Archive

When I broke my foot last fall, there’s a part of myself I had to steal away. At the peak of my own personal fitness, I’d just hiked over 100 miles in Alaska, flown to Michigan to pick up my car, [...]

Months of rejection letters and today: one NYC agent interested in my work. I can say that I experienced approximately 20 seconds of elation when I received the news. The twelve hours immediately [...]

When I first learned about Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, I almost didn’t believe it. You mean there are kids out there who will voluntarily spend time indoors during the summer? Actually [...]

[I’m open to feedback on the new look of The Writing Life, which now doubles as my website. I still have a few pesky issues to resolve—for example, these hideous blue and purple links which [...]

Lower Northwest Michigan. That’s what they call it here and sure, I’ve been here before, but not with my bike. When this tour kicked off year-and-a-half ago, I had to decide between packing my [...]

Moved out of Frohlich Lodge today and across campus into Lesley’s house. My own room. My own bathroom. And best pals with her dog, Duckie, for the summer. As with all good pets, they mirror [...]

Since the moment I cut down Imnaha Highway, then pointed my car east, life has moved at lightning speed. My website still says I’m a Writer-in-Residence. My blog says my current location is [...]

Mini-lectures on the craft of nonfiction. A fine poetry reading. A thrilling novel reading. A craft lecture on 3rd person narration. A rockin’ concert at Interlochen’s Kresge Auditorium, where I [...]

I woke this morning to a thick, gray light, Michigan’s lake country clouds gathering for rain. By breakfast, a slight drizzle—lasting only a few minutes—cooled the morning and the skies cleared [...]

  I’ve been reading the faculty bios, pouring over the schedule, and double-triple-checking my craft lecture notes. It’s hard to believe I’m giving the opening lecture but it’s really just [...]