A. M. Palmer, Literary Nonfiction
Engaging Narratives, New Ideas

Latest

Mar
17
The Sound of Grace: Erik Satie and Gymnopédie No. 1

The Sound of Grace: Erik Satie and Gymnopédie No. 1

Perhaps you feel as I do about Gymnopédie No. 1, regarding it as a melody of the mind possessed of
3 min read
Feb
28
To Capture Perception: On the Experience of Immersive Studies

To Capture Perception: On the Experience of Immersive Studies

Teach your writing students to feel the visceral aspects of life, to trace their subjects with powerful word images, and
4 min read
Feb
21
Tracing the Image of Eve: A Homeless Woman in San Diego

Tracing the Image of Eve: A Homeless Woman in San Diego

The Voice of Leaves On a very strange occasion, a woman screamed with considerable power, her voice tearing through the
4 min read
Feb
08
Updates

Updates

Greetings and many thanks to you for sharing your coffee time with me, enjoying the latest essays and collages. I
1 min read
Feb
07
An Occasional Absence: On the Poignance of Photographs

An Occasional Absence: On the Poignance of Photographs

As a stationary expression of time, a photograph suggests the arrival of memories, not necessarily of the prosaic kind but
3 min read
Jan
25
A Cardinal in the Superstitions: Reflections on Nature and History

A Cardinal in the Superstitions: Reflections on Nature and History

I had never before seen the crested head of the Cardinal in its glory—at least, not in person. Though
3 min read
Jan
25
Picture the Story: Writing Workshop Materials

Picture the Story: Writing Workshop Materials

For those who enjoy creative writing exercises, I have included a link to one of my workshop packages. I designed
1 min read
Jan
17
Insidious Persuasion: Regarding Three Photos of the Reverend Jim Jones

Insidious Persuasion: Regarding Three Photos of the Reverend Jim Jones

On November 18, 1978, nearly all 900 members of the Peoples Temple in Guyana, a "church" founded by
6 min read
Dec
31
Quartzsite Digressions: A Photo Essay

Quartzsite Digressions: A Photo Essay

A sense of dignity as well as desolation pervades this town, blue skies punctuating fallen buildings and the strange ironies
1 min read
Dec
31
The Winter Passage: Quartzsite, Arizona

The Winter Passage: Quartzsite, Arizona

One evening, in the comforting presence of autumn, I stepped out of my motorhome to appreciate the hour, as shades
6 min read