Archive

  • Reading Discworld

    What book could you read over and over again? Any entry from Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. Pratchett had a rare talent for molding words into the most fascinating and enticing sentences and using them as the building blocks for a fun world and enjoyable, interesting and likeable characters. It’s a hard thing to precisely… Read more

  • Everyologist

    When I was little, I wanted to be an “everyologist.” I would be an expert in everything – history and science and books and everything. Little kids can be experts in everything, because everything is within easy reach. I got older, and couldn’t do everything, so I decided I should focus on “most things.” Then… Read more

  • Professionals on Writing

    Living is easy. Writing is hard. Let’s hear what the experts have to say: “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter — it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain “The… Read more

  • My Best School Teacher

    Who was your most influential teacher? Why? Our best teachers are the ones who push us to our limits. For me, that was Mrs. Wall, 9th grade English. A summer reading assignment of The Once and Future King by T. H. White. Weekly essays. In-depth dissections of grammatical structure in complex sentences. Reading plays out… Read more

  • Tattoos are Not For Me

    Tattoos are not for me, and though I admire their artistry My body would not make for a good tapestry Colorful patterns, curving lines and creatures Would look poorly on my shape Good tattoos depend on anatomy most fine And limbs and torsos that gracefully align For if the body should expand after the tattoo… Read more

  • On the Topic of My Middle Name

    What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning or significance? The title of my blog is Jake W. Powell. What is that W doing there? The letter is a somewhat exotic middle initial in English, sounding rather like something found in the name of a quirky character from a 1940s comedy. It’s… Read more