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Here is a rundown of my first two weeks in year 2.
Fiction Workshop with Steven Schwartz.
- The class size is 18 students this year (usually, there are 12-14).
- The ratio of guys to girls is now equal. Last year, we had 4 guys, 8 girls.
- Reviewed Not that I Care by CSU employee/alum Molly Reid. It won the NPR “3 minute fiction” award.
- THOUGHTS: Steven has proven a very hands-on instructor so far. We aren’t left to our own devices during workshop but rather we are guided on specific craft elements within our own work.
Teaching Creative Writing with Todd Mitchell.
- Happy to be in this class. It was full, but I attended the first class in case someone dropped. Lucky me. Someone dropped.
- Heavy courseload here. We read craft books, short stories, poetry and practice creative writing lesson plans on one another.
- Multiple projects.
- I have to write and studya and teach poetry. (yikes!)
- Stories so far: White Angel, Gryphon, Cathedral, The Apaloosa House.
- THOUGHTS: Very excited about the class. I was lucky to get in. In one of my last three semesters I will teach my own intro to creative writing class. Yes!
Teaching Reading with Cindy O’Donnel-Allen.
- This is a prereq that will allow me to begin my post-bachelor’s work in teaching certification (secondary). Interesting class so far.
Intermediate Creative Writing (TA’ing for Judy Doenges).
- It’s great to be working with Judy again. She was my instructor for last semester’s Graduate Fiction Workshop. It’s been delightful taking notes in class from the “teaching perspective). Read so far: Good Country People, A Sense of Shelter.
- I will be facilitating half the class in workshops. First one is Tuesday, September 3. Very excited!
SpeakOut!
- I’m still working with Tobi Jacobi in the Literacy Center. This year it’s through Americorps. I’m facilitating creative writing workshops at the Larimer County Detention Center. Amazing work. Amazing women. I have lots of big ideas for this program (this semester and next).
Stories in the Works…
- Pine Box – Revising
- Full Moon Mo’Nique – First Draft Finish
- Untitled piece about a guy who wants a girl and she’s in love with the school nerd – Unwritten
I’ve been neglecting this blog and hope to get back into the groove again. I did not write much this summer as I took two classes through Front Range Community College: world mythology and a survey of eastern religions. Both were delightful and helped sate my ever-pressent need for mythological knowledge.
I’ve finished one flash fiction story, Pine Box, which I’ve submitted to a few literary magazines. We’ll see how it’s received. I’m dedicated to writing more and submitting more this year. I think it keeps me revising and helps me avoid complacency in my writing.
Workshop this semester with Steven Schwartz is going to be a good one. I have good vibes from the first day of class and we have ten new students this semester, all of whom I am eager to read and receive criticism from.
I’m TA’ing for Judy Doenges’ E311 class (Intermediate Creative Writing) and will be taking on an entire workshop group of 14 students all year long. I can’t even begin to illustrate how important and wonderful an opportunity this is for me. I’m very excited.
There is the work with SpeakOut as well. I help facilitate creative writing workshops at the Larimer County Detention Center. The female inmates are amazing to work with. I hope to work with youths in a similar program as well (all through Americorps).
I’ve been reading more craft this summer than anything else. I’ve ordered a few books, one of which I am very excited about: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, by Janet Burroway.
Other than that, I’m ready to begin the grind. I enjoy being busy these days and I’m about to be in hog heaven.
Supernatural
The Winchester brothers are back to kick off the last half of season 4. I have to say this is one incredible find. I’m grateful that it’s been given a home on CW–a station that allows for “workhorse” type shows to plod along, despite uber-ratings. Thing is, Supernatural should have more viewers. It goes beyond the teen-fluff that you usually find on CW. It’s dark, gritty and half the time I’m wondering how the censors let them get away with saying “dick” and “douche” all the time.
The Winchester boys are heading for another big rift. Dean has his girl-crushes on forbidden targets: fallen angel, reaper. Meanwhile, Sammy’s been using his no-no powers against demons galore. Methinks it will be too much for him to handle in the end. He’ll need some help from big brother on this one.
Battlestar Galactica
Two more episodes left until the season ends. It’s difficult to predict exactly what will go down. Creator, Ron Moore, isn’t one to play the safe, predictable route. Last night’s episode set things up for the 2-hour finale. My thoughts are that “Earth” is still out there, Hera will be saved. Athena and Helo will perish leaving Baltar and Caprica Six to raise the child. “You will become a father,” Head-Six told him. And with Sam controlling the Galactica, we’ll have a wild ride ahead.
Many deaths. Much sadness when Galactica blows (and we all know this is coming.) Sam will go with her. Starbuck will live, so will Lee. Roslin and Adama will go down as well. The only thing I can predict with absolute certainty is that I’ll be crying like a wee baby when all is said and done.
Lost
Lost has been at its best the last two seasons. Slow-moving? Too many questions? Things change. Lost is changing. I’m on board and enjoying myself immensely. Sawyer is awesome, so is Locke. Ben remains the most awesome of all. Let’s hope that Abrams doesn’t pull an “Alias” here and frack with the fans too much. Maybe he learned his lesson first time around.
I’m starting to feel that mid-term crunch right now. There’s a lot going on within my MFA world, lots to do, and sometimes I wonder where I’ll find the time. That said, I tend to do my best work under pressure. Projects in the works:
First Essay due for 19th Century British Literature.
I’m working on a paper that discusses 19th-century Naturalist Literature and what it says about British society on a whole. In terms of what? Jungian Self/Shadow analysis. The concept of “the other” really comes to the fore in 19th-Century British Naturalist Literature: “the other” being the strange, that which we do not know. This essay will discuss women and how they are represented in this type of literature as “the other” and what that says about society on a whole during that time. It’s hairy and I need to organize my thoughts very clearly and articulately on this one, or it could turn into something of a mess.
English Graduate Student Symposium
I will be presenting the above essay at the symposium. The cool thing is that offering this presentation will count as my “final for the above class and I will be done with all of my formal papers for the rest of the class.
SpeakOut! Writing Manual
I’ve been asked to edit and proofread the creative writing manual for the program at the women’s prison. Not much work here. This should be the lighter side of my duties.
CSU Women’s Conference
The SpeakOut ladies (including myself) are speaking at a conferece on campus about the program. I’m a bit ungrounded and clueless at this point. It’s still in the brainstorming phase right now. Things will come together as this nears.
MFA Annotated Bibliography Entries
We need 100 of these for our final portfolio. I haven’t started yet. I plan to this week-end. Each annotation has to be a full page (double spaced) in length.
TILT – Certificate for College Teaching
This is an informal certificate that I can work on simultaneously with my current degree. It involves taking a class on composition pedagogy (which I’ve already finished,) engaging in 20 hours of teaching (which I am doing with the SpeakOut! program at the women’s correctional facility,) 6 seminars/conferences on various teaching topics and the completion of a portfolio which will be published online. I plan to pursue two of these degrees at once: the general college teaching certificate and the teaching with technology certificate.
Writing
There is always writing. It usually takes backseat to all over projects, but this semester I’ve spent more time on it. I have a few things going right now:
- 1st draft of a short story completed for my next workshop (that’s not until May, so I have lots of time to revise.) A link to the first draft is HERE if anyone wants a go at it. Always appreciate
- Snippits of nother short stories. I tend to patchwork my short stories. I write scenes (usually out of order,) then connect them. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. I have “patches” finished for various stories at the moment.
- Brainstorming process for a novel. I need to write a novel. For my MFA portfolio, we need a “collection of short stories” the length of a book, or a novel. Few people attempt the novel. My MFA advisor, David Milofsky, suggested a book. They’re easier to publish once you finish, easier to market. The question is: do I have a story that will carry the length of a novel? We’ll have to see.
I admit it. I’ve been lazy. Very lazy. Last semester crushed me. I was reading 250-500 pages a week, most of it involving composition pedagogies. I definitely felt like a fish out of water being the only MFA student in a class room full of rhet/comp majors. I still managed to squeak by with an “A,” so no complaints here.
Highlights from last semester: Carver, Flannery O’Connor, workshop in general (I’m blessed with a classroom full of amazing writers.)
This semester, things are moving along. New workshop teacher. Judy D. proves a great instructor for “crafting” as opposed to straight-up workshopping and literary analysis. Nice change of pace there.
Second class is 19th Century British Lit. Just finished Silas Marner. Read more like a tract than a book at times. Mary Barton was illuminating in that it seemed she began one book and ended with another. It was her first, I understand. We’ve read some poetry from Naturalists (including Keats.) I’ve had my fill of bird poems, I have to say, but they were lovely nonetheless.
My own writing is plodding along. My first workshop was frustrating as I had no love for the story I submitted, The Last of Nine. I’m working on another short story that’s proving far more enjoyable, The Stone Baby, inspired by a documentary about a woman in India who was pregnant for 20+ years.
And there is always Borrowed Time, the novel that will happen someday. I’m building scenes right now, making note of them on index cards.
Book Girl won an award last year. I was given an Amazon gift card and promptly spent it on the second seasons of Carnivale and Rome. I don’t feel guilty about not purchasing books. It’s all narrative in the end, right?
Book Girl is HERE for anyone interested in viewing it. Or, you can order a copy through The Copper Nickel, volume 9.
Short Stories this week:
- The Stone Boy – Gina Berriault
- Chroma – Frederick Barthelme
- Daisey’s Valentine – Mary Gaitskill
Be well.
Just finished the collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri. Interpreter of Maladies was such an intense read and it was a refreshing change from Hemingway, Joyce, James and Munro. Lahiri is relentless yet very accessible as a writer.
The first story, A Temporary Matter, was gut-wrenching. As a mother of a child, I was left sobbing after the first read. The story, about a husband and wife who grow apart after the stillborn death of their child, goes to unexpected places yet pulls you in emotionally.
This is my first experience with Lahiri and I have to say, I’m already a fan. I’ve added a few of her books to my wish list.
I’ve also started Sherman Alexie’s Ten Little Indians, another collection of short stories. I was already sold on Alexie, after reading The Only Traffic Signal on the Reservation Doesn’t Flash Red Anymore, from The American Short Story and its Writer: An Anthology. As heart-wrenching as Lahiri’s work can be, Alexie blew me away with the story, Can I Get a Witness. Upon the first read, words failed me. I was left wondering how he could get away with writing this story. I wasn’t offended, but some of the material was shocking. The lead character in the story, a female, is injured in a suicide bombing. She later suggests to another character that certainly someone who died in the 9/11 attack deserved to die: men who rape their kids, husbands who beat their wives. It sounds trite as I write it, but Alexie’s writing is driving and merciless. Yet, you can’t stop reading, though a part of you wishes you could.
Two authors I highly recommend. I’m looking forward to reading more.
I’m enjoying Alice Munro this semester. We’ve read the following short stories:
- Walker Brothers Cowboy
- Dance of the Happy Shades
- Postcard
- Images
- Something I’ve Been Meaning To Tell You
- The Ottawa Valley
- Material
- Royal Beatings
- Wild Swans
- The Beggar Maid
- Simon’s Luck
- Chaddeleys and Flemings
- Dulse
- The Turkey Station
- Labor Day Dinner
- The Albanian Virgin
- Carried Away
- A Wilderness Station
- Vandals
The most recent: A Wilderness Station. I think it’s one of my favorites by Alice, The Albanian Virgin and Royal Beatings being up there as well. As a writer, we’ve looked at what Munro does. Another student gave a presentation on Carried Away in which he likened the story (and other Munro stories) to a house. The story is not linear, but each “part” has a place within the house, a room of its own that exists as a part of the whole structure but separate.
Munro has a wonderful talent with introducing characters and showing us through action and past circumstance as opposed to telling us (the readers) how to feel about the characters within the story.
More to come on Alice.
Welcome to my corner of the world. This site is designed to chronicle my writing experiences. I am currently an MFA student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. I look forward to posting more.
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