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Inhalt bereitgestellt von Jessamine County Public Library. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Jessamine County Public Library oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.
A JCPL librarian interviews published writers about their favorite writing prompts—exercises that can help inspire, focus, and improve your creative writing. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, a novelist, essayist, or poet, you’ll find ideas and advice to motivate you to keep writing. A partnership with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.
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46 Episoden
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Manage series 2974130
Inhalt bereitgestellt von Jessamine County Public Library. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Jessamine County Public Library oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.
A JCPL librarian interviews published writers about their favorite writing prompts—exercises that can help inspire, focus, and improve your creative writing. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, a novelist, essayist, or poet, you’ll find ideas and advice to motivate you to keep writing. A partnership with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.
…
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Poet Leatha Kendrick believes that creativity is a habit. "To exercise your creativity is to keep it active and alive," she says. "You have to get up and walk to the library and then something can happen." Exercise your creativity with Leatha's favorite writing prompt. It will help you turn off your conscious mind and remember forgotten details. About Leatha Kendrick Author of five poetry collections, Leatha Kendrick received Transylvania University’s 2025 Judy Gaines Young Award, recognizing exceptional works by Appalachian authors. Leatha grew up on a southern Kentucky farm. Her adult life was spent in eastern Kentucky where she and her husband raised three daughters. Kendrick began writing seriously in midlife and found her first community of writers at the Appalachian Writers Workshop. She received her MFA in Poetry (at the age of 45) from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Recent poems and essays appear in anthologies such as Troublesome Rising: A Thousand-Year Flood in Eastern Kentucky and in journals including Appalachian Journal , Still: The Journal , and Hood of Bone Review .…
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"A teacher giving a prompt is the same as the world nudging you to write something," says poet and educator Christopher McCurry. On this episode, Christoper shares two prompts that will inspire you and help build your writing skills. Consider them a nudge to create something new. Christopher also discusses Workhorse, a community and publishing company that supports working writers. Plus, he describes what young and adult writers can learn from each other. About Christopher McCurry Christopher McCurry is the author of Open Burning and The Gospel of God Boy (Accents Publishing). In 2015, he co-founded Workhorse , a publishing company and community for working writers. He's creator of The Poetry Gauntlet and the Young Writers Conference and lives in Lexington, KY, with his wife, daughter, newborn son, and two dogs.…
For author Wes Blake, a former West Jessamine High School English teacher, writing about his obsessions helped him find his subject matter. "When you write about what obsesses you," he says, "it guides you towards things that are important to you, maybe in some way that you don't fully understand." On episode 44, Wes shares how he channeled his obsessions into his book, Pineville Trace . Learn to recognize and write about your own obsessions with help from his favorite writing prompt. About Wes Blake Wes Blake is the author of Pineville Trace , winner of the Etchings Press Novella Prize and finalist for the Feathered Quill Book Award for Debut Author (University of Indianapolis’ Etchings Press, 2024); the book was featured on Deep South Magazine’s Fall/Winter Reading List 2024-25. Blake has been called a “writer to watch” by Pulitzer Prize finalist Lee Martin. His work has appeared in Electric Literature , storySouth , Los Angeles Review of Books , and Louisiana Literature Journal , among others, and he holds an MFA from the Bluegrass Writers Studio. Wes lives in Nonesuch, Kentucky, with his wife and cats, where they’ve planted over 100 trees. Learn more at wesblake.com .…
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Poet Lynnell Edwards enjoys using what she calls "external prompts" from other authors. But she believes that "ultimately as writers, we've got to have sort of internal prompts." On this episode, Lynnell shares questions that will help you create your own personalized writing prompts. Learn how to generate a series of poems, essays, or linked short stories based on what you've already written. About Lynnell Edwards Lynnell Edwards is the author of six collections of poetry, most recently, The Bearable Slant of Light , which documents the onset of bipolar disorder in her son, the impacts on the family, as well as constructions of mental illness as depicted in literature and history. She is Associate Programs Director for the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University where she mentors and lectures in Poetry. She is also Book Reviews Editor for Good River Review , Spalding's literary journal. Find her at lynnelledwards.com for more about her work, including essays, poems online, interviews, and upcoming events.…
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When novelist Tammy Oberhausen feels "stuck or uninspired," she tends "to wallow around with it for a while and feel bad." Writing prompts help her ideas flow again. "Don't wallow too much," she says. "Get the prompt and go with it." On this episode, Tammy shares how to use your dreams—which she says are like "personalized prompts"—in your writing. About Tammy Oberhausen Tammy Oberhausen is the author The Evolution of the Gospelettes , a novel published in 2024 by Fireside Industries. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Western Kentucky University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. While working as a book editor and teacher and raising two daughters, she kept coming back to a story about a family of gospel singers that wouldn’t let her go. After three decades of developing her craft and writing and rewriting that story, the Gospelettes finally made their debut. A Kentucky native, she lives in Bowling Green with her husband.…
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Amelia Zachry, author of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood , didn't think anyone would want to read about her trauma. But being vulnerable about her experiences "invited people to be vulnerable" in return. "And so that is the power of the word from page to the reader," Amelia says, "that we can transform that sense of healing to others through our words." On this episode, Amelia discusses several writing prompts that will help you tap into your emotions and "share your truth." About Amelia Zachry Amelia Zachry is the author of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood . She began writing her debut memoir after finding her voice, shedding silence and fear. Enough reveals secrets of sexual assault and subsequently a bipolar disorder diagnosis. She is an advocate for mental health and sexual assault awareness, supporting causes to dismantle rape culture and normalize mental health. When she’s not writing, she can be found sculpting Raku-Yaki pottery or hiking with her husband and two magnificent daughters. Amelia currently resides in Nagoya, Japan.…
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Author Jessica Handler believes "that when we write well, we're writing about what matters to us." What matters to you? On this episode, Jessica shares a prompt that will help you understand what you're trying to do with your writing. It's one that she often used while working on her memoir, Invisible Sisters . Jessica also shares a prompt that will help you regain focus and use your senses in a work in progress. Her third prompt will help you generate ideas for future projects. About Jessica Handler Jessica Handler is the author of the novel The Magnetic Girl , winner of the 2020 Southern Book Prize and a nominee for the Townsend Prize for Fiction, a 2019 “Books All Georgians Should Read,” an Indie Next pick, Wall Street Journal Spring 2019 pick, Bitter Southerner Summer 2019 pick, and a Southern Independent Bookseller’s Association “Okra Pick.” Her memoir Invisible Sisters was also named one of the “Books All Georgians Should Read,” and her craft guide Braving the Fire: A Guide to Writing About Grief and Loss was praised by Vanity Fair magazine. Her writing has appeared on NPR, in Tin House , Drunken Boat, Full Grown People, Oldster, The Bitter Southerner, Electric Literature, Brevity , Creative Nonfiction , Newsweek, The Washington Post and elsewhere.…
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For poet and fiction writer B. Elizabeth Beck, "making sure that you are actively engaged in a community is... the salvation to your sanity and to your work." On this episode, Elizabeth discusses her participation in writing and music communities. She founded Teen Howl and Poetry at the/ˈtā-bəl/, two Lexington-based reading series where poets of all ages support each other's writing. Elizabeth has also discovered community with fellow fans of the Grateful Dead and Phish, and these experiences, as well as her love of visual art, often inspire her writing. Learn how to engage with art and music in your own writing with help from Elizabeth's favorite prompt. About B. Elizabeth Beck lizabeth Beck is a poet who writes fiction. Dancing on the Page (Rabbit House Press, 2024) is her fifth poetry collection. Accents Publishing will publish Swan Songs , her debut collection of short stories, in 2025. Mama Tried (Broadstone Books) won the American Book Fest Prize for Poetry. She was a finalist in the Kentucky State Poetry Society Grand Prix Prize and has been nominated several times for the Pushcart Prize. Elizabeth is a recipient of The Kentucky Foundation for Women grant. Her work appears in journals and anthologies, including Poetica Magazine , Appalachian Review , Limestone Blue , and Harvard Education Press . Elizabeth founded two poetry series, Teen Howl, and Poetry at the/ˈtā-bəl/ in Lexington, Kentucky.…
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Novelist Jacinda Townsend believes that "writing is a habit, and the imagination begets the imagination." Having a set writing routine helps her create because "the imagination is a kind of muscle." On this episode, Jacinda explains the steps she takes each morning to fire up her imagination, including using writing prompts. Her favorite prompt to share focuses on pacing. Her students generate such strong work with this exercise that some have even published their finished pieces. About Jacinda Townsend Jacinda Townsend is the author of Trigger Warning (Graywolf, 2025) and Mother Country (Graywolf, 2022), winner of the 2023 Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Townsend's first novel, Saint Monkey (Norton, 2014), winner of the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize and the James Fenimore Cooper Prize for historical fiction, was an Honor Book of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. A former broadcast journalist and elected official, Townsend has written nonfiction for Al Jazeera and The White Review .…
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Novelist Robert Gipe believes that when you use writing prompts, "you're just kind of fishing for something that works." If you're lucky, you might end up with "a couple of sentences that have some energy to them, that have some heat." Robert says those sentences can help you build a piece of writing "you feel good enough about to share with others." Try your luck with three of Robert's favorite writing prompts. According to him, these prompts use form "as a way of letting your unconscious drive the content." About Robert Gipe Robert Gipe won the 2015 Weatherford Award for Outstanding Appalachian Novel for his first novel, Trampoline . His second novel, Weedeater , was published in 2018. His third novel, Pop , was published in 2021. All three novels are published by Ohio University Press. In 2021, the trilogy won the Judy Gaines Young Book Award. From 1997 to 2018, Gipe directed the Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Appalachian Program in Harlan. Gipe is founding producer of the Higher Ground Community Performance Series and has served as a script consultant for the Hulu series, Dopesick , and a producer on the feature film, The Evening Hour . Gipe resides in Harlan County, Kentucky. He grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee.…
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When creative writer Deidra White feels stuck with her writing, she tells herself to "write the poem that you need to read." This exercise helps with one of the most challenging aspects of writing: visualizing your audience. Deidra shares several other ways she likes to jump start her writing. She also describes how she rediscovered her passion for words as a nontraditional college student, why she enjoys teaching young people, and more. About Deidra White Deidra White is a Lexington, KY, native, a University of Kentucky MFA graduate, and an aspiring Affrilachian poet. She received the 2022 Farquhar Award for Poetry for “Meihua;” the Patricia and William Stacy Endowed Fellowship for Distinguished Honors in English; and the William Hugh Jansen Fiction Award in the Art of Storytelling/Folklore for “Woodstock.” White was the 2023 winner of the Broadside Poetry Contest for “When They Came” and the 2023 winner of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Nonfiction Award for her contemporary piece, “DUCK." She was also the Keynote Speaker for the 2024 Youth Poet Laureate commencement. Her work engages the tradition of Affrilachian writing and explores the intricate dynamics of Black womanhood with an eye to connections of the past to present.…
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Are you an aspiring writer who thinks you’ll write a novel when you have more time or your children are older? If so, author and Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House has some advice for you. “Often you cannot create the perfect conditions for your writing,” he says. “I think if you wait around for that, you’re never going to get anything written.” Silas knows this from experience, having written his first three novels when his children were small. “Sometimes you just have to do it,” he continues. Silas shares a multi-step writing prompt that will help you create vivid characters, whether you’re working on fiction, poetry, or memoir. It’s the perfect opportunity to stop waiting and start writing. About Silas House Silas House is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seven novels, four plays, and one book of creative nonfiction. His writing has been featured in Time , The Atlantic, The Washington Post , and many other publications. House currently serves as the Poet Laureate of Kentucky and is a 2022 winner of the Duggins Prize, the largest award for an LGBTQ writer in the nation. He has been a finalist for a Grammy Award and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. His most recent novel, Lark Ascending , won the Southern Book Prize and the Editor’s Award from Booklist , among other honors.…
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Kaitlyn Hill, who writes young adult romantic comedies, didn't always take those stories seriously, even though she was drawn to them. "It was just really powerful for me to come to the realization that there is so much value in stuff that is fun and light and happy," she says. As Kaitlyn's writing prompt illustrates, she tries to keep fun in her process. Kaitlyn also shares how reading fueled her desire to be a writer, her love of fan fiction, and more. About Kaitlyn Hill Kaitlyn Hill is a writer who lives to tell love stories and make people laugh. While books make up most of her personality, Kaitlyn also enjoys messy reality TV, has never met a tea she didn't like, and thrives on overly ambitious home improvement projects. She resides in Kentucky with her real life romance hero. Kaitlyn is the author of Wild About You and other young adult romantic comedies, and can be found on social media @thekaitlynhill and at thekaitlynhill.com…
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Sandra Gail Lambert, author of My Withered Legs and Other Essays , started writing in her forties. She believes her age helped her cope with the "rough and tumble world" of publishing. "There's so much rejection [in publishing], and there's so much feedback that is not necessarily accurate or kind," Sandra says. "And when we're older, we just have tougher skin." That resilience allowed Sandra to "look for something in their critique... that helped me be a better writer without paying attention to their attitudes or assumptions or prejudices against me." Sandra shares several prompts she relies on when she's feeling lost in her writing. She also discusses why she chose to self-publish her novel The Sacrifice Zone: An Environmental Thriller ; why she always returns to the body in her writing; and more. About Sandra Gail Lambert Sandra Gail Lambert writes fiction and memoir that is often about the disabled body and its relationship to the natural world. She's the author of the recently released My Withered Legs and Other Essays from the University of Georgia Press, the Lambda Literary Award nominated memoir, A Certain Loneliness , and two novels, The River's Memory and The Sacrifice Zone: An Environmental Thriller .…
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Do you wonder if you have a book inside you? According to Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame member George Ella Lyon, "you have to write to find out." George Ella says writers "have to dwell in uncertainty. Because that's the one thing that's certain, is that you'll be uncertain." George Ella, who writes for all ages in multiple genres, shares the prompt that inspired her to write Many Storied House: Poems . So take out some paper (two sheets of at least 8.5 x 11") and get ready to draw your way into your next story, poem, or essay. About George Ella Lyon Harlan County native George Ella Lyon writes in multiple genres for readers of all ages. She has published five poetry collections, a novel and memoir for adults, novels and poetry for young people, and many children’s picture books. Her most recent titles include Back to the Light: Poems (Univ. Press of Ky 2021) and Time to Fly (Atheneum 2022). Her poem “Where I’m From” has gone around the world as a writing model. Married to musician and writer Steve Lyon, she served as Kentucky Poet Laureate (2015-2016) and was recently inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame.…
If you're a writer who works another job to make a living, poet Robin LaMer Rahija has some advice for you. "I think ideas and thoughts and little tiny chunks of motivation come to all of us throughout the day," she says. "Just stop and write them down and save them for later. And get in the habit of not ignoring that impulse toward a creative act." Robin says her favorite writing prompt "feels like a dare" and is especially helpful "when you want to do something new and crazy." Up for a challenge? Listen to the episode! About Robin LaMer Rahija Robin LaMer Rahija is originally from Kansas City, MO and has lived in Kentucky for over a decade. She received her MFA from the University of Kentucky, where she is currently the Department Manager Associate in the Department of English. In 2010, she co-founded and edited Rabbit Catastrophe Press, a handbound, feminist, book arts micropress. In 2015, she co-founded Workhorse Writers Collective, a publishing and education platform for poets outside of academia. Her poems have appeared in Puerto Del Sol, FENCE, Guernica , and elsewhere. Inside Out Egg is her first full-length book, published by Variant Lit in April 2024.…
Author and arts administrator JC McPherson is also a trained master electrician who approaches poetry with a troubleshooting mindset. He says that "writing a poem is no different than wiring up a new room, like putting new lights in the outlets. And it's a process." JC often returns to his favorite writing prompt because it "shakes something loose" and helps him relax into his writing. Shake up your writing process and have fun while doing it with his help! About JC McPherson JC McPherson has a background in writing, electricity, and general troubleshooting. A recipient of the 2022-2023 National Leaders of Color Fellowship through South Arts, he is an associate for the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative , Creative Writing Instructor, and arts administrator. He is a member of the Affrilachian Poets and the author of numerous collections of poetry. He’s also a member of the Society of American Baseball Research.…
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On this episode, we talk to Tracee de Hahn, author of the Agnes Luthi mystery series and coordinator of the Carnegie Center's Author Academy . Tracee prefers "to think of a prompt as a possibility, but not necessarily a necessity." She's partial to the origin story as a writing prompt because it helps her understand the characters and places she's writing about. Listen to find out how to enrich your own writing with this prompt! About Tracee de Hahn Tracee de Hahn is the author of mysteries published by Minotaur books as well as non-fiction books for young adults which delve into historical events. She is national vice president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded over 35 years ago to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition, and professional development of women crime writers. In addition, she speaks about Layered Career Paths to groups across the country. She is currently Coordinator of the Carnegie Center Author Academy , where she has served for several years as a mentor.…
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On this episode of Prompt to Page, Sean L. Corbin, the Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator for the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, discusses his belief that "everything is a prompt." "If you sit down to write a poem, you don't just pour it out," he says. "Something had to prompt you to do that." If you've ever enjoyed Mad Libs or LEGO, you might enjoy Sean's favorite writing prompt, a "wild text exercise" inspired by his friend and mentor George Eklund. Sean even reads a poem he wrote using the exercise. About Sean L. Corbin Sean L Corbin is the author of The Leper Dreams of Snow (Finishing Line, 2018), and is the Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator for the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. His work has been published widely. He holds degrees in English and Creative Writing from Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky. Sean lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and sons, and also works in medical simulation.…
On this episode of the Prompt to Page writing podcast, we talk to poet and visual artist Jay McCoy, author of The Occupation . Jay discusses his passion for researching his family history and how that research has inspired his recent poetry projects. He also shares two of his favorite writing prompts, including one from Linda Gregg's essay "The Art of Finding." While Jay encourages listeners to strive for a regular writing practice, he also believes they should be gentle with themselves. "Give yourself grace, read widely, and find your practice," he says. About Jay McCoy Jay McCoy is a multimedia artist working primarily in poetry and visual collage. He calls Lexington home but maintains his Appalachian connections and deep roots in Eastern Kentucky. Jay is an adjunct Professor at Eastern Kentucky University and Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Also, he is a writing instructor with the Carnegie Center and founder of their Q-munity program for LGBTQ+ writers , as well as the archivist for the Big Sandy Heritage Center Museum. In addition to his book, The Occupation , you may find Jay’s work in anthologies and journals, including Naugatuck River Review , Still: the Journal , and Blue Fifth Review .…
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On this episode of the Prompt to Page writing podcast, we talk to Terena Elizabeth Bell, author of Tell Me What You See . Terena discusses why the events of the last few years compelled her to write experimental short fiction, and she offers encouragement to listeners who want to write about current events. “You have to write with your voice, what you saw," she says, "and you can't worry about whether it's going to get published, whether if you publish it, anything else is going to get published, whether your mother is going to like it…. You have to turn all of that off and just write.” Turn all of that off and write with help from Terena’s one-word prompt. About Terena Elizabeth Bell Terena Elizabeth Bell is a fiction writer. Her debut short story collection, Tell Me What You See (Whiskey Tit), published December 2022. Her work has appeared in more than 100 publications, including The Atlantic, Playboy, Salamander, and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine . Her short fiction has won grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Originally from Sinking Fork, Kentucky, she lives in New York City.…
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For Christopher Rowe, author of The Navigating Fox , writing prompts can help him generate work when he's feeling stuck. In fact, one of his first stories to be widely published, translated into a dozen different languages, and reviewed in The New York Times was based on a writing prompt. Christopher's favorite prompt will challenge you to rethink some of the decisions you've already made in a piece of writing. "Because I think that if you're going to write from a prompt at all, in any circumstance," he says, "you should just go with it.... If you're going to trust the prompt, you have to trust yourself to work with it." About Christopher Rowe Christopher Rowe’s stories have been published, reprinted, and translated around the world, and he has been a finalist for many internationally recognized awards. His most recent book is a novella from Tordotcom Publishing, The Navigating Fox , which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly . Locus Magazine said that Rowe’s stories are “as smooth and heady as good Kentucky bourbon.”…
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Comic artist, writer, and animator Bryce Oquaye considers mentorship to be "the most important part" of his journey, whether he's receiving feedback from other creators or working with young people. "Because initially," he says, "I made what I made, and I shared it online, and that was helpful. But nothing helped me excel more than connecting with other people in a real way." Bryce shares the importance of comic conventions to his professional development and describes his process of creating comics, both on his own and as part of a team. The prompts that Bryce uses to develop characters and story structure will benefit writers of all genres. About Bryce Oquaye Bryce Oquaye is an illustrator, comic artist, writer, and animator. His comic and graffiti-styled approach have placed him within a wide range of projects. From comics to cover art for publishers like Z2 Comics, illustration for Zox and Netflix, and animation for companies like Group Nine Media, Bryce has placed a focus on story-based illustration and sequential work. A resident artist at the Loudoun House and Lexington Art League, Bryce Oquaye operates a studio he calls MADHUNDREDS , where he self-publishes comics and small animation projects as a freelance creator. He also works closely as part of a collective called “Six Bomb Boards” where he had his start as a live artist. He travels to exhibit and perform live art in different comic conventions and art showcases.…
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For New York Times bestselling author David Arnold, reading with intention is a kind of writing prompt. "I think the most important thing about reading a lot is letting yourself become a sponge and soak in the words and soak in the pacing and soak in the stories," he says. "But...occasionally let's look at the mechanics of it, and what is it about this sentence or this paragraph or this book that I'm loving so much, and is there something there that I can intentionally be like, I love that. Let me see if I can apply that in my own writing." David offers examples from three books he loves, discussing how these passages helped him try different techniques in his own writing. Books David Discusses Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl Northern Spy by Flynn Berry The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller About David Arnold David Arnold is the New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland , I Loved You in Another Life, The Electric Kingdom, Kids of Appetite , and The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik . He has won the Southern Book Prize and the Great Lakes Book Award, and was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start for his debut. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and son. Learn more at davidarnoldbooks.com and follow him on Instagram @iamdavidarnold.…
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Ashley Blooms turned to writing prompts as “a way to reconnect” with her writing and “do some creative healing.” She believes that writers can be hard on themselves and prefers to emphasize self-compassion in her writing practice. “I think that creativity grows much better if you are being gentle with it,” she says, “than if you are using shame or criticism….” Listen to the episode for more tips and a prompt that will help bring a sense of play to your writing. About Ashley Blooms Ashley Blooms is the author of Where I Can’t Follow , which was named a Most Anticipated novel by Good Housekeeping , Gizmodo , and Tor.com , among others. Her debut novel, Every Bone a Prayer , was long-listed for the Crook’s Corner Book Prize. She’s a graduate of the Clarion Writer’s Workshop and received her MFA as a John and Renee Grisham Fellow from the University of Mississippi. Her fiction has appeared in The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror , Fantasy & Science Fiction , and Strange Horizons , among others. Learn more at: ashleyblooms.com .…
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Elizabeth Kilcoyne, author of Wake the Bones , discusses her own complicated relationship to writing prompts. She used to think she was "anti-prompt," but now she appreciates their help with what she calls "the sticky bits of literature." In other words, she continues, "that part of your manuscript that you keep wanting to turn away from and keep wanting to turn away from and keep ignoring.... I feel like [writing prompts] are always the sort of saving grace that I go to, to move into the next phase of a draft." Move into the next phase of your draft with help from Elizabeth's prompt. About Elizabeth Kilcoyne Elizabeth Kilcoyne is an author, playwright, and poet, born and raised in Kentucky. Her first novel, Wake the Bones , a YA Southern Gothic from Wednesday Books, is a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award, and received a starred review from both Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus , who described her as "a new standard-bearer in YA Horror." She currently lives in Lexington, Kentucky, where she gardens, serves on the organizational team for a local community vegetable market, and teaches writing.…
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For our twentieth episode, author Angela Jackson-Brown, the keynote speaker for the Carnegie Center's upcoming Books in Progress conference, discusses the importance of writing every day. "That doesn't mean sit down every day and write for three hours," she says. "But it does mean every day pick a time and write for 15 minutes. And then if you have another 15, write for another 15 minutes. But make the commitment that every day you're going to show up to the page. Because if you don't show up, the stories don't get told." Angela's writing prompt will help you get to know your characters before you sit down to write. About Angela Jackson-Brown Angela Jackson-Brown is an award-winning writer, poet and playwright who is an Associate Professor in the creative writing program at Indiana University in Bloomington. She also teaches in the graduate program at the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University in Louisville, KY. She is the author of Drinking From a Bitter Cup , House Repairs , When Stars Rain Down and The Light Always Breaks . In October of 2023, Angela’s next novel, Homeward , a follow-up to When Stars Rain Down , will be published by Harper Muse.…
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For our nineteenth episode, poet LeTonia Jones shares two writing prompts that will help you write more mindfully. She also discusses her initial reluctance to call herself a poet. “The sooner you claim it, that it is true about you, the better it is for all of us,” she says. “Our words are medicine, and we never know when we have just the medicine that somebody else needs.” About LeTonia Jones LeTonia Jones is a Kentuckian who has used the alchemy of arts and activism for over 25 years. She’s led public arts campaigns and projects to center the lived experiences of marginalized people. Her purpose is to stir emotions, facilitate space for insight, and move individuals and communities toward greater acts of care and love. In 2007, she collaborated with author and award-winning playwright Eve Ensler to pilot a two-week arts and activism festival and campaign to end violence against women and girls in Kentucky. In 2009, she co-created a writing group for incarcerated women called SwallowTale Project. In 2020, LeTonia co-founded Bloodroot Ink, a writing collective for BIPOC Womyn. Black Girl at the Intersection is Jones’ debut book and introduces her as a poet who believes acts of witnessing and of being witnessed are revolutionary.…
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For our eighteenth episode, we talk to poet Danni Quintos, who shares a writing prompt from cartoonist and graphic novelist Lynda Barry . Danni describes how both drawing and knitting have influenced her writing practice. Danni also talks about finding people who can provide feedback for your work. "Find your readers and cling to them for dear life," she says. "If you find somebody who's a good reader, never let them go, because it is not super common to find somebody who understands not only the the good things that you're doing, but that their criticism or critique is really helpful and kind of understands how to make it better." About Danni Quintos Danni Quintos is the author of the poetry collection, Two Brown Dots (BOA Editions, 2022), chosen by Aimee Nezhukumatathil as winner of the Poulin Prize, and PYTHON (Argus House, 2017), an ekphrastic chapbook featuring photography by her sister, Shelli Quintos. She is a Kentuckian, a mom, a knitter, and an Affrilachian Poet. Her work has appeared in Poetry Magazine, Cincinnati Review, Cream City Review, The Margins, Best New Poets 2015, Salon, and elsewhere.…
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Prompt to Page

Prompt to Page is brought to you in partnership with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning . Listen to Episode 17 For our seventeenth episode, we talk to Andrew Shaffer , author of Feel the Bern: A Bernie Sanders Mystery . Andrew describes what it’s like to write fiction about public figures and how studying comedy writing at The Second City has influenced his writing process. He shares a writing prompt from his wife, author Tiffany Reisz, who appeared on episode seven . Andrew believes that the well known saying to write what you know “doesn’t mean that you can only write stuff about your own life.” Instead of taking that advice literally, you should “write what you know in terms of emotional truths.” About Andrew Shaffer Andrew Shaffer is the New York Times bestselling author of Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery and over a dozen other humorous works of genre fiction from mystery to horror. He is a five-time Goodreads Choice Award nominee. An Iowa native, Shaffer lives in Louisville with his wife, novelist Tiffany Reisz . His latest release is the cozy mystery Feel the Bern: A Bernie Sanders Mystery .…
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