I’ve spent the few days knee-deep in some heavy-duty revision. I think that I have revised 10 poems or so to my liking. I’m also happy to report that some literary journals do get a head start on their reading periods, and I was able to send out four packets of poems. September is one of the craziest months of the year for me, so if I don’t get poems sent out in August, they often don’t get sent out until late October or early November.
However, revision is not just for poetry. School starts in a few weeks and I’m in the middle of making some important changes in both my developmental writing classes and my creative writing course. I just got finished with Tom Hunley’s book, Teaching Poetry Writing: A Five Canon Approach, and I am going to revamp my course according to many of the ideals found in this text, including teaching poetry writing in the context of rhetoric and comp theory. I actually have more “formal” education in rhetoric and comp than I do in creative writing, so I found Hunley’s discussion of theory refreshing compared to many poetry books which deal with craft, but not pedagogy.
I am also designing a new class for my developmental students. The class, titled “Sports in Popular Culture” is paired with study skills, reading skills and writing components. I have plenty of reading material, but I am also using some movie clips. However, I have been a bit disappointed in the selection of sports movies that contain female characters. So far, I have one selection: Bend it Like Beckham. Quite a few years ago, I saw a Lifetime (I think it was Lifetime) movie titled Little Girls in Pretty Boxes. I like the movie well enough, so I found the book which was a great read, and remains a favorite in my journalism class. However, the movie has never been released on DVD. If anyone has any thoughts on movies with women sports figures, please let me know!
The Scrapper Poet 
Sara Said:
on August 6, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Have you checked out “Love & Basketball”? It’s about a boy and girl who both want to be in the NBA. They both play college ball and–if I remember right–the female character is pretty strong (though in the end, of course, it’s all about their relationship).
M.J.Iuppa Said:
on August 7, 2010 at 12:14 am
Karen,
Would the film League Of Their Own work for your class?
I loved the Bend It/soccer film. The film about the woman golfer,
Babe. . . I’ll look it up. Title escapes me.
The one with Muriel Hemingway, it’s track and field. Need to look this up too.
Oh yes, before I forget,the play The Triangle Factory Fire Project is going to be part of Rochester’s JCC ‘s 2010-2011 season.
Sounds like you’re doing well.
M.J.
M.J.Iuppa Said:
on August 8, 2010 at 2:18 am
Hi Karen,
Back again. Here’s the proper titles:
Mariel Hemingway in Personal Best (compelling movie in 80s and now)
TV movie (1975) Babe, biography of the golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharas.
Karen Said:
on August 10, 2010 at 12:29 am
Thanks M.J. and Sara! A friend emailed me with the suggestion of Million Dollar Baby…which I never thought of.
Tom C. Hunley Said:
on August 13, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Thanks so much for the shout out! I hope the book helps with your class. I wrote a follow-up book, THE POETRY GYMNASIUM. It’s a book of ninety-five exercises and student examples, with one chapter devoted to each of the five canons. Wind Publications will be bringing it out in Fall 2011.
Karen Said:
on August 14, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I will look forward to your next book! Cheers, Karen