What Happens to Shenanigans Deferred?
So, I've been really bad and haven't updated in about a million-bajillion years! Time to rectify that, or just wreck it, whatever the case may be.
So, I'll start with school stuff. This semester I'm doing two classes, this summer I'll take one, and I'll finish up the dual degree in the fall with three. I just don't look forward to the public reading this spring.
My Boston class is a little bit of an adjustment. I really was spoiled by the smaller class sizes of the satellite program, where the discussions have half as many people as the Boston class. The readings are a lot of fun (well, the novels at least--sometimes the jargon in the critical articles/essays makes me want to dress up like a pretentious scholar and start to parody...).
And I'm really enjoying my mentorship course so far. I'm working on a second draft of my middle-grade fantasy novel (some of you have already had it forced upon you; you know who you are!). My mentor is just fantastic. Based on the kind of specific feedback (with questions and suggestions that are so useful!) she gives me, she must be an amazing editor to work with. I really think I'm trying different things with my writing. Hopefully by the end of this my writing won't suck so badly anymore!
Speaking of my writing, I entered a little game I saw on twitter, just for the fun of it. It was an agency that I didn't really think was right for me (at least, for the novel that I had on hand). I mean, that is absolutely nothing against them--they seem like wonderful people, and based on the way they were/are running the contest, would be easy to work with due to professionalism and courtesy. I just don't think their taste/style for books aligns with what I'm doing, and what I hope to do in the future. So, even though I probably wouldn't have queried them, I figured what's the worst that can happen in a contest where with each round you send slightly more of the story? I didn't win, of course, but I did manage to get all the way to the top 25 finalists list! So, I consider it a kind of victory. And who knows, at some point in the future if I've ever got a project that is closer to what they're after, I might query them! All-in-all, a positive experience that I'm happy with.
In other writing news, I want UPS to hurry up and get here! Today I'll be getting a new book to review!
And some friend news... There are lots of bridesmaid dresses in my future! A few of my closest friends are all getting married soon (some to each other even!), so I'm going to be in a couple of wedding parties. I absolutely can't wait! Both couples are gorgeous and ridiculously perfect matches. More than that, they're creative people, so I can't wait to see what surprises they trot out for their weddings. Besides that, dressing up is fun!
But there's something else about friends: Friendship Is Magic. Specifically, My Little Ponies: Friendship Is Magic. It's the new My Little Ponies cartoon. I knew it was hilarity--I'd seen gifs and clips on the internet. But I hadn't watched it, out of attachment to the pony cartoons that watched growing up. Well, after talking to a friend, I was finally strong armed into watching complete episodes (mainly because she told me the "which character is which friend" assignments that she and another friend had decided on for a bunch of us, to be honest). The show? Hilarity. Pure hilarity. And surprising quality for animation and writing. I give it an A+. But the pony that they matched me with? Twilight Sparkle, the main character and a complete and utter NERD PONY. Twilight is one of those hardcore introverts who is more interested in old books than other ponies, because she needs to learn that FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC! (Note: the show does not present intellectualism as bad, but simply needing moderation with having a life).
So, I have to disagree with my friends' assessment. From a scientific point of view, can a prank-addicted person who just earlier today had a 15 minute long conversation where every sentence included a fish pun really count as a serious scholar type? And it's not even that I'm all that smart. I just read quickly and take note of a lot of things that other people miss, because I'm always looking for joke-fuel (which is better for the environment than jet fuel, just sayin')!
But then I caught myself trying to figure out what degree I'd go after next, once I get these two masters. I had to shake my fist at the heavens while shouting generic thwarted villain things ("Curse you, hero!" or "Confound these ponies!"), for I had been caught acting like the nerd I was accused of being! I guess this means I'll have to work harder at leisure! I'll just have to take that for the team!
Leisure wise, I should probably plan a summer comic. Last summer, making Secret Agent Mime: Silent But Deadly was so much fun. The biggest challenge is always figuring out what to do for settings (and scheduling the actor/models in the photocomics to appear at said settings, as I have a tendency to indulge in ensemble casts and dress up everyone I know in wacky costumes!). So, while I have some comic ideas, I'm waiting for an "A-ha!" setting moment to really pick which one to concentrate on next.
Also, I'm gonna do some travel! First is the NESCBWI Conference in May, which last year was a lot of fun. It's at a hotel attached to an indoor water park. Enough said there. Next, later in the month, I'll (hopefully) be giving my younger sister her combined birthday/graduation present--taking her for a trip to the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando! Note to self: stop spending money now in preparation. And, after that, I am so very, very tempted to go to the ALA conference in late June. But does the bookishness of it put me back into Twilight Sparkle territory?
Or, are any of my friends up for a wild, book filled summer weekend in New Orleans? I know I'll be texting a few people about it, and could justify going to Louisiana as a trip to visit my hometown and everyone there... That's still yet to be decided........
So, I'll start with school stuff. This semester I'm doing two classes, this summer I'll take one, and I'll finish up the dual degree in the fall with three. I just don't look forward to the public reading this spring.
My Boston class is a little bit of an adjustment. I really was spoiled by the smaller class sizes of the satellite program, where the discussions have half as many people as the Boston class. The readings are a lot of fun (well, the novels at least--sometimes the jargon in the critical articles/essays makes me want to dress up like a pretentious scholar and start to parody...).
And I'm really enjoying my mentorship course so far. I'm working on a second draft of my middle-grade fantasy novel (some of you have already had it forced upon you; you know who you are!). My mentor is just fantastic. Based on the kind of specific feedback (with questions and suggestions that are so useful!) she gives me, she must be an amazing editor to work with. I really think I'm trying different things with my writing. Hopefully by the end of this my writing won't suck so badly anymore!
Speaking of my writing, I entered a little game I saw on twitter, just for the fun of it. It was an agency that I didn't really think was right for me (at least, for the novel that I had on hand). I mean, that is absolutely nothing against them--they seem like wonderful people, and based on the way they were/are running the contest, would be easy to work with due to professionalism and courtesy. I just don't think their taste/style for books aligns with what I'm doing, and what I hope to do in the future. So, even though I probably wouldn't have queried them, I figured what's the worst that can happen in a contest where with each round you send slightly more of the story? I didn't win, of course, but I did manage to get all the way to the top 25 finalists list! So, I consider it a kind of victory. And who knows, at some point in the future if I've ever got a project that is closer to what they're after, I might query them! All-in-all, a positive experience that I'm happy with.
In other writing news, I want UPS to hurry up and get here! Today I'll be getting a new book to review!
And some friend news... There are lots of bridesmaid dresses in my future! A few of my closest friends are all getting married soon (some to each other even!), so I'm going to be in a couple of wedding parties. I absolutely can't wait! Both couples are gorgeous and ridiculously perfect matches. More than that, they're creative people, so I can't wait to see what surprises they trot out for their weddings. Besides that, dressing up is fun!
But there's something else about friends: Friendship Is Magic. Specifically, My Little Ponies: Friendship Is Magic. It's the new My Little Ponies cartoon. I knew it was hilarity--I'd seen gifs and clips on the internet. But I hadn't watched it, out of attachment to the pony cartoons that watched growing up. Well, after talking to a friend, I was finally strong armed into watching complete episodes (mainly because she told me the "which character is which friend" assignments that she and another friend had decided on for a bunch of us, to be honest). The show? Hilarity. Pure hilarity. And surprising quality for animation and writing. I give it an A+. But the pony that they matched me with? Twilight Sparkle, the main character and a complete and utter NERD PONY. Twilight is one of those hardcore introverts who is more interested in old books than other ponies, because she needs to learn that FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC! (Note: the show does not present intellectualism as bad, but simply needing moderation with having a life).
So, I have to disagree with my friends' assessment. From a scientific point of view, can a prank-addicted person who just earlier today had a 15 minute long conversation where every sentence included a fish pun really count as a serious scholar type? And it's not even that I'm all that smart. I just read quickly and take note of a lot of things that other people miss, because I'm always looking for joke-fuel (which is better for the environment than jet fuel, just sayin')!
But then I caught myself trying to figure out what degree I'd go after next, once I get these two masters. I had to shake my fist at the heavens while shouting generic thwarted villain things ("Curse you, hero!" or "Confound these ponies!"), for I had been caught acting like the nerd I was accused of being! I guess this means I'll have to work harder at leisure! I'll just have to take that for the team!
Leisure wise, I should probably plan a summer comic. Last summer, making Secret Agent Mime: Silent But Deadly was so much fun. The biggest challenge is always figuring out what to do for settings (and scheduling the actor/models in the photocomics to appear at said settings, as I have a tendency to indulge in ensemble casts and dress up everyone I know in wacky costumes!). So, while I have some comic ideas, I'm waiting for an "A-ha!" setting moment to really pick which one to concentrate on next.
Also, I'm gonna do some travel! First is the NESCBWI Conference in May, which last year was a lot of fun. It's at a hotel attached to an indoor water park. Enough said there. Next, later in the month, I'll (hopefully) be giving my younger sister her combined birthday/graduation present--taking her for a trip to the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando! Note to self: stop spending money now in preparation. And, after that, I am so very, very tempted to go to the ALA conference in late June. But does the bookishness of it put me back into Twilight Sparkle territory?
Or, are any of my friends up for a wild, book filled summer weekend in New Orleans? I know I'll be texting a few people about it, and could justify going to Louisiana as a trip to visit my hometown and everyone there... That's still yet to be decided........