Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

How Diversity in Literature and Teaching Strengthens America

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Missing Voices in High School Lit This post about teaching diversity comes from fellow writer, retired teacher and Detroiter John Jeffire, who graciously allowed me to share it here. As a young person studying American Literature in grade school, I was led to believe that the only literature produced in our country was written by white males. In high school, everything was basically … [Read more...]

When Writer Meets Reader: Intent and Interpretation of Theme

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Theme's the Thing: 5 Points Themes are the universal lessons and abstract ideas that we draw from our own experiences when writing and creating art, as well as when we read, and interpret art. If a friend asks you, "What's your novel about?" you can tell them about the plot, or you can describe the theme. Theme is the main idea, the concept or message in the story. I recently found my notes … [Read more...]

Strangers on the Bus: Public Transit in Lake Effect Snow

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Working in Cleveland in the 70s Powered by a phenomenon called Lake Affect snow, northern Ohio can transform to a hellish snowscape in mere hours. Winters there aren't just challenging, they are relentless and unforgiving, and many are etched in my memory. I went to art school and worked in downtown Cleveland in the seventies. My first job was in the art department at Gallo Displays, and … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Poet Sarah Carey

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What: I’m happy to share, for those who don’t know — the poetry world is indeed a small one — that my debut full-length collection of poems, The Grief Committee Minutes, came out in September 2024 from Saint Julian Press. Although I’d had two chapbooks published previously, I’d always aspired to produce a full-length work, so this book will always be special. It took me roughly three years, … [Read more...]

When Social Media Hurts: Finding Balance and Protecting Your Peace

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The danger in chasing approval Social media can be a wonderful place. It connects us to friends, readers, fellow creatives, and communities we might never have found otherwise. But it can also sabotage us when we let it feed our need for constant validation. Have you ever found yourself checking back to see how many likes your post or reel received? Or wondering, “Why did that person's reel … [Read more...]