by Dana VanderLugt | May 15, 2019 | On faith, On living, On Writing
Recently, I joined with many other voices to mourn, honor, and celebrate Rachel Held Evans. Since her death, I’ve returned to my old journal over and over to read my notes from the last time I heard her speak in person at the Writing For Your Life Conference...
by Dana VanderLugt | Feb 17, 2019 | On living, On Writing
I’m excited to share that my essay, “The Orchard” is published in the Winter issue of Longridge Review. You can read it here. I began the first draft of this essay in my college dorm room about 20 years ago and picked it back up last year as I began...
by Dana VanderLugt | Jan 23, 2019 | On living, On teaching, On Writing
This past fall, on a beautiful, sunny Saturday, I attended a writing workshop with my college poetry professor, Jack Ridl. We were cozied into a small church hall and given permission to dig into our memories and free write and start pieces that maybe we’d...
by Dana VanderLugt | Jan 18, 2018 | On faith, On living, On parenting, On teaching, On Writing
inˈten(t)SH(ə)n(ə)l/ adjective: done on purpose; deliberate. Synonyms: calculated, conscious, intended, purposeful I talk to my writing students about audience all the time — “Know your audience,” I tell them, “Your tone, your style, your voice...
by Dana VanderLugt | Apr 29, 2017 | On living, On parenting, On teaching, On Writing
A friend once told me that if you really want to do something, first write down all the good excuses you’ve got not to do it. When it comes to writing, I’ve got a few: All the words have been said. I don’t have the right notebook or pen. People will think I’m a fake....
by Dana VanderLugt | Feb 12, 2017 | On Writing
This month, I’m honored to be writing on one of my favorite blogs, The Twelve, each Sunday. You can find your way here: 2/5: Vinegar 2/13: Middle 2/19: Hidden Hope 2/26: Saving up Stories