Former Sudanese Lost Boy Has Hope for Better Tomorrow

Wadeng. In comes from the language of the Dinka people of Southern Sudan, and loosely translated into English, means: "Look to tomorrow. It will be better." It has been Jacob Akech Deng's mantra since he was a young boy growing up in Duk Padiet, dreaming of a life that wasn't constantly threatened by war.

Jacob DengJacob Deng was seven years old in 1987 when insurgents burnt down Duk Padiet, his village. Separated from his mother and sisters he fled, on foot, across scorching Africa. He was what became known as a "Lost Boy of Sudan." Displaced. Homeless. Orphaned. Vulnerable. Many died but Jacob survived threats of exposure, starvation, thirst, disease and wild animals, eventually arriving at a refuge camp in Ethiopia. Three years later, when it too was invaded, he fled on foot once more, this time to Kenya. "I was motivated by a desire to stay alive," Jacob told me.

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Sprint and distance writing – a balanced approach

An interesting study out of Hamilton, Ont. this week as reported in the New York Times, shows that one minute interval training can be even more effective that longer, steadier work-outs in improving your overall fitness level. When it comes to working out, less—provided it's flat-out 100% effort—can be more. Of course, long bouts of moderate cardio exercise are also still great for you, so my overall deduction is that a combination of both approaches is the best of both worlds. The same, I believe, is true of writing.

Writing a thesis or a book is like a long, steady cardio workout. You might chat with a friend as you are completing it. You will sweat a little but not often profusely. You will take breaks for food, water and rest, and while you will make progress, there are times it feels like the end is beyond reach.

That's why writing bursts, like blogging or short writing exercises, are so important. They rapidly strengthen the writing muscle.

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The spin: how media sensationalize science

I am thrilled to introduce my first guest blogger! Like me, Erin Tomlinson is an alumnus of Mount Saint Vincent University and board member for the alumnae association. She is one of the key organizers of the Mount's annual alumnae dinner, taking place March 1, and had an inspiring conversation today with keynote speaker Richard Zurawski.

Richard ZurawskiToday I was inspired.

Sometimes I get so caught up in the daily grind that I forget what that feels like. But today, I was moved by a simple conversation, one that challenged the way I think and will continue to do so for some time. Today I met Richard Zurawski, radio host, meteorologist, author, documentary filmmaker, and lecturer, and he inspired me.

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You can't have talking chickens in nonfiction

In my three years with the Writers' in the Schools (WITS) program, I've met hundreds of children with whom I've conducted writing workshops. Most students are enthusiastic about writing. Some even seem to regard me with an admiration I've not earned. (Yet I'll accept. The writer's life is otherwise disproportionately high on rejection and criticism, and low on praise.)

My WITS approach is to lesson plan and come prepared with exercises, samples and talking points. I pack a tight schedule. But last year a little grade one girl brought my talk to an abrupt halt when I asked: "How is fiction different than nonfiction?" Her answer: "You can't have talking chickens in nonfiction." I paused, then burst out laughing. It was the perfect answer to my question, and the exact reason why I love WITS. Children give you the straight goods.

I usually meet elementary classes, and my consistent message is that to become a better writer, you have to 1. read (a lot) and 2. practice  (a lot).

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Ten reasons to love new media

I am a happy camper. Today I attended PodCamp Halifax, "an unconference for people interested in social media, blogging, mobile, web design and all the internets in between." It's free and anyone can host a session.

The first PodCamp was held in Boston in 2006, and now they're worldwide. This was Halifax's third annual PodCamp event, and my third time attending. It's the only conference I go to where it's not only tolerable to use a mobile device during a session—it's encouraged. There's plenty of live tweeting going on, and a range of fantastic sessions you can wander between on the "law of two feet"—if something isn't working for you, use walk away and go somewhere else.

I'm active in new media and surrounded by many like-minded thinkers, so I'm stumped when someone asks me what I like about it, why it's important, or most annoyingly, why it's not just a huge waste of time.

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