School is about to begin in my school district. My school is two blocks from the looting that was going on in Ferguson, and less than 1/4 mile from where a young man lost his life.
As the investigation continues, some of the residents have taken to the streets to clean up and show the pride they still have in their neighborhood. And it is a wonderful neighborhood.
The road to healing and repairing frayed connections is a long one...
My current WIP is slowly growing. Around six months ago, it was "finished" in my mind--at 84,000 words--but of course it was only an incredibly rough draft that had to be chucked. Now, the conflict is a stronger thread (at least I hope it is). Conflict in a novel is a good thing, a necessary thing. Conflict with real people and real bullets...not good at all.
This year (lucky, lucky me) I am teaching only writing (and just a little social studies). I am thrilled beyond belief. Three sections of writing every day. (I keep pinching myself, to ascertain if it's a dream or reality, so my cellulite's getting some extra attention.) This is a totally new groove for me to get into.
As far as my WIP, I'm working on fictionalizing reality. Making it funnier. Making it more cohesive. Making it--yikes!--first person. It's sending me in new directions, and my friends have morphed into different people. It's slow slogging. But, it's evolving into (IhopeIhopeIhope) a more satisfying story.
In my classroom, I'm stepping more and more out of my box this school year. I bought a hardhat and decoupaged it all up (with writing phrases) and will wear it often during the school year as we construct and deconstruct our writing pieces. I purchased a tool belt (that thing will really accentuate my poochy belly) and we will be adding tools to our tool belt as we grow as writers. Hopefully, the kids will get a kick out of it.
I've grown as a writer in the last two years I've been a WWWP. There are times (not all the time) that I put myself into the shoes of my critique group members and cut out the unneeded words/parts instinctively. Sometimes enough of the persistence that flows through the other women rubs off on me. Sometimes I'm even able to come up with a decent title. (Usually, I have not a single idea when it comes to titles.)
How about you? What fiction or nonfiction are you reading right now? What kind of fiction are you weaving into your everyday reality? Do you think a hardhat will adequately cover the horror that is my hair
I wonder...
Hi Sioux,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your teaching schedule. I love your idea of wearing a hardhat with writing sayings plastered on it. Think of all the students you will be inspiring with your words!
This summer has been a blur, so I haven't had as much time to read and write as I'd like.
While waiting for soccer practice to get over I've been reading a book of short stories called "The House on Prytania" by Pat Carr. I've only read a few of the stories, but the ones I've read are set in the South. Reading these stories makes me think how important sense of place is in writing.
As far as weaving fiction into my everyday reality, I tend to weave pieces of my everyday life (or the lives of people I know) into my fiction.
And you hair looks great!
Donna--It sounds like Pat Carr's collection is a good one. And thanks for the compliment about my hair...but when did you last get your vision checked? ;)
DeleteCongratulation on your classes and WIP. I just finished Olive Kitteridge. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteTammy--Thanks. I read "Olive Kiteridge" a while back. I enjoyed it as well.
DeleteI'm reading The Mockingbird Next Door by Marja Mills and loving it. I didn't find out until today that apparently there is controversy over the book. Mills claims Harper Lee and her sister Alice met with her (as they had done with no other reporter) over an extended period of time knowing Mills planned to write a book. Lee says she never intended any information gleaned from these encounters to go into a book.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it came about, I'm thoroughly enjoying this small insight into the everyday life of Harper Lee. She is (and always will be) a literary icon and my writing idol. Oh, to have even a smidgen of her talent!
Pat
Critter Alley
Pat--Have you read "Mockingbird" (or have we already blogged back and forth about it)? The picture it paints of Lee and Capote's relationship is not very complimentary--when it pertains to Capote.
DeleteI agree with you. What a gifted writer. It's a shame that was her only book that got published...
Yes, I did read Mockingbird a few years ago. Enjoyed it, too.
DeleteI'm shocked by what I'm seeing on the news from there. What is this? Montgomery? Cairo? Ukraine???
ReplyDeleteShay--It IS almost unbelievable, but when you drive by the places that were looted and burned, and you see the crowds of people, you are forced to believe...
DeleteI think the kids will love it!
ReplyDeleteHowever...I must admit that the first image that popped into my head at the mention of your ensemble was you dancing around, and the kids singing, "Wacky, Wacky Sioux. I want to write, like Wacky Sioux!" Of course that would never happen. Kids are not disrespectful enough to call you by your first name. And I doubt you could persuade your fellow faculty members to follow you around dressed as a cop, biker, Indian, and cowboy.
I am currently reading Celia Rivenbark's "Rude B*tches Make Me Tired." I would have finished it already, but it made me tired.
Val--I actually DO work with a teacher who would be thrilled to dress up as one of those "People" from the "Small Town." This particular colleague recently went to the Miley Cyrus concert dressed as "a Jesus hippie" (his term) wearing a sign "Twerking 4 God." AND he has lots of selfies to prove it.
Delete"Wacky Sioux." I think I see a disco come-back in the near future, and this song could be one of the first to usher it in.
We've been watching the news heavy-hearted. I'm glad that my friends in St. Louis have stayed safe.
ReplyDeleteI have trouble with titles, too, and also with conflict. I like my characters and want them to be happy. Of course, they're emotionally tortured most of the time, but I do promise them a happy ending. :)
Thrilled for your teaching schedule and love your hardhat idea. Kids love to be engaged like that. When my daughter was a sophomore in HS her lit teacher, a man, shocked the students by dressing up for "Stories With Nana." He dressed up like an old lady and read to them while sitting in a rocking chair. The students went wild for it and PAID ATTENTION because he made it fun. So yes, I believe you're going to turn on a lot of kids to writing who might otherwise be turned off.
Lisa--Isn't that a requirement when it comes to romance novels? Don't they have to be emotionally tortured? At least that's what I've heard. ;) Soon, I will be reading my first one. (What is the title of your number one of three soon-to-be-published novels?)
DeleteYour "Stories With Nana" revealed a little-known fact about high school kids: they are kids...just bigger versions. What works with elementary and middle school students often works with high schoolers as well. Your daughter was lucky to have such a great lit teacher. However, I am sure YOU were her first "lit teacher."
I think those are some very, very lucky kids to have you as their writing teacher. They will LOVE that hard hat and the tool belt and will hardly notice your poochy belly while you're throwing all those Chicken Soup books at them (You surely have enough to build a reading fort in the back of the classroom!)
ReplyDeleteAnd P.S. I notice you've changed your pic--and what a lovely picture that is of you. Does this mean business cards are coming?
Um...let's see. Finishing up my Cinderella story (Middle Grade) and chomping at the bit to get to my latest new idea (also a MG) and reading lots and lots of Middle Grade. Just finished STEERING TOWARD NORMAL (about 4-H and steers and boys) and starting SCARLET by A.C. Gaughren (a re-telling of the Robin Hood story). Need some good MG suggestions? I got a million of 'em. :-)
Cathy--At some point, I will surrender to your jabs and pokes and nudges and get some business cards.
DeleteWhen and where will we see your Cinderella story? I'd LOVE to read your take on that tale.
I bet you're a great teacher, Sioux!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading a lot of horror / mystery / thriller type stuff. I need the escape.
Mama Zen--And I guess most of them are less than 29 words long. ;)
ReplyDeleteWearing a writerly hard hat to critique sessions seems appropriate to me! I may even wear one during the writing process to feel safe letting some things onto the page as I go.
ReplyDeleteI recently read Eudora Welty's A Delta Wedding simply because you told me some of writing is "southern" and I was curious as to what that is. Thank you. Currently I'm reading Garrison Keillor's Reader, because I went to his signing. It amazes me how he builds up outrageous layers to his stories. (I get frustrated with all the references to body parts that men just can't seem to refrain from using, but his other stuff is so good it's worth it.)
You are a creative writer and teacher! Right now, considering what your students are going through in the neighborhood, you are providing them an especially welcome experience of what to focus on. Their futures and opportunities. And what better way to express ourselves than through writing? You go, Mrs. Roslawski!
I am trying to read a nonfiction book each month (because I'm addicted to fiction, this is really hard for me!). I recently read The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch. This had me thinking about how there are so many great true stories that are out there!
ReplyDelete