On what topics would an eighth grader blog? Anything and everything, I've learned. During an all-day creative writing workshop I conducted with about forty students at Henrico County Public Schools' Elko Middle School, I read student writings on everything from football to indie music, from wrestling to baking. I also read a powerful "open letter" …
Month: March 2014
How One Author Combined Personal Essays Into a Coherent Memoir
It is the height of hubris to edit an award-winning creative nonfiction author who also happens to be your mentor. But I decided the brilliant proposed title of Sue William Silverman's guest post--"E Pluribus Unum: Out of Many (essays) One (book)"--wouldn't translate well in a tweet. So I've imposed a more utilitarian title on this …
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Why I am Obsessed with Artists
"Patrick, why are you so obsessed with artists and their creativity?" I've been asked that question a fair amount during my years as an artist's advocate and a creativity and writing instructor. There is no simple answer to that question, but if the top five answers were on the board, one of them likely would …
Separating Curiosity from Creativity
Can you be creative without being curious? I find myself curious to learn the answer to this question. On some level it seems like asking if you can enjoy peanut butter without peanuts. Loads of creativity scholars tell us that curiosity is what drives creativity. But what if forces in our lives reduce our level …
The Artist's Road 