Shall we take a short deviation from grammar? NO. There are some folks who think grammar is unnecessary and stifling. I’ll tell you (IMHO) that it is as important as ever.
Author: ArtRoot's Writer-In-Residence
The ArtRoot Writer-In-Residence (WIR) project is an initiative founded by ArtRoot, a collaboration of artists and arts advocates who are determined to reinvigorate Racine, WI through the arts. This project is supported by the Racine Literacy Council, and funded through a generous grant from the Osborne & Scekic Family Foundation.
This project seeks to spotlight Racine and Kenosha’s dynamic literary community while encouraging, supporting, and advocating on behalf of writers at all stages of their careers.
Fluency
When we ask too much of the reader, they revert to word calling or parsing at best. At worst, they focus so intently on each syllable or phonetic sound that they are taken completely outside the text. Don’t send your reader away!
Exercise
Punctuation, creative ideas, chronological writing, detailed writing, concise writing (paring it down with repeated removal of extraneous words), and other exercises make us a more balanced writer.
Darkness
A piece would be boring and unfulfilling without some sort of chiaroscuro (light vs dark) to bring out the characters, the story line, and our own investment in reading.
Cycles
We’ve lost momentum and really don’t know where to pick it up again. I’ve been in that mode. While at times we do need to step away and let our subconscious work, don’t get stuck.
Beginning
Sharing your ideas will evolve out of your introspection. Simply having an idea or opinion is not enough to expound to others. What is the point?
Amazed
My distinction as ArtRoot Writer-in-Residence #19 follows in the penciled furrows of notable authors and poets. I am amazed at the support and faith of the creative community in Racine and Kenosha.
#25: A note to Racine
This post marks my last as Racine’s writer in residence. The past six months have provided a point of connection through poetry, to Racine and to others. The position has also offered me an opportunity to care for my own writing, to give it time and attention. I sought to use the writer-in-residence designation as…
#24: Table reflections
I continue to wrap up my residency by sharing some of my own writing produced in response to previous prompts I’ve offered over the last six months. While I imagined sharing multiple pieces this week, I instead have one to share. But it’s one I really like—at least right now. This poem came out of…
#23: Inhabiting and observing
After weeks (months) of offering prompts related to finding bits of poetry in our daily lives across Racine County, I shared last week I intend to offer some of my own writing in response as near the end of my residency. This week I share with you a few poems I’ve written in response to…
ArtRoot Writer-In-Residence 