dear friends -- a little flash fiction for you while you're waiting for your dad, taking care of your or someone else's dad, are busy being a dad, used to be a dad, are currently dadless, or whatever your relation to dadness as a category is: once upon a time there was a guy with … Continue reading story time sunday, june 15, 2014 — speaking of fathers of invention…
teachin’ tuesday, june 10, 2014 — 5 questions for guest faculty from Yi Shun Lai
Dear Friends -- Yi Shun Lai asks guest faculty at this years August NILA residency to answer 5 questions. To find out more about our residency up on beautiful Whidbey Island, click on http://www.nila.edu/mfa/ To find out more about my fantastically gifted and athletic teaching partner Janet Buttenwieser, click here. Here they are along with … Continue reading teachin’ tuesday, june 10, 2014 — 5 questions for guest faculty from Yi Shun Lai
story time sunday, june 8th 2014: two girls and (possibly) god
Once upon a time there was a girl who believed in god. Not her mother’s god and for sure not her father’s god who was a grim strict guy who insisted that you walk to church instead of bike or drive or god forbid (haha) stay home, and she stopped going to that god place, … Continue reading story time sunday, june 8th 2014: two girls and (possibly) god
Story Time Sunday on Monday, June 2, 2014 — a tiny true story
I want to tell you a story about my friend J’s quilt. She showed it to me yesterday and told me how her mother made a quilt for each of the children that was like an illuminated manuscript telling the stories of their lives. But J’s was the most ornate and detailed – it even … Continue reading Story Time Sunday on Monday, June 2, 2014 — a tiny true story
Special edition Sunday May 25th 2014 — cannibal connections: 10 confessions
warning: not for the faint of heart Confession 1: Being a literary critic is a bit like being a cannibal: you don’t write anything creative yourself but you shred up whatever poor author you’re working on, season the dead author/auteur with lit theory and serve ‘em up to your 3-4 colleagues who are interested … Continue reading Special edition Sunday May 25th 2014 — cannibal connections: 10 confessions
Story Time Sunday, May 18th, 2014 — a diversion for mature audiences and an interview
Dear Friends -- I recently spoke with Kristy Lin Billuni who runs a fantastic website called Sexy Grammar. There you can find tips on writing as well as workshops and private consults that connect the sensual, the sexual, and sometimes the downright dirty with the process of creating beautiful writing. The fact is: writing and … Continue reading Story Time Sunday, May 18th, 2014 — a diversion for mature audiences and an interview
For Magical Realism fans and friends — an Aimee Bender story with some craft exercises
Dear friends -- some of you have participated or are about to participate in the "Magical Realism for Beginners" workshop that I've been developing lately. Here, for your delectation, is a great story by Aimee Bender along with some materials for developing your own story: http://www.missourireview.com/anthology/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/theremembererwithmaterials.pdf Enjoy and see you in class sometime! … Continue reading For Magical Realism fans and friends — an Aimee Bender story with some craft exercises
Story Time Sunday, May 11th, 2014 — a true story for all ages
We stumbled upon it. Twice. This health food store on the highway in some town in Oregon. We were hungry, but he can’t eat unhealthy any more. And I shouldn’t. So we have to eat slow. The health food store is big. Two people run it. A man and a woman. They are not young. … Continue reading Story Time Sunday, May 11th, 2014 — a true story for all ages
Story Time Sunday, May 4th, 2014 — “Did you ever ask yourself?” — A ridiculous tiny tale for all ages
Did you ever ask yourself who makes that hot water on demand from the little faucet with the red dot on it that you paid a lot of extra $$ for because you told Dmitri and Demetrius and Demy and Debi that you had to have it, because you didn’t have time to boil water … Continue reading Story Time Sunday, May 4th, 2014 — “Did you ever ask yourself?” — A ridiculous tiny tale for all ages
Special Sunday Announcement and links, April 27th, 2014
Once upon a time there was a book. And the book was good. Friends -- I am thrilled to announce the launch of my poetry collection How Formal? with Spout Hill Press. Spout Hill is a woman-owned small press run by the amazing Ann Brantingham, who is a gifted visual artist. The picture to the … Continue reading Special Sunday Announcement and links, April 27th, 2014
Stephanie Barbé Hammer Writing (Un) Real 