McEntyre's latest publication, “Start with a Word: On the Craft and Adventure of Writing” was published by Eerdmans in February 2026. Courtesy photo

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) – Author and educator Marilyn McEntyre, with over 25 books on the craft of writing under her belt, takes a microscope to the craft in her latest release, “Start with a Word: On the Craft and Adventure of Writing,” (Eerdmans, 2026).

The Carmichael resident has spent more than two decades teaching literature and writing in Northern California and credits her conversationalist, articulate family for her skill with words. She comes from a line of English teachers and was one herself for many years before transitioning to part-time teaching to focus on her own writing and family.

She is an adjunct professor in the UC Berkeley–UCSF Joint Medical Program and in the UC Davis Writing Program, where she lectures from her Carmichael home. She leads monthly writing workshops through New College Berkeley and hosts multiple writing retreats throughout the year. Personalized retreats are available upon request through her website.

McEntyre believes one of the most productive uses of words in a community is asking ourselves and others the simple phrase “What do you mean by that?”

“When you use a word like justice, or feeling, what exactly do you mean?” McEntyre explained. “Asking for specificity and holding ourselves accountable to be specific, provide examples, tell stories, that I think is what creates a community of trust.”

McEntyre said she holds a deep awareness of the “incessant flow” of words and information people receive daily through news clips and social media, not all of which are true.

This led McEntyre to write “Start With A Word,” in the hopes of inspiring readers to become more aware themselves of the power words hold.

In her vast teaching experience, McEntyre discovered a lack of self-trust in her students when it came to writing, inspiring her to write guides including “Make a List,” and, most recently, “Start With A Word.”

“Start a sentence with a word and see what happens,” McEntyre said. “Something will happen, and then that will give you a little bit of a direction where to go from there.”

McEntyre encourages aspiring writers to take a more intuitive approach to writing and to practice listening inward. She also encourages playfulness in writing. Another of McEntyre’s tips for hopeful writers is to start by making a list. Make a list of verbs or a list of things you notice around you, McEntyre advised.

In the 1980s, McEntyre became part of a movement to reintroduce the humanities into medical education. After leaving undergraduate teaching, she spent 10 years teaching at the UCSF UC Berkeley Joint Medical Program.

“Some of that entailed little poetry workshops on the premise that, if you learn to read a poem closely, and attentively to how the poet put things, and what the poet’s calling your attention to, you become a better listener, so that when you’re in conversation with a patient or a client, you listen to how they put things, or what metaphors they reach for or how do they articulate their suffering,” McEntyre said.

In titles such as “A Long Letting Go” and “Patient Poets: Illness from Inside Out,” McEntyre looks at poetry written by individuals with chronic or terminal illness or disability.

“We’re not in a culture that promotes or recognizes poetry as the instrument of power that it is. The way poets put something can awaken you to desire or hope. And I absolutely believe in a literal way that words can be life giving.”

Words are everywhere we look today. They shape political negotiations. The Supreme Court spends much of its work interpreting the language of the Constitution.

“Words are instruments of power,” McEntyre said. “And they’re much more consequential than we think.”

McEntyre said one word she believes we need more of right now in our community is awareness.

“A lot of spiritual practices are focused on awareness,” McEntyre said. “But being willing to be aware, being willing to open our eyes and look around and say, ‘What exactly is going on here?’”

McEntyre said much of her own writing process comes from noticing; noticing what calls itself to your attention, noticing what gives you energy, and noticing what is fun.

“It’s so important to have practices that give you a little surge of energy,” McEntyre said. “I just have a very high respect for fun.”

McEntyre’s books can be found wherever you buy books, and she encourages supporting local bookstores when possible. She leads a writing workshop once a month through New College Berkeley which can be found at: www.newcollegeberkeley.org/events.

To learn more about McEntyre’s work, visit: www.marilynmcentyre.com/.