Columbia Writers' Workshop II

By Chris Mathews As a drama teacher and part-time playwright for thirty-two years, I believe dramatic concepts can be applied to other genre...

By Kim Byer I’ve spent most of my weekend changing a closet filled with turtlenecks and boots into one filled with tunics and sandals. This ...

By Amanda Simays My parents are moving out of the house they’ve lived in for twenty years. Which of my belongings do I discard, and which do...

By Fred Fields Standard advice to a writer is to write about what we know. A familiar event in all our lives is the death of a friend or fam...

By Kimberly Johnson Dear Regis, I miss you, man. I miss our morning chit chat sessions. First with Kathie Lee, then with Kelly. I miss our t...

By Ginny Padgett I’ve been perusing the November/December, 2011 issue of Poets & Writers magazine. I am astonished to find the numerous ...

By Deborah Wright Yoho People we know spark a writer's passion. My mother has been a puzzle to me since earliest childhood. Her name was...

By Tiem Wilson Okay, a show of hands…how many adults enjoy reading children’s literature? I’m talking not just Harry Potter or the Twilight ...

By Bonnie Stanard Currently I’m on page 425 of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, a 532-page book that has been critically acclaimed and won the M...

By Michelle Gwynn Jones Not all novels require the presence of a villain, but a story can’t have a hero unless there is someone, or somethin...

By Kimberly Johnson The other night, I munched on Kung Pao Chicken from a local Chinese place. I like chicken. I like chopsticks. Between yo...

Meet a New Cola II Blogger KIM BYER Atop one of my high school essays, in looping red ink, my English teacher warned me of the dangers of ...

By Kim Byer Beyond a beautiful piece of art or the occasional puppy, a new book is my favorite Christmas gift. During the holidays, my bedsi...

By Ginny Padgett I’m sure it’s been a busy holiday season for you, no matter your religious persuasion. Holidays have an underlying benefit ...

By Laura P. Valtorta Lisbeth Salander does not care what the world thinks of her, nor would she ever fix coffee or breakfast for anyone. She...

By Ginny Padgett Last week I attended my mother's family's Christmas get-together. There are six siblings; their parents have been g...

By Kimberly Johnson Yes. I picked the pepperoni off my pizza and tossed them in the cardboard carton that they came from. I don’t like them,...

Meet a New Columbia II Blogger CHRIS MATHEWS The son of a war historian turned college professor, Chris Mathews, born in 1949, grew up in Ar...

By Chris Mathews What advice on writing can I add to the nebulas already out there. I am just now beginning my own journey as a writer (alth...

By Belise Butler As I retired from my second career and entered a third, I also re-entered the field of writing. I had success in most thing...