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192 ratings | 62 reviews | avg rating:4.85

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Kate

5,742 books | 1,033 friends

University of Chicago Magazine

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131 books | 99 friends

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610 books | 42 friends

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876 books | 102 friends

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

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CHALLENGE

James Steichen has read 25 of 40 books.

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James Steichen

Goodreads Author

Born

in Tulsa, The United States

Website

http://www.jimsteichen.com

Twitter

jpsteichen

Genre

Dance, Music

Influences

George Balanchine, Lincoln Kirstein, Elizabeth Kendall, Lynn Garafola, ...more

Member Since

July 2018

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James Steichen grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended the University of Virginia and University of Chicago before completing a PhD in musicology from Princeton University. Prior to his doctoral studies he worked for five years in the development office at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and he currently serves as Director of Individual Gifts at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

James Steichen I don't try to force myself to write if it's not happening. If I feel blocked it's usually because I haven't prepared or I have too many other things …moreI don't try to force myself to write if it's not happening. If I feel blocked it's usually because I haven't prepared or I have too many other things distracting me.

A good friend gave me very good advice when I was trying to finish my book. She said to identify when you'll have a large period of time to do intensive writing and plan ahead so that you're ready to take advantage of it when it comes. That time could be a month, or a week, or maybe just a day or afternoon. But whatever amount of time it is, protect it! If you're a teacher or have a day job, this is especially important--you know that you might not get good writing done in the middle of your busiest periods, so don't stress yourself out about that!

You protect that prime writing time by finishing off all of the other small tasks that might distract you - research, other deadlines, or even cleaning your house! That way when your prime writing time arrives you can fully devote yourself to writing.(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

James Steichen Find a topic that you're passionate about, read as much as you can about that topic that has already been written, and then figure out what angle no o…moreFind a topic that you're passionate about, read as much as you can about that topic that has already been written, and then figure out what angle no one has talked about before.

This advice probably applies more to non-fiction writers, but I would guess that novelists and poets likely do the same thing!(less)

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James Steichen’s books

Average rating: 4.67 · 18 ratings · 3 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Balanchine and Kirstein's American Enterprise 4.65 avg rating — 17 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Music of the Renaissance: Imagination and Reality of a Cultural Practice by Laurenz Lütteken, James Steichen (Goodreads Author) (Translator), Christopher Reynolds (Foreword) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

28 posts
James Steichen's Blog

Carefully Taught

Hi all, moving forward I’ll be using the blog feature of this website more selectively in lieu of a new monthly newsletter, which I’m calling Carefully Taught, the working title of my book in progress.

Please sign up for a free subscription here – hope to see you there!

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Published on October 31, 2025 14:50

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James is Currently Reading

James Steichen is currently reading

Spawning Season: An Experiment in Queer Parenthood

by Joseph Osmundson

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Aug 28, 2026 08:12AM

James Steichen is currently reading

The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice

by Scott Ellsworth

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Aug 24, 2026 09:10AM

James Steichen is currently reading

A Gentleman in Moscow

by Amor Towles (Goodreads Author)

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Feb 28, 2026 02:27PM

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James’s Recent Updates

James Steichen is on page 45 of 208 of Spawning Season Spawning Season: An Experiment in Queer Parenthood by Joseph Osmundson progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 28, 2026 08:12AM · like · see status
James Steichen started reading Spawning Season: An Experiment in Queer Parenthood by Joseph Osmundson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 28, 2026 08:12AM · like
James Steichen rated a book really liked it Un episodio en la vida del pintor viajero by César Aira	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 27, 2026 05:07PM · like
James Steichen is on page 13 of 108 of Un episodio en la vida del pintor viajero Un episodio en la vida del pintor viajero by César Aira progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 27, 2026 10:49AM · like · see status
James Steichen started reading The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice by Scott Ellsworth	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 24, 2026 09:10AM · like
James Steichen rated a book it was amazing Magnifica Humanitas - Magnificient Humanity : On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence (Annotated) by Pope Leo XIV	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 21, 2026 12:04PM · like
James Steichen rated a book it was amazing Don't Be Evil: Bad Bosses Fake Promises and My Escape from Big Tech by Claire Stapleton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 20, 2026 10:18PM · like
James Steichen rated a book it was amazing The Nation Must Awake: My Witness to the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 by Mary E. Jones Parrish	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 19, 2026 10:49PM · like
James Steichen wants to read Jefferson's Wolf: A Founding Father's Troubling Answer to the Problem of Slavery by Christa Dierksheide	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 17, 2026 08:41PM · like
James Steichen started reading Don't Be Evil: Bad Bosses Fake Promises and My Escape from Big Tech by Claire Stapleton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 16, 2026 10:52AM · like