Author María J. Estrada
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Un Blog de Writing Musings

More Great Writing Advice and Bits on Social Justice

18/11/2017

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PictureMy son Antonio (7) learning to embroider.
Today, I was at the Teachers for Social Justice curriculum fair in Chicago promoting the People's Tribune.  It was a great event, and we got to network with a number of activists.  I had the pleasure of talking to Sarah Menefee again because she was at the conference.  I was explaining how much I loved the writing-sex metaphor (you can't schedule either one.  you do it.)  I told her that often, I feel a sense of guilt and anxiety when I don't write every day.  In fact, if I go for days without writing, my life gets a little greyer. 

Sarah said something like, "Don't attach guilt to it.  You just miss writing."

You ever have one of those cerebral explosions?  I had one because that is such a brilliant way of framing what the heart wants. 

Besides, there is so much negativity in the world.  Why add to it?

My son also decided to tag along, and I made him pass out the paper and a poetry insert, which is quite phenomenal.  It was produced by homeless or formerly homeless poets to raise awareness to the injustices they face.

My son also did something amazing:  He embroidered a flame at one of the organizational tables promoting art and education.  I loved the fact that he made something with his hands and wasn't so reliant on the phone to entertain himself.  (The phone was not available to him, and the I-pad died.)

He also crafted cards for incarcerated children.  While I loved the gesture, that reality jarred me and made me angry at the prison industrial complex, even more.  I did put my name down to help develop curriculum or donate books.  That, of course, won't solve the prison problem, but it's something.  I also am working on a poem about what happened, in the poetry section.

All in all, I was really inspired at the great work people are doing through creative arts.  That was just one part of it, but I was struck at all the tables that promoted one form of art or another.  Next time, we should have a table for people to write a short piece. 

Write from the heart, even when your time is limited.  #Resist



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    Jesú Estrada
    Pen Name: 
    María J. Estrada
    Chicago, IL

    You follow me everywhere @drmariajestrada, except Twitter.
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    *********************
    MARIA J. ESTRADA is an English college professor of Composition, Literature, and her favorite, Creative Writing. She grew up in the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona in the real Barrio de Los Locos, a barrio comprised of new Mexican immigrants and first-generation Chicanos. Drawing from this setting and experiences, she writes like a loca every minute she can—all while magically balancing her work and family obligations. She lives in Chicago’s south side with her wonderfully supportive husband, two remarkable children, and a menagerie of animals.

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  • Home
  • Mi Biografía
  • Un Blog de Writing Musings
  • Author Interviews
    • Eric Allen Yankee
    • Mehreen Ahmed
    • Steve Carr
    • Martin Eastland
    • P.S. Malcolm
    • P.C. Darkcliff
  • The Harvested Draft
  • Books
  • Poetry
  • My Patreon Page
  • Useful Bits
  • Contact