Students – if you need some USB memory sticks, Big Lots is selling 4GB USB sticks by Kingston for $10 each.
Note: I am not endorsing or recommending this product; it’s always a good idea to check reviews independently.
Here’s the link to the Big Lots ad. Expires 6/20/09.
It’s surprising, but even some of my writing professor colleagues hold an opinion that creative writing is not a practical course. That is, students may like taking it, but it won’t lead any but a lucky one or two per decade to a career in writing or teaching.
It may not be an assured living, but folks, I know that any decent and dedicated creative writer can earn occasional side cash writing poetry, stories, feature articles, essays and guest columns. At the very least we score the occasional life-affirming byline through pimping our creative works for copies-only publication–the same thing your research-oriented professors do to gain reputation, tenure and promotion: all glory and no check in the mail.
But nevermind all that anti-cw bias. If Daniel Pink and other finger-on-the-trendline pundits are correct, creative writing might be, far from the least practical course you could ever take, the most important. Read the rest of this entry »
I can make people uncomfortable at parties without telling questionable jokes. All I need to do is say I’m a writing teacher.
Feeling as though you’re not a good writer carries the same shame and guilt among some people as breaking some of the moderately serious commandments.
Professors in other disciplines such as history, science and psychology will laser me with judgmental peepers as they demand why I haven’t yet taught their students to write in Freshman Comp W-131. Read the rest of this entry »
Writers, here are some quick tips for using Word. Enjoy!
Shortcut Keys: To use these shortcut keys, either:
Note: A shortcut key combination means to hold down the first key and then press the second key. So ctr-e means to hold down the control key and then press “e.” For a 3-key combo, i.e. ctr-shift-8, hold down the first two and press the third.
Other useful formatting tips: Read the rest of this entry »
April is the cruelest month, T.S. Eliot wrote, breeding/ Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing/ Memory and desire, stirring/ Dull roots with spring rain. In Kentuckiana/Indiucky it’s a complex month, when winter’s chill concedes to spring’s warmth, and spring’s warmth agrees to a little more snow, and sudden storms breed tornado sirens.
April begins the frantic winding down of my spring semester of teaching and the inauguration of garden widowerhood as my wife Dana gets busy with her 10×20 raised bed concentrated garden (potatoes planted yesterday). It’s also Passover, with its ritual spring cleaning, and Easter, The net result is a Marx Brothers madcap month.
Here’s my addition, honoring National Poetry Month:
Iris
springs from bulb
a nest of swords
parting
for the bud. A blind eye
blinks open
in a gentle curve of petals
falling like tongues
How the short-lived
silky bloom sways
glistens
in the morning
- Michael Jackman
This summer, if you’d like to try something creative, consider in ENG-W 203 10913 CREATIVE WRITING Summer 1. You’ll get to experience writing from the inside out in fiction, a gentle introduction to poetry, and creative non-fiction. Any questions, let me know using the contact page.
Spalding’s brief-residency MFA in Writing Program Offers Community Workshop in Creative Writing
LOUISVILLE, KY. (March 20, 2009) Spalding University’s brief-residency MFA in Writing Program is offering a “Community Workshop” to local creative writers May 23-30, during the MFA Program’s Spring Residency.
Community Workshop students will participate in an instructor-led 8-day non-credit writing workshop and are invited to attend all MFA Residency events, including lectures and panel discussions normally reserved exclusively for MFA students.
Writers interested in attending the Community Workshop should submit a 5- to 7-page writing sample in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, writing for children and young adults, playwriting, or screenwriting. Applicants receive a $100 discount off the full price of $700 if they apply by April 8. All applications are due by April 22. The price includes lunch every day and dinner most days. Read the rest of this entry »
We in the Kentuckiana/Indiucky area are so lucky to have such a variety of opportunities to hear poetry, fiction, essays, music, participate in open mics, and attend workshops. Check the Literary Events Calendar link for opportunities.
(Students in my creative writing classes, check religiously – you need that required event report!)
Canvas is a full-color, perfect bound, 80-100 page magazine published in Bloomington that accepts work from IU students all over the state. It accepts poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, flash fiction, and short plays.
Read the rest of this entry »
At 12:15 I grabbed a couple of W-203 students who had stuck around to ask questions, and we went to the English Club office in the UC for the organizational meeting of the English Club sponsored writers group. It was a good first meeting and nice for me to see students I’d taught before as well as meet new students interested in writing, such as Pat, Kaitlyn and Scott. Since I want to help promote a culture of literature and writing outside of classes, I felt happy about the turnout of eight students. Looks like we’re going to meet about twice a month, use the English Club Oncourse site to upload drafts, and workshop them first-come/first-served. If you’re interested in the writers group (funky student-created name and logo to come), let me know through my contact page. You don’t have to be a member of the English club, though, you know, I wouldn’t mind if you joined.
By the way, I just modified by “About Me” page – so if you’re interested, my information is more up to date.
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