Word by Word

Practical insights for writers from Jessica P Morrell

Archive for the 'Jessica Page Morrell' Category

July

Read the rest of this entry »

The Dream Keeper

  Bring me all your dreams, You dreamers. Bring me all of your Heart melodies That I may wrap them in a blue cloud-cloth Away from the too-rough fingers Of the world. ~ Langston Hughes

Read the rest of this entry »

…I want him to have a bit of magic in his prose style, a bit of unobtrusive poetry.

…I want him to have a bit of magic in his prose style, a bit of unobtrusive poetry. I want to have words and phrases really sing. And I like an attitude of wryness, realism, the sense of inevitability. I think that writing—good writing—should be like listening to music, where you pick out the themes, […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s Study Art

Earlier I was posting on Facebook about how we live in terrifying times and when reality feels unbearable I launch into my coping methods, and I don’t know about you, but  these days my coping tools are multiplying out of necessity. Which leads me to the art the internet offers up with such generosity. Because […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Could I put those starry deeps…

Could I put those starry deeps and lamplighted elms into words that sang like the nightwind now rinsing my senses and shivering the spring leaves?  ~ Donald Newlove ~ I’ve written more about Newlove’s work here.

Read the rest of this entry »

Love of My Days

It’s Memorial Day and I’m making lists of things that need accomplishing in the next few days and using damp heat on my sore back–gardening sometimes equals lifting which equals pain. And while I know how to properly lift heavy bags of dirt, it doesn’t mean I always do it right. Two things: I want […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Portals

Chalky skies in the Pacific Northwest this morning and I want to pass along a few ideas about writing fiction, using characters crossing thresholds to thrust stories forward and create resonance. And I’d like to recommend that most stories contain more than one threshold or portal. I finished working on a client’s manuscript last week […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Recommended: Blue by Richard Bausch

On days when the international news is unbearable, our democracy is rotting, and my stomach has been unsettled, I’m thrilled when my inbox delivers a gem of a short story. Electric Literature has a recommended reading feature and today’s recommended short story Blue by Richard Bausch is one that has stayed with me for the past […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Lists

Been madly busy, but in good ways. Last weekend attended a wedding in Cancun that was so lovely and joyful that I’m still dazzled by it. And that’s not to mention the tropical views and lapping ocean, food, and lots of dancing. But mostly the just-right-happiness of the beautiful couple. Back in Oregon I’m tackling […]

Read the rest of this entry »

May

Read the rest of this entry »