Many of the things I take on are difficult to do without being able to see. Some are even scary. I used to keep that to myself, afraid that admitting it would give others license to put me in a disability “box” and assume I have limitations that just aren’t there. Enter sports broadcaster Jason […]

The “I have a Dream” prompt I assigned writers in my classes last month inspired them to write about dreams they have for the world, for their country, and for their loved ones. Some even wrote about recurring nightmares! The one that surprised me the most? This flattering essay by today’s guest blogger Lola Hotchkis. […]

With baseball season coming to a close, I asked writers in the class I lead via Zoom to choose a baseball term to use as a title for (and the subject of) an essay. A retired school teacher who was active in her union chose “Strike,” a writer who shoplifted as a kid chose “Caught […]

Hello from Beth: After yesterday’s late-night Chicago White Sox season-saving 12 to 6 playoff victory over the Houston Astros, Mike is away on Cloud Nine. For today’s Mondays with Mike feature, we’re reblogging a post he wrote July 20, 2020. Things sure were a lot different then! by Mike Knezovich Originally published on July 20, […]

I’ve always thought “Field of Dreams” was kind of a bad movie with some irresistible features. Bad because, well, a lot of the story arc just kinda doesn’t make sense. And because a lot of the dialog is clunky, overwrought, soap opera stuff. Irresistible because when it came out we still lived in Urbana, Illinois […]