Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA
Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing, Portland State University
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Co-authored Articles (48)
How to
Write an Appendix
Like the appendix in a human body, an appendix contains information that is supplementary and not strictly necessary to the main body of the writing. An appendix may include a reference section for the reader, a summary ...
How to
Write a Table of Contents
The Table of Contents in a document acts as a map for the reader, making it easier for them to find information in the document based on title and page number. A good Table of Contents should be organized, easy to read a...
How to
Write a Biography
Writing a biography can be a fun challenge, where you are sharing the story of someone’s life with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write one as a personal project. Once you have iden...
How to Read Faster & Retain More Information
A step-by-step guide to figuring out & increasing your reading speed Learning how to read fast, or speed read, can be a useful skill if you are trying to get through a reading list quickly or go through a long text. Befo...
How to
Use Contractions
In common speech, we use contractions all the time. “Don’t run in the hallways,” “I can’t get this bottle open,” “She won’t stop texting during the show.” Many grammar experts argue for the use of contr...
How to
Annotate a Book
Annotating a book is a great way to make notes on the text. It also allows you to do a deep read of the book, where you jot down your thoughts or impressions of the text. You may need to annotate a book for a class or de...
How to Wear a Graduation Gown
A guide to wearing your cap, gown, & hood the right way You’ve studied hard and are now ready to graduate from university. But you have no idea how to put on the academic gown, how to get the graduation hood to lie pro...
How to
Write a Musical
Write your own script and score for the theatre with our complete guideWriting a musical can seem like a daunting task, especially if you are a fan of the genre and are trying to create one for the first time. You may de...
How to
Write a Literary Commentary
A literary commentary is a detailed analysis of a passage of text, focusing specifically on the text itself. It should not be confused with a literary analysis essay, as it does not need a thesis statement or a general d...
How to
Write a Ballad
A ballad is a poem or song that tells a story. It should have a plot, characters, and a story arc. You may want to write a ballad for a class or as a fun writing challenge. Start by brainstorming ideas for the ballad. Th...
How to Create and Develop a Fictional Character
Create a character with a dynamic story arc Creating a character for a story can be a daunting task, as you want your character to feel complete, complex, and relatable to your readers—just like living people. To accom...
How to
Write in First Person
Writing in the first person can be a fun challenge, allowing you to explore a first person point of view on the page. You may write in the first person in a short story, novel, or opinion piece. Creating an effective fir...
How to
Write a Sestina
A sestina is a form of poetry that has thirty nine lines. It follows a pattern of repeating six words throughout the six stanzas of the poem. While a sestina may seem daunting at first, you can use the form to write vivi...
How to
Find a Catchy Title for Your Paper/Essay
Coming up with an effective title can end up being the most difficult part of your essay. A catchy title can make your paper stand out from the pile and give your reader a sense of the content, slant, and perspective of ...
How to
Find Unique Names for Your Characters
Studies show that the coolest, happiest, brightest name is Olivia. Are you tired of using the same rotation of names for the characters in your stories? Do you feel like you rely on the same, generic names to spice up yo...
How to
Write Quick Poems
Sometimes it can be challenging to sit down and write a poem in a short amount of time. You may be on a deadline for school or have a limited amount of free time to be creative on the page. You can write quick poems by c...
How to
Scan a Poem
Scanning a poem, also known as prosody, is the process of marking the stresses in a poem. You will need to note where the sound is stressed when the poem is read aloud. You may need to scan a poem for a class or decide t...
How to
Write a Tanka Poem
Tanka (短歌 ''tan-kah'') poems are short poems that originated in Japan in the 13th century. They are five lines long and often convey deep feelings about nature, love, or desire. To write a tanka poem, start by brains...
How to Write and Perform Spoken Word Poetry Like a Pro
Easily craft a poignant, powerful piece that hits home with audiencesSpoken word is a great way to express your truth to others through poetry and performance. To write a spoken word piece, start by picking a topic or ex...
How to
Appreciate Poems
As someone new to poetry, it may be difficult for you to fully appreciate it as an artform. Though poetry may seem stuffy, confusing, and obscure, it can actually be a great way to see the world from a different perspect...
