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...
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...
