Writing Thoughts
So good it hurts…
I’ve been reading some things lately that are so good it hurts that I didn’t write them. This story by Travis Hessman at PANK. Everything by Roxane Gay on tumbr. It’s what I felt the first time I read Wendell Berry–his novel Jayber … Read More >>
Madison Monday
The back roads in the rain…
A friend and I are taking a master naturalist class at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. It’s eight weeks of three and a half hour classes every Wednesday at the visitor’s center just up the road. Last night was mammal night, which … Read More >>
Mindful Thoughts
How to make black bean pizza…
One of my family’s favorite meals is homemade pizza–a black bean pizza. I make the dough in the bread machine and it takes an hour and fifty minutes. I used to put the ingredients in at any old time of the day. The dough can sit in the … Read More >>
Bookish Thoughts
Indiana Book Review: The Circus in Winter
Here’s an important lesson I recently learned–when you’re going to a writer’s conference, read the books written by the authors who will be leading workshops and teaching classes. Otherwise you might miss out. This summer, I went to the Midwest Writer’s Workshop … Read More >>
Family Thoughts
Week of Winter Walking: Day Seven
As promised, Day Seven in my Week of Winter Walking takes us to sunnier climates, where my mom and dad are walking the beaches of Sanibel Island, Florida. Most years, I'm down there with them, but due to irreconcilable differences in spring break schedules (our … Read More >>
Nature Thoughts
This time of year
This time of year is like the sound of an orchestra warming up after a long, quiet season in the concert hall. The hint of violin there. The rattle of the cymbals. Faint and scattered at first before the cacophony that will come with all the instruments … Read More >>
Sociological Thoughts
Questioning Gender: second edition and Facebook page
The second edition of my textbook, Questioning Gender: A Sociological Exploration, is on its way. I took what I hope was a final look at the page proofs this week and it should be ready for the presses in February. I really like the cover they picked out this … Read More >>
Pop Culture Thoughts
A Sunday without football is…
A Sunday without football is almost not a Sunday at all. Oh, sure, the sun comes up. You have your coffee. Maybe even a little treat, like orange rolls fresh from the oven. But there's no pre-game shows. No GameDay Morning. No Rich Eisen and Steve Mariucci. … Read More >>
Random Thoughts
The story of this winter
Here is a story that pretty much sums up the whole of this winter: After driving up to Columbus on Saturday in four inches of snow, or five, or maybe twelve--it's hard to keep track at this point--I parked my car on the street in front of the church next door. … Read More >>
Writing Thoughts
My phone is silent
This week I turned off the Gmail notification on my phone. The only sound it will be making now is when someone calls or texts me. The rest of the time, my phone will be silent. My Gmail account is the one I use for my writing life. When I was querying my novel, … Read More >>
Madison Monday
Madison Monday: What Woody learned at Hanover
This Saturday, the college’s most famous alum, Woodrow Tracy Harrelson, came back home to receive an honorary degree. From what I hear, he hung with the men in his fraternity and spent some time with the theater folks. A big group of alums who went to school with … Read More >>
Mindful Thoughts
My phone is silent
This week I turned off the Gmail notification on my phone. The only sound it will be making now is when someone calls or texts me. The rest of the time, my phone will be silent. My Gmail account is the one I use for my writing life. When I was querying my novel, … Read More >>
Most Recent Posts
So good it hurts
I’ve been reading some things lately that are so good it hurts that I didn’t write them. This story by Travis Hessman at PANK. Everything by Roxane … Read More >>
This time of year
This time of year is like the sound of an orchestra warming up after a long, quiet season in the concert hall. The hint of violin there. The rattle of … Read More >>
The back roads in the rain
A friend and I are taking a master naturalist class at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. It’s eight weeks of three and a half hour classes every … Read More >>
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