English 101: Better Than Before
Writer and professor, Janet Tamez, reflects on the first days of English Composition class, what it means to be a mentor, and what one student’s letter taught her about writing and becoming better than before.
About Janet Tamez
Writer, English teacher, and mom of 4, crafting heartwarming stories rooted in inner-city life. Currently living in Mexico.
Entries by Janet Tamez
A Jealous Reader Finds a Hug
/0 Comments/in fiction, Hope, Writers Read/by Janet TamezJanet Tamez reflects on “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” by Satoshi Yagisawa, and the unexpected ways stories can offer refuge. What begins as a reader’s envy of a character’s dreamlike escape to a Tokyo bookstore becomes a meditation on rest, healing, and the embrace God offers when we are weary.
Miles and Milestones
/0 Comments/in Family Life, Inspirational, Spiritual Life/by Janet TamezIn this essay, Janet Tamez sits in a hotel lobby and hears a mother shushing her autistic son. She is brought back to a night in Mexico where another mother grieves over her son’s autism on a park bench. Weaving together personal memory with Toni Cade Bambara’s “Raymond’s Run,” she explores the unseen bonds between women, the ways we try to contain one another’s differences, and the love that allows people to grow in their own way.
Simple and a Little Looney: Making “Real Life” Characters
/2 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Encouragement for Writers, The Writing Life/by Janet TamezJanet Tamez explores what it truly takes to create memorable characters. Drawing from “The Best of Simple” by Langston Hughes and the Looney Tunes, she reflects on how everyday people shape unforgettable characters.
When a Frog Interrupts Your Day
/2 Comments/in Family Life, Spiritual Life, The Writing Life/by Janet TamezJanet Tamez thought spring break would be the perfect time to make progress on her novel. Instead, a visit from her mother-in-law disrupted her carefully planned writing schedule. Reflecting on Benedictine hospitality, Scripture, and even the lessons of Frog and Toad, she discovers that the interruptions we resist may actually be invitations to see the world outside our writing desks with fresh eyes.
Grab Me a Coke and a Character
/0 Comments/in Catholic Fiction, The Writing Life/by Janet TamezCatholic writer Janet Tamez recounts a surprising grocery store encounter that challenged her assumptions about aging, morality, and character. She invites writers to stop stereotyping and start creating characters as unexpected as real life.
A Rainy-Day Remedy for the Soul
/0 Comments/in Family Life, fiction, Nature/by Janet TamezWhile caring for sick children and facing her own exhaustion, Janet Tamez reflects on why rest feels so hard for mothers—and how God restores us quietly through nature, as seen in O. Henry’s “The Last Leaf.”
The Cookie Burn
/0 Comments/in Advent, Spiritual Life/by Janet TamezWhen a burn from a batch of cookies sparked an unexpected comment from her young son, Catholic writer Janet Tamez found herself confronting more than a parenting habit—it made her reflect on the voice she brings to the page. In her newest article, Tamez takes readers on an honest journey from a small kitchen mishap to a deeper look at how easily our “I told you so” tone can slip into parenting, teaching, and even writing. She challenges Catholic writers to consider whether they correct or truly connect—and to pay attention to the small moments God uses to shape the stories we tell.
I Learned What Home Could Be: Writing, Faith, and the Meantime Life
/0 Comments/in Community, Encouragement for Writers, Fellowship/by Janet TamezIn this reflective essay, Janet Tamez shares her journey of writing and faith during a season of living in hotels and searching for stability. She explores how messy journals, Bible plans, conversations with friends, and even Emily Dickinson’s poetry offered unexpected lessons on writing, creativity, and the meaning of home. Catholic writers will find encouragement in every season, even the “meantime” of life.
Back-to-School Isn’t Just for Kids: Why Student Memberships Matter for Aspiring Publishing Professionals
/0 Comments/in Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Networking/by Janet TamezStarting a new career can feel a lot like being the “new kid” in high school. In this article, CWG member Janet Tamez shares how student memberships in professional publishing organizations helped her navigate that transition, offering scholarships, mentorship, and community along the way.