Past Instructors
When did you first feel like a writer?
I always liked to write as a child, but never considered pursuing it seriously. Then I got to college and declared a writing concentration, mostly to avoid the Chaucer class that was a requirement for the literature concentration. In college I began to take my writing more seriously, and that's probably when I began to identify myself as a writer. As far as feeling like a writer, that depends on the day.
What's your philosophy about teaching a writing class?I usually start by feeling out the students in the first session. I've taught three classes at Writer House so far, and I've structured them each a bit differently depending on the make-up of the class and what makes the students most comfortable. I find it's important to be flexible because writing - and certainly sharing writing - is a scary thing for most people, and I want to make sure no one is uncomfortable.
If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and why?I've been stalling on this question for about a week--this is a difficult thing to commit to! I think I've finally settled on Helen from "Honored Guest," the title story from a Joy Williams collection. I'd like to give her a hug and tell her that she's funny.
