but rejection sucks.
I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up (remember how short stories aren't my natural form?) but I guess I did. I think the fact that this particular story did well in a recent Writer's Digest competition spoiled me.
It's a strange story because it doesn't have a normal structure or characters, and I have thought of ways to make it more "normal," but I think the coolest thing about it is the fact that it's different and so far I've refused to change it.
So are my author's instincts correct and it should stay the way I have it, even though it might never get published? Or should I work on revising it to fit people's expectations before sending it out again?
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Monday, November 28, 2005
Short Stories
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Short stories don't attract me like novels do. I can admire them. I can appreciate the crafting of a good one. But I don't seek them out. I can't get immersed in a short story like I can a novel. I just don't enjoy them as much.
Recently, however, I've been forced to read more of them while doing research and assignments for my course on publishing and also my other literature class. Obviously, like most MFAs, my program focuses on studying literary fiction, but they are nice enough to let me write whatever I want. Normally I don't get many ideas for short stories. I have a ton of ideas for fantasy novels, a series of contemporary romance novels, and even an idea for a literary novel, but short stories have never come to me as easily.
But now, at the end of the semester when I have a TON of work to do and a novel to finish and revise, I'm coming up with ideas for new stories or ways to revise my other short stories to make them better (which is even worse because the urge to work on those is stronger).
I know what you're thinking. Why should I complain? lol.
< /vent >
GOAL: I have to bring in a short work of fiction next week for one of my classes. I will either write something new or significantly revise something.
Short stories don't attract me like novels do. I can admire them. I can appreciate the crafting of a good one. But I don't seek them out. I can't get immersed in a short story like I can a novel. I just don't enjoy them as much.
Recently, however, I've been forced to read more of them while doing research and assignments for my course on publishing and also my other literature class. Obviously, like most MFAs, my program focuses on studying literary fiction, but they are nice enough to let me write whatever I want. Normally I don't get many ideas for short stories. I have a ton of ideas for fantasy novels, a series of contemporary romance novels, and even an idea for a literary novel, but short stories have never come to me as easily.
But now, at the end of the semester when I have a TON of work to do and a novel to finish and revise, I'm coming up with ideas for new stories or ways to revise my other short stories to make them better (which is even worse because the urge to work on those is stronger).
I know what you're thinking. Why should I complain? lol.
< /vent >
GOAL: I have to bring in a short work of fiction next week for one of my classes. I will either write something new or significantly revise something.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
The thing about school
When I first started graduate school I loved it. I liked using my brain for a change and I took pride in the work I did and getting good grades. I even made some friends. Now that it's my last semester, I still like seeing my friends and using my brain and impressing my professors, but I don't like actually doing the work.
At least some of the work is creative. I have to come up with two short stories. One is supposed to be modeled after something else and one is supposed to include techniques used by some of the authors we've been studying. Which means neither of them have anything to do with my novel. I also have an essay to write, a major revision exercise to finish up and "a reading journal" to make up (yes, I said make up).
I had Wednesday AND Friday off. Did I do any of this work? No, of course not. If I wasn't working on homework, did I write? No. Even though I have only something like 50 pages to go in my manuscript, I didn't write. I spent a lot of time watching TV.
Perhaps this is just normal procrastination. Or perhaps my fear of change is having adverse consequences. School has been such a big part of my life for over two years. It filled up all my time. I never had a moment where I couldn't have been doing something for school. As much as I look forward to having "free time" again, finishing up is going to leave a hole in my life.
The same goes for my manuscript. I've been seriously working on it almost the whole time I've been in school. And after I finish writing it comes the scary, more challenging part. Revision. Now, don't get my wrong. I actually like revision, but it's a HUGE undertaking, especially with the close to 500 page manuscript that I'm going have. Part of the book are pretty polished already (because I got to work on it in school) but parts of it are untouched. And then when I'm finished revising I have to let it go. To send it off to agents in hopes that they like it enough to send it to publishers. Besides the looming fear of rejection, finishing will leave another hole in my life.
Anyway, so I'm procrastinating. Both school and writing. Does one feed off the other? I don't know. But I think it's about time I stop. After all, I have to go back to the real world tomorrow. Both work and school will claim my time.
At least some of the work is creative. I have to come up with two short stories. One is supposed to be modeled after something else and one is supposed to include techniques used by some of the authors we've been studying. Which means neither of them have anything to do with my novel. I also have an essay to write, a major revision exercise to finish up and "a reading journal" to make up (yes, I said make up).
I had Wednesday AND Friday off. Did I do any of this work? No, of course not. If I wasn't working on homework, did I write? No. Even though I have only something like 50 pages to go in my manuscript, I didn't write. I spent a lot of time watching TV.
Perhaps this is just normal procrastination. Or perhaps my fear of change is having adverse consequences. School has been such a big part of my life for over two years. It filled up all my time. I never had a moment where I couldn't have been doing something for school. As much as I look forward to having "free time" again, finishing up is going to leave a hole in my life.
The same goes for my manuscript. I've been seriously working on it almost the whole time I've been in school. And after I finish writing it comes the scary, more challenging part. Revision. Now, don't get my wrong. I actually like revision, but it's a HUGE undertaking, especially with the close to 500 page manuscript that I'm going have. Part of the book are pretty polished already (because I got to work on it in school) but parts of it are untouched. And then when I'm finished revising I have to let it go. To send it off to agents in hopes that they like it enough to send it to publishers. Besides the looming fear of rejection, finishing will leave another hole in my life.
Anyway, so I'm procrastinating. Both school and writing. Does one feed off the other? I don't know. But I think it's about time I stop. After all, I have to go back to the real world tomorrow. Both work and school will claim my time.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
The Beginning
All right. So I've never tried a blog or an online journal or anything before, but I thought I'd give it a try.
I've been writing since I was a kid and I decided over ten years ago that I wanted to be a professional writer. I've written two fantasy novels since then from start to finish (neither of them published) and I'm working on finishing a third that I hope will be more impressive.
But I've been distracted recently. My hope is that writing here about my writing process and about the things that distract me from writing will help. Or maybe I've just added a new distraction. We'll have to see!
I've been writing since I was a kid and I decided over ten years ago that I wanted to be a professional writer. I've written two fantasy novels since then from start to finish (neither of them published) and I'm working on finishing a third that I hope will be more impressive.
But I've been distracted recently. My hope is that writing here about my writing process and about the things that distract me from writing will help. Or maybe I've just added a new distraction. We'll have to see!
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