Wiregrass

The Wiregrass Literature and Literacy Festival occurred this past weekend. The teaching demonstrations by BWP/ SGWP teachers (as part of the academic conference) went well. I attended every one and continued to learn from my smart, thoughtful colleagues. The first issue of the Blackwater Writing Project newsletter should be out in early October, so stay tuned for more news.

Write Night

Well. I’m in Baltimore. It’s been nearly two months since I left Georgia. I haven’t had a chance to get homesick because the kids keep me busy. Don’t get me started on the kids. Everything you guys said would happen did. So I’ve been prepared in almost every case. Quite naturally, I am the “mean teacher”—the one who “needs to get laid”—“the one “who never lets us do anything.” I can deal with that. It’s a game of psychological warfare, and they’ve been practicing. But for some reason (and in a very uncharacteristic fashion) I’ve been upbeat and positive. Can you imagine? I’ve actually managed to smile at least 10-12 times per day, which is far about my two smile quota. I have a few war stories, but I’ll post those later.

Above is a picture of my apartment building and the park across the street. The crackheads were cool enough to move out of the picture.

September Write Night

Here's the topic for tonight's Write Night: First Times. (No, you don't have to go there.)

Feel free to write directly on the blog (preferably by responding to this post so that we can keep them all together) or to write by hand in your notebook--whatever works for you. If you do write or type offline, consider posting your favorite word, sentence, or paragraph to the blog. Sharing is one of my favorite parts from the Summer Institute.

Logistics: If you aren't a member of the blog and you're a Blackwater Writing Project or South Georgia Writing Project participant, email me, and I'll send you an invitation. I can also post comments if you aren't currently a member.

Happy writing! (I'd love to hear from you if you write at home and don't post to the blog.)