Notes:

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Content Warning: This story mentions animal captivity and the inevitable abuse that comes with it. This story gripped me, and I try to honor the wonderful creature in Jumbo the best I can, but I understand if this is not for you.

Notes:

• ⁠⁠A short write-up from London Museum
• Brief YouTube video about Jumbo's memorial statue
• The David Attenborough documentary (absolutely worth the entire watch)

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:

I quote frequently from my tattered (well loved) copy of Fahrenheit 451:

• Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451, Simon & Schuster, 2013.

And for fun . . . something about the quality of the movie I rip on:

• I'm not a critic, but society sure spoke up on this one.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:

• ⁠The original NYT article⁠
• "Suicide Deterrent Net," a brief write up from the Highway & Transportation Distict page
• and a follow up with more detail about the project

If you or anyone you know is struggling, you can call the 988 hotline to get connected quickly, or you can learn more on their website, where you can simply tap to call, text, or chat. When in doubt, reach out.

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:

I took some creative liberties regarding the details of the film, but you can learn more about Quirino Cristiani's career (and let me know if I screwed up the factual stuff):

• Animation World Network's profile of the pioneer
• A much more detailed lament from Damn Interesting
• I randomly learned of this film on Wikipedia and naturally thought of Disney's Snow White, so it was neat to later come across this YouTube video that also mentions both

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.

Notes:

• Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves (goodreads)
• fun little YouTube video showing you why reading this book is like being in a labyrinth
• what I found instead of Dr. Embry's syllabus

This idea in stride comes to you from my Patreon, The Write Balance, where you can read and hear the final version of each practice piece (with touches of music and SFX). And you can even engage in the feedback process to be more connected to every final product. To learn more and subscribe, go to ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thewritebalance⁠⁠⁠.

I created The Write Balance to show mainly myself—a high school English teacher—that there is no right way to carve out time to write—I just need to do it. So for me, these brief episodes are a way to practice publicly on that tightrope of creativity. There are countless ways to fall into procrastination, neglect, fear, and doubt, and whether you’re a teacher or not, we all have a balancing act, and this is my way of looking up instead of down.