Author Archives: Katherine Wikoff

About Katherine Wikoff

I am a college professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering, where I teach literature, film studies, political science, and communication. I also volunteer with a Milwaukee homeless sanctuary, Repairers of the Breach, as chair of the Communications and Fund Development Committee.

Why I love my Starbucks

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

Before the pandemic hit, I would walk to the Red Arrow Starbucks down the hill from my office at least once a day. I’ve only been there a handful of times since. For a long time after my college moved … Continue reading →

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Green light, rainy morning

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

A nice, gentle spring rain was falling this morning as I waited for the light to change acros the street from my office. I loved the abstract image of the green light glowing through the circles of raindrops on one … Continue reading →

Posted in Milwaukee, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Writing Exercise – “Plain Talk”

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

It was my turn to select an exercise for writing group this week. Being incredibly busy at work and opting for shortcuts wherever legitimately possible, I turned to Ursula K. Le Guin’s wonderful Steering the Craft once again and found … Continue reading →

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The White Sea, Parted

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

The view of our front walk this week. Doesn’t that wall of snow look a bit like the wall of water left by the parting of the Red Sea in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 version of The Ten Commandments? DeMille … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies and film, Photography, Popular culture | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Paw prints etched in ice (and in my heart❤️)

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

I love the abstract images resulting from close-up views of this very mundane subject. A tribute to dogs everywhere who must brave the elements every day to take care of their canine business. With a special shout-out to Coco❤️

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February evening sunlight

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

This is what greeted me yesterday as I left my office in the Grohmann Museum at MSOE shortly before 5:00. The reflected streaks of orange sunlight across the pavement seemed very cheerful to me. And at this time of year, … Continue reading →

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PSA – How to save your phone from a watery grave

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

This WIRED article (link HERE) makes clear that using a hairdryer and/or putting your phone in a bag of rice are not good ideas. Your best strategy (my take on the article): Turn your phone off ASAP to prevent short … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Photography, Technology | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Writing Exercise – “Protest Night”

Posted on January 9, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

Here’s an exercise from late October or early November. I can’t remember which member of our writing group assigned this exercise, but it’s another taken from Ursula K. Le Guin’s Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea … Continue reading →

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The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2021–2022

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

Since 2013, I have been regularly updating this informational chart about the key book publishing paths. It is available as a PDF download—ideal for … The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2021–2022 Jane Friedman writes, speaks, and teaches online courses about all aspects … Continue reading →

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Writing Exercise – “Heart in a Box”

Posted on January 2, 2021 by Katherine Wikoff

Another writing-group exercise, this one from the end of last March. What an eerie, different time to remember. We understood almost nothing of Covid/COVID-19 (which we were still calling “the coronavirus”) and were newly under lockdown in Wisconsin, the governor’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing, blogging | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments