Blog and News

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Blog Academics, Alumni, Faculty

The Art of Beginning: 5 Ways to Invigorate Your Writing

I love a story from the book Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland. A ceramics teacher divided pottery students into two groups—one that had to make as many pots as possible and another that had to make the best pot...

Friday, January 31, 2020

Blog Communication, Community

Writing for Wonder and Joy

Six years ago today I got my first book deal. I also had my first panic attack. Publishing was very hard for me, almost every single step. So hard, in fact, that I had a long crisis of identity about whether I even...

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Blog Academics, Career & Leadership Development, Students, The Arts

5 Ways to Be a Better Writer

Writing takes creativity, work, and some helpful advice.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Blog Faculty, The Arts

The Poet Knows What the Copywriter Doesn’t. And Vice Versa.

In explaining his writing process, a poet once told my writing students, “I never think about the audience.” I think about audience constantly but that poet taught me something important.

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Blog Faculty, The Arts

The Spiritual Act of Naming: Truth Telling in Writing

My desire to write comes from an experience of reading. I read a transforming word. As I am transformed, I wish to influence transformation in a confusing and unjust world. Ethicist Oliver O’Donovan writes...

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Blog Leadership, Ministry & Missions

The crucial organizational role of stories

A college degree in my hand and a burning passion in my heart, I set out to start my career. But the Lord's timing is not my timing. I remain grateful for that blessing every day. I don't want to forget it. Storytelling...

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Blog Community, The Arts, UNW News

Northwestern hosts largest Christian writers conference in the country

In just the first year for what will be an annual event, the Northwestern Christian Writers Conference sold out, and it became the largest Christian writers conference in the nation.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Blog Career & Leadership Development, College Preparation, Faculty, The Arts

The Risk of Excellence: Embracing Writing Critique

Writer and professor, Judith Hougen talks about the risk and reward of critique.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Blog Academics, Faculty, The Arts

Dealing with writer's envy

Working towards success as a writer is difficult. Watching that success come to your peers while it eludes you can be even more challenging to deal with. Author and professor Heather Peterson shares how you can beat the...

Monday, June 5, 2017

Blog Community, Students

7 things I loved about junior year

For many students, junior year is the sweet spot of their college careers. Graduating senior Ashley Chiappetta shares what she loved about her junior year.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Blog Academics, Faculty, Parents, Students, The Arts

I want to write. Am I doomed to be a barista?

As an instructor in the professional writing program at UNW, I see lots of talented students. But these students sometimes don't know how to push this writing life forward as a vocation. With some guidance and practice,...

Monday, April 24, 2017

Blog Alumni, College Preparation, The Arts

Don't be afraid of creative degrees

When I studied creative writing at Northwestern, well-meaning friends and family often joked about my future "career" as a starving artist.

Monday, March 13, 2017