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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
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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
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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
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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
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Don’t Do It
If you could delete one word from being used, what would it be? Do. A two-letter word that has gotten far too big for its britches. A little verb that has become far too self-important. A word that has been fed and fed until it’s grown so fat that it’s smothered the rest of the… Read more
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Cool, Fresh Water
What is your favorite drink? Water. Just water. Pure, cool and fresh. I don’t want or need juice or soda or milk or any other liquid concoction. Just water. As boring an answer as that may sound, let us consider the implications of drinking water on the regular. With a turn of the handle, clean… Read more