by Amy Paturel | Jul 7, 2020 | Uncategorized
You might have heard the platitude “those who can’t do, teach.” Obviously, I don’t agree with that theory. I’m a teacher. Plus, I have several friends and acquaintances who defy that logic. And yet, I also recognize that teaching makes...
by Amy Paturel | Jun 2, 2020 | Uncategorized
Writing a memoir or personal essay is complicated, especially when that writing shines a light on our poor choices. We’ve all made mistakes. But not all of us choose to open ourselves up (and risk potential backlash) by publishing a confessional essay. Since...
by Beth Kaiser | Apr 30, 2020 | Uncategorized
Like many families, my testosterone-heavy crew has turned to nostalgic forms of entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re riding bikes, playing chess, creating “flip art,” and yes, puzzling over puzzles. I love puzzles! I like the trial and...
by Amy Paturel | Mar 23, 2020 | Uncategorized
What a rough start to the year, eh?! With clueless leaders becoming more adept at fabricating truth (widespread COVID19 testing, anyone?), I figured I should turn off the news and focus on where I fall short in my writing. Right now, it appears to be my memory. The...
by Amy Paturel | Jan 10, 2020 | Uncategorized
In grief, trauma, and loss, remember to home in on the good stuff. If you’ve taken my classes or followed my blog posts about essay writing, you’ve probably heard me talk about James Pennebaker. His writing exercises make an appearance in almost every...
by Amy Paturel | Dec 17, 2019 | Uncategorized
Ever since my children were little, I have had an aversion to the whole Santa tradition. It’s not that I want to rob my children of the magic that is Santa. I just have a hard time lying to them. Several years ago, one of my students wrote a humor piece...
by Amy Paturel | Nov 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. There’s no pressure to buy the perfect gift. No kids wondering if they’ll get the most coveted item on their Christmas list (probably not!). Instead, the focus of the holiday is connecting with our...
by Amy Paturel | Oct 29, 2019 | Uncategorized
I never thought much about writing what scares me most. Why would anyone do that to themselves? What happens when you ponder all the ways your life might fall apart? Or when you share something so dark and icky it makes your skin crawl even as you’re crafting it? Then...
by Amy Paturel | Sep 10, 2019 | Uncategorized
Look to these 5 Essays For Guidance If writing personal essays came with a step-by-step guide — and sadly, they don’t — the first step would be to read really good essays. Analyze what works and what doesn’t and determine why the author was able to catch an editor’s...
by Amy Paturel | Sep 10, 2019 | Uncategorized
Full disclosure: I didn’t know what this month’s newsletter would be about. I was toying with a few different ideas, but nothing that stuck – nothing that would help any of you learn how to better approach an essay. Then my niece, Cassidy, sent me some...
