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TreeHouseLetter

TreeHouseLetter

By Veteran, Mother, Writer

Rise above the tedium and join me in the TreeHouse. Sharing the best ideas and writing, MyLinh Shattan has a particular fondness for words, music, and the power of story. “I adore your podcasts; each and every one is a little gem. You never say three words when two will do. Everything you do shows unusual respect and appreciation for your listeners’ time and intelligence.” Buzz, former Managing Editor for News and Public Affairs Programming at WHRB-FM/Harvard Radio Broadcasting
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TikTok Connect the Dots - the United States and China

TreeHouseLetterNov 21, 2019

00:00
10:31
Who Does Not Prefer Civility to Barbarism?*

Who Does Not Prefer Civility to Barbarism?*

I love reading about the type of characters and situations I have encountered in my own life. What is less than pleasant is the recognition of less than admirable qualities that bear similarities to my own. George Washington's Rules and C.S. Lewis's Four Loves provide insight on civility and barbarism in an age when their relevance is more important than ever.

Mar 19, 202409:01
How to Improve Your Writing - Part 2: from Confucius to Lincoln

How to Improve Your Writing - Part 2: from Confucius to Lincoln

The importance of the English textbook and lessons on writing style. Part 2 of 5 with a book rec, a style guide, and passages from four writers: Confucius, C. Keegan, D. Grohl, and Lincoln.

Mar 13, 202412:47
What Men Live By*

What Men Live By*

Leo Tolstoy's classic story, C.S. Lewis and "The Four Loves", and a surprising message on the day of a military funeral.

Mar 05, 202411:54
How to Improve Your Writing - Part 1

How to Improve Your Writing - Part 1

The importance of the English textbook and lessons on writing style. Part 1 of 5 with a book rec, a style guide, and passages from four writers: Tolstoy to Grohl (of Nirvana and Foo Fighters).

Feb 27, 202413:05
Superior to the Saint, the Scientist, the Philosopher, and the Poet?

Superior to the Saint, the Scientist, the Philosopher, and the Poet?

Who is superior to the saint, the scientist, the philosopher, and the poet? Learn why reading novels--serious novels worthy of re-reading--enriches your life. Why the novel is in decline, what makes a novel great, where to start, and the 3 novels that damaged the prestige of Communism. The Novel, Who Needs It? by Joseph Epstein


Feb 14, 202410:09
An Alabama Road

An Alabama Road

Music and songwriting -- how writing for the senses breathes life into words. A live clip of five-part harmony and a look at the verses that make this song a classic.

Feb 05, 202406:49
Town Mouse and Country Mouse

Town Mouse and Country Mouse

"The town mouse and the country mouse. Distress and agitation of the town mouse." Aurelius. True story about coffee with the "town mouse" and Willa Cather on town versus country. 3 book recs, 1 film rec, The Music in Prose of O Pioneers! and wordnerd special.

Jan 22, 202412:49
Living Outside the Page

Living Outside the Page

Pickleball. And, passages from 3 short books by prize-winning authors, Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These (2021) and Willa Cather's My Mortal Enemy (1926) and Annie Ernaux's The Young Man (2022). Ernaux opens this book with "If I don’t write things down, they haven’t been carried through to completion, they have only been lived."

Jan 08, 202408:54
Books for the Casual and Serious Reader

Books for the Casual and Serious Reader

If you're looking for gifts or books to read over the winter break, I pulled these titles from the TreeHouse shelves and give you my short takes on 15 books from recent reading: contemporary fiction, nonfiction, books about writing, and for-the-serious/for-the-seeker.


Dec 20, 202310:02
Involved and Implicated: Narcissism and Poetry

Involved and Implicated: Narcissism and Poetry

If you're like me, you can use a bit of poetry. Tony Hoagland's poems make me re-think, calibrate to a new heading. Can you stand still and hear the worst of yourself from others? Disappointment. Patience. The song lyrics that "evolve" over the years: the words are the same but the message changes as you change.

Dec 11, 202309:49
Giving Thanks for a Man I Never Met

Giving Thanks for a Man I Never Met

What I learned about love this Thanksgiving. Three rules for life.

Nov 21, 202306:59
On Flesh-Eating Beetles and the Sins of the Mother

On Flesh-Eating Beetles and the Sins of the Mother

When working on an aspect of my writing, I pay attention for it in my reading. Improve your writing by tapping into the 7 senses--the 5 sense organs and 2 more. Examples in recent works: Horse by Geraldine Brooks and Zero-Sum Stories by Joyce Carol Oates. Writing exercise from the song-writing guide by Pat Pattison, music professor at Berklee.

Nov 15, 202311:01
In the Company of Heroes

In the Company of Heroes

Veterans Day, Operation Gothic Serpent, and the 160th SOAR. Elite aviators and family remember the Battle of Mogadishu, 30 years ago. Lessons learned, what the media missed, and the effect on the military family.

Nov 08, 202307:07
Spooky Hour with Spirits of the Dead

Spooky Hour with Spirits of the Dead

A text that gets me off my arse, a visit to the cemetery, and word work on three holidays: Hallowe'en, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day.

Nov 01, 202307:30
What's in your trunk?

What's in your trunk?

Take all the stuff of your life. Put what you think will sell in a 20 feet by 20 feet space. What's in your space? Learn about New England's largest flea market and a classic sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley on the folly of fame, legacy, and empire. Visit my site to get a book rec on song writing and link to an exercise to write through the prism of 7, yes 7, senses.


Oct 23, 202309:10
Why Do I Run?

Why Do I Run?

I'm not sure I like running, even when I was fit and fast. Running at mid-life: there's the pain of it, in the chest, in the knees. This letter explores the reasons I run and what I learn running a race the 7th time. And training with a focus on form and cadence, with an eye to effortless, injury-free running. Plus, four books on running and on living; visit the site for more info on books. Notes on gear.

Oct 12, 202310:15
Fall is Like a Country Music Song

Fall is Like a Country Music Song

On music and memory, on Norman Blake and Colter Wall. What do we learn from the Fall, from the songs of our lives?

Oct 02, 202305:48
Trailway to Heaven

Trailway to Heaven

Fall is my favorite season and I suppose it has something to do with the trees. A new poetry collection and farewell to a friend. Passage from Sidney Lanier and The Marshes of Glynn.

Sep 25, 202305:29
Through the Keyhole

Through the Keyhole

A keyhole view of a week with the Literate Laundress. On laundry and language.

Sep 20, 202306:42
The Ever Restless Soul

The Ever Restless Soul

This is for my friend K--- and M--- and for you, but I suppose it's for myself. Learn about my daughter's letter and the song she shared with insight into music and the restless soul. Billie Marten's song and Rick Rubin's book on Creativity.

Sep 10, 202307:52
Confusables, Contronyms, and Jane's Potato Salad

Confusables, Contronyms, and Jane's Potato Salad

Learn about a real world example of a confusable. Discover a type of word with two opposite meanings. Word Nerd special. A reference and an essay recommendation. Bryan Garner and David Foster Wallace.

Sep 05, 202305:50
The Music in Stories: Pavan on Borges

The Music in Stories: Pavan on Borges

Literature informs and inspires us, says Argentine guitarist and composer Carlos Pavan. This letter considers his suite of songs inspired by Jorge Luis Borges, how the songs reflect the stories: El Sur, El Fin, Funes el Memorioso. Melody, myth, perfect memory. Learn why song IS story and discover the Music in Prose of the literary legend.

Sep 01, 202310:31
Beyond Grade-School Sentences: Adding Depth and Texture to Writing

Beyond Grade-School Sentences: Adding Depth and Texture to Writing

The four basic sentence constructions are simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.* Like the 8-pack of crayons, this is the first order of business, tools we learn and use as children. Let’s face it: many never learn more than these. Add to your toolbox and improve writing immediately. Learn about loose (cumulative) and periodic (suspensive) sentences with inspiration from Vivian Gornick, Ernest Hemingway, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Aug 22, 202307:20
On Theft, Death, and the Moon

On Theft, Death, and the Moon

My friend was recently robbed. It made me sad and reminded me of a story about Ryokan. Learn about the Zen monk who lived on Mount Kugami, Rene Descartes Discourse Part II on Method and Part IV on God and the Human Soul. With a reflection on the death of a young soldier.

Aug 14, 202307:24
The Master Sentence and the Centenarian

The Master Sentence and the Centenarian

A master sentence tends to be long though length is not its sole characteristic, nor is it a sign of a writer’s mastery. Like any art, the master sentence comes in infinite forms. Instead of trying to define what makes such a sentence, I share an example from the Book of Charlie, a memoir about a remarkable life. Understand the elements of artful sentence construction from a prominent writer.

Aug 06, 202310:20
Three Days in Sun Valley and the Best Writing Teacher

Three Days in Sun Valley and the Best Writing Teacher

What I learned in Sun Valley about living and writing and friends. Impromptu visit of Hemingway haunts, who lived and died there. A hike into the clouds, a French hound dog, and a foodie's paradise.

Jul 29, 202306:54
Classic Prose: Thought and Presentation

Classic Prose: Thought and Presentation

Improve writing immediately. "In the classic stand on the elements of style, writing is neither a way of thinking something out nor an art that exists for its own sake..." Learn about classic prose from authors Thomas and Turner with passages from award winning poet and writer Ocean Vuong. Why classic prose resembles cooking with its preparation in the kitchen and consumption in the dining room. Two Book recommendations.

Jul 24, 202307:09
Biblical Times - Fire and Flood

Biblical Times - Fire and Flood

We live in biblical times. Fires and floods. Plagues. Or, pandemics. Learn about flash flooding in the Hudson Valley and the First Noble Truth.


Jul 24, 202304:45
July 4th Declarations: a Nation, a Panda, a Soldier

July 4th Declarations: a Nation, a Panda, a Soldier

What does July 4th mean to a fledgling nation and what kinds of people made such a nation possible? Learn about Mark Manson's book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, and how his superhero the Disappointment Panda helps us see ourselves against a stark backdrop, the life of the soldier as she finishes Air Assault training.

Jul 04, 202311:59
Goggins, Pushup Yoga, and the Art of the Paragraph

Goggins, Pushup Yoga, and the Art of the Paragraph

Learn about the 'toughest man on the planet' and improve writing with examples of the four types of paragraphs. Also check out the two strand or A/B structure. To see the four paragraphs and learn more, visit my website at TreeHouseLetter.com.

Jun 29, 202310:58
Where's Your Cathedral?

Where's Your Cathedral?

Some seem to know what they were meant to do. This is about finding purpose and meaning in your work. Learn about the origin of the parable of the brick layers made popular by Angela Duckworth, two book recommendations, and insight on the 10,000 hour rule.


Jun 21, 202304:56
Degree of Separation

Degree of Separation

Thought exercise for the day. How many friends between you and anyone on the planet? Topics: Social connection on Earth in 2023, Network theory, Math geek special, logarithm

In popular culture this number is often referred to as Six Degrees of Separation, that all people on the planet are at the maximum six or fewer social connections away from each other. The idea likely originated in a 1929 short story and became notable in 1990 in John Guare’s play of the same name, Six Degrees of Separation.

Jun 12, 202307:15
What makes a speech great?

What makes a speech great?

A great speech is one you remember. This time of year you hear a lot of speeches and may have to give one of your own. So, give a speech worth remembering. I dissected a great speech to understand what makes it so and reflected on lessons I’ve learned as a speaker.


Jun 12, 202303:55
"It is precisely because life is so precious to me that I am prepared to die."

"It is precisely because life is so precious to me that I am prepared to die."

A soldier's own obituary, John "Alex" Hottell, III -- published in the NY Times 3 March 1971. A Memorial Day remembrance.

May 27, 202308:07
The Cure for Resentment and Cynicsim

The Cure for Resentment and Cynicsim

Thoughts from a British headmistress, marine veteran, and college graduate. Two book recs, one podcast rec.

May 23, 202304:51
Weasel Words

Weasel Words

What are they and why should we avoid them? Improve writing immediately. Bonus: two book recommendations on usage, grammar, and style

May 16, 202304:07
What makes a single person's death feel large?*

What makes a single person's death feel large?*

Four friends died recently and three were my age. Learn what makes the eulogy powerful and lasting from a personal vignette and from Vivian Gornick. An elegy on What is Dying? from Margaret Drabble to share with the bereaved. May they rest in peace.

May 06, 202307:51
Wild Horses Dragged Me Away

Wild Horses Dragged Me Away

My road trip last weekend had a detour to Assateague Island. Learn about wild horses on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, a wild herd in Patagonia, and the chlidren's classic, inspired by the true story of Chincoteague Ponies.

Apr 29, 202304:17
Go Slow to Go Fast

Go Slow to Go Fast

Baking Sally's shortbread cookies with my nephew and a German proverb. Miles Davis's advice to a young jazz guitarist. How these ideas provide insight on creating, baking, performing.

Apr 08, 202303:57
Sleep on It: Darkness Helps Us See the Light

Sleep on It: Darkness Helps Us See the Light

On dreams and patterns, a "Digit Dork" special with insight into Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio

Mar 27, 202308:54
A Day With the Night Stalkers

A Day With the Night Stalkers

On a lonesome stretch of road north of Nashville..... Learn about the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), the Soldier and the Citizen, on the Ides of March

Mar 20, 202312:42
Hey, why aren't dogs alcoholics?

Hey, why aren't dogs alcoholics?

True Tale from Toxin Tails and the Pet Poison Hotline about Red, the retriever St. Bernard mix.

Mar 20, 202301:50
The Edgeless Sound and the Night Owl

The Edgeless Sound and the Night Owl

Poetry for Emergencies and the Leonard Cohen translation of Roshi's Poem. A footnote depicts the lesser-known, closed to the public "Poe Arch" or Edgar Allan Poe Memorial at the archives at West Point

Mar 05, 202305:15
Belief is a Powerful Elixir

Belief is a Powerful Elixir

It's a powerful thing, belief. If a person believes in you, you can move mountains. Music as a gift, and a passage from Maya Angelou from her essay collection, Letter to My Daughter. 

Feb 27, 202306:04
Presciption for Life and Rumi's Cow

Presciption for Life and Rumi's Cow

Poetry for Emergencies. A discussion of Melody Moezzi's memoir, The Rumi Prescription, and how the mystic poet helps her deal with modern life challenges. 

Feb 23, 202303:23
Two Things Everybody's Got to Do

Two Things Everybody's Got to Do

This winter I received five books I own, four as gifts. What do you do when you receive a book you already own? One was Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. I pulled my copy off the shelf to read my notes, the marginalia, the pages underlined, tabbed, highlighted. What is Love? What are the two things? 

#blackhistorymonth

Feb 11, 202304:15
Good Luck and Smooth Sailing in the Year of the Cat

Good Luck and Smooth Sailing in the Year of the Cat

Happy Lunar New Year! The Vietnamese celebrate the Cat versus the Rabbit. Learn about the difference and pick up a writing tip from the songwriter and musician Al Stewart from his hit song, The Year of the Cat.

Feb 06, 202305:03
"Good Luck and Smooth Sailing" in the Year of the Cat

"Good Luck and Smooth Sailing" in the Year of the Cat

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Happy Lunar New Year! The Vietnamese celebrate the Cat versus the Rabbit. Learn about the difference and pick up a writing tip from the songwriter and musician Al Stewart from his hit song, The Year of the Cat.  


Jan 30, 202311:24
How to Capture a Life in 400 Words

How to Capture a Life in 400 Words

Writing the obituary is a sobering task.  The structure and getting it right. WHO was the person and HOW did she live? Writing as a gift. 

Jan 15, 202306:34
Punch In, Punch Out: the Profession and the Side Hustle

Punch In, Punch Out: the Profession and the Side Hustle

Many authors publish one or two novels; few write full-time. Fewer write for a life-time. Excerpts and ideas from Haruki Murakami's memoir and essay collection, Novelist as a Vocation. On creativity, originality, and his writing process. 

Jan 09, 202306:49