Katharine's Writer's Block

How does a prepared food dish end up less enjoyable than it could be, if not ruined altogether? Too much flavor could have been used or...

Sauces, spices, and seasonings contribute to the flavor of a lot of prepared food. Sometimes they define the entrée, like teriyaki chicken, barbeque, or hot wings. Other times, the additives enhance or improve taste, like salt, pepper, or Old Bay on French fries or condiments on sandwiches. More still, a splash of them is like a finishing touch, like chocolate sauce on ice cream or cilantro in Mexican food. Thoughtful word choices are a spice in the recipe of writing for simi

You have an essay project. You’ve decided on a topic, started some research, taken some notes on your findings, and maybe even have a...

Lately, I’ve been practicing cooking pancakes. I’ve learned that cooking them on my mini-griddle makes them really thick but not done in the middle. I get the slender size and circular shape that I like when I pour right into the middle of a hot, open skillet, but the batter has to be the right amount and consistency as well--not too little and not too runny. There’s a delicate balance to it. Writing with English vocabulary has a similar delicate balance. One wrong word can c

A cooking hobbyist may read cookbooks to learn new recipes or techniques. In the same way, a writer is suggested to read to improve their craft. The reasoning behind it includes: Reading makes a habit out of creative consciousness. If you’ve ever done a close-reading exercise/study , engaging that consciousness is what it intends to do. Reading exposes you to different writing styles and new ideas. Reading makes writing lessons out of entertainment. Reading improves vocabular

Throughout history, the act of writing has embraced many tools and mediums. Writers of previous centuries wrote with quill pen and ink. The written word went from preservation on payprus scrolls to the printing press. Writers of previous decades wrote with pencils, ballpoint pens, or typewriters. Even more recently, writers have shifted from using paper to digital forms. For all the evolution in the act of writing, the art of writing still prevails. Spelling, grammar, and eff

I touched on how punctuation is a fundamental ingredient to good writing but I only skimmed the surface of the subject. This lesson is a deeper dive into what punctuation is and how it's properly used. In addition, I’ll tell you more about my wedding! Punctuation is a collection of symbols used in reading and writing. They are meant to help us understand written communication in terms of purpose, emotion, or emphasis; the beginning or end of an idea; and connections between

Spongebob could've used some essay-writing advice like this... In school, learning the basics of grammar is not enough. That knowledge base gets put to practice by writing projects like essays, reports, themes, papers, and the like. I’m going to spend a few posts sharing some insight on essay writing. Essay writing involves a more formal, intellectual, or even reflective approach than creative, fictional, or personal writing might be. Where the prompt ideas suggested in the w

For my first Lessons & Advice post, I'm reviving some notes from an old lesson I wrote during my time in education. I taught a middle school English class my recipe for good writing! If nowhere else, the basics are a good place to start... Ingredients: complete sentences that express relevant ideas correct punctuation logical organization of ideas interesting word choices and details that support the main idea editing and revision Complete sentences A complete sentence= a sub