Why am I taking so long to read Blake Bailey’s Cheever: A Life? Maybe because I’ve been so busy (we’ve been so busy) with unpacking in our new home. I’d like to think it’s because I want to savor every moment of Cheever’s life, want to linger longer in the anecdotes and memories and recollections [...]

Posted in fiction, shopping, teaching, writers 3 Comments »

Ted and I are in the process of moving from La Jolla to Azalea Park. When I say in the process I mean we are: Stressing Thinking about packing Stressing Worrying about having enough money to survive this summer Stressing Collecting Boxes for packing It’s a beautiful neighborhood and gorgeous house so here’s hoping it [...]

Posted in books, collage, crafts, postcards, teaching, writers 1 Comment »

No, i’m not dead–but you wouldn’t know it based on my lack of posting lately. It’s been a hectic and challenging last few weeks. Some highlights: A couple of weeks ago, as you may know, I took Tom Spanbauer‘s Dangerous Writing workshop– three intense days of talking, writing, analyzing about what we are afraid of [...]

Posted in my writing, teaching, vintage books, writers 1 Comment »

I know, I know, I haven’t posted in a while and I have much to tell, but i’m buried underneath a mountain of papers and end of the semester chaos. In the meantime, here is the (top of the) front page of an essay from a current student of mine. The essay is about the [...]

Posted in teaching No Comments »

From The Writer’s Almanac, March 29, 2009: Teaching Poetry to 3rd Graders by Gary Short At recess a boy ran to me with a pink rubber ball and asked if I would kick it to him. He handed me the ball, then turned and ran and ran and ran, not turning back until he was [...]

Posted in books, cute photos of me, fiction, my writing, teaching, writers 3 Comments »

I’m participating in an all day Write-A-Thon this Saturday in San Diego. No, I did not say Write-A-Thong! Though if it helps me get more pledges I just might wear one! I’m going to be sitting at my laptop for 9 hours, writing. Well, actually about 8 hours and 30 minutes, because i’m also leading [...]

Posted in books, cute photos of me, my writing, teaching, writers No Comments »

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 [...]

Posted in my family, my writing, nonfiction, poetry, teaching, writers 5 Comments »

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 [...]

Posted in books, fiction, my writing, nonfiction, teaching, writers No Comments »

Ooof. Long week. But a good one.Started at the second college and also a night class at a writing school downtown. All that and I managed to go to my office and work on my book! This week, amid all of the chaos and driving to and from the schools I got in the mail [...]

Posted in Movies, books, collage, fiction, my writing, shopping, teaching, writers 1 Comment »

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 [...]

Posted in books, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, teaching, writers No Comments »