A Writer's Notebook, Day One-Thousand-Three-Hundred-And-Forty

Tomorrow I have a meeting to discuss one of my short stories with a consultant who may be able to offer some advice on where to send it.  The story I gave her is a rather strange one, though I can say that about most any of my stories, to be blunt.  They are all a bit weird, and this one fits into the set.  Part of what is unusual in this story is the framing of the story, which begins with the narrator announcing that it is not true or believable, and denying any claim that it is a real story, but then going on to talk about it as if it is their own life.  It's hard to explain the narrative posture, to be honest, but I think I pull it off in the piece and that it works. There are certain aspects of the story, in particular some of how it develops before the ending, but I think it is largely a good piece and one that shows a lot of what is special in my writing, at least I hope so.  I am, of course, excited about this meeting tomorrow, but I can't help but be a little bit nervous as well.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poem: Neighborhood Inhabitants

Neighborhood Inhabitants There was a fox once, and another time, otters, and now a peacock that we think got lost during one of the storms. She stays down on the other end of the street, though, does not visit us. We have a racoon family that stays in our tree some nights, and there is a baby lizard, a brown basilisk, who we have seen several times. It is not supposed to be here, is invasive and troublesome to the local ecosystem, as are the duck.  I hear there are giant snails now who eat stucco or concrete or something of that sort. I have not seen one, though, I just heard they are here and big as my fist.
Read more

A Writer's Notebook, One-Thousand-Eight-Hundred-And-Seventy-Three

I am still finding it difficult to get back to a more productive work schedule at the moment.  In part, I am sure it is that I gave myself permission to slack off a bit, and it is difficult to walk that back, especially because I am still writing and being productive, even if not to the same degree. I know it would be good to get back to doing more writing, but I also know that I am still meeting my core obligations, even if at a more minimal level.  Really, I just need to make the choice and force myself to stick to it.  To that end, I am planning to at least get back to work on my longer projects again tomorrow, even if I don't increase the poetry output right away.
Read more

A Writer's Notebook, Day One-Thousand-One-Hundred-And-Thirty-Three

I received my acceptance to attend workshop at the Palm Beach Poetry Festival next year and am very excited to be working with Matthew Olzmann, a poet whose work I have admired for some time.  He has a rare capacity for being simultaneously absurd and serious in ways that are hysterical, but with devastating insights underneath.  I feel quite fortunate to have the PBPF, and can say, honestly, that each workshop I have attended there has been incredible.  As a person who has taken many workshops in my life, and who often finds them wanting, I am always astounded at the caliber of the classes at the festival, both in the instruction and in the community of poets I have encountered.  I only wish it could be more than just one week out of the year.
Read more