From PEI to Manitoba, I zoomed quickly in April 2020 to schmooze with Lauren, a writer and writing instructor based in Winnipeg. She has written two books of poetry, two novels, and a book of short stories. Here's my schmooze with Lauren.
Schmoozing with Hugh MacDonald
Hugh MacDonald lives with his wife Sandra beside the Montague River in an amalgamated town called Three Rivers on Prince Edward Island. He taught school for more than 30 years and is now retired. He has written several books including poetry, young adult novels, children's literature, and has edited a number of anthologies. He was... Continue Reading →
Time passes so quickly…
When I began "Schmoozing with Poets" in 2020, I was lighthearted about the possibilities and the work. Super easy, I thought, to interview poets on Zoom, most of whom I didn't know, but got to know as we chatted. It became slightly more difficult as life intervened and I realized that I didn't want to... Continue Reading →
Schmoozing with Sarah Klassen
In April 2020 during Canada's National Poetry Month I began speaking with poets - mostly Canadian - to spread the word (pun intended) about their poetry, their likes, their processes, and their poems. Turnstone Press contacted me and asked if I speak, um, schmooze with some of their poets who were launching books. Why, of... Continue Reading →
ANNA MARIE SEWELL: Poetry – Water Flowing with Names
via ANNA MARIE SEWELL: Poetry - Water Flowing with Names
Neil Gaiman’s Eight Rules of Writing… and my responses
1. Write You can’t get anywhere unless you write. First basic principle of getting things done. You won’t write a poem or a story or a grocery list unless you pick up your computer, pen, whatever, and start writing. 2. Put one word after another. Find the right word, put it down. Who ever heard... Continue Reading →
Web writing – add that to your c.v.
For the last several months, I’ve been working on re-writing web content for a large organization. Instead of writing corporate-speak, the writing is client-centric. In other words, writing for the audience. Some of the basic premises and techniques used are: Ask questions and give answers – “Do you need something?” “You can find your something... Continue Reading →
Why I love editing
I know! Some people think I'm crazy and perhaps I am, but I truly love to edit. Perhaps my "fetish" came from my father. My dad was a great editor. His first job (I believe he was eight) was as a journalist who, upon listening in on conversations between his mother and her neighbours, became... Continue Reading →
Remember Ron Weasley’s Mother? BAM!
A bang, a screamer, a gasper, a slammer, or a startler, a shriek, a pling, a shout pole, and a dembanger. These words mean one thing "!". Remember Ron Weasley’s mother? And the “Screamer” she sent Ron when he flew the car to Hogwarts with Harry? Now, that’s what I call an exclamation mark! Exclamation... Continue Reading →
Why editing matters
In academia, whether as an undergrad, graduate, or professor, your writing and your research will distinguish you from a large pool of people. For students, good grammar and a polished text is the difference between an A paper and a B or C paper. Unfortunately, grammar and good writing does not seem to be high on... Continue Reading →
ExecEdits 