Audio editing vs photo editing with a splash of ableism

While editing podcasts recently, I had a thought. Am I doing the audio equivalent of Photoshopping the cellulite or wrinkles off a model? In some cases, the answer is an easy “no.” The dog barks and we have a laugh about it and I cut it out. The connection fritzes for a moment and I … Read more

Changes in how life changes

photo of a cloth-covered journal

I’m an extremely sentimental person, especially about people. Someone recently asked, “Do you collect people?” Why yes, yes I do. If you and I have had any remotely significant relationship at any point in my life for any length of time, you are a piece of me. For better or for worse. Regardless the state … Read more

Why? Why? And more why?

From my Facebook memories: Aaaaaand another assessment tool that requires written student work as “evidence.” *sigh* I was an elementary band teacher, and while some knowledge of how notation works can be assessed using traditional paper-pencil tests, “before and after” student work is what we hear. My job was to teach them to play, to … Read more

Joy in low-stakes creativity

photo of words in a notebook

Changing Hands Bookstore had a virtual writing event recently where we were guided through a variety of chance operations activities. These activities leave the writing process to chance. (They’re useful for any creative composing, not just writing. John Cage used some in composing music, for example.) Leaving things to chance requires the writer to put … Read more

2021 Year in Review

photo of a watercolor sketch of the word cultivate

For my final blog post of 2021—the year in review. It was a wild year, deeply creative, with a lot of output. This time last year, I’d just finished writing a book (first round writing, not editing and such), quit my job due to COVID concerns, and was going to see what I could do … Read more

Do you have a hobby?

At Kennedy Space Center, there’s a memorial area to the astronauts lost on Columbia and Challenger. There’s a case—like a large shadowbox—for each astronaut with their name, a photo, and some items summarizing their lives and their humanity. A piece of sheet music for one who was a musician. A uniform and katana for one … Read more