Author Archives: Mckenzie Cassidy

Do you struggle to write short? Is your style more Hemingway or Faulkner? There are famous authors known for writing long, beautiful sentences. It’s not easy. But, either is writing one that can cut like a knife in six words or less. For this month’s blog, I wanted to discuss ways to strengthen our work by using fewer words. My first job was writing for a newspaper. Editors expected me to strip away unnecessary words. They weren’t as strict about … Read More »

When starting a new writing project one of the hardest things to do — in my opinion— is to decide on point of view. The choice you make at this stage dictates everything from voice to plot. We all know the differences between first, second, and third person — most of us learned it in elementary school — but it’s much more complex than that. For this blog post, I wanted to dive into the murky world of point of … Read More »

Earlier this month, before the coronavirus shut everything down, I traveled to St. Petersburg for a freelance writing conference. Besides teaching at a state college in Fort Myers, I also make ends meet by writing for clients. A few hours before the conference started, I had the unique experience of visiting the Salvador Dalí Museum. Not that I’m an expert in fine art or possess the ability to paint something absolutely earth-shattering, but when I have time in a new … Read More »

Grappling with trauma through writing is the hardest, but most rewarding thing any survivor can do. Whether they are processing the horrors of war, an abusive relationship or a devastating diagnosis, writers often employ coping mechanisms in their work to aid in searching for their own truth and inner peace. On February 13, the German people recognized the 75th anniversary of the Dresden firebombing, often obscured in the history books but undoubtedly one of the deadliest attacks of World War … Read More »