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My thoughts on writing and other random things as they come up. |
| This is a blog where I keep my thoughts and daily comments about writing and WDC. |
| Loved this. referred by "Writer" Magazine: Neglect everything else.  .In other news - I have talked my way into the Advanced Poetry class for next semester. My boss has given me permission to attend on my lunch hour. Now, if I can get admitted, I'm good to go! |
| After tossing around the idea of a MFA program for several years, I've decided to get a bit more semi-serious about it. To this end - I've applied as a non-degree seeking grad student at my home institution. I'm going to "try out" a couple classes and see what happens. I've asked to attend an advanced poetry class for credit, spring 2015. We'll see if they will let me. Rose McLarney is one of the advanced teachers, and I think that would be a great fit.Most of the MFA programs I am considering will accept a limited number of transfer credits. It will be cheaper for me to attend some classes here (there are fee waivers for staff), and then transfer (if any MFA program will have me). I'm hoping that this will help me save money and put me ahead of the game when it comes time to actually apply to a particular MFA program. It should *also* help me prepare my work and help me get it in the best possible shape for submitting to a program that might actually accept me. I will have a two year window between the time my middle child graduates from college (may 2015) and when my youngest starts college, in which I will be able to go to school (translation: pay tuition for me). After that, it will be more of a struggle for four years. So - I'm going to see how much I can get done in two years (Beginning fall 2015). Maybe a pipe dream - but - you never know till you try. My goal will be to (once I graduate with an MFA) to retire from my current job (I've been here for 27 years), and start a second career as a teacher of creative writing, either at the HS or community college level. I also would like to continue writing and publishing poetry. I don't need an MFA to teach at the HS level - but I feel like it will help me be more qualified, and it will either make or break me as a writer. Here goes - whatever goes! *LOL* Sil |
| The theme this week for me has been "why we write." Found this Poets and writers video today on this topic and thought I would share. |
| I've been thinking a lot about Asymm's blog post "Invalid Entry" . I know how this goes...although I kept thinking when I read this - Asymm is an AWESOME writer. I hope she doesn't quit! I hope she's just kind of hit a wall, and good things wait on the other side ... I always think that getting recognition and/or publication is about timing, and luck, and matching your story to the editorial vision of whomever is accepting submissions. And more luck. And persistence. and oh yeah more luck. Personal reflection: I've been thinking a lot about why I write. I'm not particularly creative. I don't have anything especially interesting to say. I'm pretty much a fraud as a poet or a prose writer. I keep thinking someone from the writing club will point at me and go "IMPOSTER!" It is NOT something I have to do. But I do it because I enjoy it. And because I would really like to become a good writer. And the only hope I ever have of getting there, is just to keep doing it, and to try and do it better each time. I also write because if I get bored I get in trouble. Writing is a good way to keep life interesting, without winding up divorced, in debt, or institutionalized (mental/jail). You get to explore ALL those things. And live to tell about it. And it's less expensive (and potentially less harmful) then therapy. Or drinking. Although I might be a better writer if I drank. On a deeper level - I hope that it's in some way - helping me get at the center of me. It's NOT as much fun as reading. But it's something to keep me from going crazy. In this article - one line resonated with me."We read because we want to feel something." Maybe that's why we write, too. |
| Blah blah blah....yammering on about myself. New work up (finally). (including a work they never told me they had accepted....they are a newish journal though, so I forgive them....) Portmanteau |
I struggle with audio books for some reason. It's hard for me to pay attention. I frequently find my mind wandering. Sometimes, I really want to 'read' a particular book, but it's only available on audio, so I try it. Almost every time, I loose interest, and consequently, loose interest in the BOOK. Which is sad. The audio book isn't always an accurate representation of the book itself, or the book as read by my imagination. Recently, I read an article about a woman who had the same problem, so she tried biography and non-fiction selections for audio books. So far, this has seemed to work for me! And it has helped me develop a listening ear for fiction. I listened to a book from my local library called Brain on Fire, My Month of Madness by Susannah CahalanIt was a interesting book, and it was able to keep my attention. Next, I tried within the same week, a book I had been wanting to read, which was FICTION. It was Second Nature .I have been on the road a lot, so this seemed like a perfect fit. The story was great. There were parts of it that I found a bit trying, but the book made me cry, and made me realize that I didn't need to listen to emotional stories while I was driving! I was very shocked to find myself responding emotionally to the audio book. I have to attribute this not only to the story itself, but the quality of the story as told by the storyteller. The narrator of this particular version did an excellent job. I'm anxious to try another audio book. About "Second Nature." I found myself constantly thinking - did she really just go there? As a writer, it made me greatly admire the risks she took, and the depth to which she was willing to explore the multiple facets of human emotion without miring us down in unhappiness. The ending left a little something to be desired. I wasn't feeling resolution as strongly as I would like, but I felt like perhaps she was leaving the door open for a sequel. Overall, nice work, both on the original book and the audio version It is a book I would recommend. I am behind in my fifteen minutes of writing, and way behind in my 15 minutes of meditation, but all steps forward are just that! Steps FORWARD! Happy Tuesday, Sil |
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