I will try to have a proper update tomorrow or Monday. Unfortunately this week was halted rather abruptly when my daughter, my husband, and I got sick. Thank goodness my daughter is doing much better. She frightened us out of the gate with her sudden onset of symptoms, but she has gotten much better and is now acting normally and just as spry as ever. Unfortunately for us older people, we're a little slow getting better though things are improving daily. So for now, I'm going to bed. I am tired. I am a bit dizzy and spacey at the moment, and I am in want of my bed.
Goodnight, blogging world.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Creative Writing 2800
So class was definitely a highlight of my day. The campus was nice (it's a completely different one than I normally go to), but I'm not sure any of the builders of the campus thought about the campus actually existing in Michigan winters. The walk from my car was at least a quarter of a mile (about 1/2 km for metric users) and I think I might be a bit conservative with that number. And no, I was not at the back of the parking lot. I actually had quite a good space. Any better and I would have been ticketed for being in a handicapped space.
The class itself was a lot of fun even though we did a lot of meet and greets. I am shy; incredibly shy. Anyone who knows me well, knows this. I despise using the phone. I don't like having to approach people I don't know, even to ask where the bathroom is. I do not like putting myself out there, I have a hard time making and keeping conversation though not for lack of trying. Maybe my questions are strange? I'm not sure. I mean, I try to actively start conversations when I'm put in those situations, so perhaps they see I'm trying too hard or maybe I just don't seem like much of an approachable person. My husband said he could tell from afar that I was extremely shy just by looking at me. So I know it's something I exude.
Anyhow, back to class: despite all this, our teacher had us go around the room and introduce ourselves, wear nametags, and all that jazz. Then he had us get up and meet people, switching every few minutes to talk to someone new about something different. This made a difference, and I know that I will be much more willing to share my work to the class. I also already have people in there that I am acquainted with and I'm not so unwilling to talk any longer. And hey, we were all a bit uncomfortable and put out there together so the situation was similar for everyone (especially when we had some out there questions to ask each other).
The class is three hours long and it's amazing how much can actually be done in three hours. We did all this introductory stuff, including a 10-minute "ask-me-anything" to the teacher. Then we talked about poetry. We broke up into groups and read eight poems, picking the best one over another. He's a sneaky, but fun teacher because it turns out four of them were taken from a book called The Anthology of the World's Worst Poetry or something along those lines. We chose 3 of the 4 that did not come out of that book, and we only chose the last because the other choice was about hitting a deer and just didn't seem very much more striking than the other.
Overall, I think the class will be a bit challenging, but inspiring. We're covering poetry, short fiction, and one-act plays. It's been at least three years since I've written any poetry or plays, so I know that will more than challenge my mind.
I already have the information for my first three assignments, and I can't wait to get started. If only I didn't have those three other classes. Who needs those anyway?
The class itself was a lot of fun even though we did a lot of meet and greets. I am shy; incredibly shy. Anyone who knows me well, knows this. I despise using the phone. I don't like having to approach people I don't know, even to ask where the bathroom is. I do not like putting myself out there, I have a hard time making and keeping conversation though not for lack of trying. Maybe my questions are strange? I'm not sure. I mean, I try to actively start conversations when I'm put in those situations, so perhaps they see I'm trying too hard or maybe I just don't seem like much of an approachable person. My husband said he could tell from afar that I was extremely shy just by looking at me. So I know it's something I exude.
Anyhow, back to class: despite all this, our teacher had us go around the room and introduce ourselves, wear nametags, and all that jazz. Then he had us get up and meet people, switching every few minutes to talk to someone new about something different. This made a difference, and I know that I will be much more willing to share my work to the class. I also already have people in there that I am acquainted with and I'm not so unwilling to talk any longer. And hey, we were all a bit uncomfortable and put out there together so the situation was similar for everyone (especially when we had some out there questions to ask each other).
The class is three hours long and it's amazing how much can actually be done in three hours. We did all this introductory stuff, including a 10-minute "ask-me-anything" to the teacher. Then we talked about poetry. We broke up into groups and read eight poems, picking the best one over another. He's a sneaky, but fun teacher because it turns out four of them were taken from a book called The Anthology of the World's Worst Poetry or something along those lines. We chose 3 of the 4 that did not come out of that book, and we only chose the last because the other choice was about hitting a deer and just didn't seem very much more striking than the other.
Overall, I think the class will be a bit challenging, but inspiring. We're covering poetry, short fiction, and one-act plays. It's been at least three years since I've written any poetry or plays, so I know that will more than challenge my mind.
I already have the information for my first three assignments, and I can't wait to get started. If only I didn't have those three other classes. Who needs those anyway?
Monday, January 9, 2012
I Found It!
Yes, I did indeed find all the maps and layouts I created for my book. I believe I mentioned that I had misplaced them and realized this when I was in the midst of my Write-A-Thon. Well, thank goodness, it was a relatively short-lived misplacement because the other day as I was going through some boxes looking for my husband's track suit, I found the box containing the rest of my writing essentials. So not only have I located my maps but also some information for this blog, my Writer's Bible, and some of my writing journals that have some insanely helpful information on several project ideas that I have.
Now I can breathe freely and finally write into my novel once more. I had hesitated after I realized my maps were missing. Do you know how frustrating it can be when you are trying to remember detailed information about locations and points of reference? I'm sure you do because I know we've all been through that at some point before. This is also why, ladies and gentlemen, we should not put off writing your novels and stories once you begin. The creativity that you start with can be forgotten or even altered when it is finally picked up again. This leads to several problems: flow of thought processes and story, character development, location and scene alterations, and several other important issues that come about from the test of time.
With my maps at my side, I can now see where I was and where I am going. I can even see some details and changes that need to be added or changed (though some will not appear until I revise my first draft). It is a major relief, especially now that school has started once again for me. It's one less thing to worry about.
In regards to school, my head already aches. I am taking Anatomy and Physiology I with lab, French II, Introduction to Literature: Short Story and Novel, and, of course, Creative Writing. If it weren't for the writing course and the literature course, my head would already be between my knees and I would be breathing into a paper bag. I had A&P and French today. As interesting and intriguing as both of those courses are to me, I believe the other two will save my soul and keep me sane.
I shall only truly see once I go to each class. Teachers do make a large impression on the course, if not the whole impression students can and will take from it. I'm confident that they are great professors (or at least, I'm praying for them to be). I guess we'll find out tomorrow and Wednesday for sure.
At the very least, I am excited to do some writing and get some new writing prompts. If you're a writer, I'm sure you all are aware of the difficulty in finding creative and fun prompts to kick-start your creativity. I've always had this problem. It's a major advantage being a student and taking a writing course because the teacher almost always gives you some to get your mind working on that level. So I won't lie in that if I find a prompt I like, I will definitely keep it for future use. I have to. I have no idea what I will do if I don't collect all these "free" prompts my professors have been dealing their students. How blessed are we in that area!
In fact, that is related to one of my goals for this year. If you read my New Year's Writing resolutions, one is to make a writing-related craft. Well, stay tuned for that because I am thinking of making a Writer's Prompt Jar. It should be a lot of fun, and for the writer in you, it will get a lot of use.
For now, I will have to leave you. There are websites to sign up for, forms to fill out, chapters to read, and homework to be started. The life of a student is never dull.
Quote of the Day: Wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you. ~E. Hemingway
Now I can breathe freely and finally write into my novel once more. I had hesitated after I realized my maps were missing. Do you know how frustrating it can be when you are trying to remember detailed information about locations and points of reference? I'm sure you do because I know we've all been through that at some point before. This is also why, ladies and gentlemen, we should not put off writing your novels and stories once you begin. The creativity that you start with can be forgotten or even altered when it is finally picked up again. This leads to several problems: flow of thought processes and story, character development, location and scene alterations, and several other important issues that come about from the test of time.
With my maps at my side, I can now see where I was and where I am going. I can even see some details and changes that need to be added or changed (though some will not appear until I revise my first draft). It is a major relief, especially now that school has started once again for me. It's one less thing to worry about.
In regards to school, my head already aches. I am taking Anatomy and Physiology I with lab, French II, Introduction to Literature: Short Story and Novel, and, of course, Creative Writing. If it weren't for the writing course and the literature course, my head would already be between my knees and I would be breathing into a paper bag. I had A&P and French today. As interesting and intriguing as both of those courses are to me, I believe the other two will save my soul and keep me sane.
I shall only truly see once I go to each class. Teachers do make a large impression on the course, if not the whole impression students can and will take from it. I'm confident that they are great professors (or at least, I'm praying for them to be). I guess we'll find out tomorrow and Wednesday for sure.
At the very least, I am excited to do some writing and get some new writing prompts. If you're a writer, I'm sure you all are aware of the difficulty in finding creative and fun prompts to kick-start your creativity. I've always had this problem. It's a major advantage being a student and taking a writing course because the teacher almost always gives you some to get your mind working on that level. So I won't lie in that if I find a prompt I like, I will definitely keep it for future use. I have to. I have no idea what I will do if I don't collect all these "free" prompts my professors have been dealing their students. How blessed are we in that area!
In fact, that is related to one of my goals for this year. If you read my New Year's Writing resolutions, one is to make a writing-related craft. Well, stay tuned for that because I am thinking of making a Writer's Prompt Jar. It should be a lot of fun, and for the writer in you, it will get a lot of use.
For now, I will have to leave you. There are websites to sign up for, forms to fill out, chapters to read, and homework to be started. The life of a student is never dull.
Quote of the Day: Wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you. ~E. Hemingway
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