At least half of my CW class hung out for at least ten minutes after our last class of the semester this evening, passing one of their phones around, creating a groupchat, and it was one of the most endearing things that’s happened in my teaching.

AMERICAN MOVIE ON DISCOURSE!

Just a reminder that Stewart O’Nan’s LAST NIGHT AT THE LOBSTER is a top rated pic for underrated novels.

April 16 story: “Fever” by Carver

A wild one! Super interesting that the protag doesn’t get sick and the titular “fever” until 2/3 of the way into the story. Not my fave… but might end up becoming the one that sticks with me the most? Huh.

Feel like we kinda have to try this a third time, Matt Bell??

Craft advice: try as many different things on the page as I tried ways to pitch a whiffleball to my bff when we were like 12.

PORTIS GANG!!

The most helpful writing “rules” are anything that inspire you to write against them.

How much indie lit world gets worked up over little things is a reminder how little it actually matters.

The guys in Glengarry Glen Ross say “leads” like they’re boys in a Peter Markus story saying “brother.”

That “who’d apparently turned his grads in on time” is the real killer here.

April 15 story: “All American” by Diane Williams

Final full week of classes so am swamped so needed a shortie, had my Anchor book out from rereading “The Sound Gun.” This one is such a lightning strike. (Highlights from when I taught this story/book as a gsi in… 2009? Lol)

April 14 story: “Where I’m Calling From” by Carver

Not to be too cliche and just put him in a box, but mannnn I’m a sucker for a Carver story set in detox.

Dinner & drinks, where another diner came over to say hi and that he’d been my first year writing student in 2015 (!!), then went to bookstore next door to see a student reading where a past student read from her novella I was the second reader for. Giant proud teacher night out.

a student essay just used the adjective 'Missy Elliott-esque' and I felt myself light up