Alan Lawrence Sitomer » course

My search for the wittiest writer begins. (Oscar Wilde.)

Alan Sitomer — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 12:00:41 +0000

I’ve always been drawn to a well-turned phrase. Especially one marked by wit. And when I look back at some of the most keen in history, a few great ones perpetually pop up.

But who was the wittiest? Well,

…

Once you get published, should everything thereafter be heartbreak?

Alan Sitomer — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:00:16 +0000

The other day I asked, “Does my book The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez have to sell like Stephan King novel in order for me to consider it a success?

Well, if those are my guidelines, then I hate

…

Why don’t we just let the bubble test makers decide the school calendar, too?

Alan Sitomer — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:59:12 +0000

And in another case of the bubble tests being the tail that wags the entire educational dog, we see that one of the nation’s largest school districts – Los Angeles Unified – wants to start school earlier next year.

Not…

When I think back to my own schooling…

Alan Sitomer — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:02 +0000

When I think back to my own schooling, I realize that nobody taught me note taking. I was just told to “take notes.” Nobody taught me how to annotate a text. I was just provided a highlighter. Nobody taught me…

The Writer as Spelunker

Alan Sitomer — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:00:49 +0000

There’s an entire industry out there promising to “teach you how to write”. And you know what? None of them can deliver.

Now sure, they can help. How much? Whose to say? But can they “teach you how to write”?…

Do you have a “reason” for writing each of your books?

Alan Sitomer — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:30:28 +0000

People often ask me, “Do you have a “reason” for writing each of your books?”

Now that I think about it, I guess I do write all of my books for a reason. For each of them, I am, dare…

Dr. Seuss is my Homeboy!

Alan Sitomer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:30:26 +0000

Tuesday was Read Across America day, chosen as such because it’s the birthday of Dr. Seuss (who, btw, is probably one of the most influential authors to shape my own writing life).

Me, I read all of my classes GREEN…

“Cause our stupid schools sure ain’t,” she said.

Alan Sitomer — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:11:48 +0000

Last weekend I took my daughter to LACMA (the Los Angeles County Museum of Art). I hadn’t been in a decade and WOW, was I blown away by the incredible experience.

LACMA is a really good museum. And I like…

The Checklist System, A Banquet of Preposterous Beauty

Alan Sitomer — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:06:23 +0000

So here’s a fear I have about national standards. I think it’s going to create too much of a checklist system.

For example, I will be given a national standard to teach. I will teach it.

Then there will be…

Sharpening the Saw

Alan Sitomer — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:30:29 +0000

I took a weeklong cruise once — LOVED IT — and clearly remember talking to one of the “boat hosts” about how people change over the course of the trip.

On Day 1 of the cruise, people are itchy to…