My LMWP Portfolio
On the first day of the Lake Michigan Writing Project Summer Institute, I decided that I wanted to experiment with different genres and branch out of my typical writing style. I wanted to collect and post the different works here. My writing process always begins in my notebook where I start with the archaic art form of handwriting and then I move into modern times and type it up and this is where my first editing and revision process occurs. Some pieces stop here and those pieces I want to invest more into get numerous reads and revisions from myself and my trusted colleagues. All of the works below are works in progress, except for the first piece which is a poem titled "The Way of My Life". This is very close to being a finished work. Thank you for reading and feel free to leave comments if you feel compelled.
The Way of My Life
This is a poem I wrote during my LMWP Summer Institute. I used to write poems when I was younger, but I have moved away from poetry. I love writing commentary and Op-ed, but wanted to tap into my poetic soul. I started handwriting the first draft in my journal and then moved it into Google doc to edit and share with members of the LMWP.
Undeclared Professional
I really enjoyed writing this autobiographical piece about my journey. The first draft started as a story of how I ended up teaching, but this transformed itself to be a piece that I wanted to share with my students who are struggling with the preverbal question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" or "What are you majoring in college?" I would like to continue writing a compilation of pieces that highlight all my years of floundering and how we all eventually find our way.
Piece of Grit
I love grit. I am obsessed with grit. How can I get my students to be more gritty? In this piece, I revisited my comfortable commentary/op-ed style of writing and wrote about grit. This started as a letter to my students and then I decided that the audience needed to be extended beyond my students. I like the final piece and have some interest in writing a piece for each of the character traits in Paul Tough's How Children Succeed.
Life of a Teenage Hypochondriac
I read a quote by Paulo Coelho that read, "If it's still in your mind, it is worth taking the risk" and it reminded me that I ask my students to take risks in their reading, their writing, and in many other areas. I, however, have not really been taking risks with my writing. So, in an effort to practice what I preach, I decided to try my hand at a fictional piece. I have always desired to be a fiction writer, but that just isn't me. This was a last minute idea that really molded itself quick. I like the idea of it, but am not totally in love with the piece (but I do love what it has shaped to be). If it is still on my mind in the near future, I may work on it some more and maybe even continue following this teenage hypochondriac. No promises.
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