I’ve been doing some research into issues surrounding teen pregnancy recently. I did research a couple of years ago when drafting my memoir, Subject to Change, about teaching science to teen moms. At the time, I didn’t collect specific information from most of the sources, but now that my book is nearing publication, I needContinue reading “Diplomas and Pregnant Teens”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Bathtub Reading
At home … or at the library Joey climbs into the white porcelain, claw-footed bathtub just inside the sunny window of his school library and sinks onto the puffy yellow and green pillows that line the bottom. “Here’s your book,” I say, as I hand him Pete the Cat and the Cool Caterpillar and openContinue reading “Bathtub Reading”
Re-Vision
Getting the words right, or seeing new possibilities I consider myself a person open to change and new perspectives. My upcoming memoir is titled Subject to Change, after all. It’s about how I was fundamentally changed by a later-life career teaching science to teen moms, a career path totally off my radar until I justContinue reading “Re-Vision”
What Now?
… after the last revision I’ve poured my energy and my passion into a memoir manuscript for the past two years—Subject to Change: What Teaching Teen Moms Taught Me. Some days, words tripped over themselves to beat other perfectly precise verbiage onto the laptop screen. Other days, words had to be forcibly pried from theContinue reading “What Now?”
Double Joy
According to a Swedish proverb, “Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” Many of us hold back from sharing sorrows for fear of wearing out our friends (who aren’t the best of friends in that case). But almost everyone—including me—loves sharing joyful news. I shared with anyone who would listen theContinue reading “Double Joy”
Dig Deep
Even memoirists need to do thorough research In my previous post, Respect the Truth, I shared one of the tips I presented last month to a group of nonfiction writers. I suggested the foremost consideration before beginning a writing project is understanding why you want to write it. It’s important to know who you wantContinue reading “Dig Deep”
Respect the Truth
I took part in a workshop called “How to Write a Nonfiction Book” last weekend, hosted by the San Gabriel Writers’ League, a writing group I belong to. Two other members and I were asked to share our writing journeys, including our failures and successes. Like many such judgements, we each define our own ideasContinue reading “Respect the Truth”
Things We Keep
My journaling habit first kicked into gear in the mid-90s. Julia Cameron, in The Artist’s Way, advised writing morning pages every day—three was the magic number. Mine were just scribbles, really. Three pages to clear my mind and maybe unclog creative impulses. Cameron gave me permission to write whatever I wanted without fear of exposure.Continue reading “Things We Keep”
An Act of Love
I celebrated growth in reading ability with a group of twenty-seven first through fifth graders last week, along with a dozen other Literacy Partners. May marks the end of my fourth year of reading with youngsters who have struggled to read at grade level, and my third year of helping to coordinate the program atContinue reading “An Act of Love”
Conflicted Interests
What is it about conflict that readers find so engaging? Every writing class, book, or instructor emphasizes the need for writers to introduce conflict in their stories. The sooner the better. Page one, paragraph one, if you can manage it. It should accompany the introduction of a sympathetic character. We need to care about theContinue reading “Conflicted Interests”
Janice Airhart 