On the Covenant College website, you can read about how Anne and I are teaching a new class there in October and November.

Anne and I will also be reading from our own work — Anne from her poetry, me from my film criticism and my novels. And I’ll be speaking in chapel.

But wait, there’s more!

It’s been a dream for me since I was a kid — to follow in my parents’ footsteps as a teacher, even as I go on writing fiction and criticism. More and more, the desire to translate my wild ride of experiences in creative writing and criticism into teaching has been growing. Every time I travel and share, I end up learning more myself, and my conversations with students and aspiring writers have motivated me to pursue that kind of inspiring, creatively rejuvenating engagement.

I’ve been teaching writing workshops and seminars more frequently in recent years — you can trace some of the highlights of my writing, publishing, traveling, speaking, and teaching journeys here, if you’re so inclined. But co-teaching a creative writing course with my favorite poet (the one I married) is going to be a grand adventure. We’ll be teaching fiction writers about the rewards of paying attention to poetry, about the discoveries that can be possible when we “look closer” the way a poet does.

First, though, I’m spending a few days in Nashville with an extraordinary community of artists and explorers called Hutchmoot. I’ll be sharing a presentation about film and another one about the power of imagination and play. I’ve wanted to attend a Hutchmoot for years, and it’s quite an honor to attend my first as a speaker.

Further, I’ve accepted an invitation from Lee University to make a quick trip down to Cleveland, Tennessee, to speak about faith, cultural discernment, and cinema.

So it’s going to be quite a ride. I’m not sure how frequently I’ll be blogging in the midst of that, but I hope to share some highlights with you along the way.