Over the years I made the mistake, time and again, of thinking that I understood what my students were experiencing as they approached writing the first, full drafts of their stories. I assumed that having gone through much of what they were going through when I was younger, and having edited hundreds of student stories, I was in a position to make sense of what stood in their way when they made the leap from writing weekly reporting letters, to the first 100 words of their stories, to drafts.
God, you've come so far since I had you as a first year teacher in 1990.
You were great then, now you're a damn master teacher and a genius at what you do.
You should be editing America's best literary journalists.
Best teacher and best editor I've had in a 35 year career as a journalist.
Vanda Meyer and Alexa Foust are going to be impressive journalists if they fight with their editors if they try to rein them in and they write freely, using their natural unique voice when they get out there; I'm going to look for their bylines.
All your students here, Michael are so very smart and perceptive and such good writers; beautiful to see.
Great work Michael. The memos are a brilliant idea and you're so right about how you handle the shitty first drafts.
You made me such a better writer and reporter in 1990, in 2024 you're still doing it but at a stunningly higher level.
Amazing teacher.
Kevin Heldman --
in awe and wishing he was young again and a Michael Shapiro student.
God, you've come so far since I had you as a first year teacher in 1990.
You were great then, now you're a damn master teacher and a genius at what you do.
You should be editing America's best literary journalists.
Best teacher and best editor I've had in a 35 year career as a journalist.
Vanda Meyer and Alexa Foust are going to be impressive journalists if they fight with their editors if they try to rein them in and they write freely, using their natural unique voice when they get out there; I'm going to look for their bylines.
All your students here, Michael are so very smart and perceptive and such good writers; beautiful to see.
Great work Michael. The memos are a brilliant idea and you're so right about how you handle the shitty first drafts.
You made me such a better writer and reporter in 1990, in 2024 you're still doing it but at a stunningly higher level.
Amazing teacher.
Kevin Heldman --
in awe and wishing he was young again and a Michael Shapiro student.