Read more about the article Information Architecture

Information Architecture

"Looking back, I realize that many of the classics I’d read in high school and college were written in a much more dense style, and I read those books simply because they were required reading. That’s not to say that I didn’t love them and cherish what I’d read, but I seldom find myself wanting to go back and reread them, because most—like The Heart of Darkness—were just written in a style that required a lot of work, and were tedious to get through because of what I realize now was poorly constructed architecture."

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Read more about the article Elements of a Short Story

Elements of a Short Story

A short story is an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with few characters and maiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot. What we call “coffee break” reading. A short story is more than 7,500 words that can be read in a single sitting. Describes a single event, a single episode, or a tale of one particular character. Does not usually involve major twists and conflicts, and involvement of various sub-plots and multiple characters is not common. A short story is basically fictional prose, written in a narrative style. The narrative style may either be first or third person.

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Read more about the article Working with a Freelance Editor

Working with a Freelance Editor

"Do a second and third rewrite before you show the manuscript to the editor. At the very least, use spell check on the entire manuscript, and then have some friends check for errors. Make it the best you can do on your own so you won’t be paying for a professional’s time to do what you could have done yourself." Patty Zion, from "Working with a Freelance Editor"

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Read more about the article Elements of Poetry

Elements of Poetry

We ended the workshop with examples of these techniques by poets such as Robert Frost, Robert Burns, Elizabeth Bishop, Mary Oliver, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and others. For me as the presenter, the discussion reinvigorated my awareness of these tools and the power they give the poet to touch the reader at a fundamental, emotional level.

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Read more about the article Blogs by Western PA Wilds Writers

Blogs by Western PA Wilds Writers

Many of our local writers have found blogging to be a great way to reach their audience. Some of them use blogging as a way to journal their creative processes and some use it as a professional platform. However, all of these blogs feature distinct, unique voices that contribute to our understanding of ourselves as creative people and the world around us. Check out our list of blogs by local writers which are in no particular order.

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Read more about the article Am I a Writer?

Am I a Writer?

Certainly, writing is an inspired process, driven by passion and made possible by discipline. Like anything else, it is a practice. We become better by investing the time and honing our skill. But are we only to be considered writers once the Nobel prize has come in? Do we cease to be writers the moment our pen rests?

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Read more about the article The Poet Policeman

The Poet Policeman

As if being a veteran, a boxing coach, a philanthropist and a narcotics detective weren’t enough, Jimmy Cvetic published four books containing his hard-hitting, humorous and street-wise poems. His style has been likened to that of Charles Bukowski, an acknowledged influence. Stories from his Catholic childhood in Garfield in the early 1950s, his observations of human nature, and his experiences in the military and in law enforcement dominate his writing.

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Read more about the article Art is Art

Art is Art

Sometimes, I feel conflicted. Why am I so drawn to the arts? Why did I choose to study communication disorders? Where’s the connection? I sometimes forget the connection is the human element of expression. As humans we seem to be motivated to express ourselves. This need is also reinforced when our needs are met through communication. Our mere survival depends on it. My time with you now will explore the connection between visual art and written language as evidenced by a total of four works.

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Read more about the article Collaborative Writing as a Cure for Writer’s Block

Collaborative Writing as a Cure for Writer’s Block

As writers, we bring our own set of experiences and perspectives to whatever we write. That’s part of what makes writing compelling. But with collaborative writing, you bring in the experiences and perspectives of several other writers as well as your own. By including more writers in the process for a single written piece, you enrich the word choice, syntax and thematic elements dramatically. Sometimes the product gets muddled with competing ideas and approaches. But more often than not, particularly if there is no ego or agenda brought to the table, the product of collaborative writing is something that astonishes the participants.

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