Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The New Coffee Room. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Well, here goes...; into the breach...
Topic Started: Apr 13 2010, 08:48 AM (321 Views)
Aqua Letifer
Member Avatar
ZOOOOOM!
So I had these big plans for getting ready for graduate school applications, but they were all inherently flawed in that they required complete, sustained motivation on my part to complete them. :P In other words, I need help. So I'm getting some.

I signed up for an 8-week writer's seminar, starting tomorrow. I'm usually VERY wary about writing seminars and workshops because quite frankly a lot of them are bull**** money making schemes, but I looked into the guy running this one, and he' appears legit. He's been published in quite a handful of publications I'm familiar with and actively read, so there's at least a potential for me to learn something there.

Really, I'm going to try to use these 8 weeks to write as much as I freaking can, and hopefully in that time produce something credible for my writer's portfolio. Then, it's experiment time.

All my applications are due in December/January, so in the interim I'm going to try to do something weird and take just one class as a non-degree student in one of the MFA programs in my area. (From the responses I've received from their English departments, this isn't impossible but not at all common.) The application procedure is easier than being a full time student: do the paperwork, front the money and in my case, submit my portfolio to the professor teaching the course. It'll be very good practice for the real deal this coming December.

Thing is, the chances of this working out are very slim. The rule of thumb is to apply to at least 10 MFA programs if you're at all serious about being accepted. I only have about 3 schools around here I can take some non-degree classes from, and I already got word from one that spots are "extremely limited" due to budget cuts and are first reserved for graduate students.

Personally I just think the woman who told me this is trying to throw me. Her e-mail had a tone of "you do know you have to submit a portfolio before even applying, don't you" and yes, spots are always reserved for the fully admitted students but I don't buy the budget cuts story. Financially it makes all the sense in the world to let me into one of the classes since I'm giving them money and they're giving me essentially nothing. They can only gain.

But, we'll see.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mark
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
Good luck Aqua! :thumb:
___.___
(_]===*
o 0
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mikhailoh
Member Avatar
If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Good plan.. I hope it is time and money well spent!
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
RosemaryTwo
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
What you say makes sense.

I can't count the number of times I have "backdoored" my way into something. If it doesn't work out, fine. Try some other backdoor.

Also, as far as writing courses go, I think one rule of thumb applies. They cannot teach a bad writer to be a good writer. That can't be taught. But a good writer can hone his skills, try new genres and even network with others i the area.

I like your plans.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aqua Letifer
Member Avatar
ZOOOOOM!
Thanks all, I'm gonna need all the luck I can get.

R2
 
I can't count the number of times I have "backdoored" my way into something. If it doesn't work out, fine. Try some other backdoor.


That's all I know how to do. ^_^ Looks like this is going to be no different.

Quote:
 
Also, as far as writing courses go, I think one rule of thumb applies. They cannot teach a bad writer to be a good writer. That can't be taught. But a good writer can hone his skills, try new genres and even network with others i the area.


I think you're right, I just hope I'm in the "not hopeless" category. ^_^ Analyzing your own writing is like trying to figure out what you look like without a reflection handy.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The 89th Key
Member Avatar

"I'll see you on the breach!"

Posted Image

Good luck Aqua! Your determination and plan sound great!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
brenda
Member Avatar
..............
Good plan, Aqua! Keep us posted on your progress. :)
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aqua Letifer
Member Avatar
ZOOOOOM!
brenda
Apr 13 2010, 10:08 AM
Good plan, Aqua! Keep us posted on your progress. :)
Will-do; day 1 of the summer workshop is tomorrow so I should have a good idea of what to expect afterward. :smile:
I cite irreconcilable differences.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
NAK
Member Avatar
Senior Carp
Good plan, AL. I wish you the best. Motivation's a b**** on its own; sometimes all it needs is the added incentive to not let the money thrown into a course go to waste. Hope it works out for you. :thumb:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Horace
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
That's exciting! Good luck Aqua.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Free Rider
Member Avatar
Fulla-Carp
Aqua Letifer
Apr 13 2010, 08:48 AM
So I had these big plans for getting ready for graduate school applications, but they were all inherently flawed in that they required complete, sustained motivation on my part to complete them. :P In other words, I need help. So I'm getting some.
Your writing skills are pretty frikkin' good, Aqua.

The opening paragraph here had me laughing... It's so true.

I still ahven't gone back to school for a graduate degree because I can't figure out what I would do there. I just am not interested in much else than music, sailing, and sex. :lol2: I studied enough of that in undergrad school!

Good luck Aqua. I hope this works out. :thumb:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LWpianistin
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
Good luck!
And how are you today?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sue
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
Aqua Letifer
Apr 13 2010, 04:56 PM
brenda
Apr 13 2010, 10:08 AM
Good plan, Aqua! Keep us posted on your progress. :)
Will-do; day 1 of the summer workshop is tomorrow so I should have a good idea of what to expect afterward. :smile:
Cool idea. Certainly can't do any harm, can it? I would think even just being around other people who like to write would be an inspiring environment. Is this a weekly class, or do you go more often?

Best of luck, these seems like a smart step to me. :thumb:
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aqua Letifer
Member Avatar
ZOOOOOM!
Thanks everbody. :smile:

FR
 
I still ahven't gone back to school for a graduate degree because I can't figure out what I would do there. I just am not interested in much else than music, sailing, and sex. :lol2: I studied enough of that in undergrad school!


Yeah but continuing education in any of those fields would be pretty sweet. ^_^

I'm kind of the same way; my background is in science, so the obvious step for me would be to go back and specialize in a related field. But each time I second guess myself about pursuing writing, I know this is the better fit. Yeah, MFAs are much harder to "use" out in the real world and make no mistake, I have no grand visions of seeing books of mine in Barnes and Noble. But writing is still more important somehow and I get more out of it personally than I ever did with anything else. So, writing it is.

sue
 
Cool idea. Certainly can't do any harm, can it? I would think even just being around other people who like to write would be an inspiring environment. Is this a weekly class, or do you go more often?


It's weekly, for about 2.5 hours each class, and for about 8 weeks; no "weekend seminar" B.S. that's really just a meet and greet with some other writer. So I'm hopeful that it'll be worthwhile.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aqua Letifer
Member Avatar
ZOOOOOM!
A handful of early observations:

- Masters of Wing Chun Kung Fu are, generally speaking, 30-year-old muscular men from Asia. Masters of Prose Kung Fu are, generally speaking, 60-something silver-haired widows who drape bifocals about their necks.
- I learned a lot about writing from people and places that don't get a lot of literary cred, but that's not to say I don't know anything. I don't give myself enough credit. Five years can be an adequate amount of time to develop an understanding on a topic.
- The guy who runs the course is as skilled in teaching as he is in writing, which is saying a lot.

In short I lucked out. It's a small group but pretty diverse, and each person brings relevant opinions and a desire to learn. However, I disagree somewhat with the focus of some of my fellow students, particularly the guys. See, most were transfixed upon the hot Eastern European girl and fought for her attention. But they were fools, the lot of them! I spent my time talking with Susan, the silver haired widow. I saw the calluses on her hands; she got them propping up hardbacks, same as my grandmother. Susan's probably forgotten about more books than I'd ever care to read and it's evident she really knows her stuff. Gonna try to talk to Susan a lot.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The 89th Key
Member Avatar

Glad to hear you got a good teacher that can, well, teach! Sounds like Susan is also a good find....that's a good line about her forgetting more books than you'd ever read. Good work young grasshoppa!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
dolmansaxlil
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
You're a good man, Charlie Brown. :)


(That was directed towards Aqua. I'm sure 89th is a good egg, too, but guys who can set aside the hot Eastern European chick get a special place in my little heart)
Edited by dolmansaxlil, Apr 14 2010, 07:05 PM.
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

My Flickr Photostream


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aqua Letifer
Member Avatar
ZOOOOOM!
The 89th Key
Apr 14 2010, 07:03 PM
Glad to hear you got a good teacher that can, well, teach! Sounds like Susan is also a good find....that's a good line about her forgetting more books than you'd ever read. Good work young grasshoppa!
hahah thanks but it's not an original, I got it from some song lyrics which I'm sure borrowed from somewheres else.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Aqua Letifer
Member Avatar
ZOOOOOM!
dolmansaxlil
Apr 14 2010, 07:04 PM
You're a good man, Charlie Brown. :)


(That was directed towards Aqua. I'm sure 89th is a good egg, too, but guys who can set aside the hot Eastern European chick get a special place in my little heart)
Meh, ain't no thang, it's about perspective. Yeah sure, hot Eastern Europeans are fun to talk to. Neat. But I don't need to go to a 2.5-hour writing course to do that. I'm pretty sure that I'd not have ever met Susan were it not for the writing course, and what are we all there to do?
I cite irreconcilable differences.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sue
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
dolmansaxlil
Apr 14 2010, 07:04 PM
You're a good man, Charlie Brown. :)


(That was directed towards Aqua. I'm sure 89th is a good egg, too, but guys who can set aside the hot Eastern European chick for an older woman named Susan get a special place in my little heart)
:smile:
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Red Rice
HOLY CARP!!!
Aqua Letifer
Apr 14 2010, 07:11 PM
dolmansaxlil
Apr 14 2010, 07:04 PM
You're a good man, Charlie Brown. :)


(That was directed towards Aqua. I'm sure 89th is a good egg, too, but guys who can set aside the hot Eastern European chick get a special place in my little heart)
Meh, ain't no thang, it's about perspective. Yeah sure, hot Eastern Europeans are fun to talk to.
Hot Eastern European chicks are ALL psychotic.

Stay far away. Trust me.
Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool.

I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss!

- Cecil Lewis
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · The New Coffee Room · Next Topic »
Add Reply