This blog post shares a career discernment practice: K-W-L, a way of mapping what you already know, want to know, and need to learn. Career discernment coaching involves, among many things, listening to and learning from fears, uncertainties, and the many unknowns involved in making change. Sometimes what’s needed is recognizing fear—allowing it to speak, be witnessed, and given a right-sized role. Other times, what’s needed is a way to list and begin to answer ... Read more ...
Everyday Feminism
Feminism is not only an orientation toward the world but also a way of living aligned with commitments to equity and justice. As a white woman, I explore internalized sexism and its relationship with white supremacy and other forms of oppression.
Building an Ecology of Readers
Writers need readers. A full ecology of readers.Not just one type of reader.Not just one other person.But many interested readers.Readers waiting for drafts.Readers wanting to read more.Readers with curious questions.Readers who can say, "no, it's not working, yet…”Readers who affirm, "Yes, more of this!"Readers who remind us what matters.Readers who keep us going when it's hard.Because writing can be hard for many reasons.Truly, writers need readers. A few ... Read more ...
Summer Grief
My summer memories include June bugsfirefliescicadasbutterfliesbats—all in abundance. I remember visiting the beachfinding sand dollars, picking them up, taking them home.By my teen years, I learned they were alive!I urged others to please — please — help them back into the water. Now, it’s been years since these memories and since I’ve seen one.Where have all the sand dollars gone?On the endangered species list. The summer I turned 18, the radio played ... Read more ...
Professional Loss, Complicated Grief, and Responding to the Dissolution of CCCC
On Friday, July 27th, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) announced the dechartering of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC), the primary professional association for writing studies. Within a swift two-day period, this 77-year-old association was dissolved, and it has felt like a significant loss within ongoing attacks on and dismantling of higher education. There are many efforts underway toward strategizing and rebuilding a ... Read more ...
20 Reading Recommendations for Career Discernment
Recently I joined my library's summer reading challenge. I have been inspired by and enjoying the wide-ranging challenges, which not only span genres and activities but also stretch me in surprising ways. Examples include "read an author with your initials," "send your local library a postcard," and "visit special collections and look up a newspaper article from the day you were born."In the midst of this summer reading challenge, I am imagining a "career discernment ... Read more ...
Bear Ways: A Commitment Statement in Poem Form
Earlier in June, after months of intense revision, I finally updated my commitment statement. It was a long time coming, as I returned to southern Appalachia and newly to Asheville—Cherokee Land in Western North Carolina (WNC)—back in 2024, ten weeks before Hurricane Helene hit. My writing has been coming slower since the move partly because of recovery and healing from the storm. Partly because of the time involved in putting down roots, building community, and ... Read more ...
Writing Process Support: Supporting Postdoctoral Fellows as Writers
As writers, we need support not only for our products—what we are creating—but also for our processes—the how, when, where, who, and why of writing.This spring, Candace Epps-Robertson (of Full Circle Writing) and I have been offering a program that addresses these fuller needs and offers writing process support to postdoctoral fellows at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Briana Mohan, Program Director in Research Education & Training, invited us ... Read more ...
Notes from the Early Days of Bereavement
After several months in hospice care, my mom passed on March 25th, and life rearranged itself once again. I write in these early days of bereavement to share initial reflections and enormous gratitude. I am so appreciative for many forms of support not only in these past few weeks but also (and especially) in the intense months before mom’s passing and in these times when everyday and systemic violence necessitate many forms of protection, nurturance, and guidance. ... Read more ...
Oat and Bean Burgers: Quick 5-Ingredient Veggie Burgers
When I started blogging in 2016—wow, that’s a decade ago!—I knew I wanted to share recipes and talk about food, because it’s so central to everyday life. Literally, food is the fuel of everyday living and striving toward justice. Over the years, I’ve pulled back on recipes and “why vegan?” posts not because they’re less important but because life is pulling me in many directions. Over time, I’ve shifted toward more whole food plant based (WFPB) eating, still working on ... Read more ...
This Valentine’s Day, Here Are Questions to Hold with Care
This Valentine's Day, I want to share gratitude and say again that I'm making it through these times because of community care and creative interventions, including many small affirmations that add up to being here, breathing in and out, writing little by little, and taking it truly day by day.In these times, gifting feels more important than ever, so for the coming months (in my newsletter, via social media, and through YouTube), I'll be offering more prompts and ... Read more ...
