AmiMaxine

More Adventures in Homeownership

Sometimes, life throws a tree at you. With the help of a wicked storm, of course. Other times, life throws a second tree at you with the help of…seemingly nothing. Last week, Friday, I woke up and, without my glasses, noticed something in my backyard – something with lots of leaves that wasn’t there yesterday.Continue reading “More Adventures in Homeownership”

A New Word

There are many odd things that a writer can learn when working on a story. In most cases, the learning is probably intentional – research for something specific that occurs in or relates to their plot or characters or setting. In some instances, that odd thing is a word they’d never heard of before. Today,Continue reading “A New Word”

A Story a Day: Month Seven

For this month, I chose to focus on Creative Nonfiction stories. As with the previous six months, I have no idea what these stories are about – the goal is simply to experience new writing. Feel free to read along! “Writing Memoir and Writing for Therapy” by Tara DaPra “Tell It Even More Slant” byContinue reading “A Story a Day: Month Seven”

A Story a Day: Midway

Six months. 181 stories. 667,814 words. To be honest, I’m a little surprised that I’ve managed to keep going this long without missing a single day. (Full disclosure, I came close once – had gone to bed and was drifting to sleep when I remembered I hadn’t read it yet. I grabbed my phone toContinue reading “A Story a Day: Midway”

I’m Definitely on Some Lists

I recently sent an email to the police department in Madison, WI (USA). After I hit send, my first thought was…this is going to land me on a list. [strained smile] I sent a request to the South District Office in the hopes that they might allow for a tour of their facilities – asContinue reading “I’m Definitely on Some Lists”

“On today’s episode of Adventures in Homeownership…”

I’ve been a homeowner for a little under eight years. During that time, I’ve learned a lot about replacing sump pumps (and everything that goes with them). I’ve come downstairs and, half-asleep, stepped into a giant puddle in my kitchen and learned all about broken water lines leading to refrigerators. I’ve learned how to replaceContinue reading ““On today’s episode of Adventures in Homeownership…””

Come Sniff Books with Lynda Barry

reposted from my work with UntitledTown I have a confession. In 2009, I didn’t know who Lynda Barry was – I had yet to be introduced to her work. But I was back in Green Bay, a year out of grad school, and desperate to once again be surrounded by writers and artists. So whenContinue reading “Come Sniff Books with Lynda Barry”

Lifelong Learner

I love being a student. I can’t say I have always loved school, but I’ve always loved learning from people. One of the perks of being a college professor is that I get a tuition waiver at my school (we still pay fees, and if we audit, it’s another hundred bucks – but still wellContinue reading “Lifelong Learner”

A Story a Day: Month Six

For this month, I chose stories from web exclusives and archives of Fairy Tale Review, which is an “annual literary journal dedicated to publishing new fairy tales and to helping raise public awareness of fairy tales as a diverse, innovative art form.” As with the previous five months, I have no idea what these storiesContinue reading “A Story a Day: Month Six”

Voices of JAMS Timeline

Today, Voices of Jane Adeny Memorial Schools is sitting on my bookshelf – something that started almost a decade ago when Teresa Wasonga and Andrew Otieno came to speak to in a course I was taking at the time (I was getting a couple graduate certificates for the fun of it because I had missedContinue reading “Voices of JAMS Timeline”