Tell us about your journey as a writer. When did you first start writing, and how did you come to publishing and teaching?
I started writing at about ten when my parents were out at political organizing meetings, and I was home alone with my mother’s huge manual typewriter. I loved reading and writing book reports for school. I always had an interest in teaching and went from K-12 to adult learners, from the county jail to Skyline College. I became interested in publishing while in grad school at San Francisco State University– before that, I didn’t give it much thought.
In addition to your teaching at The Writing Salon, you taught at Skyline Community College for many years, and also worked with California Poets in the Schools. Is it fair to say that teaching is an important aspect of your identity as a writer? How has teaching changed, deepened, or expanded your work?
Teaching in various settings with diverse populations (incarcerated people, adults with learning disabilities, students in under-resourced high schools, and kindergartners up to community college students) has provided a source of income and a deep well of satisfaction. I’m lucky to be able to share what I continue to learn as a writer with my students.
If you could send students home with just one skill, idea, or approach to carry into their writing lives, what would it be? What do you hope stays with them long after the class ends?
The idea of process over product — that a poem, story, memoir or personal essay is a life form. It has its own life cycle. Our job is to care for it, give it light, thought and time.
How do you approach your writing practice? Do you have rituals, habits, or conditions that help you write your best work?
I’m more productive as a writer when I’m alone, which often means when I’m away from home with no emails, bills, laundry, dinners, people or pets to attend to. I leave town when I can arrange it and bring my notebook and my laptop and a book of two for inspiration.
Katharine Harer‘s parents were Socialists and labor organizers who encouraged her to read widely and deeply. She attended SF State, got involved in the anti-war movement and studied theatre, English and creative writing. Katharine has taught at the SF county jail; an adult Learning Disabilities program; California Poets In The Schools and at Skyline College, where she served as district union President. She was the Director of CPITS statewide and of Small Press Traffic literary arts center in SF. She has published seven books of poetry, travel/memoir pieces and short fiction. Katharine has taught with the Salon for eight years and loves her students.
Katharine Harer‘s parents were Socialists and labor organizers who encouraged her to read widely and deeply. She attended SF State, got involved in the anti-war movement and studied theatre, English and creative writing. Katharine has taught at the SF county jail; an adult Learning Disabilities program; California Poets In The Schools and at Skyline College, where she served as district union President. She was the Director of CPITS statewide and of Small Press Traffic literary arts center in SF. She has published seven books of poetry, travel/memoir pieces and short fiction. Katharine has taught with the Salon for eight years and loves her students.