Writing Advice From Me: Stetson University Honors Convocations: First Prize in Poetry & Prose

Some philosophers, including me, think we should write better, and have more--and perhaps more descriptive--terms in philosophy, such as moral or character terms.

I took an admissions entrance exam for placement at then-DBCC. I scored gifted in English and remedial in Mathematics. I was a savant. A lot of gifted people are "lopsided."

I took the remedial Math classes. I loved my Math professors.

At Stetson, I entered writing competitions. I won First Prize in Poetry and/or Poetry and Prose from the years 2002-2004. I wasn't even an English major, and the competition was related to Women and Gender Studies.

In the Stetson Archives, I can only find 2 years of my awards, 2002 and 2004.

I graduated in 2004, but didn't walk. I only walked at my high school graduation. Contrary to popular belief, I don't love the limelight, and don't like to brag.

My tips for better writing? It's better than Stephen King's. He says in "On Writing" that he's born with it, so give up.

My Tips:

Listen to music.

Listen to poetry. I suggest the book/CD combo "Poetry Speaks."

Notice interesting words, sensations or images. Capture them for later.

It sounds cliché, but try to find your voice. It took me a long time to do that. I found my voice after hearing so many other voices in music, poetry, philosophy, politics, etc.

Learning is actual work. You CAN get better at things.

Now, buy my new memoir!

Comments

A Hanukkah Message on Furher Trump From One Yet Living

President-Elect (notice how I've never disputed that he won the 2024 election) Donald Trump has been frothing at the mouth in Hitlerian fashion , threatening to claim Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. Perhaps he knows--perhaps he doesn't--that these are war threats he is making. He seems pretty damn confident that The Department of Defense will do as he says, as if he were already--or is going to be--an absolute ruler. Not to belabor this point, but my direct ancestral lineage, from which we get our current military, fought The American Revolutionary War so we wouldn't have an absolute ruler. Far worse than a king, Donald J. Trump is aiming to be a dictator along the lines of Vladimir Putin, who has attacked Ukraine, which The United States, along with allies, have been supporting since Day 1. Caught in his frothy dreams, to Trump, the world may look like his oyster. He must know our military's fame; he must be confident of it. With due respect to the presiden...

Free Readings! & Readings Available For Purchase! (2024)

M y Writing Year In Review (2024). I graduated with my M.A. in 2023. Despite having sepsis, pneumonia, bronchitis, and being diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer in 2024, I managed to be more prolific this year than most years. Below is my year in review, separated by what you can read for free, and the few things available for purchase. Here's what you can read for free: I started the year by writing a book review that was oh-so-controversial . The next day or so, I proceeded to write the paper " Radical Logic ," which I first submitted to The United States Military. It is now declassified and open to everyone. I was then offered a chance to write about my true passion. I decided to write about a problem I had been working on for years: infinite cardinal numbers . I made two arguments on transgender language. I defended them publicly and then made a finale argument, which basically tells TERFS that they don't understand the English language . Here's what you can pay...

Sgt. Marion Lester Lawson (Special Forces, Korean Conflict)

My dad was in the the military during the Korean Conflict. Today, he would be known as a Green Beret . Below is a coffee cup I thought I had lost that he bought for me me when I was 8 years old. I infrequently get manic and give away stuff that I actually love. You can visit my dad's memorial online here . Veteran's Affairs has thoughtfully put his grave online, which is nice because I don't have to go all the way to Texas to put a daisy wreath on his grave. I've put some weird stuff on it, but I've also put some really great stories on it. Everyone who knew him has different stories to tell--some good, some bad. Above is a picture of my dad and my daughter on the day he cooked buffalo burgers and grilled corn on the cobb that he grew himself. When I was older, my dad had the bracelet below engraved for me. I thought I had lost that, too. It says "Jennifer" on one side, and "Dad" on the other. My dad's song for me was "The Yellow Rose...

Jennifer Lee Lawson

Search This Blog