C-w O Writing

C-W O WRITING TAMU-Commerce

Dr. Hendricks Dr. Carter Dr. Dunbar-Odom Dr. Adkins

October 18-23

EEK

N

MONDAY-FRIDAY 19-23 OCTOBER-C WOW THEN & NOW http://www.wix.com/cartershannon/Commerce-Week-on-Writing

A WEEK IN REVIEW

MONDAY 19

WEDNESDAY 21

No Experience Necessary Workshop

HALLS OF POETRY

Open Mic for Kids 4:30-6

4:30-7:00 RM 203

THE NORRIS COMMUNITY PROJECT NCOW THEATER

Hall of Languages

4:30-7:00 RM 203

TUESDAY 20

Hall of Languages

Writing Local History: Panel of Experts 1:00-2:00 at the James G. Gee Library Writing Center Open House and Memoir Workshop 4:30-7:30

Don't Be Silent Documentary 2:30-4:15

THURSDAY 22

Performing Arts Center Commerce Public Library Open Mic hosted by the Mayo Review 7:30-0

FRIDAY 23 No Experience Necessary

Literacy in the Lives of 3 PhD students 12:30-2 RM 203

Performances

Hall of Languages

7:00-10:00 RM 203 THE Spot

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STORY SLAM

HTTP://WWW. YOUTUBE.CO M/WATCH?V =QXSM3TCK NDY Writing Local History

Halls of Poetry,

sented to an audience affects the audience’s

Expanded Fieldnotes by

ciation for it. Reactions in the audience change

comprehension of the text as well as its appre-

http://boopdedoop.wordpress.com

with each reader, illustrating the relationship

When I first entered the room in the Hall of

between the reader’s communication and the

Languages, there weren’t as many people as I

text. The readers who spoke with the most con-

thought there would be, this being the first

fidence and who had a certain casual presence

meeting of Commerce Week on Writing and all.

on the stage not only got the best reactions from

I didn’t see anyone I knew from English class,

the audience, but they related the text to every

so I just nestled myself into the center of a

person there to where anyone could value it.

middle row, allowing myself to see and hear a

Even the atmosphere of the room changed be-

majority of my surroundings. There was a lot of

tween readers. For some, it was light and casual

chatter, only a few people came by themselves,

as they breezed through their text and the room

everyone seemed to know everyone else. I later

got giggly and loud. For others, the room got so

learned that a class was earning extra credit for

quiet you could hear the silent flash of a camera

coming, so obviously they knew each other and

go off as the reader shifted uncomfortably at the

sat in little groups. As the program began, there

podium while reading softly.

were clicks of cameras, chewing gum smacks,

This could also relate to the visual literacy

quite a few rustlers, and a video camera zoom-

that I’m researching, because one of the key

ing in and out. All around me were students

components to the gallery’s exhibitions is the

expressing their nervousness about reading

composition of the space, or the presentation. If

their creative writings, partly because of ex-

all of the art pieces were strewn together with-

pected judgment and peer pressure, partly

out spacing or alignment, a sense of structure

because of the video camera.

and importance would be lost. The visual inter-

Among the topics of the readings were: 9/

pretation of the actual piece wouldn’t even mat-

11, resumes, ballads, vampires, acid trips, and

ter anymore because of the distractions of the

more. It wasn’t all poetry even; there were ex-

mess. Also, within individual pieces, presenta-

cerpts of short stories and pieces of drama as

tion is essentially what the piece is; presenta-

well. Some things I noticed while people were

tions are visual depictions of a concept or idea,

reading aloud at the podium were that a major-

otherwise known as art.

ity of those reading had no eye contact what-

One of the more enthusiastic “readings”,

soever with the audience, which I understand

and definitely an obvious favorite of the group,

what with the mentioned pressure and whatnot.

was a musician who wrote two original songs,

Because of this, the theatrical performances

and sang them accompanied by her guitar and

got the most attention from the audience, such

some sing-alongs from the crowd. By interpret-

as the drama or one of the comical short sto-

ing the lyrics with ease, interrupting her own text

ries. The accompanying gestures and inflec-

to talk to the audience, everyone in the room lit

tions in the voices of the readers caught peo-

up, tapping their hands on their laps, clapping,

ple’s attention, and received the most reactions

and bobbing their heads.

from the audience, mostly through laughter,

Week on Writing was very beneficial to my

and the loudest applause. This showed me a point to literacy that I had never

even thought about. I

read

about how people’s different

Male suada Quis  Dolor Set Ipsum

backgrounds affect their literacy, but I never thought of the

preliteracy. The

senting side to way literacy is pre-

[2]

Going to the first meeting of Commerce broadened understanding of the definition of literacy. With every article I read or meeting I attend, literacy is becoming clearer and clearer to me.

UESDAY 20th ex-

The head of the Special Collection Department, Dr. Jim Conrad, has organized a panel of local history experts for the National Week on Writing. The event will take place on October 20th from 1:00-2:00 at the James G. Gee Library.

C-WOW

peri

Writing Local History: Panel of Experts John Hanners has been chosen to be among the panelists. Mr. Hanners has published articles on local history in the Commerce Journal, and has conducted research on the famous trial of Commerce resident, Velma Patterson, who was convicted of the murder of her daughter during the mid 1930’s. Otho Spencer will also serve as a panelist during the National Week on Writing. Mr. Spencer is a retired photography and journalism professor from Texas A&M University – Commerce. He has also published local history articles in the Commerce Journal for three years. Jim Conrad will be the moderator during the meeting. Dr. Conrad currently publishes the weekly “Blackland” column in the Herald Banner, and is the author of the book, "Freedom Colonies: Independent Black Texans in the Age of Jim Crow." Another panelist will be appointed from the Silver Leos, an organization which mainly consists of retired faculty. Each panelist will have the opportunity to read one of their memoirs for approximately ten minutes. The audience will then have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss local history.

[3]

Field notes: Writing Local History by

http://huntj.wordpress.com As I took my seat in between Arielle and Jessica I noticed that Spencer started a light conversation with “Tim” Ainsworth. This caught me completely by surprise, because up until this point I never considered the fact that the panel members might actually have met outside of this particular instance before. Their conversation consisted mostly of Spencer’s inquiries of Ainsworth’s new book, which he later detailed for us, and its release. Again it was just a bit of a shocker to me to see these people less as historical writers and more as actual people. I noticed that while Spencer was speaking he possessed a very unique accent that made his speech seem rather slow. Quick flashes of one of my little brother’s BETA friends, Tenpenny, ran through my mind. Tenpeeny, too, was gifted with a slightly slower accent and he learned to utilize this as a form of entertainment when he sought to win votes for BETA President. As one o’ clock rolls around a Mr. Jim Conrad makes his way across the panel explaining the format that was to dictate the nature of the short meeting, and without a second to spare he started the show.

http://adavis22.wordpress.com Sitting in front of the audience was a panel of 4 people. There were introduced by a tall man who spoke with a very clear slowpaced voice. 1st speaker- This man tells interesting stories, one of the reasons I recognized himhe spoke previously in a colloquium class I am in. I love how he asks the question- Why do people do what they do? That is the exact question I had in one of my writing assignments this year. Because of that I felt like I could relate to why he would research about people, especially criminals. I like how criminals are his focus because even though they don’t truly deserve attention, they need to be understood. Besides, too much time is spent on studying heroes anyways. While speaking he had a very focused intent look about him and I really liked his point on how we are all connected through the space we live in. 4th speaker- This woman is the newest of the panel members to writing and publishing books. She seemed truly glad to be there and was the most excited about writing. She told us a lot about the new Silver Leo Writing Club and the audience really seemed to key into that. I really enjoyed her reading part of her memoir to us. She chose the section of her memoir that focuses on her pet pig, Grunter, and it was a cute story. She encouraged everyone to not write to get things published, but to write because you like to. What disturbed me? This girl walked in after it started. That wasn’t so bad. I figured she came right after she got out of class. Then she decides to answer her cell phone while the 4th speaker was reading her memoir excerpt…and then hold a WHOLE CONVERSATION! It was so bad that it made me want to knock some serious sense into her!

[4]

http://ceetothethirdpower.wordpress.com

Spencer.  He seemed to be a dear old(er) man

Dr. Spencer, who deals with Journalism

who reminded me much of my late

and Photography, said something I found pro-

great-grandfather.  In his first few sentences he

found. “We are our stories.” He talked about

used the powerful statement, “You are the

microhistory (everyday people, small scale, that

author of your own life story.”  I found it interest-

do extraordinary things) and it’s importance,

ing that he said he primarily wrote for genera-

how he is motivated by individuals, and how we

tions to come.  Otha, as he was called, has

occupy the spaces that people before us have.

written quite a few books.  Much of his writing

He creates bibliographical snapshots – people

dealt with being a combat air pilot.  He left his

and their stories. I loved his talk because it was

younger audience with these words of wisdom,

so pertinent towards my own project and how I

“If you write a book, get an editor.” His wife was

need to approach my research. Bibliographica

incharge of checking all of his facts in his

snapshots that contribute to the larger whole of

books.  As he finished he told another speaker,

the songwriter’s subculture. I found it amusing

Dr. Hanners, that he wanted someone to write a

that he kept mentioning how he was intrigued by

musical in Texas that would compare to Okla-

outlaws and their stroies, social villians as he put

homa.

LOREM IPSUM

it. He even researched his own family history to find interesting stories, like his grandpa who rode with some outlaws. He wants to find those stories, and I loved that. Halfway through the session, some girl’s

http://tyr8nt93.wordpress.com Out of all 4 speakers, I liked Bobbe Perty the most.  She was the so-called baby of the group and seemed to me to be the most

phone went off and she talked on it, distracting

engaging.  She spoke with clarity and was the

everybody, and not even thinking to leave. She

only one within the panel to read some of her

just lowered her voice to what she apparently

texts.  This is not to say that I didn’t appreciate

thought was a discreet level and kept talking,

the other panels views, but I was more easily

annoying those around her. I thought that rude

acquainted with hers.  It was astonishing hear-

and out of place at an academic event, espe-

ing her family history through the friendship of

cially an optional academic event.

her granddaughter and a baby big.  She painted

by http://sreece22.wordpress.com

pictures in my mind of her family working hard

Panelist, Mr. Ainsworth’s story of how he

on the farm and the

strong

didn’t listen to his father’s story about the fifty

relationships

year old biscuits was much like a warning to me.

it.  She pre-

within

In my family, preserving our history is very im-

sented a

portant. So when Mr. Ainsworth talked about

family situa-

how he lost a part of his father when his dad

tion that

died because he didn’t know the story that was

could help

obviously important to his dad. His warning

explain the be-

being that we must listen to stories that people

liefs that she holds

take them time to tell because they are telling

reading and writing and how it affects the

them for a reason. I loved Ainsworth quote that

world on grander scales (economics for

“people ‘libraries’ burn down with them when

example.  I have to come back to that in some

they die.” I had never thought about peoples’

way you know ).  She is a member of the  Silver

memories as being like “libraries”, but it is so

Leos, an established group of 50 year old sen-

true. Memories are stories, and stories live in

iors and upper retirees who took part in the

books; books live in libraries.

academic environment of Texas A&M University-

Male suada Quis  Dolor Set Ipsum about

http://breanna2013.wordpress.com

Commerce when it was known as East Texas.  I

All of the speakers were introduced in the

plan to go to the memoir workshop and see any

beginning and I found it interesting that they

additional members, in addition to Bobbe

were introduced in what appeared to be a ran-

herself.  Hopefully, she and others can provide

dom order rather than starting at one side of the

me with a first-hand account of past school

table and going down the line.  After the intro-

practices and traditions.

ductions, the first man to speak was Otha

 

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http://thejenanne.wordpress I was surprised by my own eagerness to listen. I was attentive during each speech and introduction. Aside from my own personal reasons, I was also surprised by how deeply rooted these “historic authors” are with their work. Not only do the authors have a background with Texas A&M – Commerce or the surrounding area, but their lives and much of their income, I’m sure, revolves around that fact. It was incredible to me, and I was proud to live in Commerce.

C-WOW

LOREM IPSUM Malesuada quis, quis. Donec ac sapien.

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WEDNESDAY 21ST

NCow Theatre NCow Theatre is a film festival about writing organized by Dr. Shannon Carter and Luca Morrazzano. The event will feature a selection of videos essays from universities across the country. The festivities will begin at 2:30 in the Gee Library at Texas A&M University-Commerce. While

The Norris Community Wednesday, October the 21st from 12.30 to 1.45, The Commerce Week on Writing will celebrate The Norris Community. Oral stories and memories will be told by members of a small community raised on the “wrong” side of the track. Through a discussion with archivists, researchers and other experts we will share the past and the present of a small, lively community of Commerce.

many of the videos are oriented toward students and teachers, anyone with an interest in writing and education is welcome. The videos will deal with a host of writing issues, ranging from pedagogical issues to student’s experiences with writing

Film

in high school and

Line-up

college. Many of the videos will dis-

“Every-

cuss concerns in

one’s a

contemporary liter-

Writer”

acy, including ob-

(Texas

servations about

A&M-Commerce)

the impact culture and class have on reading and writ-

The event is organized by Dr Lavelle Hendricks, Dr Shannon Carter and Dr Donna Dunbar-Odom

Who is a Writer? What Writers Tell Us” (DePaul University)

ing. The goal is to

“What They Bring with Them to College:

broaden contempo-

High School Writers Talk about Writing”

rary beliefs about

(York College of Pennsylvania)

literacy in America and stimulate a

“What’s So Basic About Writing, Anyway?”

productive conver-

(Texas A&M-Commerce)

sation about literacy issues.

“Who Said Johnny Can’t Write?” (A&MCommerce, with University of Michigan-Flint) “Calling All Writing Teachers” (Texas A&MCommerce)

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Sometimes you can get into those slumps and bogged down with everything to do, but this provided me with a motive. These people are writing about things they are interested in, as well as helping our community preserve history. I, too, can be a part of this reciprocal relationship. My research, done throughout the Catholic community, is interesting and enjoyable to me. I will not only be informing myself and enjoying the process, but I will also be helping my community preserve the history of this day, this time, this church. I find this fascinating! My ethnography can be a part of this history, showing current and future residents what is happening in 2009. My second event was also fun. Don’t Be Silent somewhat connects to my other event. In this documentary, the residents write down their problems and requests, hoping the city leaders will respond with compassion and help their situation. By documenting these predicaments, they are preserving their history as well. This film was interesting, and connected to my topic!

A CATHOLIC priest by the name of Don Roberto Sardelli started School 725 in Italy (Rome) in the poorest of the poor. My heart went out to the people in the film. They lived in shacks and had no electricity or water. This made me very appreciative for the apartment I have provided for me at Commerce and the wonderful house and family I have at home in Kansas. These people survived with the bare essentials. I liked the effects of the movie: some scenes were black and white, whereas others were in color. I liked the music that they played when they were just scanning scenery. The opening song was very dramatic and set the stage very well for the rest of the film. Roberto wanted to prepare these kids for life and instill some political conscience in them. One boy

Male suada Quis  Dolor Set Ipsum

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told of his shack that consisted of two rooms with eight people residing there. It was such a sad story. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with the movie because I would catch myself staring at the scenes and not reading all the subtitles, but I definitely got the gist of it. Roberto was a good man looking to help provide schooling and housing for these poor shack people. This most interesting thing about this event was that one of the makers of the film, Luca Morazzano, was there to start the film and explain or answer questions afterward. I thought it was cool in the film when they talked about “living poor.” They were “poor” because they refused the lives of the rich and the habits that came with that. I thought that was an interesting point. Sometimes a humbling experience is a neces-

sary and great one. There were not as many people as I thought there would be at this event, but it was still good to see Luca and his explanations. After the film, he answered questions and explained that some things are lost in the translation. I understood a lot more of the film after he talked, although his thick accent was sometimes hard to follow. I thought this was a very welldone documentary and was very impressed. This also gave me inspiration for my ethnographic project. my project. Such a wonderful Week Luca documented these people, and on Writing! http://haleymull.wordpress.com in years to come, they can look

to hear. The second essayist stood guarded behind a podium that protected him from the harsh and critical eyes of his viewers. This could be because of the sensitive subject of the essay or because of his guarded nature in general. The last essayist, unfortunately rushed by time, delivered in a happy medium, leaning comfortably against the

Three graduate Students

back at this and be thankful they have their history recorded. I hope Commerce will be happy to have my hard work and research. Luca was so excited about the people he documented, and I feel like I will get a closer connection to Commerce as I continue my research as well. Within two days, I have learned so much and gained an interest in writing, and more enthusiasm for

It is unbearably apparent that these three graduate students approached the same topic in highly different manners. I was most intrigued by

never-failing podium and smiling

the second essay. This could be because I am a sap for sad stories and feel emotion vicariously or it could be because many of us can relate to the ideas of

contently while humming a less abrupt but sufficiently loud essay about her experiences both emotionally and professionally. http://rbailey14.wordpress.com

what the story represented. The manner in which each of the presenters delivered their story mirrored what their story was about. The man of the Mormon Church, trained in speaking delivery stood tall in front of the podium with no guards. His bouldering voice resounded smoothly across the room for all

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Malesuada eleifend, tortor molestie, a fusce a vel et. Aliquam amet est class.

Open Mic Night

here at Texas A&M University Commerce. This is part of a competition The Mayo Review is known as the No Experihosting its second Open ence Necessary 24 Hour Mic Night of the year Short Play Competition on October 22, 2009, at and Festival, a very the Cowhill Experss in unique idea of coming up downtown Commerce. with an idea for an 8-10 The event kicks off at minute play and writing it for submission the very 7:30. Come and listen, next day. or come and share your I think that this is a wonpoetry, prose, drama, derful opportunity for inor music with Comdividuals who may not merce's growing writing have much experience in community, and learn playwriting to get their more about The Mayo creative works out to the Review, and how you public very quickly and with more focus on creacan get involved. tive spontaneity than over-preparation. As a Hope to see you there! sometimes-serious Mandy fiction writer, I know how diffi"The best laid no experience cult it is someschemes o' necessary times to develop mice an' men / a very elaborate idea over the Gang aft agley" course of several months In celebration of creative writing, Jim Anderson and the theatre department are offering a one hour workshop on the basics and format of playwriting

1PLAY 24HRS

2B OR NOT 2B THE PLAYWRITE

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or years and how much preparation is required for such a feat. Sometimes my best work comes from pressure to get something written by the very next day; it is often the motivation I need to get creative. Also, this program allows people who may not be familiar with playwriting and who would otherwise feel put off by such a specific genre to be briefly introduced to it and very quickly get involved in it on a very creative level. As is suggested by the title, no experience is necessary to develop something creative and worthwhile, and a project such as this will likely produce a great deal of different sorts of plays from people who otherwise would not even consider writing for such a medium. Over these 24 hours, there will be plenty of guidance. Participants may attend an optional 1 hour workshop on playwriting in PAC 100 at 4:30 pm, Thursday October 22. Afterward, at 5:00 pm, participants may go to the Theatre Department website to obtain a prompt and instructions, and they will write an 8-10 minute play based on this prompt. Plays should be submitted no later than 10:00 am on Friday, October 23, to [email protected] , a short enough time to put plenty of pressure on writers to get their works in, again, something that I encourage, as a procrastinator. The committee that will look at these drafts includes Jim Anderson, Dr. John Hanners, and awardwinning playwright Gary Burton, who I've had the good fortune of taking a theatre course from. As a side note, if you ever have the chance to see Doorknobs, a play written by Gary Burton, please do so; it was hands-down the best play that I had seen that year, and well-worth your time. Gary's an excellent playwright. Once the top 5 plays are selected, playwrights will be invited to attend rehearsals at 3:00 pm on October 23. At 5:00, doors open for festival. This quick process should be an excellent experience for those who either procrastinate too much or have little to no experience with playwriting. John Waters once said that a great exercise for film students is to read a story in the newspaper, make a film based on it that day, and release the film the very next day. While he was speaking primarily of the film being based on a concept that had only entered the consciousness of the audience very recently, the same concept could apply to these potential playwrights. Think about a potential concept, recent or otherwise, write a play based on it, and submit it for rehearsals the very next day; since it only recently entered your consciousness, it will be new and fresh, and generally more potent. If I have the opportunity to do so, I will enter this contest myself, and I encourage anyone else to do the same. yours, professor fuzzy bottoms NOW, How do we continue the conversation?

[11]

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY-NOW EXPERIENCED As promised, I personally took part in the No Experience Necessary Competition/ Festival on Friday. And thank goodness for the prompt listed on the theatre website; I had not actually started work on the project until around 2 am. (Like I said, it's a good project for procrastinators.) But the prompt was open enough to allow a great deal of freedom, and yet specific enough to generate some really great ideas. So I developed the idea for the play in about half an hour and spent the rest of the time writing and working out the kinks. Around 5 am, I submitted the play--shortly before passing out due to sleep deprivation. All things considered, I'm very pleased with the results. For those of you who have never experienced this feeling--and this was my first--as critical as

Male suada Quis  Dolor Set Ipsum

we typically are of our own work, there is no comparison to seeing the words you've written, the characters you've created, coming to life on stage. Even if you think you've

written crap, the actors and director

make it wonderful. I really can't say enough about the director and actors; they really did a fantastic job putting something like this together, a quality production, and in such a short amount of time. They made my work seem like so much more than I thought it could be. I'm told that there were six or so submissions for the competition, and three of them were chosen to be performed. It was really incredible to see what the other playwrights had come up with, how much different their works were than mine. Their talent was readily apparent, seeing it on stage. There was a small audience, but I feel they greatly enjoyed the event. I sincerely hope that this becomes a regular event in the future, and that it grows little by little. If we can get this kind of talent from just the few who have submitted this year, who knows what dozens or hundreds of others can produce. It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to interact with other, very creative individuals and learn about a different art form. It was certainly worthwhile. SEAN KENNEDY AKA Professor Fuzzy Bottoms

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