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Helpful tools to plot your story
“Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to remember that story where that guy dies and one of his sons thinks the other did the crime, but it turns out to be the mother instead?” I was reading a post by Noelle...
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Books–still better than TV?
Liel Liebovitz, on Tablet Magazine this week, argues that TV is for Dummies. Photo of Sanyo TV courtesy of Kevin Simpson via Flickr Like most titles, this one exaggerates Mr. Liebovitz statement: that...
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Regional dialect in the U.S. – Pardon me for my nerdiness
“I’m sorry I laughed at you for calling the ginger ale, ‘Coke.’” “That’s alright, Mabel. I’ll forgive you if you pardon me for laughing when you called the spigot a ‘spicket.’” Like most people who...
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When the trolls try to drag those you love under the bridge.
“Take that, you nasty troll! Maybe you’ll think twice before saying mean things about my sister again!” I hate trolls. Not the fictional kind. The internet kind. I’ve blogged about it before. But now,...
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Having a funny day?
Even hyenas know when not to laugh. A couple days ago, I read this post on the Florida Writers Conference Blog (I know I’m not from Florida, but I happen to really like this blog) about humor. And...
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Personal life as a metaphor
In literature, we often use the intimate details of personal life to represent broader issues. In my latest article on Tablet, I used my experience of leaving Israel after making aliyah in childhood to...
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The best books for Jewish kids?
Kveller presented one bubby’s Top 10 Books for Jewish Kids this week. The first seven are Jewish books, the last three are secular books that the author of the list feels can benefit Jewish kids. I’ve...
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What I’m doing for my summer vacation
You might have noticed that I haven’t posted much lately. I’ve got all my kids home with me this summer, and instead of writing blog posts, I’ve been busy staycation-ing with the Kooky Klempners. I’ve...
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Do your feelings about an author affect your feelings about his or her work?
Today’s post from Erika Dreifus deserves a look-see. She comments on a recent NY Times essay by Margot Rabb entitled “Fallen Idols,” then adds her own reflections, touching on various writers with...
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Even turtles have to poke their heads out sometimes
What makes Jewish literature Jewish? In theory, I’m on vacation, make that staycation, with my kids and not posting. However, in the last week, two authors I respect both posted on a topic I’ve...
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Considering my last year of literary pursuit
Since there are just two weeks left of the Jewish year of 5773, I’ve been looking back at the last year and evaluating my life on every level: spiritual, physical, and even professional. And one goal...
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Struggling to pick out books for your Jewish children or students?
So many Orthodox parents and teachers have asked me for help finding books for their kids and students that I’ve decided to help them out. Please see the newest page on my author site for a book list...
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Last chance to get a new, unpublished story from me!
Publishing news: I have a Rosh Hashanah-themed story in this week’s Binyan, and, G-d willing, I’ll have another one in Binah BeTween next week. But would you like an exclusive, unpublished story to...
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New Jewish year, new books by Jewish authors!
The new Jewish year is marked this time around with several new book releases that have me very excited: 1) After being mesmerized by The World to Come and In the Image, I can’t wait to read Dara...
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School is on and I’m back to work!
The kids are back in school, and I am back to work. For four days, at least. When the kids go to school, Mommy gets to write! Because of the unfortunate discrepancy between the Jewish calendar and that...
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Different strokes for different folks: How one book can inspire so many others
A while back, someone my husband respects very much encouraged him to read this book: Rabbi Shafier’s book, based largely on Mesillas Yesharim The first time I read Rabbi Shafier’s book, Stop...
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I am not a blogger
I am not a blogger. There, I said it. I came to this realization yesterday, after the funny (as in “weird,” not in “haha”) response I had to PopChassid’s marvelous list of 7 bloggers he thinks deserve...
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My first foray into playwriting: lessons learned about writing and directing...
As I mentioned last week in passing, I spent a good chunk of time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur preparing a play for the kids at my synagogue. The topic: the story of Jonah, which is read during...
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Personal Essays: The Importance of Being Real
While I prefer to write fiction, particularly science fiction and fantasy, I do write other genres. This includes personal essays. I took a little break from writing personal essays over the summer,...
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Writers don’t live on desert islands
A couple weeks ago, a writer I’m friendly with asked in passing if I’d finished revising my novel. I told her that I felt like the rewrite wouldn’t happen until I moved to a desert island. Until that...
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