Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

The Power of One Well-Placed “F*ck”: restraining profanity for character, tone, and impact in fiction

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woman erasing a bad word from a chalkboard

Going nearly F-free The only “f*ck” in my second novel doesn’t appear until page 180. A character shouts it in anger, punctuating a pivotal moment. The same character, a cantankerous retiree, … Continue reading >>

Drunken sailors, sea shanties, and what does “Weigh heigh and up she rises” mean anyway?

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sailors turning a capstan

A Writer's Curiosity: When I was working on edits for Love and Other Incurable Ailments, I had to research the song, “What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor.” First, I had to be certain the lyrics … Continue reading >>

From Southern Lit to Midwest Values: Author Karen Garloch on telling the stories we overlook

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Karen Garloch asks: Why is there such a rich mystique surrounding Southern literature, but we rarely talk about Midwestern literature in the same way? After I met Karen at the Regal House … Continue reading >>

Blackbeard… the Polite Poet?

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skull, coins, candle, bottle and compass

Everything you thought you knew about pirates is wrong Many legends and stories still swirl over the seas about Blackbeard the Pirate, some of them erroneously furthered by the likes of People … Continue reading >>

From dumpster finds to new beginnings: love letters turn into a life reboot

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Book and love letters

It began with a song: “Objects in Motion” by Jim White, a southern gothic storyteller and musician. The industry labels his work alternative country but I find his music poetic and filled with … Continue reading >>