Inside Look

By Bernie Deville, Bluegrass Writers Studio

     One of the major reasons I am carrying away a cache of fresh thinking from Bluegrass Writers Studio’s Summer Residency at Disquiet International is that I opted  to take one of the extra Tuesday/Thursday morning classes. This was not a real burden on my schedule due to having all my line edits complete before coming to Portugal, and the class itself only met four times though there was homework for every class.

By Kristen Thompson, Associate Coordinator, Bluegrass Writers Studio

     In the last few posts, I’ve been reflecting on the selective nature of memory and how songs can play a part (ba-dump tish) in how things link together in our minds.

     I still remember the first time I heard Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) on the radio. My sister and I were going to spend the night at my aunt Sue’s. After picking us up, she stopped for takeout, leaving the car radio on for us. When she got back in she said, “Oh, this is a good one” and turned the radio up luxuriously louder than it was ever allowed at my house. It was clear this song was to be listened to, not talked over.

By Kristen Thompson, Associate Coordinator, Bluegrass Writers Studio

     Every once in a while, it happens that you're present at the beginning of a phenomenon. You may or may not be aware of the enduring quality of the moment you're witnessing, as you live it. But years later, you'll be able to recollect that moment within an inch of its life. Younger generations will listen to your tales with their mouths and eyes agape.

Bluegrass Writers Studio student Jen Parks interviews faculty member Bob Johnson, beginning in the style popularized by Bernard Pivot and James Lipton.

What is your favorite word?