Writing Instructor

Style of Teaching

• Instruction by example and discussion;
• Brainstorming, as individuals, of topics and approaches;
• Group sharing of brainstorming results;
• Ample time for in-class writing;
• Personal written critiques of each student's work; and
• Can include chapbook of student writing.

Optimal class size is no fewer than seven, no more than 20 persons.

Experience

2004, January

Renaissance Court (Chicago Dept. of Aging)

Chicago, IL

Poetry Workshop, scheduled for 4 weeks, 1 hour

2003, Fall

Park Ridge Senior Center

Park Ridge, IL

Memoir Writing, 12 weeks, 1 ½ hour

2003, Spring

Park Ridge Senior Center

Park Ridge, IL

Taught 3-month class in Creative Writing

Education

• Began Master of Writing program. Twin-emphasis: literary writing and writing pedagogy.

• Honors student: Creative writing, Introduction to Poetry, Introduction to Fiction;
• President, Grub Street, literary magazine

• B.A., Pastoral Theology, Bible.
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Published

• "Mudface", a poem, Off the Rocks, 2003
• Poetry, and non-fiction, Grub Street, Oakton College's literary magazine, 2003
• "Lanita's Cooking", 2nd place, Non-Fiction, Skyway Writer's Festival, 2003

  "Lanita's Cooking" illustrates beautifully the power of the time-honored writing adage, "Show, Don't Tell." Cheryl doesn't simply say her sister-in-law is a poor cook--or that she forgot to cook part of the Thanksgiving meal. Cheryl describes just how bad Lanita is, right down to those marshmellows. She doesn't just say Lanita is southern--she illustrates her speech patterns. As a personality profile, this piece of work is first-rate.

  Melanie Rigney
  Editor, Writer's Digest Magazine