Comments on: Those Who Write, Teach http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/those-who-write-teach/ Raise a glass to the lost arts of reading, writing, and drinking. Thu, 23 May 2013 19:31:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Dori Henderson http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/those-who-write-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-26974 Dori Henderson Sat, 16 Jun 2012 12:49:30 +0000 http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/?p=4819#comment-26974 I admire the honesty in what you say about teaching writing (and Stegner's too). I've not taught writing (though I have taught other things), but it seems that the level of feedback a teacher much give to each student is huge (unlike, say, grading multiple choice exams, or even deciding from an essay that the student more or less described some physics or chemistry idea right). It must be exhausting to do that kind of teaching - especially when the students are beginning writers. I admire the honesty in what you say about teaching writing (and Stegner’s too). I’ve not taught writing (though I have taught other things), but it seems that the level of feedback a teacher much give to each student is huge (unlike, say, grading multiple choice exams, or even deciding from an essay that the student more or less described some physics or chemistry idea right). It must be exhausting to do that kind of teaching – especially when the students are beginning writers.

]]> By: Sonya Huber http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/those-who-write-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-26714 Sonya Huber Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:18:23 +0000 http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/?p=4819#comment-26714 Thank you for the thought-provoking post! I'm on my second institution as a tenure-track prof, in year six altogether. I may never get over reveling in campus life: the privilege of travel money, grants to go to conferences, grants to recommend books for the library to stock, scholars on campus in every discipline to hear lecture. Since I have to work I can't think of another gig better. I did writing outside of the academy as well as many other jobs, and since I know that if it's not this, it would be writing and editing for dough, I'm perfectly happy teaching creative writing. I worked as a reporter and found myself so burned out churning out rote story ideas and copy that I literally had contempt for the alphabet at the end of the day. Also not a good place to be. But economics aside, I could entertain the fantasy of writing all day... and there are book projects that will take much longer this way. But I find this pace comfortable because I write 5 days a week, including during the academic year, for at least an hour a day. I schedule everything to start at 10, and then I run like a ninny and never go eat leisurely lunches. I work at my desk and am often scheduled solid. But that first hour (and sometimes more!) is mine, mine, mine. I'm a little tired the rest of the day, maybe not as sharp as I am before the writing energy is spent... but that's where my sharpest stuff has to go, on the page. And I find myself *more* emboldened by this fancy life. I write things I would not have had the courage to write if I hadn't had a hiring committee tell me I was worth their while. I wouldn't have written an essay called "Breastfeeding Dick Cheney" if I planned to leave academia. The director of freelance proofreading at my next temp job could easily google me. :) Thank you for the thought-provoking post!

I’m on my second institution as a tenure-track prof, in year six altogether. I may never get over reveling in campus life: the privilege of travel money, grants to go to conferences, grants to recommend books for the library to stock, scholars on campus in every discipline to hear lecture. Since I have to work I can’t think of another gig better.

I did writing outside of the academy as well as many other jobs, and since I know that if it’s not this, it would be writing and editing for dough, I’m perfectly happy teaching creative writing. I worked as a reporter and found myself so burned out churning out rote story ideas and copy that I literally had contempt for the alphabet at the end of the day. Also not a good place to be.

But economics aside, I could entertain the fantasy of writing all day… and there are book projects that will take much longer this way. But I find this pace comfortable because I write 5 days a week, including during the academic year, for at least an hour a day. I schedule everything to start at 10, and then I run like a ninny and never go eat leisurely lunches. I work at my desk and am often scheduled solid. But that first hour (and sometimes more!) is mine, mine, mine.

I’m a little tired the rest of the day, maybe not as sharp as I am before the writing energy is spent… but that’s where my sharpest stuff has to go, on the page. And I find myself *more* emboldened by this fancy life. I write things I would not have had the courage to write if I hadn’t had a hiring committee tell me I was worth their while. I wouldn’t have written an essay called “Breastfeeding Dick Cheney” if I planned to leave academia. The director of freelance proofreading at my next temp job could easily google me. :)

]]> By: john lane http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/those-who-write-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-26712 john lane Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:09:53 +0000 http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/?p=4819#comment-26712 I love what Wally S says about teaching and the heart. And I also love being reminded what he did after he retired at 62. I'll reach that age in a little under four years, maybe retire, and I hope to fire out of the literary cannon if I do! I love what Wally S says about teaching and the heart. And I also love being reminded what he did after he retired at 62. I’ll reach that age in a little under four years, maybe retire, and I hope to fire out of the literary cannon if I do!

]]> By: Chelle G http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/those-who-write-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-26711 Chelle G Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:23:40 +0000 http://billanddavescocktailhour.com/?p=4819#comment-26711 I am so glad you visited this issue, as I am about to enter into this exact position. I was inspired to get an MA in Composition and Rhetoric by the best writing teacher ever--Karen Uehling. The thought process was that I could share my passion for creative non-fiction with others and still have the time to write. I've spent the past year volunteering my time at a high school for teen parents. It is exhausting, though some of my students have created art that far surpassed my hopes. But I certainly have less time for my own work. Of course, I'm in grad school, I run a daycare, I'm a mom and wife, and I teach. My proff, Karen U., is inspiring. She is a mom, wife, a teacher, and she's written many academic papers and a book on writing but she gives so much of herself that her personal writing has become an after thought. I love teaching but I also love my writing. I hope that I can manage both with equal zeal. Perhaps one will inspire the other. I am so glad you visited this issue, as I am about to enter into this exact position. I was inspired to get an MA in Composition and Rhetoric by the best writing teacher ever–Karen Uehling. The thought process was that I could share my passion for creative non-fiction with others and still have the time to write. I’ve spent the past year volunteering my time at a high school for teen parents. It is exhausting, though some of my students have created art that far surpassed my hopes. But I certainly have less time for my own work. Of course, I’m in grad school, I run a daycare, I’m a mom and wife, and I teach. My proff, Karen U., is inspiring. She is a mom, wife, a teacher, and she’s written many academic papers and a book on writing but she gives so much of herself that her personal writing has become an after thought. I love teaching but I also love my writing. I hope that I can manage both with equal zeal. Perhaps one will inspire the other.

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