...]

It seems the whole word has a terrible case of the broken-hearted blues. To say the least, it can be hard to create under these circumstances. It can be hard to even believe that creativity is worth the trouble, or that art and expression matter. But we all know that’s all … [Read more...]

I tend to like things pretty neat and orderly. I geek out over recently organized libraries and preen when I’ve organized even the tiniest corner of my child-riddled household. I’m a far better baker than cook, and had I any appreciable mathematical talent, I would most likely … [Read more...]

I don’t know about you, but there are days when I’m trying to write and my ego just shoves all good intention out of the way, plunks itself down beside me, and proceeds to make snarky comments while looking over my shoulder and cracking its knuckles. And once it muscles its way … [Read more...]

Wow. I think that’s the single most articulate thing I can say about the past week. Two true confessions: One, I hope I have Trump supporters among those who read this log. If I do, I believe in you. I don’t believe in him, but I most certainly do believe in you. I know you … [Read more...]

OK, setting aside the fact that our entire nation probably needs a vacation after this election, since we can’t all go sit on the beach together and pass the margaritas and remember why we got married in the first place, let’s at least give our writing a little TLC. In the … [Read more...]

I have a confession to make. Until I had to start teaching grammar about ten years ago, I knew very little about it (despite being a published author and having earned a few advanced degrees). As far as I was concerned, grammar was for people too stuffy to write for fun and too … [Read more...]

My sister and I were chatting last week about how profoundly this election seems to be affecting us all. I realized that I’ve been walking around like I’m six weeks pregnant: slightly nauseous, eating too much sugar and salt, cranky, excited, terrified, generally out-to-lunch and … [Read more...]

Writer’s Log, October 18th: Can writing be taught? Anyone who’s ever spent time studying the craft of writing ends up running into this question, usually in a dark academic alleyway haunted by cranky grammarians and people who believe poetry has to rhyme. It’s an interesting … [Read more...]