When the temperature crawls above 80 degrees and the trees turn deep vibrant green, the seasonal songs of my youth start rolling through my head. One of my favorites is “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” by Sly and the Family Stone. The title says it all. Summer is a time for fun. For writers, though, finding fun in the hard work of creating the best manuscript we can is tough. Tayari Jones, author of Silver Sparrow, talked on her blog a while back about losing the fun. “I somehow let my desire to bring my A game almost undermine that same game,” she said. “Your ‘A’ game is still a game, and games are supposed to be fun. I forgot that if I, as the artist, am not having a good time, nobody else will either.”

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It’s probably a bit of a cliché by now - a Caribbean novel with scenes of Carnival - but Carnival was such an important part of my childhood, and especially of summer, that it’s bound to sneak in when I'm writing about summer in Antigua. If you come to Antigua between the months of June and early August, you'll find that much of the radio talk, music, and energy there are directed at Carnival. Well, Carnival and politics - but once you begin to understand the lingo, you’ll understand that politics is mixed up in Carnival as well.

Once you strip away all of that, though, Carnival is a freeing feeling, a celebration, a moment to just let it all go – and more so than any other time at the Carnival masquerade (Mas, for short). In Antigua, the Mas is important enough to rate two days of holiday: Carnival Monday (also known as August Monday, the day the Africans enslaved in Antigua were liberated in 1834) and Carnival Tuesday. That’s when the feathers and beads,…

I know lots of teachers eschew the longstanding "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" assignment. They think it's hackneyed and perhaps overdone.

I love it, though, and I always have. When I was in the classroom, I always assigned this on the first day of school, due the next day. It was a written assignment, coupled with an oral presentation. Kids could add art if they were so inclined. The assignment doubled as both writing homework and as a "getting to know you" activity so that students could reconnect with each other and meet the new kids as well. Summer is magical, after all--that's a pretty universal belief of children. (Adults, too, come to think of it.) As a pre-writing activity, we talked about what to include in the essay. It wasn't just about what you did, it was about anything you encountered that summer. Then, on the second day of school, each student got a few moments to read or present their "summer vacation adventure." From hanging out with friends and…

Kids might dream about summer camp, but if you’re a writer you’re likely thinking about summer writers retreats, conferences, and workshops. They’re a perfect opportunity to escape your home office, explore a beautiful natural setting, make new writing pals, and invest in your writing craft. And, like summer camps for kids, they’re great fun. Here’s what to look for when choosing a summer writers workshop, conference, or retreat... 1. Inspiring setting: Sure, with some discipline you should be able to write anywhere, but seeing a new part of the world can prompt you to view your writing through new eyes. For me, the Taos Summer Writers Conference in Taos, New Mexico offered a magical setting--and I’m not alone. The big-sky…