New Essay, Duck

I thought I would share a personal essay I just had published in the awesome journal, Bluestem.  It explores my disability at its darkest, at is most ironic, at its most public. I present, Duck. 

Where Has Rich Been?

A few people have written, asking me where I have been and why have I stopped blogging.

Well, you deserve an answer.

And the answer is, right (write) here, healing! I am still recovering from my staged (back to back) knee replacements. Given that I am now back in the classroom, have my current coaching clients, and am working a few book projects and an article or two or three, I have backed off the blog for now.

I have learned that to keep a successful (at least in terms of longevity) blog going, you need to allow for some ebbs and flows. This is an ebb; I hope you can forgive me this, and enjoy my previous flows. I am certain another one, is perhaps not just around the corner, but will happen again in the not too distant future.

Cheers.

A Great Quote from George Saunders

In an interview on "false starts" in writing, novelist and essayist George Saunders (and if you have not read, The Braindead Megaphone, it is a must!) noted that:

The magic antidote is always labor.

Topics for Blog: Bring em' On!

From time to time, I have asked readers to send me ideas (here, or via email) for blog topics. Five years in and 700 blog posts past my start here, I do get stale from time to time. So, drop me an email, a tweet, or a response here. If it is related to writing, publishing, the scholarly life, becoming a thriving faculty member, dealing with depression, anxiety, or other emotional barriers to succeeding as a scholar, I will write it! Give me a good challenge. I will try to be up to the ask.

Six Day Post-Surgery Update

I am still:

1) in pain and discomfort. I have to admit, a good deal.
2) resting. It is mostly all I do.
3) writing at least a half hour a day. Given that it does not increase or decrease my pain, I might as well take in the sense of meaning it gives me. It is not going to be my best work, but it does not have to be.
4) steadied by the love of my sweetheart
5) lifted by the warmth of my friendships
6) inspired by the scholars I work with
7) comforted by my dogs
8) needing it all, right now.

What I Brought With Me to the Hospital

Implement of Writing and Valentine's Day Dog

Anyone surprised? 

Post Knee-Carpentry Writing- 147 words

30 minute writing block, three hours post-knee replacement surgery. Full of weird drugs. Strange machines attached to me, beeping their mysterious calls. Nurses checking vitals constantly. Strange and deep pain. Oxygen monitor on my pinky, making it hard to type.

147 words on an article exploring literary tools for autoethnography.  This is going to be a good one!  I will do it again tomorrow. And the next day. Why? Because that is what and who I wish to be.

How? Applying the tools I have learned, developed, mastered, and now teach through workshops, my scholarship, my blog, and coaching practice. I love that I have so many tools and methods that I can apply to myself, help others perform, tweak, adjust, adapt, create. I always am working at honing my practice.

Sound a bit arrogant? Maybe, but I am feeling pretty good about this writing block, under the circumstances, and about what I have to offer to others. Or maybe it is the drugs 😼😼