Musings on Mash

Waking up to see my work published on a high traffic website always puts me in a good mood. Today, my article,  “Sew Your Story,” was featured on the Mash Blog. This was particularly meaningful for me because Mash Stories has been an important part of my development as a writer. Last summer, someone in my writing group…

Read More

Waking the Cape

A brief foray into creative non-fiction: Waking the Cape By Sara Codair The smell of bacon and low tide permeate the air. I breathe deep, savoring the warm, salty aroma. The early spring air still has a bite to it, but the sun soothes the sting as it warms my skin. Its quiet still –…

Read More

Sunlight Filters through the Fog of Rejection

I know rejections are part of being a writer, but when they come in waves, they can be hard to take, especially when I know I gave 110% to a piece. Getting two stories on nonpaying e-zines boosted my confidence for a while, but the subsequent  slew of rejections from paying markets was starting to…

Read More

Making the Space

The space a class is taught in often has a profound impact on the students’ attitude and the ambiance of the classroom’s community. It’s not everything, but it can go a long way. As an adjunct, I have virtually no control over what room my class is taught in, so I’ve learned to make the most…

Read More

Evil English Teacher Alphabet Soup

This soup like looks like words drowned in red ink. It tastes as beautiful as the writing would have been if that red tide had not drown it before it learned to swim.

Read More

A Win on Cracked Flash

For the past two months, I have made it part of my weekend routine to participate in the Cracked Flash writing competition. They post a sentence and some inspiration images allowing writers 24 hours to come up with a 300 word story. All entries are posted to the comments. The following Wednesday, a winner and…

Read More

An Inspiring Image:”Dull Blade” and The Doors

When I fist took this photograph on a cold February day in Portland, I had no idea what it was going to do for me. When I started selling on Etsy five years ago, I made prints of it and put them in repurposed frames and sold them. Not only did I sell several on…

Read More

Story Soup

Story Soup By Sara Codair At some point during every semester, my students and I write in response to the following prompt: “Writing for is like____.” Lately, mine has begun with the words “writing is like making soup.” Making soup and writing have a surprising amount in common. When you are first starting out, it…

Read More

Adjunct and Writer

I write fiction, and I teach. That pretty much sums up my life during the school year. In the summer, I write even more and spend insane amounts of time outside. Being adjunct can be tough because I have drive a lot and don’t get benefits,  but I am fortunate enough to have a part-time tutoring job that adds some…

Read More