I was asked again today how to become a writer—how did I do it? My first piece, a short story, was published in the Southeastern Sun and Salmon Wrapper, a Juneau alternative paper, when I was in third grade. I had only recently learned to write, but I already thought of myself as a writer. …
Adult literacy is dropping in the rich nations of the world. An international study shows that about a third of American adults 16 to 65 have reading, math, and reasoning skills no higher than a third-grade level. Meanwhile, machines expertly assume tasks of writing, math, and problem-solving. Literacy especially concerns writers, because writers need readers, …
Shorter sentences aren’t always easier to understand, whatever you may have heard from your composition teacher or writing software. The best writers generate meaning using sentence length as a stylistic tool. I don’t advocate complex sentences for every kind of writing—billboards, shopping lists, and social media posts should be as direct as possible—but simplicity itself …
The decline of literary fiction and serious film has contributed, in part, to America’s current social and political division. These art forms once helped glue us together through empathy and mutual comprehension. That’s not just a self-serving writer’s view. It is based on cognitive psychology. About 15 years ago scientists in Toronto established that people …
My son Robin was about five years old when he asked me at bedtime one night, “Is a computer screen a window or a tile?” He was fascinated by our Mac Classic with its little black-and-white screen, which did look like a tile. But his question is relevant to all expressive artists, especially writers. Do …
Young people have more vivid imaginations—there’s neuroscience on that—sharper memories, and quicker access to information. Old people know more—not more facts, but more about the nature of the world. They have lived the stories they tell. Young people care passionately about things that turn out, long after, not to have mattered. Old people have learned …
I’m OK with anything you do with the English language that makes it more expressive and doesn’t sacrifice its logic (such as it is). But often, new ways of using English make sentences weaker, less communicative, and wimpy. I’m experiencing that with people using ‘experience’ as a verb. “The patient is experiencing pain.” That should …
The death two weeks ago of my father-in-law, Mark Rowland, got me thinking about where writing talent comes from. He was a respected judge, a pilot, and a legendary outdoorsman, and he crafted exquisite letters, written with a fountain pen on fine stationary, using elegant prose that despite its perfection also conveyed powerful emotions, connection, …
It was a weird feeling to have my former boss and old friend portrayed on television in an eerily perfect copy of his real look and mannerisms. Even the conference room where we used to meet was faithfully reproduced on the ABC series, “Alaska Daily.” Anchorage Daily News editor David Hulen is far from famous. …
During our second conversation, over coffee, it came out that what Dan wanted most at 36 was to grow up. He had been addicted to marijuana for so long he had missed out on maturing as a man. I thought we were going to talk about his public speaking club. I hadn’t thought that topic …
