Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Should parents censor what their kids read?

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What is acceptable reading material for your child? It's a legit question, especially since banning books by some schools has in turn created a demand for these books. Suppose your middle schooler wants to read Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus? Would exposing them to certain truths harm them, or frighten them? Looking at this list of banned books, I realize … [Read more...]

Honoring our Fallen Veterans

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Teaching the meaning of Memorial Day to children To most kids (and to many adults), Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer. We barbecue hamburgers, take a trip to the park, or plant flowers since there’s no longer the threat of frost. To families who have lost loved ones in the service of our country, however, the meaning runs deeper than a cookout. We want our children to … [Read more...]

What, Why, How, Diana Dinverno

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What: Each poem in my chapbook, When Truth Comes Home to Roost, is meant to be a revelation, a slant of light shining through a window. The poems lean toward autobiography, capture experiences, both large and small, over time and against shifting backdrops— childhood in the working-class Midwest, a Northern Michigan meadow, World War II Europe, a funeral during the pandemic, and in … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Sarah Hovorka

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What? I write across genres and ages. When ideas come to me, a voice is already part of them and that’s how I know whether I’m writing a picture book, middle grade, adult work, web blog, or anything else. Most of my attention is focused on children’s fiction. In picture books, my stories usually revolve around a social-emotional issue and … [Read more...]

An Author Platform

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What good is social media? Allison K Williams is a memoirist, essayist, and travel journalist whose recent post, Writers, Stop Using Social Media (Like That) on JaneFriedman.com explained the use of author platform in a way that made sense to me: Twitter, Instagram or TikTok might deliver the final “buy this” message, but that message is a single nail in your author platform. To have … [Read more...]