Musings from my driveway, my home and my heart
A schnauzer, a hatchet and a rosary were some of the tools my grandma relied on when she was forced into retirement at age 84 the day after my grandfather died. They ran a little shot-and-a-beer bar called the Rose Cafe on Michigan Avenue in Detroit that served Cadillac and Chrysler autoworkers. It was a... Continue Reading →
As a college essay coach I’ve found that parents often are the greatest stumbling block to a winning piece of writing. Here is my advice to well-meaning parents who are tempted to parachute in and take charge of the process. Keep Your Hands Off the Essay Elementary school teachers often tell me that they can... Continue Reading →
I met with one of my business-writing clients at Starbucks this week. As we were finishing up, the real truth came out. Despite his impressive resume and credentials, he is intimidated by writing and doesn’t know how to overcome the fear as he seeks to launch his career in a new direction. I had a... Continue Reading →
When I Skype with my students in Singapore, Beijing or Irvine, California, I get a revealing portrait of who they are and how they live. Behind them I often see an unmade bed, an empty pizza box, stuffed animals, guitars and drum sets. And they get a look at the inside of my home office,... Continue Reading →
