So much to read thanks to you! Random notes.....on the back of the Pet Sounds (Beach Boys Brian Wilson) album cover is a quotation, "the smile that you send out, returns to you." It's true. I've tried it. Even on subways and buses. It works.
I graduated from NYU summa cum laude this May at the ripe age of 72 with a BA in Humanities/Creative Writing. (yes, I am bragging). I want to keep writing but I don't want to write a book, and even if by some miracle I was accepted into an MFA program, I don't want to take a spot from someone with more years ahead of them than behind. But I need/want to keep writing. Will start with your syllabus. Many of the authors you assigned, I also read over the past couple of years.
Which brings me to the 28 slightly rude notes on writing - many, many to choose from but this one fits me right now when he says, instead of asking, "Why should I, the reader, care about this?" he says:
"What I really want to know is: why do you care? You could have spent your time knitting a pair of mittens or petting your cat or eating a whole tube of Pringles. Why did you do this instead? What kind of sicko closes the YouTube tab and types 10,000 words into a Google doc?"
ETA: Not only did I read my syllabi, but I printed them out and would take them to class with me. I know that's hopelessly old fashioned, but there's something oddly comforting about holding papers in your hand, not to mention the immense satisfaction of being able to cross things off every week.
all the ICE news is giving me so much ANXIETY. my sister was visiting her in-laws (with two babies under two!) in LA during the protests and I kept messaging, "are you guys ok? we're hearing all these things on the news!" thank you for helping me lol at the headlines... it sounds terrifying over there! hope you are ok.
Re military parade: It’s not that the soldiers *couldn’t* march in formation, it’s that they deliberately chose not to. It was trolling at its finest!
Indeed.
So much to read thanks to you! Random notes.....on the back of the Pet Sounds (Beach Boys Brian Wilson) album cover is a quotation, "the smile that you send out, returns to you." It's true. I've tried it. Even on subways and buses. It works.
I graduated from NYU summa cum laude this May at the ripe age of 72 with a BA in Humanities/Creative Writing. (yes, I am bragging). I want to keep writing but I don't want to write a book, and even if by some miracle I was accepted into an MFA program, I don't want to take a spot from someone with more years ahead of them than behind. But I need/want to keep writing. Will start with your syllabus. Many of the authors you assigned, I also read over the past couple of years.
Which brings me to the 28 slightly rude notes on writing - many, many to choose from but this one fits me right now when he says, instead of asking, "Why should I, the reader, care about this?" he says:
"What I really want to know is: why do you care? You could have spent your time knitting a pair of mittens or petting your cat or eating a whole tube of Pringles. Why did you do this instead? What kind of sicko closes the YouTube tab and types 10,000 words into a Google doc?"
Why indeed. Thank you thank you thank you.
Congrats on your graduation! If you go to an MFA program, you aren't taking someone else's spot. You're taking your spot.
Thank you. :)
ETA: Not only did I read my syllabi, but I printed them out and would take them to class with me. I know that's hopelessly old fashioned, but there's something oddly comforting about holding papers in your hand, not to mention the immense satisfaction of being able to cross things off every week.
Sadly, I live in FLORIDA!!!
all the ICE news is giving me so much ANXIETY. my sister was visiting her in-laws (with two babies under two!) in LA during the protests and I kept messaging, "are you guys ok? we're hearing all these things on the news!" thank you for helping me lol at the headlines... it sounds terrifying over there! hope you are ok.