I have been avidly reading the comments from everyone, and it seems to
me that the idea of streaming is a good one. Inkshed has obviously
meant many different things to different people, and if we are to
compress the experience into 1 and a bit days, we need to address those
needs creatively. I support the idea of "stream # 4" as I too would like
a chance to discover what I think about all the sessions at CASDW
through writing and reflection (must be the Catholic upbringing). I
would also like to see, probably on the first evening, a kind of whole
group discussion of what we intend to do the next day. The organization
of that day can/should depend largely on who is staying and what they
wish to do with that day. It is entirely possible that everyone there
next year will want to do streams # 2 and #4, and another year, people
would opt to share drafts and/or pedagogical practices. Perhaps we will
have sufficient numbers to have all four streams going. The key to this
"anti-conference" I think, should be the flexibility. Of course, some
of the preparation for those streams would have to be done via the
listserv before the conference, but I would like to see the final shape
of the day settled on that first evening. Finally, Talent Show MUST be
on the second evening. It springs from our interactions with each other
and our need to have fun together. Those types of interactions are not
(I think) generated in the same way at CASDW, which is a good, but very
serious, expression of our professional interests.
By the way ---- it's great to have a serious discussion on our listserv
once again ---- I've missed those!
Theresa.
Betsy Sargent wrote:
> Graham, thanks very much for sending the link to the Scholarly Writing
> Retreat in Portland--a great concept for a working conference.
>
> I certainly agree that devoting one stream of the "Inkshed day" to
> moving papers-in-progress towards publication is a terrific idea
> (assuming that those wanting to participate had sent drafts to each
> other before CASDW--it would also be a perfect opportunity for
> developing papers presented at CASDW for publication). I'd think that
> this particular stream would need to run for the full day.
>
> However, unlike Graham, it seems, I would particularly appreciate the
> possibility of stream #4 as described in Shurli's email:
>
> "4. a spill-over from CASDW for more formative inkshedding and
> discussion in response to papers or panels"
>
> This might not need to be a full-day stream, but perhaps one long
> afternoon session, with a break in the middle. CASDW for me
> (especially this year!) was like going to an art musuem for 8 hours
> straight, 3 days straight--trying hard to take everything in, to be
> alert, not to miss anything--but my eyes are popping out of my head &
> I'm on sensory overload at the end. Sessions begin to blur together,
> and I'm unable to process and assimilate everything.
>
> I'd benefit from a focused period of time right after CASDW to look
> through my notes and handouts, to inkshed about the presentations and
> sessions that challenged my thinking or my practice the most (and to
> inkshed about some possible links between different sessions--or links
> to my research and teaching), and then to read and respond to the
> conference inksheds of others. I'm sure that in participating in a
> few rounds of such inkshedding with others and talking about it
> together, I'd discover things I'd missed in CASDW (both about sessions
> I couldn't attend--as well as sessions I did!) and that I'd also
> return to my home institution much clearer about how I was going to
> integrate what I had heard at CASDW into my teaching, research and/or
> administrative work.
>
> What seems most valuable to me about Inkshed is that instead of just
> talking about writing (esp. writing as a way of thinking and
> exploring)--as happens at almost every conference about writing I know
> of--Inkshedders actually do write, actually practice what scholars in
> writing studies preach. They make the time for that rough "shaping at
> the point of utterance" that helps capture ideas in formation,
> glimmers and possible connections/contradictions that might otherwise
> be lost. And they take the risk of sharing that unpolished track of
> their thinking with others immediately. I also especially appreciate
> having my own inkshedding--with highlighting and/or marginal
> comments-- to take home with me, to read through later and possibly
> develop further).
>
> I have to say also that I like the idea of streams. Those who don't
> find inkshedding as helpful as I do (or who process information much
> more quickly and less problematically than I do) would be able to
> choose one of the other 3 streams.
>
> If anyone besides me would like to support the idea of including
> stream #4 in the mix next year, I'm eager enough for it to happen that
> I'm willing to volunteer to facilitate/organize it (and I'd be glad
> for the offer of a co-facilitator).
>
> I'm grateful to Roger for making sure we discussed Inkshed at CASDW
> and for his getting this online follow-up discussion started (and of
> course, to Roger and Heather and Natasha for organizing such a rich 3
> days for us in Ottawa).
> Best, Betsy
>
>
> At 08:50 PM 6/2/2009, you wrote:
>> Just to throw something into the mix. Here's a link to a website
>> announcing the fifth annual Scholarly Writing Retreat in Portland,
>> Oregon.
>>
>> http://www.lclark.edu/~mreyes/2009writingretreat.html
>>
>> I've seen announcements for the earlier sessions in previous years,
>> and I've also found the concept intriguing. Now the Scholarly
>> Writing Retreat is five days long, which is obviously way too long to
>> work as a model for an Inkshed conference, but there may be some
>> ideas that are useful for us. I for one would be quite keen to spend
>> a whole day, indeed several days even, collaborating with other
>> researcher-writers in moving papers-in-progress towards publication.
>> That could turn out to be quite productive and fun.
>>
>> For me, and again perhaps I'm being too frank, but anyway--after
>> spending three intensive days at CASDW, an extra day or two for an
>> Inkshed conference would have to be very, very different from CASDW
>> to be of interest. What I mean is, it couldn't just be warmed-over
>> CASDW conversations or mopping-up-after-CASDW activities. For me
>> that wouldn't be something I would want to do, given the inevitable
>> post-conference fatigue after three stimulating days of CASDW.
>>
>> So, some more grist for the mill.
>>
>> Graham
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Roger Graves <[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009 5:17 pm
>> Subject: Re: Inkshed 2010
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> > Thanks, Shurli, for this--an excellent summary of the
>> > proposals
>> > various people made.
>> >
>> > I think it is important to underscore that several of these
>> > groups
>> > could be operating at the same time or sequentially throughout
>> > the
>> > day--a workshop on WAC consulting could be scheduled alongside
>> > the
>> > publication workshop group in the morning, with two other
>> > sessions in
>> > the afternoon, for example.
>> >
>> > Since interest in Inkshed is to some extent dependent on the
>> > program
>> > of events, the list of four topics below gives us a good
>> > starting
>> > point. Are there other ideas for the program beyond these four
>> > or can
>> > others see ways to refine these--under 2., for example,
>> > what
>> > theoretical framework is of interest to our group?
>> > Environmental
>> > rhetoric?
>> >
>> > Roger
>> >
>>
>> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>> To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
>> [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
>> write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
>>
>> For the list archives and information about the organization,
>> its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
>> http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
>> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>
> M. Elizabeth (Betsy) Sargent
> Director of Writing Initiatives and
> Acting Director, Writing Studies (OIS)
> Professor, Department of English and Film Studies
> University of Alberta
> Edmonton, AB T6G 2E5
> CANADA
> (780) 492-0457 (office)
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.sargent.nelson.com/
> http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/arts/wtf.cfm
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
> [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
> write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
>
> For the list archives and information about the organization,
> its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
> http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
[log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
For the list archives and information about the organization,
its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
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