Friday, May 1, 2020

Mindful Writing Talk for National Council of Teachers of English, Monday, May 4, 2020, 4 PM EST


I'm delighted to be returning to the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to give an hour-long presentation on mindful writing for Teacher Appreciation Week, this Monday, May 4, 2020, 4-5 PM EST. 


More info and sign up button: https://ncte.org/events/teacher-appreciation-week/


Description:

In this interactive session, we’ll explore reasons and methods for making present time the centerpiece of the writing process. By focusing on the present, we cast new light on standard instructional components (audience, invention, and revision) while highlighting often overlooked aspects of the writing experience (impermanence, the monkey mind of self-talk, preconceptions about writing ability and assignment, and audience demons). We’ll discuss the downside of mindlessness, or future- and past-oriented thinking, for writers as a source of writing blocks. Much is lost when we overlook the present moment because we forfeit rewarding writing experiences in exchange for stress, frustration, boredom, and shortchanged creativity. With a more mindful approach to writing, every moment can become a prolific moment, productive and calm, for teachers and students. Participants will leave the session with two activities to help teach mindful writing in the online or face-to-face classroom.