Five days ago, in his last "Now and Then" column published in the Globe before he died, Donald Murray was as in love with writing as he had been as a teenager -- and just as anxious. "Each time I sit down to write I don't know if I can do it," he wrote. "The flow of writing is always a...
Read MoreEvery time I sit down to write a poem or blog, draw a new map for an essay, or name a folder for a another manuscript, I pay tribute to Don. He taught me about the ways that Inspiration gets her strength from Discipline.
Writing is a choice. His no nonsense take on it was, "Stop whining about how hard writing is and go sell junk bonds." He will always be with me.
Judith Ferrara
October 02, 2015 | Worcester, MA
Jeanne Smith
October 01, 2015 | McPherson, KS
My Twice Lived Life: Like listening to a wise Father. I never had one. Thank you, kind and humorous and humble sir. You were there when I needed you. I will be looking forward to ordering and studying your works of art. Because you were such a wonderful writer, you will essentially live forever.
JoJo Medrano
June 27, 2010 | Modesto, CA
Two years after the fact, I, too, still feel the pain of Donald M. Murray's death. When working on my doctoral dissertation (a 100-year history of "voice in Writing"), Murray allowed me to interview him on two occasions - once at a writers' conference and, the second time, in his home in New Hampshire. He was everything, and more, that I thought he would be, i.e., "wonder-full" (full of wonder) for life and the writing profession.
After our second encounter which took place in his...
Jeanne Smith
April 26, 2010 | McPherson, KS
Remembered By
darryl williams
April 05, 2010
Another essay about weasel words and doublespeak by William Lutz also garnered a sticky tab bookmark.And then yesterday, I got cornered by Donald Murray's Writing is Rewriting. So lucid, so explanatory, so insightful.thesis statement
Jack Belboa
October 03, 2009 | London, UT
Don, I just want to say that it was nice getting your letters when I was up in Milwaukee. You were a kind soul & you live forever in people's hearts & minds...I'm glad that I met you while I was a student at UNH. Not very many people can say that they knew a person like you...My dad just died so maybe you both are talking up in Heaven. Rest in Peace...See you later...
Marina Gipps
August 21, 2009
After devouring Writing to Deadline, I discovered that Donald Murray had passed away. A retiree now in Florida, I returned to writing after a 30 year hiatus and was inspired by his advice and his feel for the human heart. Though late, my sympthany goes to his family and his colleagues and his community-at-large. What a gifted and gentle man.
Barbara Letvin
June 11, 2009 | Trinity, FL
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Sam Thapa
September 12, 2007 | Nashville, TN