Joanna M G

I'm a future elementary and possibly high school/middle school English teacher. I believe in the importance and power of creative writing as a tool for growth, self-expression, discipline, and hey, just for fun. I'm an armchair-windowsill scientist. I dabble in anything I can figure out -- both in writing styles, artistic styles, and general hobbies and activities. I'm an avid writer, traditional artist, craft and hobbyist, nature person, kid person, and cat person. I'm a self-diagnosed bibliophile and even if I can't read all of them, surrounding myself in books is a huge stress relief. I served a term with City Year Little Rock/North Little Rock during which I started a creative writing program for 4th and 5th graders; taught elementary schoolers about character and responsibility to themselves, their loved ones, their communities, and the environment; got down and dirty in the parks system; and hid on my bad days in Barnes and Noble and the Arkansas Arts Center, where no one was around to tell me "Ma'am, you're standing too close to the painting. Please step back." My writing frequently deals with acceptance, psychology/mental health, or sexuality/gender issues, but not always, and not necessarily all three at once.