Shuffling the Deck

This week is one of transitions. I am proctoring final exams for my students, grading them as soon as they are finished, and moving ahead with working out final grades. Sunday is commencement. At the same time, I am working on my own mental organization of my upcoming writing project. With much deliberation and some … More Shuffling the Deck

The Obstacle Course

I’m sitting in the library classroom at our university, where I teach my Narrative Writing class. The final exam is scheduled for 7:30 Wednesday morning, but I have offered to let students take the final exam this morning and get it out of the way. One caveat: they have to have their final project done … More The Obstacle Course

What’s Important

This evening will mark what I think is the 6th (or 7th?) time that a school year has closed and our creative writing club, the Rough Writers, has closed for the summer. As such, it’s our tradition for me to take everyone down to Sonic for whatever they want to eat or drink. It’s my … More What’s Important

Seeing the Elephant

The phrase “seeing the elephant” or “he saw the elephant” makes me think of old war movies, especially ones with the British Army bivouacked in a remote area, with references to first combat. But as I research it, it actually originates in Georgia (United States) in 1835. The phrase “seeing the elephant” was originally tied … More Seeing the Elephant

Sweeping Up Stardust

I don’t know if it’s because I have a vivid imagination, because I am a writer, or just a blessing by God, but I have always had dreams that present themselves in technicolor. Some are bad, which is understandable, but many are very good. And it has been just the past year or two that … More Sweeping Up Stardust

Review: “Lines of Departure” by Marko Kloos

I’m a sucker for a good military science fiction story. The best that I have ever read–classics–are Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein (the book, not the movie!) and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. Well, there’s a new storyteller in town. I first came across Terms of Enlistment, the first book in Marko Kloos’ Frontlines … More Review: “Lines of Departure” by Marko Kloos