Time We Discuss: Don Sawyer - Traveler, Writer, Teacher
Watch/Listen to this Episode Don Sawyer - Traveler, Writer, Teacher
In this episode of Time We Discuss, we meet Don Sawyer, an educator and author, about his experiences as a teacher and writer. The conversation explores the intersection of traveling, teaching, and writing. We touch on Don's journey, his career shifts, and his approach to storytelling.
Don shares that writing has always been a natural skill for him, dating back to his high school years. His early academic path took him to British Columbia, where he pursued a PhD in Modern Chinese History. However, the difficulty of learning the Chinese language led him to abandon his PhD aspirations. This turning point forced him to reconsider his career, ultimately leading him and his wife to teaching positions in Newfoundland. With no formal teacher training, Don learned through hands-on experience and by listening to his students. He emphasized how traditional skills, such as fishing and boat-building, were more valued than formal schooling in the rural community where he taught.
During his time in Newfoundland, Don wrote letters to his friends describing his experiences, which later became the basis for his first book, Tomorrow is School, and I'm Sick to the Heart Thinking About It. The book, published by Douglas & McIntyre, unexpectedly became a Canadian bestseller and was widely used in teacher training programs. This success reinforced Don's belief that teachers should draw inspiration and resources from their students and communities.
As his writing career progressed, Don continued to merge his teaching experiences with storytelling. His second book, Where the Rivers Meet, focused on the impact of colonialism and the challenges Indigenous students faced in the education system. Initially rejected by a mainstream publisher, the book found success through a Native publishing house and became another bestseller, widely used in classrooms across Canada.
The discussion then shifts to the craft of writing. Don advises aspiring writers to improve their skills by taking courses, joining writing groups, and defining their own success. He emphasizes that writing well is not just about practice but also about learning storytelling techniques, such as point of view and conflict development. Don shares a practical exercise called the “quick write,” where students write continuously for ten minutes to build confidence and fluency in writing. He explains, students became less concerned about the mechanics of writing and more able to just kind of make that connection between the brain and the paper
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Don also discusses his work in Africa, where he developed curriculum materials for community development workers. He highlights the importance of firsthand experience when writing about different cultures, explaining that he traveled to Africa multiple times to ensure authenticity in his work. He mentions that, in some cases, writing-related travel expenses can be tax-deductible, though he advises checking local tax regulations.
Towards the end of the episode, Don introduces his latest project, The Burning Gem, the first book in The Soul Catcher trilogy. This urban fantasy series explores themes of power, division, and humanity's need for unity. Inspired by his travels to Hungary, the story revolves around a mythical device that can capture fragments of a person's soul. Don hopes the series encourages readers to think about the importance of collaboration in facing global challenges.
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