In a recent interview Annie Dillard discusses some of her early reading practices. She says, “Whatever everyone read, I avoided. How else have an original voice?” (38). Talk about your reading practices in your teens and early twenties, what…
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laura madeline wiseman
In Robert Talbert’s blog post on The Higher Chronicle “The Social Element of learning about effective teaching strategies,” he discusses the effectiveness of one-on-one interactions with those who use effective teaching practices in the classroom and the importance of…
In his article “The Four Properties of Powerful Teachers” in The Higher Chronicle, Rob Jenkins sites personality, presence, passion, and preparation as qualities that make a teacher great. Could you describe a powerful teacher or mentor you admire? What…
In her article, “‘Warming’ the Climate for Learning” Sandra Allen discusses the importance of the positive interactions between instructors and students. She explores three key areas to “warm” the learning climate, “(1) the teacher’s praise or approval; (2) enthusiasm…
In a feature in Art Voice you talk about the “kooky energy” of being creative and the ways poets see the world a little differently. You also mention elsewhere a strong love for strange poetry. As ex-Marine, chef, poet,…
In the February 2016 issue of The Writer’s Chronicle, in her essay “How to Give a Killer Reading” Christine Vines discusses great readings, such as a reading that “grabs hold of you and shakes you awake.” She talks about…
You teach a wide variety of courses in poetry—lyric poetry, poetry writing, modern poetry, romantic poetry, 19th Century British poetry, and poetry workshops. When you teach, what do you teach about the chapbook, poetry sequences and series, and creating…
Many writers and poets participate in NaPoWriMo, NaNoWriMo, NaHaiWriMo, and other 30 day challenges. Were any of the poems in your first chapbook Tableau Vivant (Dancing Girl Press, 2015) inspired by such challenges? What do such challenges offer to…
In the essay “Why Publishing a Chapbook Makes Sense,” Jeannine Hall Gailey includes a suggestion by Kelli Russell Agodon on creating chapbooks, “My advice would be to focus your chapbook on one subject, theme, or story. The best chapbooks…
You’re the author of the chapbook Notes on Exile (Backwaters Press, 2005), winner of the 2004 Weldon Kees Award, as well as the books Freezing (New Issues, 2001) and Meet me at the Happy Bar (BlazeVOX Books, 2009) and…
