Category Archives: Creativity

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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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 →

Posted in Books and reading, Creativity, Life, Writing, blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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 – “Being Gorgeous” (An Alliterative Island Ghost Story)

Posted on December 26, 2020 by Katherine Wikoff

This week’s writing exercise is another one from Ursula K. Le Guin’s marvelous book on writing, Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story (Amazon link HERE, in case you’re interested in checking it out). Our … Continue reading →

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Writing Exercise – “The Dress-Up Dress Down”

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Katherine Wikoff

Or should that be “smackdown”? Read on and see 🙂 My writing group does short exercises to share each time we meet, and I’ve decided it might be fun to start sharing them here on my blog. For this week, … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Life, Uncategorized, WPLongform (posts of 1000 words or longer), Writing, blogging | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Was this GMC Sierra truck ad shot in Narnia?

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Katherine Wikoff

Otherwise, that random streetlight makes little sense. “This is the land of Narnia,” said the Faun, “where we are now; all that lies between the lamp-post and the great castle of Cair Paravel on the eastern sea.” One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Life, Popular culture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Back after a long absence (blamed entirely on the pandemic!)

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Katherine Wikoff

This is my first post since February, so hello! The details behind my long absence don’t really matter, because, really,  haven’t we all been dealing with the same troubles for months now? But basically, long story short: I teach college, … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Higher education, Life, Nature, Technology, Travel, Writing, blogging | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Balanced, calm composition (veering slightly toward hysteria)

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Katherine Wikoff

I was instantly struck by this four-quadrant checkerboard pattern of vertical and horizontal lines and areas of shadow and light when I walked into my office around 1:00 this afternoon after teaching my freshman report-writing class. I fooled around with … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Creativity, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

A “jaw-droppingly” creative television ad

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

The “Golden Age” of television advertising” (think “Mad Men”) is generally considered to be the 1960s through sometime in the 1980s. TV commercials were often extremely creative and fun to watch. Like this clever VW commercial from the very early … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Popular culture, Television | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Best Quality Furniture Co. SALE SALE

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

I don’t know why this store caught my eye as I was driving home from work last week. Stores of this sort are ubiquitous in the central city. Each has such a strong personality, such a distinctly individual character, especially … Continue reading →

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