Charles van Heck's Woodhull Journal

writing

  • The Coyote and the Raven

    A Reflection on Relationships A coyote’s high pitched yelping from the back pasture woke me at 2:15 this morning. They, like all creatures, play a role in our biodiversity and are crucial to the balance of our environment. There is… Continue reading

  • Random Thoughts on Writing

    March is a transformative month, though I doubt anyone can say with certainty what the month is transforming into. In the course of a few days, Winter and Spring have seemed to be like unsynchronized and unintentional ballroom dancers stepping… Continue reading

  • Portrait of an Author as a Victorian:  A Conversation with Anthony Trollope

    What does Trollope have to say to authors of the 21st century? One evening, years ago, I was with Bailey White, the author and NPR All Things Considered commentator. Among the topics discussed was what to read when writing a… Continue reading

  • Poetry and Standing at the Edge of the Raccoon World

    I had the opportunity to be an early reader of the galleys of Who By Fire by Mary L. Tabor. An excerpt from my review appears at the end of this essay. What do you take with your morning coffee? What… Continue reading

  • Grocery Shopping with Mister Lincoln’s Elephant Boys

    Grocery shopping in our home is usually done on Thursday or Friday. The upcoming week’s menu and the supermarket list are written concurrently. This saves time and money in the market. The problem with this is that we each prefer… Continue reading

  • Translating Judith Herzberg

    The Dutch poet and playwright Judith Herzberg has presented the world with a body of work that reveals her sensitivity to fine details of a moment, those details she observes, and to the language required to express the subject. She… Continue reading

  • When Revenge Isn’t Enough

    Words are often used with little thought to their meaning. Finding the right word to describe someone or something requires observation and thought. The context of what we are witnessing and how we intend to convey the observation, and to… Continue reading

  • Chuck Wiser, Hot Dogs, Booms, Change,and a Question

    One of my pleasures on Fridays is reading Chuck Wiser’s column, “Wiser’s Wramblings” in The Wellsville Sun. Chuck summarizes his column, “I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels.” Chuck’s column is a reminder… Continue reading

  • Sometimes You Just Have to Breathe

    Fred and Louise Haisch invited us over to dinner. Terri and I decided to walk. The late afternoon sun wove through the overhanging tree branches, weaving an intricate quilt pattern of shadows and light across the dirt road. There was… Continue reading

  • Reconstructing the Past and Present

    History provides us with an understanding of our place in time. The words of authors glide into topics that pull us into paragraphs of digression. These allow us to consider the character and nature of those women, men, and events… Continue reading