Blogs Galore

Wacmrsl just said something profound–have a separate page for great writing on the web/in blogs. I thought I’d do that. I’m taking my favorite writing blogs and going to include them on this page as an homage to what I find marvelous throughout the term, and maybe beyond that.

I’m really digging our community–every day something new and fabulous. I suppose the fact that everything else in my life is taking a backseat to this work is, well, wrong, but I say it’s about time I got to writing with my students. Honest. This is the most fun I’ve had since… well, since we murdered a literary character last spring in Brit Lit II. That was pretty amazing, but I didn’t get to write the paper with the students.

I’m not sure I’m crazy about the title here, but I thought I better stick with the “Got ____?” and keep it short. This is going to be a challenge for me now. I can see what I’ve done may lead to some awkwardness. So be it.

(Ended up hating that page title scheme–so I changed–a blog is a live, living, dynamic thing that can be changed to meet the changing needs of the author, the audience and the purpose–ah, rhetoric, I love you so much.)

Links coming soon.

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I’m going to list the blog, write a bit about it, then put the date I include it on this page.

I love this blog: Material Metaphors. The writer is a friend of mine, and she doesn’t post often (as you’ll see), but the last post is so good and so apropos for a WAC class. Do read when you can–it’s a short post and the video she refers to is also not too long. 13 June 2011.

The Daring Librarian. If only it were 1970 and I had a 45 rpm record of David Cassidy, I would sing along with this song to the Daring Librarian: I Think I Love You. Oh, wait, it’s 2011 and there’s Youtube. Ah–another problem solved. Here ’tis. 13 June 2011.

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Well, it’s been awhile since I added anything in here. I’ve been, ahem, busy: 1) teaching; 2) reading WAC and OER stuff; 3) reading the blogs on the blog roll for this class (see them to the right–and go visit–so many good writers); and 4) panicking over my own writing projects that seem to pile up but don’t seem to get finished (not just writing projects). So to avoid doing anything productive (i.e. work) after having figured out how to add authors to another blog, I decided to read some WordPress.com blogs to see what was going on in this little blogosphere. I found this blog by Pace J. Miller:

Blog Roll for Pace J. Miller's Blog

I was delighted to see this was a blog dedicated to writing, and like the tag line, too–so apropos for us. But what really grabbed my attention was the blog roll with all the writer’s blogs listed here. Now what am I supposed to do with this? Go visit. I know. It’s too much to do, so I’m going to go random and just pick three based on numbers I find on a dollar bill or something strange like that.

I need to expand myself as a writer and as a writing teacher who writes and teaches about writing. Decided to take the last numbers I wrote on a sticky note on my desk and use those to choose: 2, 8, 6.

Off to visit: Becoming a Writer — Seriously, Flights of Fantasy, and forget 6, I want to visit TheNinthDragonKing. Evoking poetic license–if that means I can change my mind whenever I want to and not say why. 29 June 2011.

Just about a month later. 26 July 2011.

How could I have not included the below incredible resource and link to amazing blogs about writing and rhetoric? I’ll tell you how this happened: I’m going 90 mph in the fast lane. Forgive me and visit often. Check out the amazing writers, teachers, theorists who contribute.

Kairosnews: A Weblog for Discussing Rhetoric, Technology and Pedagogy.

Good heavens. My stars. Great Scott. For Pete’s sake. What happened to the last month? Oh, I remember now: another class to teach, a week-long conference to attend, a graduate writing center to launch, a fall term to schedule, two new preps to get ready for fall, an article to think about, a panel proposal on the table to chat, 303 emails to wade through (still not even close to handling that), an article to revise, an article to write, and a few other things to manage, like new teacher training. Oops. Almost forgot about that. Wheeeee. All WAC though, all the time. The work we’ve done this summer, and the blogs we’ve created, the thinking we’ve shared–all that’s been an inspiration to me as I move forward in various different ways and in various different projects. Nothing is ever boring; every moment is a learning experience; everyone brings me something to learn. I am not a fan of No Child Left Behind, but I like the rhythm of that, so have decided that I could have a saying that echoes that, a personal motto: no challenge left behind. That could work.

And please learn from my example: it’s good to say yes to a lot of projects, and be involved with a variety of collaborators, and let the world sort out your life for you. What is most urgent or meaningful always has a way of capturing your energy and attention, so great things can happen. Many beautifully serendipitous things occur when you operate this way. But beware of the chaos. Be very aware of the chaos. When you say, “Come on in, Chaos, have a seat. Let’s talk, get some coffee, have lunch, go steady, be exclusive,” know that you’ll have to deal with Chaos for a long, long time, because when you get exclusive with Chaos, you get EXCLUSIVE with Chaos. However, review chaos theory and you will realize that if you are strong enough, and brave enough, good may come of your invitation to let Chaos in.

But please learn this from my example, too: controlling your life with a well-placed and judicious “No” is not a bad thing. I’ve learned to say “no” to lots of things and folks, but I always think very hard about answering “no.” Sort of like catching nearly every wave when you’re surfing. You’ll get tired quickly, but you’ll have some unexpectedly miraculous and gnarly rides. And you need to know when to not paddle to a wave because it will crush you.

And so I hope you will say yes to many things and no to only a few, remain open to all things open and WAC, and have amazing writing and creative experiences every time you need that–whether you know you need that or not. Live long and prosper. Read blogs by writers always and always be writers.

Long live the words of Kurt Vonnegut, a personal writing hero of mine. May he always be the wind beneath our textual wings.

So it goes.