CONGRATULATIONS, CHRIS!!!

Just shouting out a congrats to Chris for finishing the MFA!!!

Albert Part II

I'll be emailing my piece to each of you.

Dark is the Night (November 22 & 23 chapters)

Hi all,

I just wrote a long introduction to this section for those of you who haven’t read previous chapters from this story, but then I said “screw it” and deleted the whole mess.  Hopefully the work can speak for itself. If you’re really lost, send me an email and I’ll answer any questions (or I can send you earlier chapters from the story).

These chapters come about a third of the way through the book.

I’m looking for any comments about what’s working and what needs work. Thanks in advance, and I hope you all had a great holiday! Happy (almost) New Year!

Riley

Dog & Boy: November 21, 2010

I am proud to have sent 13 pages. Without this team, there would be 0. Work, teaching, and now, editing, takes up the the day and night. Does this all sound familiar? And, 13 sounds better for a two week turn-around.

This piece finds Colin, Bobby and Tramp searching for answers and they find an unexpected ally in Dr. Oliver, the vet that treated Tramp for his "Green Stick Fracture." I am finding a timeline of events on the wall to be crucial in the process, and yet, there may be a few erroneous statements. Please provide you usual insightful commentary and point out where you become confused.

Thank you and good night.

Bill

Schedule, November - April

November 21 - Bill
December 5 - Andy
December 26 - Riley
January 16 - Alan
February 6 - Chris
February 27 - Jason
March 20 - Daniel
April 10 - David

Albert No-name

Here's a substantial rewrite of Albert No-name. I feel like the first version had a lot of issues. I'm interested in knowing what you think of the sequence of events, amount of info. given, general readability and whatever else catches your eye or you think needs something. Basically what works and what doesn't.

Poetry Teaching

The two weeks have gone by too quickly. We worked with 210 sophomores in ten different classes at Jamestown High School teaching a class on writing a poem.

Had them answer a question at the end of the 55 minute session. "What did I learn today?"

A few of the comments.

"Poetry is heart. Thank you!"

"I learned about other people's feelings and how to expess myself in a way that's not demeaning or painful,"

"Look down inside of ourselves to find something meaningful,"

"Poetry comes from the soul not the mind. Do not hesitate."

My admiration for classroom teachers grows each time I enter this world. And, my amazement at how much the kids know, and have experienced in their short lives, grows.

Congratulations to all the teachers reading this.