Why do people write poetry? Some might believe writing poetry is only for lovers and poets, but that’s not true. Writing poetry (like music!) can capture parts of the human experience in ways that prose can’t. Let’s look at why you should try to write a little poetry today, especially if you don’t consider yourself […]

When you think about the literary devices that poets use, you might think of rhyme scheme or metaphors with double meanings. But poets also use line breaks and punctuation in unusual ways too. Let’s look at one such poetic device called enjambment and then we’ll look at some enjambment examples. Enjambment Definition The word enjambment […]

Happy Poetry Month! My students often scowl when I announce we’ll be reading a poem or covering *heaven forbid* an entire unit on poetry. Reading poetry often bothers people—it certainly bothers me in the best possible way. Sometimes poetry feels lofty and pretentious and seems to say, “I know something you don’t know,” which is […]

Think about the last time you went to a leadership meeting to hear about a new strategy, direction or business plan. Did you leave that meeting feeling optimistic, energized and accountable for what was presented? Or did you come away from the experience feeling apathetic, skeptical and that the new plan was more of the […]

Love stories appear everywhere in the films we watch, books we read, and shows we binge. Sometimes these love stories are the center of the plot, like in Pride and Prejudice or The Notebook. Sometimes they’re a subplot, like in The Hunger Games or Ready Player One. Other times they’re hidden, looking more like a journey of […]

Love stories pop up in all kinds of stories—and not just in romance novels. Let’s review what elements make up a love story and then practice with some story writing prompts.   When you think of a love story, you probably think of the romance genre: a cover with a bodice-ripping hunk and a woman […]

Handwritten notes are like sending a hug through the mail. They have personality and character, attributes a computer screen will never have. Let me show you why, when, and how to write a thank-you note. Need some quick advice? Here are the nine steps to write a handwritten card or thank-you note. Read on for […]

If you want to get published, you need to be aware that major New York publishers are looking for a specific word count, depending on your genre. Your fantasy novel word count needs to be different than your YA Fiction book, which has a different word count from other books. How many words are in […]

How do you break bad habits? More importantly, how do you break bad writing habits that prevent you from finishing that manuscript you’ve been talking about for months, maybe even years? Let’s be honest: it’s hard breaking habits, especially when it comes to bad writing habits. Writing is a career that requires a lot of […]

Want to write a memoir but not sure how to get started? I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’m sharing my ten best creative writing prompts for memoir writers. If you need a quick prompt, check out my five favorite memoir writing prompts below. Or, keep reading for an expanded list of all ten […]