It's True—Teaching Is Learning

Over the past four semesters, I've had the opportunity to teach a Spanish class at a local community college with a very diverse population. My favorite part of the job is watching students think. I can feel their individual and collective processes of offering thoughtful comments, posing intelligent questions, and sharing significant insights. I enjoy their kindness, sense of cooperation, and consideration of each other. They are trusting and their openness has great value. Their humanity is more of a reminder than a lesson that the answer to Rodney King's famous questions is, "Yes. We can all get along."

Hug the Day

During this morning's swim, I thought about Big Pictures, connecting dots, and noticing opportunities. The trite expression, carpe diem, came to mind and brought to life one of my pet peeves, which concerns tendencies to dominate instead of harmonize. Why seize the day instead of simply embracing it, giving thanks for it--engaging in one great, big circadian hug?

Something about Inspiration

Earlier this week, a friend who is a painter wrote about being inspired by an exhibit of Picasso's work. Immediately, I gave thanks that I can recognize moments of artistic inspiration, some of which have translated into novels and short stories.

Just this morning, another painter who is a mentor and friend wrote, "When I am in the studio, all is well with the work."

In my experience, there is something about inspiration that cannot be denied.

Clouds and Change

Winds of change is a familiar metaphor.

Wind, as a noun, relates to speed applied to the movement of air. As a verb, it has a connotation of turning or spinning.

Change, as a verb and noun, indicates difference and transformation. As a noun only, change can represent coins left over after dollars have been broken.

During this morning's early, outdoor swim, I witnessed darkness giving way to light in a sky dominated by gray clouds promising a storm. Wind rearranged clouds as if they were puzzle pieces, implying that there might be some order or plan to all this obvious shifting. By the time it was fair to say that it was light outside, the clouds had all but disappeared and imminence of rain seemed to pause, perhaps at the mercy of second thoughts. The rain has arrived, gentle and sporadic at this moment. I cannot help but think of flipping coins, taking chances, and believing that good will prevail over its formidable opponent.

InneRhythms

I've worked in the publishing industry as a development editor, managing editor, and am still employed as a freelance indexer. When I was working in house at a company in Emeryville, I remember how a copy editor who I supervised hated intercaps. Up until that time, I had been neutral about the practice of imposing capital letters in the midst of lowercase. In coining the term, InneRhythms, I invoke the privilege of doing something in moderation to make a point.

The idea of inner rhythms came to me while exercising on my mini stair stepper earlier this week. I played a mystery CD and was thrilled by being in perfect sync with the first two tunes--Across the River by Vasquez and All One by Oscar Castor Nieves. Esperanto by Kurt Elling proved to be a perfect finale. That workout was a tremendous moment of clicking.

If there are InneRhythms, there must be a counterpart, right?

Audience Roundup

Audience: A group of listeners or spectators; a group of ardent admirers or devotees: following

Roundup: A gathering in of scattered persons or things

I was anxious to harness these reflections after this morning's constitutional swim at a local outdoor pool. In the process of writing this post in my head on the way home, I stopped at a produce market for apples--I believe in eating one a day. I realized that I didn't have my wallet with me and in the same breath felt in the pocket of a jacket that I wear on blustery days like this, and found enough change to buy some organic Fujis. While I was paying, the cashier asked me if I wanted some bananas. Immediately, I said, "No," and left the store. I returned and said, "Yes, I would like some bananas." When I purchased them, the cashier asked me if I wanted some organic oranges. This woman whom I was seeing for the first time had succeeded in making me her audience. How did she do it? She captured my attention.

I've just finished self-publishing my third book, Painted Deserts. My first novel, Tanner Blue, has won national and international awards. My second book, Music for the Dream--Seven Short Stories, was a finalist for an international award. I'm grateful to those who find value in my writing because I sure do love to write!

I live in a field of dreams, firmly believing that "The people will come," as a simple matter of faith and trust. It is out of my hands to determine the "when" or "how" of my audience being rallied. All I can do is keep casting out the lassos, book by heartfelt book.

The Successful Writer

Happy Valentines' Day!
Writers--what does success mean to you? Is it enough to simply sell lots of books, or is it more important to develop a devoted audience that eagerly awaits your next work? While the two can coexist quite symbiotically, I often wonder how many sold books actually get read. I hope to inspire positive, critical thinking as part of this intricate process.