Author: Emily Sara Smucker
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How to Criticize People Kindly and Effectively
Unlike most college classes, where you’re expected to do your best on your own and hope for a good grade, fiction writing classes thrive on peer criticism. It’s called “workshopping.” You write a story and give it to your classmates, and the next class session they all sit around and talk about what worked well…
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10 Interesting Aspects of Singleness That No One Talks About
I always click on articles that have “singleness” in the headline. Maybe because I’m single. Maybe because I secretly hope I’ll get some never-before-seen insight into my own psyche. Or learn how to catch a man, once and for all. Instead, what I usually get is a very feelings-oriented person informing me that “singleness is hard.” “You…
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Tuesdays with Ashlie
Today after class I grabbed my purse and some tea and drove down to Roseburg, to hang out with my friend/former roommate Ashlie. We grabbed tea and ate olive bread at a nifty bakery full of plants. The main thing I wanted to see, though, was her workplace. Ashlie works at this really cool restaurant…
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How To Write an Opinion That People Will Listen To
Two weeks ago I wrote an opinionated blog post titled “When Even a Mug is Too Much.” Using that post as a model, I’m going to tell you everything I’ve learned, after 12 years of blogging, about writing opinions that people will listen to. Step 1: Form an opinion Form an opinion. Don’t just copy one you saw on…
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My Day in Candid Snaps
In an attempt to make a visually-focused blog post, I tried to take pictures of everything I did today. I was only moderately successful. Behold, my effort: First, my morning routine began the way you all expected it would. I made myself a breakfast of hummus and avocado on toast. It was kind-of meh. Next…
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Redemption
It’s Easter today, the Christian holiday where we wear our prettiest spring dresses and celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, that the winter of weeping is over, that death has been swallowed up in victory. To be honest, there was no pretty new dress for me this year, and no enchanting…
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What I’ve Been Reading
Recently I’ve been reading an odd mish-mash of books, mostly ones I’m obligated to read or just found lying around. Still, I like to talk about the books I read, even the odd or boring ones. So here we go, my latest thoughts about books. Jesus’ Son, by Dennis Johnson. I’m reading this book…
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Never-Before Seen Smucker Sibling Footage
Today is siblings day (in 49 states) so I decided to dig back in the archives to find some forgotten footage of my siblings. This is the current crop of Smucker siblings. Matt (with the cool shades) is 30, Amy (in the glasses and scarf, looking absolutely aghast) is 28, I (winding up to clobber…
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When Even a Mug is Too Much
My writing professor walked into the classroom, set his paper Allan Brothers coffee cup on his desk, and hung his leather messenger bag over the back of his chair. His eyes swept around the circle of our desks, and came to rest on me. Looking both bewildered and bemused, he said, “can I ask you…
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ABC day 4: The Token “Needy People Who We Can Help”
My sister Amy is an English tutor at North Chiang Mai University (NCU) in Thailand. Recently she emailed me about a trip she took with some NCU students, and I was absolutely fascinated by her account. With her permission, I’m re-posting her experience here. … In January, my new group staff who study with me…
The Girl in the Red Rubber Boots 