Writer's Journey

  Nonfiction is a literary genre that has a strong field of books and talented authors that have captivated readers since the beginning of publishing. Nonfiction can be a form of historical or academic writing, but it is also so much more than that. The genre encompasses a wide variety of educational writings, historical research, and coverage of current events and thoughts. But beyond just recording history or teaching people, many nonfiction writers also write to entertain the reader and draw you into their book through the stories that can flow as beautifully as a well-written work of fiction.  Many nonfiction writers use literary devices that are common in fictional pieces. For example, writers of both fiction and nonfiction use the idea of “show, but don’t tell” to engage the senses of the readers and give them a deeper connection to the story being told. The authors use recurrent imagery, dialogue, and vivid descriptions of the setting including textures and smells to co...

I chuckle at the way we define ourselves in this world. We often feel obligated to answer key questions about our career, our marital status or our investments as if proving ourselves to someone. I enjoy listening to conversations in malls, on trains, in offices…there’s that old joke about “be careful or you will end up in my novel.” But I listen to people as they get to know each other. There are “significant things” people want to know depending upon the person. Where are you from? What denomination are you? Where did you graduate from? How long have you worked there? Who’s your broker? Have you volunteered there long? But I like to look deeper. The “insignificant” things make us unique and really define who we are. Take my girls, for instance. I can answer the “significant” things about each one of the. Yes, my daughters make good grades, play musical instruments, have a strong faith and are really good kids overall. I feel confident that they will be prepared for the future...