writing – Bill Abbott, poet, web page

Geoff Tate/Queensryche

When I was a senior in high school, I was given a copy of Queensryche’s “Rage for Order,” and I was amazed. While everyone else was drooling over Metallica and Megadeth, which I listened to enough to be familiar with them, Queensryche did more for me. Then late my senior year, they released “Operation: Mindcrime,”Continue reading “Geoff Tate/Queensryche”

The Professor

Tomorrow, I stand in front of my last class at Central State. After 14 years (2 of those adjunct) at Central State, and after 9 years teaching at the for-profits before that, I am at least temporarily done with being a college professor at this point. I’m leaving my role in front of my studentsContinue reading “The Professor”

Updating, Work-Wise

I haven’t blogged in almost a year, and that’s because I occasionally forget this is here. Almost a year ago, I posted my gratitude that I had reached full professor at CSU. A few weeks ago, after months of administration creating a retrenchment policy that let them go after whoever they wanted, no regard toContinue reading “Updating, Work-Wise”

Professor Abbott

I’ve been teaching for 20 years. The first six were at for-profit colleges, which were problematic. I was a great instructor, and I have numerous students who believe that. Miller-Motte Technical College in Chattanooga, Miami-Jacobs Career College in Dayton, Fortis in Dayton. I got a 7-12 teaching certificate along the way. But working at theseContinue reading “Professor Abbott”

Kerran

Today, I want to remember Kerran Brady. In 1992, when I found the poetry slam in Johnson City, TN, on that first night, the winner for the evening (and never again) was Kerran. He walked in and, despite the rule that you had to memorize, read his poems on paper. I guess they didn’t thinkContinue reading “Kerran”

My First Sabbatical

Since September, I’ve been on sabbatical from work. I’m a creative writing and English professor, and one of the benefits of that is the option to take a sabbatical every few years, with university approval of my plan. Most professors write their academic books heavily during these, but I’m creative writing, so I’ve been writingContinue reading “My First Sabbatical”