Come learn the secrets of being a deep reader with Megan Willome. And share your November pages for our monthy Reader, Come Home column.
Literary Friends: Keeping Anna Akhmatova Alive
Anna Akhmatova’s friends memorized her poems to keep her work alive when it was too dangerous to put pen to paper. Sandra Heska King spotlights this life and death role of literary friends.
Read Like a Writer: Second Person Narrative Voice in Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen: An American Lyric”
Charlotte Donlon explores use of the second person narrative voice through the work of Claudia Rankine— and helps writers discover something surprising that’s within their power to do.
Poetry Prompt: Thankful Acrostics When Poetry Feels Like It’s Gone
Callie Feyen believed she’d lost the poetry of teaching, but Megan Willome showed her that poetry (and teaching) hadn’t lost *her.*
By Heart: “Peace” by Sara Teasdale + New Kenyon “Let Evening Come” Challenge
Looking for peace? Find it in this month’s By Heart column, in which we wrap up our memorization of Sara Teasdale’s “Peace” and learn some surprising memory techniques.
From the Poet: Blue of the Heaps of Beads
“I always come back to the love poem, and I always come back to the Ozarks,” says Dave Malone. Enjoy this excerpt from his collection, O: Love Poems from the Ozarks.
8 Ways Writers Can Enrich Each Other’s Work
Bethany Rohde shares 8 ways that writers can encourage one another—from dealing with ideas that feel question-marky to fending off the censor bullies—served up with warm wit and warm cookies.
Cross-Generational Friendships: Where’s My Daughter? Call Her Forth
One glimmering night, three generations, and a whole lot of love—with a little Shakespeare to flavor the memory. From author Callie Feyen.
Thanksgiving—Poem by James Whitcomb Riley
May we share love’s touch with another during this Thanksgiving season, even one whose “need of touches we had never known.”
Memories Poetry Prompt: Something Lost
Is there something you remember that you wish you could return to? Join Callie Feyen in stirring your memories of lost things you wish you could find again—and put them in a poem!
A Story in Every Soul: Bedtime Stories
When we read a bedtime story to a child, something happens in their soul. What exactly? Well, it depends on the story.
Cross-Generational Friendships: I Signed Up for a Toddler Swim Class
Join Claire Haidar as the beach umbrella among little bottles of suntan lotion (or, the grownup in the toddler swim class) in this delightful cross-generational story.
From Artist’s Way to Museum Art Camp
Donna Falcone joined our Artist’s Way book club on a whim—and wrote down a dream. Six years later, a beautiful, unexpected thing has occurred.
Memories Poetry Prompt: A List
A good rule for writing true is, start with what bothers you. But what do we do when what bothers us is too much to figure into a story? How about making a list?
Difficult Conversations: Disorganized Narrative Inside
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Children’s Book Club: “Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems”
S’more time! Join us for a Children’s Book Club discussion of a collection of camping poems called ‘Toasting Marshmallows’ by Kristine O’Connell George.
Poetry Prompt: Come Back To Your Heart (Map)
Looking for ways to tap into your memories and turn them into stories or poems? Try heart mapping, a creative exercise in exploring what you hold close.
Difficult Conversations: Eleven by Sandra Cisneros
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Reader, Come Home: October’s Pages
Come learn the secrets of being a deep reader with Megan Willome. And share your October pages for our monthy Reader, Come Home column.
Halloween Poetry Prompt: Never Too Old For …
Join Callie Feyen as she confesses why Halloween is a favorite holiday, and also, that she hopes to never grow too old for its make believing.