Write Now With Jeannine Atkins

Who are you?

Jeannine Atkins, a writer in Massachusetts

What do you write?

For many years I wrote books about amazing but under-recognized women in history, such as Hidden Powers: Lise Meitner’s Call to Science. Most recently, with Knocking on Windows, I turned to memoir written in free verse.

I was once advised to compose poems like a letter, reader to reader, friend to friend. I strive for such intimacy and directness. It’s kind to shun what’s vague. I’ve been writing for most of my life and can’t think of anything else that would keep me as engaged. That doesn’t mean there aren’t moments when I want to tear out my hair. Writing is hard.