Here’s another gem from The Writer’s Almanac. I’ve never heard of this guy, Paul J. Willis, but I’m going to have to get his book/s. This poem is so unique and beautiful and spare but so rich. I love the story of this Grandfather. Common Ground by Paul J. Willis Today I dug an orange [...]

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We’re almost unpacked in our new house. We have pictures on a few of the walls and the boxes are down to the double digits (maybe even under 20?). Photos of the new place to come, I promise. I’m halfway through summer teaching and have gotten back into working on my book. I have a [...]

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This week in my Creative Nonfiction class I asked the students to free write about a LIE they once told. We talked about lies– white lies, bold/blatant lies, lies to protect someone, lying to ourselves, lies to make someone feel better, hurtful lies, funny lies. I was quite a liar as a child, though I [...]

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Just sent off my application for the Vermont Studio Center. I’ve never gone, but I’ve gotten partial scholarships in the past. Let’s see how this one goes. They’ve always been very nice, very gracious in their response to me so one of these times i’d love to attend. Ideally, it would be wonderful to take [...]

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This poem, sent to me by The Writer’s Almanac (list serv), really moved me: Fishing by Kate Scott Sam was a galunky kind of guy, my cousin says. He walked like this. He takes on a bow-legged swagger that makes us laugh. And boy, could he drink beer. He lifts his hand, tipping imaginary cans [...]

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How write right she is (I seriously typed write– I must be tired). I’m talking about Annie Dillard. In her book, The Writer’s Life, she explains in yet another great vignette about a writer’s life and a writer’s space. Funny– on her website she calls the book: an embarrassing nonfiction narrative fixed somewhat and republished [...]

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I’m starting teaching again in just about a week and a half. A shorter winter break this time because I just got another teaching gig at one of our local colleges. Only one class but it’ll help. That makes three classes so far, not counting this great class i’m teaching at San Diego Writers, Ink– [...]

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From The Writers Almanac–on NPR: On this day in 1953 William Faulkner was vacationing in St. Moritz, Switzerland. He wrote a letter to his mother: Dear Moms – This is right in the middle of the Alps, snow on them and moonlight, very beautiful, much ski-ing and bob-sledding, place full of American movie people, plus [...]

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