Greetings! Happy New Year to all! I can't believe it's 2008 already; I remember being in high school and worrying about the Y2K bug that was going to wipe out human existence as we knew it. I'm on winter break from classes until the end of the month, but as much as I enjoy sleeping late and being able to read for pleasure, I'm actually looking forward to seeing my classmates and getting involved in discussions again.
I think the weather has got me down. I've been feeling the blues lately like nobody's business. I seem to always get like this during the short winter days, and I know it will pass, but it's just so darn depressing to be so darn depressed. Thank goodness for knitting, The Terror, and BBC's The Coupling.
In much happier news, my niece/godddaughter was born yesterday! She's the most adorable little thing with her father's chubby cheeks and I can't wait to spoil her!
I've also been working on a short story that boyfriend and I cooked up a few weeks ago (I'm keeping on track by following my rule to write a page a day) and I've got high hopes for it. I definitely want to submit it for workshopping, and it'll be great to have it done before the semester starts to give me a leg up. I'd also like to start submitting some stuff. 2008 will be my year to get published, mark my words.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Hm...
Ok, so tonight in my workshop class, my professor said something that got me to thinking. She said that she's always thinking in writer-mode. When someone is telling a story, she's thinking, "Nice flashback!" or "Way to go with the foreshadowing!"
I don't always think in writer-mode. Is that why I have a hard time considering myself a "writer"? I like to think I pick up on foreshadowing and whatnot in movies pretty quickly, but I'm not constantly thinking like a writer.
I can't imagine that I could always be in writer-mode. Sometimes it's hard enough for me to try and take in everything that's going on in non-writer-mode. And if I can't constantly be in writer-mode, should I really be a writer? It's the only profession that I can see making me happy, and I know that I truly do love writing.
On the bright side, I know I observe like a writer. I often find myself watching people or events and trying to remember parts of it for use in a story. There was that rusted black pick-up with the disembodied hand with a cigarette in it...the red fuzzy angora sweater that made me itchy...and so on.
Before the pondering makes me depressed, I shall stop babbling. I know you're thankful.
I don't always think in writer-mode. Is that why I have a hard time considering myself a "writer"? I like to think I pick up on foreshadowing and whatnot in movies pretty quickly, but I'm not constantly thinking like a writer.
I can't imagine that I could always be in writer-mode. Sometimes it's hard enough for me to try and take in everything that's going on in non-writer-mode. And if I can't constantly be in writer-mode, should I really be a writer? It's the only profession that I can see making me happy, and I know that I truly do love writing.
On the bright side, I know I observe like a writer. I often find myself watching people or events and trying to remember parts of it for use in a story. There was that rusted black pick-up with the disembodied hand with a cigarette in it...the red fuzzy angora sweater that made me itchy...and so on.
Before the pondering makes me depressed, I shall stop babbling. I know you're thankful.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sorry.
Sorry about the non-update-age. Things have been pretty hectic and I've been feeling a little bummed. Lots of things to report though, on the up side.
Went to the NY Writer's Coalition's "Write-a-Thon" at the beginning of the month, and it was absolutely amazing. There is nothing like getting a whole bunch of writers together, where the question, "So, what do you write?" isn't a weird question. Even met someone that's going to attend the same Master's program I am. Weird. Apparently the literary world is a small one. I spent the whole day writing (something like 6 pages of writing, plus what I wrote in the workshop). It was really good to be able to spend the whole day writing, as opposed to sitting on my couch as usual and going, "Crap, I forgot to pay those bills. And, holy heck, is that a dust bunny or a dog??" I never realized how many distractions there are that impede my writing sometimes.
Been doing a lot of reading too. Thought I'd post the names and a short review for some of them.
"The Untelling"-Tayari Jones-Amazing. Highly recommended. Nearly made me speechless and I had to read the last chapter twice to make sure I digested everything fully.
"Eat, Pray, Love"-Elizabeth Gilbert-I've recommended this to more people than I can remember. This is not fiction, but Gilbert (also a novelist) manages to depict her life events in such an entertaining way. Many lines to underline, to be referred to when life gets a little too rough.
"A Fine Balance"-Rohinton Mistry-Very good. A hefty tome at over 600 pgs., it definitely doesn't feel that long. Never read such a gritty but beautiful description of India, or of any other characters. I wish I knew these characters and could call them friends.
Other books I'm working on:
"The Kite Runner" -Khaled Hosseini
"Clan of the Cave Bear"-Jean M. Auel
"The Wind Up Bird Chronicle"-Haruki Murakami
"Machine Dreams"-Jayne Anne Phillips
Went to the NY Writer's Coalition's "Write-a-Thon" at the beginning of the month, and it was absolutely amazing. There is nothing like getting a whole bunch of writers together, where the question, "So, what do you write?" isn't a weird question. Even met someone that's going to attend the same Master's program I am. Weird. Apparently the literary world is a small one. I spent the whole day writing (something like 6 pages of writing, plus what I wrote in the workshop). It was really good to be able to spend the whole day writing, as opposed to sitting on my couch as usual and going, "Crap, I forgot to pay those bills. And, holy heck, is that a dust bunny or a dog??" I never realized how many distractions there are that impede my writing sometimes.
Been doing a lot of reading too. Thought I'd post the names and a short review for some of them.
"The Untelling"-Tayari Jones-Amazing. Highly recommended. Nearly made me speechless and I had to read the last chapter twice to make sure I digested everything fully.
"Eat, Pray, Love"-Elizabeth Gilbert-I've recommended this to more people than I can remember. This is not fiction, but Gilbert (also a novelist) manages to depict her life events in such an entertaining way. Many lines to underline, to be referred to when life gets a little too rough.
"A Fine Balance"-Rohinton Mistry-Very good. A hefty tome at over 600 pgs., it definitely doesn't feel that long. Never read such a gritty but beautiful description of India, or of any other characters. I wish I knew these characters and could call them friends.
Other books I'm working on:
"The Kite Runner" -Khaled Hosseini
"Clan of the Cave Bear"-Jean M. Auel
"The Wind Up Bird Chronicle"-Haruki Murakami
"Machine Dreams"-Jayne Anne Phillips
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
::does little dance::
Yay! I had a friend of mine at work read a short story I want to submit to a contest, and she totally got it. My aim was to create this character that you could love and identify with in a mere page, which she totally got. I know not everyone can love your writing, but it just feels so good when they do!!
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
A feast for brains...
Yay! Got an email from the director of the MFA program with book titles as recommended reading and I've already read two of them! Go me! I'm all overachiever-ish without even trying! I can't wait to get back in the swing of the writing thing. Not that I'm not writing, but you know what I mean.
At the present moment though, I'm reading "Remainder" by Tom McCarthy, which is amazing and crazy at the same time (most good things are, though, aren't they?). The premise of the story is really unique, but what I'm really in awe of is his writing style and attention to detail. I love the way he describes liver frying (but I really do hate liver, in general). I don't have time to write a summary right now, but seriously, definitely worth a read if you think you can suspend your disbelief for 200 or so pages. Yum. I love good books better than a good meal.
I wonder if anyone's written a short story/novel where the protagonist has allergies. I know mine are killing me; I just went to an allergist and got put on 4 different kinds of meds. I don't remember reading a novel about a character with seasonal allergies...could be interesting. Let me know if you know of anything.
At the present moment though, I'm reading "Remainder" by Tom McCarthy, which is amazing and crazy at the same time (most good things are, though, aren't they?). The premise of the story is really unique, but what I'm really in awe of is his writing style and attention to detail. I love the way he describes liver frying (but I really do hate liver, in general). I don't have time to write a summary right now, but seriously, definitely worth a read if you think you can suspend your disbelief for 200 or so pages. Yum. I love good books better than a good meal.
I wonder if anyone's written a short story/novel where the protagonist has allergies. I know mine are killing me; I just went to an allergist and got put on 4 different kinds of meds. I don't remember reading a novel about a character with seasonal allergies...could be interesting. Let me know if you know of anything.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Well, this is new...
Okay, so this is my first post on Blogspot. I'm going to try to keep most of my posts writing/reading themed, since that's the general focus of my life lately.
I'm heading back to school in September to get my MFA. I want my writing to become more of a focus in my life; right now it's "If I get a chance later after "Grey's Anatomy" I've got a great idea for a short story..." I know it's going to be hard working full-time and going to school part-time, but I'm not a stranger to doing both (and heck, it's one heck of an excuse to NOT do the dishes..."I know they're growing mold, mom, but I really need to finish this book in time for class!").
I can't believe it's been less than a year since I sat in my friend's Woodstock, NY home and decided to apply to graduate school. She's been one of the people that has supported me wholeheartedly through this crazy mission (taking GRE's on one week's notice, begging professors I had for classes more than two years ago to write me letters of recommendation), so yes, she does get a shoutout. She was there at the inception of the novel that I'm currently working on (it's really not as good as I expected it was going to be, but it's a need to finish it, and maybe, one day, after loads of revision, it will be good enough to let people who don't have to love me and therefore, it, read it).
Speaking of Woodstock, planning a mother/daughter weekend sometime soon. I need to get up there and recharge my batteries. I've been having a lot of trouble writing lately, but I'm going to blame it on the nice weather, my allergies, and deadlines at work.
I'm heading back to school in September to get my MFA. I want my writing to become more of a focus in my life; right now it's "If I get a chance later after "Grey's Anatomy" I've got a great idea for a short story..." I know it's going to be hard working full-time and going to school part-time, but I'm not a stranger to doing both (and heck, it's one heck of an excuse to NOT do the dishes..."I know they're growing mold, mom, but I really need to finish this book in time for class!").
I can't believe it's been less than a year since I sat in my friend's Woodstock, NY home and decided to apply to graduate school. She's been one of the people that has supported me wholeheartedly through this crazy mission (taking GRE's on one week's notice, begging professors I had for classes more than two years ago to write me letters of recommendation), so yes, she does get a shoutout. She was there at the inception of the novel that I'm currently working on (it's really not as good as I expected it was going to be, but it's a need to finish it, and maybe, one day, after loads of revision, it will be good enough to let people who don't have to love me and therefore, it, read it).
Speaking of Woodstock, planning a mother/daughter weekend sometime soon. I need to get up there and recharge my batteries. I've been having a lot of trouble writing lately, but I'm going to blame it on the nice weather, my allergies, and deadlines at work.
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