My cousin Dennis has often been a friend in time of need, knowing just when to show up. He came over the morning after my father’s funeral and we sat around a table with my mother, reliving bygone days with the help of her old photographs. There were photos of my father breaking land, of … Continue reading Chapter 1 – Why couldn’t I be the healthy one?
reading
Matthew Effects in Learning
“For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Matthew 25:29). In 1986, Keith Stanovich published a study entitled Matthew Effects in Reading: Some Consequences of Individual Differences in the Acquisition of Literacy. The “Matthew Effects” … Continue reading Matthew Effects in Learning
The first step in keeping your child out of prison
Teach him to read. Maybe this sounds overly simplistic, but a young adult who is illiterate is unqualified for all but the most menial jobs. You can't even work at McDonald's if you can't read the job instructions or the words on the screen of the till. 96% of the available jobs are out of … Continue reading The first step in keeping your child out of prison
Memories of the Inscribe Conference
You know you're in a group of writers when a workshop leader asks each participant to name five of their favourite books from childhood and one includes the dictionary in her list. She says she used to read two pages a day. And nobody thought that was weird. That happened in Colleen McCubbin's class on … Continue reading Memories of the Inscribe Conference
The achilles heel of reference Bibles
An ancient Waldensian confession of faith states that their preachers were required, before being ordained, to memorize the gospels of Matthew and John, all the Epistles, and a good part of the writings of Solomon, David and the prophets. Of course that was necessary in their day, before the invention of the printing press. After … Continue reading The achilles heel of reference Bibles
It takes a village to raise a book
The difference between a bad writer and a good writer is that a good writer knows he needs help. Publishers used to have people on staff to provide that help. Not anymore. We are on our own. Yet we dare not trust to our own evaluation of how good our writing is. There are three … Continue reading It takes a village to raise a book
Less is more (and more is less)
Too many new writers have the idea that they have to use interesting words to entice others to read their prose. They load up on colourful adjectives and adverbs, the more syllables the better, and replace simple nouns and verbs with ones that are larger and weightier. Readers get weary trying to wade through that … Continue reading Less is more (and more is less)
Authenticity and tradition
On Saturday we travelled to Moose Jaw to attend a workshop for writers. We've only lived there for short periods of time, the last one being 37 years ago, but it still feels like this is where our roots are. I wanted to visit my 91 year old cousin after the workshop, but there was … Continue reading Authenticity and tradition
The evidence is clear – and it’s being willfully ignored
Eloquent words
I was a member of the Anglican Church of Canada during my youth and a faithful participant in her worship services. The services and prayers of the Book of Common Prayer presented the gospel message in simple, yet eloquent, words and I found comfort in the familiar liturgy. As I entered my twenties, I realized … Continue reading Eloquent words
Flatlander Faith 