Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Back to School

I'm not going back to school, like at a place where they confer degrees and such, but I can't help get caught up in the spirit of the Back to School season. I've been thinking about my fourth grade Trapper Keeper, the one with the kittens, a lot. I have an urge to buy pencils and a new pair of shoes. I live across the street from a school and it was fun to see the kids file in again today.

What I am going back to is writing workshops at my lovely neighborhood writing studio/place of work StoryStudio Chicago. First class (I'm taking two, two classes I say!) starts tomorrow and I've been doing critiques today. I love critiques, I really do. I love when I learn about writing from other people. I love when I recognize a little flaw that I've also made in my own work and finally see a way to fix it.

I've been stuck on the book for a while. This summer I really focused on getting my hook nailed. Getting those first fifty pages just right, so that everything that flows after makes sense, is connected, appears somewhat logical, those kind of things.

I think that now I can finally get on to those next fifty pages. I think I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel once again. So I'm kind of going back to school too, in my own little way. Which, I'm pretty sure, means I get to buy a new pair of shoes.

3 comments:

  1. I would give anything for a writing program in my town. It's college or nothing. I'm not in any position to attend five days a week, nor would I want to.

    Consider yourself blessed not only in your workshop, but in your first fifty page hurdle.

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  2. I remember that trapper keeper! I had a stupid red one. I was ever so jealous.
    I buy new "school supplies" every August. I get some pencils, post-its, and a spiral or two - college-rule of course. It makes the world feel right and whole.
    Love ya, miss ya!
    Write! Write! Write!

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  3. Jenny I can't believe you remember my Trapper Keeper! Love that you keep buying school supplies. Those college-rule notebooks do make more of an impression than the regular ones, don't they?

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