Katharine's Writer's Block

Story Star Life Simulator icon I’m a fan of simulation games. The sandbox, open-world, world-building, customizable, role-playing, and/or...

To the average Joe, the term show-and-tell might conjure up memories from early school days when they or classmates brought special items from home with the purpose of presenting them to peers. The objects on display were anything from favorite toys or trinkets to bizzare, questionable, or adult things kids didn’t fully understand . In a similar vein, writers practice an aptly-named technique of show-and-tell that encourages balance between basic summation and an elaborate de

I’ve often thought of myself as a better writer than a public speaker, which I’m sure is interesting considering my previous ambitions for teaching. I have a natural tendency to shyness, introversion, and occasional anxiety and/or attention deficiency. If I had to rise to the occasion, I would, but I would just need ample time and preparation first. I’m definitely not alone and you’re not either if you relate. Studies have shown that around seventy-five percent of people hav

I touched on commas in a general lesson about punctuation , but I feel the topic warrants its own lesson for a better focus.  As...

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...

I feel a need to apologize...my pantsing ways have caught up with me. I recently realized that, in my previous lesson about plot and...

In 1979, video killed the radio star . The one-hit wonder reflected on the impending shifts in music and music entertainment at the time. Its music video inaugurated the then-new MTV network. I wouldn’t be surprised to find the song among “oldies” playlists one of these days. It is a little dated, but it's still interesting to keep around. Older forms of writing and communication are the same way. While we have MacBooks and Chromebooks, we still have physical, paper notebook

Which one are you? Writers go by many identities: authors, bloggers, journalists, essayists, novelists, poets, critics, playwrights...but a couple less familiar names might be pantsers and plotters . These terms relate to their approaches to work: A pantser is a writer who works without an outline or much planning on hand, essentially flying--or writing--by the seat of their pants. In contrast, a plotter is a writer who makes extensive use of outlines, plotlines, prewriting,

Is there a writer in your life? What kind of gifts would be liked by one gifted with an affinity for words? Here are recommendations from me and other writers: Writing-focused material or courses Tools or opportunities that nurture writing potential are one of the most practical things to give the writer in your life. Buy them a subscription to writing courses, magazines, or a retreat. Gift them books, services, or software to help them hone their craft or navigate the world

The 2002 Spider-Man film imprinted a resounding quote on pop culture: “With great power comes great responsibility.” In a similar way with research, with great information comes great responsibility. It is the writer’s job to use their findings wisely, just as Peter Parker was implored to wisely exercise his developing superpowers. The consequences of plagiarism emphasize the need for this as well. But how does one do that? This is Lessons & Advice on the answer: taking not