Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

What women want when speaking about sexual assault

By

  Nearly every woman I know has told me about one or more times in which she was sexually assaulted, molested, threatened or raped, or they personally know someone who was sexually assaulted, molested, threatened or raped. I was molested as a child, most vividly by a stranger in Woolworth's in the 60s, and I am also a victim of date rape. I hesitated to tell anyone until recently, … [Read more...]

Birthdays After You Lose a Child

By

I vividly remember the moment Derek was born. The doctor laid him across my chest and there he was, my first baby -- his round face like a pale moon, his eyes open and unblinking, his little body warm and wet, his heart beating against my bare skin. I won't ever forget his first smile, his first word (It was butterfly, and I have a witness), and his first steps in the wooded acre behind our … [Read more...]

How to Make a Book Purse

By

Years ago, while working on the early drafts of my novel, I had a business making books into purses. I no longer have my Etsy shop, but occasionally I find an interesting book that I think will make a great clutch purse, or a friend asks me to make one for them. I recently made this book purse with a button and loop closure for my friend from her memoir: "Tell us how you did this!" Nancy's … [Read more...]

Isn’t it Ironic? Words that Trip Me Up

By

  A language fail is the worst kind of fail, especially if you're a public speaker or a writer. From Travis Bradberry's list of 20 commonly misused English words, these often trip me up: Ironic vs. Coincidental Bradberry writes: A lot of people get this wrong. If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that’s not ironic—it’s coincidental (and bad luck). Also coincidental is … [Read more...]

Don’t Go Easy on Dialogue

By

Ali Luke’s guest column on "10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Dialogue" on Write To Done made me reflect on the things I've learned about dialogue over the years. There are easy ways for improving your dialogue, but don't take the easy way out. Don't write the first thing that comes to mind. That's being lazy. Go beyond what's easy. 1. The best dialogue reflects what’s not being said, such as when … [Read more...]