AmiMaxine

Tracking: Characters

I’m part of a really stellar online, global writing community. I found them, actually, through a workout program, and they were such an unexpected bonus who have become super important in my writer world. We have a private Facebook group where people can ask questions and share resources, and I’ve found questions about a specificContinue reading “Tracking: Characters”

A Story a Day: Month Two

For the month of February, I have opted to read all works by Black authors. The following stories all come from the list put together by the editorial staff of the Chicago Review of Books. Feel free to read along! “Anything Could Disappear” by Danielle Evans “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” by ZZ Packer “The Era” byContinue reading “A Story a Day: Month Two”

Rejection

I vividly remember the first rejection I received when I began to query my first book. Honestly, it was when I officially felt like a “real” writer – despite my telling my students over and over that being a writer simply means that you write. I wore that rejection like a badge of honor. AsContinue reading “Rejection”

My Characters Need to Stop Reaching for Things

When that list of “Words I Apparently Overuse” just keeps growing… Kathy Steinemann has a wonderful index of commonly overused words and long lists of alternatives. I highly recommend utilizing these as you write and as you edit.

Rose – A Re-Homed Library Book

I spent so many hours in my youth amongst the aisles of the children’s books in the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, selecting that week’s stack of books that would accompany me home. We also had a bookmobile that would stop at the other end of our block (do those even exist anymore…?), and I’d traipseContinue reading “Rose – A Re-Homed Library Book”

Slow Mornings

I’m sure I’ve written somewhere about the joy of slow mornings that I’ve been experiencing the last couple years. How I actually eat breakfast. Every day. How I drink coffee every morning now, too. (Though that was still generally done while working.) I didn’t used to take time in the morning for such things –Continue reading “Slow Mornings”

A Story a Day: Month One

I went back and forth when picking stories for this month. I was trying to decide whether I’d allow myself to reread any stories – or if they had to be 365 brand new stories. I finally decided that I wanted this to be all brand experiences for me. If I opt to reread anything,Continue reading “A Story a Day: Month One”

A Resolution?

Traditionally, I’m not one for making resolutions. I’m not big on “starting fresh” just because I swap the calendar that hangs in my kitchen. According to several articles I’ve read, studies show that only 8% of people keep their New Years Resolutions all year long. (I should note these articles didn’t provide citations for saidContinue reading “A Resolution?”

Alice Hoffman

In March of 2013, I found myself, thankfully, in Boston, Massachusetts for AWP. I say “thankfully” because Chicago was getting hit with a snow storm the day I was supposed to leave, and I was fairly certain my flight would be cancelled. But I got out in time – and then the storm caught upContinue reading “Alice Hoffman”

I Put a Bow On It

To say that this semester has been the hardest of my career feels woefully inadequate. Yes, it was worse than Spring 2021 when we had to shift mid-semester to fully remote teaching. Honestly, that semester seems like a breeze in comparison. And I’m sure you’d think that after that plus an entire other academic yearContinue reading “I Put a Bow On It”