by Amy Paturel | Aug 20, 2019 | Uncategorized
Privacy is one of the most pressing and paralyzing issues writers face with personal essays. We confront it with every single story we craft. Am I oversharing? Do I really want everyone to know these details about me? Am I prepared to grant them complete access to my...
by Amy Paturel | Aug 20, 2019 | Uncategorized
Caption: My niece, Cassidy (a.k.a., the star!) with my son, Brian. Believe in You I saw “A Star is Born” this past weekend and I’m still processing. The performances were incredible. What drew me into the story though was the premise. The idea that this amazing artist...
by Amy Paturel | Jul 17, 2019 | Uncategorized
LEARN ABOUT MY SUMMER ALUMNI COURSE It’s About Character If you’ve taken one of my classes, you know I view character development as a critical component of crafting a powerful essay. If the reader doesn’t care about the “who” in your story,...
by Amy Paturel | Jun 13, 2019 | Uncategorized
If you’ve taken my class, you know Judi Ketteler. I’m a huge fan of her essays and I often cite them as examples in my classes. I also highly recommend subscribing to her Story Economy Blog for a treasure trove of information related to crafting compelling stories....
by Amy Paturel | Apr 16, 2019 | Uncategorized
Four years ago, I spent almost the entire month of April in the hospital. My youngest son, Jack, was diagnosed with something called a double aortic arch. I had no idea what that meant at the time. The doctor gave me a scientifically solid, drawn out speech. He even...
by Amy Paturel | Mar 14, 2019 | Uncategorized
When I tell people I’m a writer, I often get some variation of, “you’re so lucky,” “what a great gig,” “you must be really talented to make it as a writer.” The truth: I don’t think luck has much to do with it – or even talent. It’s hard work. Ever since I was a...
by Amy Paturel | Feb 5, 2019 | Uncategorized
Last July, I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. Within the first few pages, she describes a creative life and references her friend, Susan, who went back to ice skating at age 40. Like me, Susan was a competitive figure skater when she was a teenager. My heart...
by Amy Paturel | Jan 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
Unless you’ve been avoiding the Internet – or you’re not interested in writing essays – you have probably seen the torrent of controversy sparked by Christine Tate’s latest essay in The Washington Post. In the piece, Tate says she won’t stop writing about her...
by Amy Paturel | Dec 13, 2018 | Uncategorized
Those of you who have worked with me in any capacity know I’m a big fan of journal writing. I can’t imagine writing an essay without being able to draw on the material from my journals. When topics are really heavy – my dad’s death, my son’s near death, or my own...
by Amy Paturel | Nov 13, 2018 | Uncategorized
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday – even when I was a little girl. It isn’t the Black Friday shopping, football watching or the pie. I avoid all three. It’s the opportunity to reflect on my blessings.With Thanksgiving, there’s no pressure to find or get...
