Well, I wish this were a list telling me about all of the stuff I never have to do. But it’s almost as good: it’s a Not-To-Do List of things, well, not to do when you’re about to start your next writing project. In fact, it applies to any project one may be trying to avoid though procrastination.
You’ll probably recognize several you’re guilty of–I know I did.
Found via Maud Newton.
I ran across a wonderful site of vintage photographs, Square America, and I can’t stop looking at them. I find them captivating, especially the Photo Booth and Portrait galleries. The people are beautiful and fascinating:
Found here.
This semester I’m taking a creative writing class. Since I’m done with my degree requirements, I figured I might as well take something for my own enjoyment. It’s been going well enough so far, and I think it’s been good for me.
First, however, I had to flee the Crazy Poetry Lady. She’s traveled the world to perform her poetry. She loves poetry. She told us we’re artists. She wanted us to write poems together in class. She wanted us to write a play together as well, so we could send it to the author of the book it was based upon. We were going to read eight books, but not really talk about craft at all. As for regular fiction, we’d do two short-shorts, but no real short stories — we didn’t have time for that. What we did have time for, however, was over six poems and two one-act plays. And lots of performances of memorized poems (not our own) that we would record for the CD at the end of the class. And printing up a collection of our work for everyone to take home at the end of the semester. And planning a class party. Oy!!
Luckily, I escaped. Within the first 90 seconds of the section I switched to, I could tell it was exactly what I was hoping for. We’ve had mini readings, and we discuss some aspect of craft in general and in relation to the pieces we’ve read. We’ve had examples ranging from unknown-to-me short story authors to Tobias Wolfe to Stephen King, so while some of the selections could be labeled as “literary”, she doesn’t seem biased against either genre or commercial fiction.
I’ve noticed a few things so far this semester:
-I’m a procrastinator when it comes to fiction writing, as with any other kind.
-I’ve proven that I was right about my writing issues — most people freaked out when I told them I was going to take a creative writing course. Since I’ve had problems with writing my research papers, they all assumed it was a problem with writing in general and seemed skeptical when I insisted I felt very differently about imaginative writing. That’s not to say that this writing isn’t hard, but I can do it.
-I make things I write sound better than they are when I read them aloud in class. It’s my theater background, I suppose. I really enjoy reading aloud.
-For a similar reason, I’m much better in the first person. (Although I’ve heard that’s true for many beginning writers.) I’m more comfortable writing a character’s voice because I’m familiar with that through acting. My writing often becomes stilted when I try the third person POV.
-All of the reading I’ve done, both online and on paper, about writing and craft, have been really helpful. It’s all tuned my ear. I listen to the work of my classmates and evaluate how well it grabs the reader, how interesting it is, how close to professional it sounds, how original an idea or voice they have, how pleasant are the rhythm of the words.
-I’d really love to get a job in publishing. Isn’t that such a cliché for a wanna-be writer? I’ll hope that Tom ends up with a job in NY (there are a few openings there he’s interested in).
-I need to write more, and more often.
-I’m finding it to be a genuinely fun experience, and taking the course was one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time.
…Now I’m off to finish my story. Damned the free internet connection here in the coffee shop!
I happened upon this article in the Guardian discussing teaching the Intelligent Design theory (I’ve forgotten where I got the link, sorry):
In all cases there is a hidden (actually they scarcely even bother to hide it) “default” assumption that if Theory A has some difficulty in explaining Phenomenon X, we must automatically prefer Theory B without even asking whether Theory B (creationism in this case) is any better at explaining it. Note how unbalanced this is, and how it gives the lie to the apparent reasonableness of “let’s teach both sides”. One side is required to produce evidence, every step of the way. The other side is never required to produce one iota of evidence, but is deemed to have won automatically, the moment the first side encounters a difficulty - the sort of difficulty that all sciences encounter every day, and go to work to solve, with relish.
And later:
And it’s no solution to raise the theologian’s plea that God (or the Intelligent Designer) is simply immune to the normal demands of scientific explanation. To do so would be to shoot yourself in the foot. You cannot have it both ways. Either ID belongs in the science classroom, in which case it must submit to the discipline required of a scientific hypothesis. Or it does not, in which case get it out of the science classroom and send it back into the church, where it belongs.
Some may have doubted the incredible story about National Guards commandeering buses chartered by hurricane survivors and police preventing survivors from walking out of the city, but here’s some confirmation from the San Fransisco Chronicle, and UPI, and also by another, separate account of the situation (at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). (via Workbench and Making Light)
In addition, here are some very good ideas about questions FEMA will need to answer soon for the residents of NOLA.
I’ve fallen off the blogging earth again. Lots of stuff has gone on: tons of cleaning and set-up relating to our move, then we had a tragic accident at my workplace. In addition, things got busy at work, and my semester started. Then I’ve been spending a lot of time reading about the aftermath of the hurricane.
First, a smart and thought-provoking post from Cherie Priest (wicked_wish)
Next, some disturbing accounts of conditions in New Orleans for groups trying to find shelter, food, and water:
A great post and collection of accounts over at Making Light (many links within):
http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/006754.html#006754
and from a French-Canadian tourist:
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/7/14956/47318
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