Author: sblerner

The Power of Positive

If you fail a test, get rejected for a job, or aren’t invited to a party, do you immediately forget about it and think about all the good things in your life? Or do you wallow in misery, feel like a failure, and fall into a funk? If it’s the latter, you are not alone. Social scientists posit that…… Continue reading The Power of Positive

Journaling Apps

I plan to try different journaling apps, in order to offer recommendations. I’d also be interested in publishing user reviews of journaling apps, so if you have tried any of them, please send me your thoughts and I will post them, or simply use the comment section. Today, I tried The Journal App, which is for…… Continue reading Journaling Apps

Commady

Commady No, that isn’t a misspelling. It’s a joke, because it turns out that commas can be funny. I discovered this while teaching my advanced ESOL writing students. Most of the class time is spent reviewing student essays, addressing organization, clarity, grammar, and word choice. The essays range from funny to poignant to informative, and…… Continue reading Commady

Writing to reduce anxiety

The paperback version of The Journal Project is in the works. It will be out in the next few weeks. One section deals with the value of writing not only about joyful moments, but also about anxieties or problems. The very process of writing can give clarity to a problem and make it easier to accept.…… Continue reading Writing to reduce anxiety

How to organize research: My Rube Goldberg method and how it is evolving

I have finished two novels and two works of non-fiction, all of which required extensive research, and interviews, and I still don’t know how to organize all that information so it is accessible when I need it. I take voluminous notes, and then end up trying to keep everything in my head. Unfortunately, that doesn’t…… Continue reading How to organize research: My Rube Goldberg method and how it is evolving

Author Talks

I have been giving Author Talks at libraries and book groups. It’s wonderful to meet readers and potential readers and give them some background on the genesis of the book and the history of the period, and to get their thoughts on the story. I’ve had wonderful, intelligent, thoughtful audiences, so far.