So I’ll just say that I’m so glad I found this renewed passion and throwback to your old blog with some new insights and digs into your mind. And this one for me was the most interesting. Thanks for the great morning read to start the day and think of ways to tell better stories to grip versus explain
Thanks, Todd — it means a lot that you’re here for the throwback with upgrades. I love that it got you thinking about story over explanation. That’s the sweet spot I’m chasing.
This is useful; I've been blogging for almost a quarter century (I think that's how we met back in the day), and it always helps to think for of the people you hope to write for rather than the ones you're afraid might read it. This is one reason I'm thinking of rewriting my army book (the publisher's gone rogue so it's not like I'm risking anything).
I'll give it some thought, since you asked. But in the meantime, have you considered teaching creative writing? Maybe someplace like Stanford would want a relevant doctorate before they hired you, but a smaller school might be more flexible. Or maybe be a private tutor. You sure have enough experience, and this post was a master class on how to get it right!
Appreciate that, Jess. It’s funny — a friend actually floated the idea of a writing residency, which feels like an alien world I know nothing about. Teaching’s in the same bucket for me: intimidating, but maybe worth exploring. Have you ever dipped a toe into that kind of space?
Yes, I have. A number of years after I got out of school, I wound up doing some adjunct teaching. Just intercession stuff, but it was fun. I did that for about 20 years during the short intercession in January.
Plenty of feelings of impostor syndrome, particularly at the start, but then you find that your observations from having been in the trenches have these students hanging on your words. It's not that you have to be a genius. It's just that you've actually been down the road they're interested in traveling.
It actually makes it easier to do related things. Want me to speak in a continuing education lecture? Sure! Want me to address a group of fellow professionals? Okay. You just find that getting up in front of people and sharing thoughts gets easier. With your sense of humor, you'll certainly engage them!
I definitely think it would be a great thing for you to pursue. Also, being a legit lecturer or professor would help open doors for other things you want to pursue.
I stopped writing online because I was so angry about the tech bros stealing my content to train their AI. I’m beginning to think Emily Dickinson had the right idea. Just put all the writing in a box and let the world see it after I’m dead.
Yeah, Emily Dickinson’s trunk plan has its appeal — except history isn’t kind. Van Gogh tried that whole ‘unseen genius’ thing too, and look how that turned out: broke, misunderstood, and only famous when he couldn’t cash the checks. I’d rather you (and me!) get to enjoy the applause in real time.
So I’ll just say that I’m so glad I found this renewed passion and throwback to your old blog with some new insights and digs into your mind. And this one for me was the most interesting. Thanks for the great morning read to start the day and think of ways to tell better stories to grip versus explain
Thanks, Todd — it means a lot that you’re here for the throwback with upgrades. I love that it got you thinking about story over explanation. That’s the sweet spot I’m chasing.
This is useful; I've been blogging for almost a quarter century (I think that's how we met back in the day), and it always helps to think for of the people you hope to write for rather than the ones you're afraid might read it. This is one reason I'm thinking of rewriting my army book (the publisher's gone rogue so it's not like I'm risking anything).
I'll give it some thought, since you asked. But in the meantime, have you considered teaching creative writing? Maybe someplace like Stanford would want a relevant doctorate before they hired you, but a smaller school might be more flexible. Or maybe be a private tutor. You sure have enough experience, and this post was a master class on how to get it right!
Appreciate that, Jess. It’s funny — a friend actually floated the idea of a writing residency, which feels like an alien world I know nothing about. Teaching’s in the same bucket for me: intimidating, but maybe worth exploring. Have you ever dipped a toe into that kind of space?
Yes, I have. A number of years after I got out of school, I wound up doing some adjunct teaching. Just intercession stuff, but it was fun. I did that for about 20 years during the short intercession in January.
Plenty of feelings of impostor syndrome, particularly at the start, but then you find that your observations from having been in the trenches have these students hanging on your words. It's not that you have to be a genius. It's just that you've actually been down the road they're interested in traveling.
It actually makes it easier to do related things. Want me to speak in a continuing education lecture? Sure! Want me to address a group of fellow professionals? Okay. You just find that getting up in front of people and sharing thoughts gets easier. With your sense of humor, you'll certainly engage them!
I definitely think it would be a great thing for you to pursue. Also, being a legit lecturer or professor would help open doors for other things you want to pursue.
I stopped writing online because I was so angry about the tech bros stealing my content to train their AI. I’m beginning to think Emily Dickinson had the right idea. Just put all the writing in a box and let the world see it after I’m dead.
Yeah, Emily Dickinson’s trunk plan has its appeal — except history isn’t kind. Van Gogh tried that whole ‘unseen genius’ thing too, and look how that turned out: broke, misunderstood, and only famous when he couldn’t cash the checks. I’d rather you (and me!) get to enjoy the applause in real time.