Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

What, Why, How: Caroline Leavitt

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What: I create worlds! I write novels. I write scripts and short stories and essays. Everything to me is a story! I’ve always made up stories. A few years ago, one of my novels Into Thin Air was optioned and I was so tired of books being optioned and nothing happening, that I told my agent that I wanted to write the script. “Have you ever written scripts before?” she asked and I lied. “Of course … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Kaye Curren

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What: I am a nonfiction advocate in a 200-year old entrenched tradition of poetry and fiction. Memoir, essays, humor essays, articles, book and movie reviews. I was told once I should write a novel. I can’t. I’m too hooked on true-life stories. I’m inspired by people’s lives - living, breathing, surviving, and coming out standing on their feet. I even have a special bookshelf for my favorite … [Read more...]

How to Evaluate Your Poem

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Is it any good? Acclaimed poet and teacher Jack Ridl says others often ask him, “Is my poem any good?”  He answers "It's likely we all worry about that, or at least worry about embarrassing ourselves with what we’ve written. I like to ask my poems if they are effective. Then I ask 'effective in what way/s?'" Useful questions to ask your poem: Jack offers some other ("more useful?") questions to … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Janice Eidus

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What:  In second grade, I proudly wrote my very first poem; it celebrated New York City where I lived: “I love the city/ It is so pretty.” My desire back then was to grow up to become a writer of all genres: poet, playwright, short story writer, and novelist. As a young teen, I wrote plays and fiction about happy families – the opposite of my own -- as well as short “novels” about imaginary … [Read more...]

Three Sheets to the Wind: A Pirate Jamboree on Ocracoke

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Avast, ye hearties! Hurricane Florence forced us to reschedule our September visit to Ocracoke Island, NC to October, but lucky us, that's when the annual Pirate Jamboree was held. We got to partake in two days of swashbuckling good fun! Ocracoke Island is a narrow strip of sand largely controlled by the National Park Service. The only way on or off the island is by boat, ferry or small … [Read more...]