Author Archives: sdgibson
Contact zones and transculturation
English 3510 Contact zones and transculturation (from American Passages) Has Pablo Tac written an example of transculturation? What evidence from his text might defend that idea? Transculturation: A term coined by Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz that refers to a process … Continue reading
Ronan Bennett on the pleasures of writing
I am not a tortured writer. Sometimes the writing does not go well and I can feel frustrated and disappointed with myself. Sometimes I do not feel like writing and sometimes I lose faith in what I’m writing. But I … Continue reading
UVU enrollment pressures
Most classes offered by the English department are full. This is especially true of the composition sequence, 1010 and 2010. If you’d like to add a class I’m teaching, you’ll need to watch UVlink for an opening.
Online mind mapping
If you brainstorm by mind mapping consider bubbl.us. It’s free, something you can try without downloading, and fairly intuitive.
Will Self on the pleasures of writing
I gain nothing but pleasure from writing fiction; short stories are foreplay, novellas are heavy petting – but novels are the full monte. Frankly, if I didn’t enjoy writing novels I wouldn’t do it – the world hardly needs any … Continue reading
I’m moving (about a hundred yards)
and in “meat space/the big blue room” rather than online. Once we’re in the new house, I’ll post more often.
Publication tools
As a result of our conversation in English 3420/4420, I’m posting the following links. I like newpages.com as a way to gather information about literary journals, presses, and contests. Duotrope’s Digest is also useful. The Association of Writers and Writing … Continue reading
Sentences
I’ll encourage you to explore Metro: Journeys in Writing Creatively again, with an exercise called “Sentence Sounds.”
Local revision and the final exam
Late next week we’ll move toward revision at the sentence level, but for now consider the Micro-edit Diagnostic Checklist from Susan Bell’s The Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing Yourself. Our final is inspired by the last few pages of Heather Sellers’ The … Continue reading
Sorry, again, for canceling class
Sickness all around at my house yesterday.
Metaphor by Metaphor 