Wanna read some other stuff I wrote? I write for the Topeka Capital-Journal every now and again. Here are a few stories I've written. A couple of them are older, but the links still work. yeah!
http://cjonline.com/stories/091507/rel_199758789.shtml
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/080207/lif_188501037.shtml
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/110406/rel_nomeninchurch.shtml
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/121906/loc_fundraiser.shtml
Showing posts with label Working girl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Working girl. Show all posts
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
I love writing!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Conferences
2006 has not been a good year. In fact, I would likely give it a D+ overall. Now, it was not without its ups, but I will not be sad to see it go.
Lately, as the stress mounts and the work piles up, I have been thinking about my job and my future. Juggling a life as a full-time wife, mother and teacher is challenging and even overwhelming at times.
But, God has a great way of putting things back into perspective for me. A few weeks back, one of my students suggested that I pull my feature writing class in for individual conferences. I generally do this earlier in the semester, but I had honestly forgotten.
I only have eight students in the class, but it's a great class. The whiner in me often wishes that I could remove one student from each of my classes each semester. In this class, however, I find them all delightful.
I love reading their blogs, finding out what they hope to achieve and getting to know them as individual writers. I have been impressed numerous times this semester, and I hope they will leave with a positive experience.
They have a major story due, a test and their reading assignment all due before I assign them a grade in three weeks, so it might take them some time to take me off their most wanted list.
At least I hope they will take me off there.
Lately, as the stress mounts and the work piles up, I have been thinking about my job and my future. Juggling a life as a full-time wife, mother and teacher is challenging and even overwhelming at times.
But, God has a great way of putting things back into perspective for me. A few weeks back, one of my students suggested that I pull my feature writing class in for individual conferences. I generally do this earlier in the semester, but I had honestly forgotten.
I only have eight students in the class, but it's a great class. The whiner in me often wishes that I could remove one student from each of my classes each semester. In this class, however, I find them all delightful.
I love reading their blogs, finding out what they hope to achieve and getting to know them as individual writers. I have been impressed numerous times this semester, and I hope they will leave with a positive experience.
They have a major story due, a test and their reading assignment all due before I assign them a grade in three weeks, so it might take them some time to take me off their most wanted list.
At least I hope they will take me off there.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Praise
I teach writing, but I'm still a reporter. Might be an actual reporter if the hours were better.
Anyway, I got an e-mail from an editor at the local paper saying that she liked my story and my lede. I obsessed a great deal over both, by the way. And, I am very proud to receive this compliment for my work. I'm still worried that others might not like it, but that's more or less my personality.
I was always very envious of my oldest, younger sister because so many things seemed to come natually to her.
I played the flute in band, and at one time sat first chair. But, I practiced my butt off for that and stopped when the boys got more interesting. She picks up any instrument and without a care is creating music.
I love to write. I've always loved to write. And, as I teach my students year after year, I always wonder if I've got what it takes to make it at what I'm teaching. Again, writing is something that comes quite easily to my sister. She's a great poet, and her writing comes from her soul.
I have had the amazing opportunity to interview some truly amazing people in my day. I even got to hug Maya Angelou when I was the editor of my college newspaper. Yeah! I hugged the woman.
I'm passionate about a lot of people and things, so when I write a story, especially one I've pitched, I'm tied to it. It's fate rests in my hands for the most part. Sure, an editor is going to come along and add the polish, but an editor can only take a story so far.
Anyway, I got an e-mail from an editor at the local paper saying that she liked my story and my lede. I obsessed a great deal over both, by the way. And, I am very proud to receive this compliment for my work. I'm still worried that others might not like it, but that's more or less my personality.
I was always very envious of my oldest, younger sister because so many things seemed to come natually to her.
I played the flute in band, and at one time sat first chair. But, I practiced my butt off for that and stopped when the boys got more interesting. She picks up any instrument and without a care is creating music.
I love to write. I've always loved to write. And, as I teach my students year after year, I always wonder if I've got what it takes to make it at what I'm teaching. Again, writing is something that comes quite easily to my sister. She's a great poet, and her writing comes from her soul.
I have had the amazing opportunity to interview some truly amazing people in my day. I even got to hug Maya Angelou when I was the editor of my college newspaper. Yeah! I hugged the woman.
I'm passionate about a lot of people and things, so when I write a story, especially one I've pitched, I'm tied to it. It's fate rests in my hands for the most part. Sure, an editor is going to come along and add the polish, but an editor can only take a story so far.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Grading
I teach writing. Actually, I coach young writers. Well, maybe I just make them write their butts off.
Anyway you break it down, my classes require a lot of grading. I like grading when these things happen.
1) My students have followed directions.
2) Their work indicates that they care a trifle about the assignment
3) It's quality writing.
4) It does not take me more time to grade than the time the student put into the assignment.
I do not love grading when these things happen.
1) It's late.
2) It's sloppy.
3) It's full of stupid errors.
4) There's too much of it (I am a hard-core believer in practice makes better!)
5) I've basically read the same paper for the last two hours. (Be creative and original, please!)
Anyway you break it down, my classes require a lot of grading. I like grading when these things happen.
1) My students have followed directions.
2) Their work indicates that they care a trifle about the assignment
3) It's quality writing.
4) It does not take me more time to grade than the time the student put into the assignment.
I do not love grading when these things happen.
1) It's late.
2) It's sloppy.
3) It's full of stupid errors.
4) There's too much of it (I am a hard-core believer in practice makes better!)
5) I've basically read the same paper for the last two hours. (Be creative and original, please!)
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Where is Regina Fall 2006?
Monday
9-11 a.m. Office Hours
1 p.m. Meet with Brenda
2 p.m. Meet with Andrew
Tuesday
9-10 a.m. Office Hours
10 a.m. Meet with Amanda
11-12:15 p.m. MM-320 (HC 7)
1-2:15 p.m. MM-431 (HC 7)
2:30 p.m. Meet with Courtney
Wednesday
9-11 a.m. Office Hours
11 a.m. MM Dept. meeting
12:15 Review Editor’s meeting
Thursday
9-10 a.m. Office Hours
11-12:15 p.m. MM-320 (HC 7)
1-2:15 p.m. MM-431 (HC 7)
2:30 p.m. Meet with Sarah
Friday
11:30 a.m. Review general staff meeting
Noon - 12:50 p.m. MM490 (HC 303)
1 p.m. Board of Student Pubs meeting
9-11 a.m. Office Hours
1 p.m. Meet with Brenda
2 p.m. Meet with Andrew
Tuesday
9-10 a.m. Office Hours
10 a.m. Meet with Amanda
11-12:15 p.m. MM-320 (HC 7)
1-2:15 p.m. MM-431 (HC 7)
2:30 p.m. Meet with Courtney
Wednesday
9-11 a.m. Office Hours
11 a.m. MM Dept. meeting
12:15 Review Editor’s meeting
Thursday
9-10 a.m. Office Hours
11-12:15 p.m. MM-320 (HC 7)
1-2:15 p.m. MM-431 (HC 7)
2:30 p.m. Meet with Sarah
Friday
11:30 a.m. Review general staff meeting
Noon - 12:50 p.m. MM490 (HC 303)
1 p.m. Board of Student Pubs meeting
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
EAT THAT FROG
A good friend of mine made me read this book this summer called "Eat That Frog." The author Brian Tracy advertises it as a guide to overcome procrastination, but I'm not sold on that description of the book.
He many asks the reader to consider what things are most important and make a plan to work on those things each day.
He has a couple of great quotes in the book, including: "You can get your time and your life under control only to the degree to which you discontinue lower value activities."
Also, "The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter the least."
Hmm, I wonder if spending time blogging falls into a category of wasted time? I sure hope not.
At any rate, it's a fantastic little book that offers some very practical and helpful solutions to point your life in the right direction.
He many asks the reader to consider what things are most important and make a plan to work on those things each day.
He has a couple of great quotes in the book, including: "You can get your time and your life under control only to the degree to which you discontinue lower value activities."
Also, "The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter the least."
Hmm, I wonder if spending time blogging falls into a category of wasted time? I sure hope not.
At any rate, it's a fantastic little book that offers some very practical and helpful solutions to point your life in the right direction.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Feature Writing Fall 2006
Hello, Bloggers! This will be a fun experiment for the semester, I think. Your weekly assignment will be to post twice to your blog each week. You need to create a topic within your blog called Feature Writing and post two comments each week. After you set up your blog, be sure to e-mail me the link.
1) Type in 200-400 words (can copy and paste from Word if easier) about a weekly observation you've made. Really focus on the QUALITY of your writing. If you notice an unusual scene at the store or wherever, capture it in writing. Your goal is to share snippets of life with the class. This is not a venting spot. Focus on one single event and communicate its significance to your readers.
2) On the second post, you have a choice. You can continue to work fervently on your writing and capture another slice of life or you can use what I'll call stream-of-conscience venting. Whatever you want. Just type at least 200 words.
3) You are also required to visit the blogs of one of your classmates each week and post something. Do not repeat classmates until you have looked at them all. You can certainly read everyone's each week if you like.
4) You will keep a written record on a sheet of notebook paper of the dates you update your blog and post comments on your classmates blogs.
1) Type in 200-400 words (can copy and paste from Word if easier) about a weekly observation you've made. Really focus on the QUALITY of your writing. If you notice an unusual scene at the store or wherever, capture it in writing. Your goal is to share snippets of life with the class. This is not a venting spot. Focus on one single event and communicate its significance to your readers.
2) On the second post, you have a choice. You can continue to work fervently on your writing and capture another slice of life or you can use what I'll call stream-of-conscience venting. Whatever you want. Just type at least 200 words.
3) You are also required to visit the blogs of one of your classmates each week and post something. Do not repeat classmates until you have looked at them all. You can certainly read everyone's each week if you like.
4) You will keep a written record on a sheet of notebook paper of the dates you update your blog and post comments on your classmates blogs.
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