In this season of giving, it seems apt to talk about our writing as a gift. "Hold on, now," you say. "I was kinda hoping to make some money at this whole writing gig, so are you saying we have to give our words away?" Whether we're paid or not, isn’t viewing our words as a gift…isn’t that how we begin the process of connecting with people? We toil over our message … [Read more...]
Who We Are Becoming
Saturday night I tore off pieces of a Post-It to mark passages in Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World. As I reached the last lines of the last chapter, closed the book and set it on the bedside table, I continued to think about story and place and self and how they overlap and interweave. I wanted to wrap up the book and move on...perhaps to start writing more … [Read more...]
Curiosity Journal: Geography of Mind, Birdfeeders, Sarah Kay on Story, and Mini Flash Mob
Each Wednesday I’m recording a Curiosity Journal to recap the past week. Tag words are: reading, playing, learning, reacting and writing. ::: Some of you have mentioned that you’re keeping a Curiosity Journal, as well. If you do, leave your link in the comments so that we can visit and enjoy your weekly review. … [Read more...]
Curiosity Journal: Staying Put, Christmas Decor and Advent
Each Wednesday I’m recording a Curiosity Journal to recap the past week. Tag words are: reading, playing, learning, reacting and writing. :::Some of you have mentioned that you’re keeping a Curiosity Journal, as well. If you do, leave your link in the comments so that we can visit and enjoy your weekly review. … [Read more...]
Wendell Berry Road Trip (Part 3 of 3)
Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here, if you like. After Wendell Berry finished reading "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front," his handlers—an English professor or two—whisked him away to a book signing table. I walked up to Maurice Manning to introduce myself. I explained how I remembered him from the Writers Colloquium where Haven Kimmel was the keynote … [Read more...]
Wendell Berry Road Trip (Part 1 of 3)
A friend of mine moved to the university town where I was a student. A week-and-a-half ago, she sent me an e-mail with this subject line: "Wendell Berry here all week" Wendell Berry? Right in my own state...at my alma mater? Sure enough. Last Tuesday night he was to read from his work; Wednesday was an interview of some kind; Thursday he would do another reading; … [Read more...]
