Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Gordy and the Ghost Crab goes to School

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We hit the road! I took Gordy and the Ghost Crab and my newest creation, my felt ghost crab hat, to Weston Elementary School in Imlay City, MI where we meet with three groups of students: 1. the begindergarten and kindergarten students, 2. the first graders, and 3. the second graders -- A total of about 400 students in all! Christina Herr, M.Ed., Reading Interventionist at Weston, asked … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Pria Dee

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What: I focus on Children's picture books and the sub genre is humor.  I like to write stories that appeal to children and parents/grandparents, stories that the children will want to read over and over again.  I heard from one parent that their four-year-old reads Bill Makes Cookies and now wants to read the book every day! Why: I am motivated to write from my own experiences as a … [Read more...]

Necessity is the mother of invention

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I first read Meckel's poem in Rattle years ago and hung on to it. I even created an altered book using these words. Here it is for you, paired with art from one of my favorite digital artists: A poem by Lisa Meckel All night I’ve remained awakethinking how to reinvent myself;struggled with the wild possibilitiesand the desperate impossibilities,considered how to create this … [Read more...]

Writers empower, inspire, heal, expose

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In times of turmoil, writers can affect change with their words, stories and poems. They are a window into the greater truths of the world at large, beyond the minuscule limits of ourselves. Ten years ago Michael Kimball gave this inspiring commencement address as faculty at the Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing, where I earned my degree. Michael kindly gave me permission to share his … [Read more...]

Dog Kibble: A Villanelle

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The Villanelle... is a poem with strict rules! They are notoriously tricky to write because of their strict form and double refrain. This highly structured poem has nineteen lines that consist of five tercets (three-line stanzas) followed by one quatrain (four-line stanza). Villanelles also have a specific rhyme scheme of ABA for their tercets, and ABAA for the quatrain. Two well known … [Read more...]