Marina DelVecchio discusses the empowered nature of Maya Angelou’s girlhood in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. According to Marina, “Maya Angelou’s teen years are infused with a burgeoning sense of identity and power that make most girlhoods seem mediocre and ordinary.”
Traci shares her thoughts on sharing poems and the conversations that develop out of the interactions of text: “a national conversation begins when thousands of people elect to write towards the same image, set of words or idea.”
Jyl offers a gender-bending writing exercise this week: “..try this exercise. First, make a list of questions relating to gender, femininity and masculinity. Go back as far as you can remember…Close your eyes and remember. Look at old pictures. …When did you first know you were a boy/girl?”
Terri suggests you ask yourself a few key questions which can help you decide if indie publishing is the right path for you: “Publishing a book is like a starting a small business. It’s hard, time-consuming work—and it’s not for everyone. Here are seven questions to help you think through your decision.”
inContext looks at Louise DeSalvo’s On Moving, an account of the author’s moves and those of other writers throughout history.
This week, Lauren talks about the process of making art and expresses appreciation for its arduousness, thoughtfulness and the time it takes: “Too often, art-making is dismissed as a luxury…We’re taught that rigor exists in eight-hour days at offices. That art-making is a lofty goal—that it’s for people who refuse to grow up, that it’s foolish and nonsensical. I beg to differ.”
Traci takes poetry into the coziness and intimacy of the living room with an in-home poetry salon: “There’s no definitive structure or schedule, just good poems and good company. Naturally, we end up talking about lots of other things concerning our lives and/or poetry, but what brought us together is what keeps us together, and what keeps us coming back to each other’s living rooms—poetry.”
Cathy explores the work of artist Eileen MacDonagh and her use of tangible materials: “I really admire the attention to working with physical materials in Eileen’s stone practice; it echoes an earlier time when art was more deeply connected to the material world. In contemporary art, there has been a move, and I would say a dangerous loss of connection to the fabric of material life—much contemporary work has moved to virtual digital methods and often ignores our dependence and influence on the litho and biospheres.”
Welcome to this week’s featured writing prompt. This week we’re writing about color, lights, noise—the music of carnivals—as if we’re walking through the festive streets. What are the physical sensations of being on carnival rides? Of moving through the crowds? Of waiting in line and the anticipation of reaching your destination? When day turns to [...]
Enchanted by The Night Circus
Wow, Kate! We're both focusing on the retelling of fairy tales. My discussion of "The Tiger's Wif...
Jane Austen, Part Two: The Single Woman Complex
This is amazingly written! Blew my mind!
Enchanted by The Night Circus
Many writers use fairy tales as an inspiration for their own writings. In my college days long a...
Where Did "Sugar On a Rope" Come From?
It's always a pleasure to hear from someone with expertise.
The Female Orgasm: Myths and Misconceptions
I have orgasms both vaginally and through clitoral stimulation....
........and love oral stimula...
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In this podcast, cultural anthropologist Gina Athena Ulysse read from her poetry and discusses the narratives of her homeland Haiti, and how she strives to develop new stories in spoken word and performance poetry.
Marina DelVecchio brings up an older text, published in 1971, that introduces readers to ten obscure and famous women circa the 1800′s. Eve Merriam’s Growing Up Female in America: Ten Lives depicts the authentic first-person voices of women who "found the will to trudge forward into colleges and acquire degrees that went beyond ‘MPM — Mistress of Pudding Making — and RW — Respectable Wife’" (13).
Maya Angelou’s Empowered …: Marina DelVecchio discusses the empowered nature of Maya Angelou's girlhood... 
Alice Walker and Zora Nea…:
Sometimes friendships just happen when we meet someone. An instant spar... 
Susan B. Anthony and Eliz…:
On Valentine's Day, people are often wrapped up in gifts, dedications, ... 
The Help: Perpetuating th…: Mayra David writes about The Help and the history of the Mammy stereotype i... 
Squash Pie: a short story…: Part 1 of "Squash Pie," the story that is the culmination of Melissa Corlis... 
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Naomi Benaron on A New Writing Life
Thank you for your comment, Tisha. I hope the novel speaks to you.L.George Alexander on Louise DeSalvo’s On Moving
Thank you for your response, Kate Robinson. I guess it is true that we often find what we are...Lauren Nicole Nixon on On Works-in-Process
I'm glad that you enjoyed the piece, Shana!