Odyssey, week one
Odyssey is amazing. I have not yet had a piece of mine critiqued in class, but I have very much enjoyed reading others' stories. In the critique sessions, we go around the room and everyone has three minutes to go over the important points, then we turn in our written critiques to the writer. As we go around the room, I find that each person has something unique and helpful to say. I feel good about having them critique my work. I know there are lots of problems, and these people can help me overcome them.
I did have my first private meeting with Jeanne Cavelos, in which she gave me her critiques of my novel excerpt, novel synopsis (going over all the major plot points of my novel), and short story. The short story, as I expected, was rushed and needs to be either twice as long or figure out a way to cut certain elements to focus on others. I may try a couple different approaches and see which one I like best. The good news about the novel is, she thinks the overall idea is very workable. The not as good news (needing to improve is hardly bad news) is that there are lots of smaller plot elements I may want to reconsider. The meeting inspired me to write three pages of ideas for ways I might change things, and question some of my original assumptions about the novel. I will make this novel work, it will just take a lot more time and energy. No big surprise there.
I've been working hard, but managing to squeeze in some time for fun. Friday we all had a cookout. Last night I went to a bar with some folks where the beer selection was great, only the music was TOO LOUD so we gestured and nodded at each other a lot. Today I got away to the beach with vampireelf, quiet_rebel, and inksphinx. Hampton Beach is very urban and crowded. I prefer my beaches a little more wild. However, coming from Indiana, being able to see the ocean and body surf a few waves was fabulous! The water was cold, but bearable. I ate some nice fresh crab for lunch and even some fudge.
Writingwise, I have done some edits on the first few chapters of my novel, looked at three short-shorts I wrote previously and done small edits, and written three pretty solid pages of a story I am now calling You Are What You Eat. I hope to get some more work done on it today.
It is great to have no work distractions! I did sing some yesterday just so as not to get completely out of practice.
I did have my first private meeting with Jeanne Cavelos, in which she gave me her critiques of my novel excerpt, novel synopsis (going over all the major plot points of my novel), and short story. The short story, as I expected, was rushed and needs to be either twice as long or figure out a way to cut certain elements to focus on others. I may try a couple different approaches and see which one I like best. The good news about the novel is, she thinks the overall idea is very workable. The not as good news (needing to improve is hardly bad news) is that there are lots of smaller plot elements I may want to reconsider. The meeting inspired me to write three pages of ideas for ways I might change things, and question some of my original assumptions about the novel. I will make this novel work, it will just take a lot more time and energy. No big surprise there.
I've been working hard, but managing to squeeze in some time for fun. Friday we all had a cookout. Last night I went to a bar with some folks where the beer selection was great, only the music was TOO LOUD so we gestured and nodded at each other a lot. Today I got away to the beach with vampireelf, quiet_rebel, and inksphinx. Hampton Beach is very urban and crowded. I prefer my beaches a little more wild. However, coming from Indiana, being able to see the ocean and body surf a few waves was fabulous! The water was cold, but bearable. I ate some nice fresh crab for lunch and even some fudge.
Writingwise, I have done some edits on the first few chapters of my novel, looked at three short-shorts I wrote previously and done small edits, and written three pretty solid pages of a story I am now calling You Are What You Eat. I hope to get some more work done on it today.
It is great to have no work distractions! I did sing some yesterday just so as not to get completely out of practice.