I’m kind of freaking out
I’ll be living in Portland in about a week–which is cool. That’s not the freaking-me-out part. Honestly, it’s just the move. Actually, it’s the packing up. By which I mean, holy crap, it’s the whole leaving California and living somewhere else. Which is what I’ve been wanting to do for ages. But also? Kind of…
YES!
I’ve sold my first story. It’s the one I wrote for week five of Clarion West. It’s a pro sale to a well-respected market. More details once I’ve actually inked the contract. [Edited to add:] Thank you so much for your awesome words of encouragement and congratulations. I appreciate them deeply.
decisions
So, living in the Central Valley has been exceedingly difficult. There have been some great things about being here–I love the time spent with my family–but I miscalculated how miserable this place makes me and how long I could stand it. Thus, I have decided to finish up my current semester and move to Portland…
second story submitted
Sent off the second of my Clarion West stories. I would have sent it off sooner except for the fact that the title was wrong, and I couldn’t figure it out. Usually, I don’t have trouble with titles. Not getting it figured out for so long told me it wasn’t ready to go. So I…
torpedoes away!
I have just made my first post-Clarion West submission. “The Bleak December” is off. Now, the next story. And after that, the one after. Et cetera.
phew!
Added a lab section today, which means that I get to sign up for lecture, too. Which means I get all the classes I need for this semester. Next semester, I’ll need a whole bunch more, but now I’m getting the pre-reqs for those out of the way. Which in turn gets all my pre-reqs…
and this would be why I went to a private university*
Okay, because this May my life plans got moved up for this fall semester, and I had to pack up my life and stuff and move it all into a 10′ x 10′ room, and I went to Clarion West for six weeks (make it seven counting travel), I really didn’t register for any of…
I am a writer.
The process of my reintegration with my life is slow-going. I’m currently lying in bed in a motel in Redding. Last night, I was in Portland. In the morning, I’ll be heading home. I was tempted to press on further south today, but I resisted. This three-day journey is medicinal. That said, I think I…
graduation
I’m a graduate of Clarion West. Holy god, where have the six weeks gone? I have read 85 stories by 17 amazing writers, written five of my own, learned from six fantastic instructors, and thoroughly enjoyed it all. Even the scary bits. This has been a thing of wonder and awe for me, and I…
I honestly don’t know how I did that
I turned in my story at about 10:20 pm on Monday, a bit later than the 9:00 o’clock I was shooting for. However, I did pretty much finish up the last line at about nine, so I’m okay with that. And yes, I realize that I’m being ridiculous since I have until 9:00 am on…
and kicking like a Rockette
Okay, so that went so much better than I had imagined it could have gone. Yes, lots of things wrong with the story were pointed out to me. Many of these were not surprising, which is good because it says my instincts are solid. I’m just surprised–and heartened–that people found so much that worked in…
insert title here
Turned in my second story last night, and it’s being read today for critique tomorrow. This time, I feel much less anxiety. I mean, this time I know it’s crap, and I know the issues that are wrong with it. But it’s very different from what I submitted last week, which I feel is like…