What's Going On

It's been some time since I've actually written about my own writing.   

I am in my last workshop before thesis, and I'm pretty much freaking out about what is going to happen after thesis is over, but that is a post and/or topic for another day.  I've only been writing and submitting stories for a short amount of time, but I have two publications and a pending third under my belt so far.

A colleague from my program has made a goal of 100 rejections in 2015, obviously with the hopes of at least getting some of her stories accepted in the process.  I've decided to join her on her quest (whether she knows that or not).

Right now, I have two stories out for submission at twelve different journals.  One story has been with two journals for 190 days.  I sent a query to find out the status, no response.  However, if they think I am going to give up and withdraw, they are mistaken.  I will let it stay pending until it gets picked up by another market.  I think it is rude to just never respond to someone who is a fan of your publication and would like to be a part of it.  So, until they say "no," I am keeping my Pomeranian in the fight. 

I have a flash piece out at ten different journals.  It is a long shot, but I love it, and I am hopeful that some sentimental editor will love it as well.  I am keeping my fingers crossed, my hopes up, etc, etc, etc.

My plan is to carefully evaluate the responses I receive.  Being realistic, if the story is rejected, I at least hope to get a personal rejection so that I may consider how to revise the work.  Those are long shots, but it does feel much better to get a personal rejection than a form rejection.  The last rejection I received said, "We’re sorry to say that we have decided against taking... The best way to know what we are publishing is of course to read the magazine, which we hope you will continue to do."  YIKES!

This is my 2015 year to date stats (not including responses received in 2015 from 2014 submissions):
Stories/Essays: 2
Submissions: 28
Acceptances: 1
Rejections: 1 (personal)
Withdrawals: 17
Pending:10

My stats are only in consideration of stories submitted this year.  So far, 2015 is going pretty well as far as publishing is concerned.  Now, I just need to continue writing, revising, and really working on my craft.  I am not a fast producer (as some of you can tell by how long it takes for me to update this blog).  But, I am working on finding more time to write, especially this semester since I have only one class.

Let's hope this isn't me when it's all said and done!

Back to School

Last Thursday was my first day back in school.  I was super excited and nervous at the same time because I didn't know what to expect.

My experience with post graduate education is an arduous and trying journey.  I went to law school part time for four years, working eight hours during the day and then driving an hour to Baltimore for school until well after 9pm and then drove another hour back home.  I took multiple classes, usually at least three or four in one semester.  And if anyone knows anything about the Socratic method, you have to stay on top of your reading or face the embarrassment of being called on and not knowing anything.  And trust me, that is a terrible feeling.

The thing is, law school was ran by and filled by people who are very much like me: type A, organized, extroverts who are highly competitive.  I expected to know how my grades would be calculated, what assignments or cases were to be done by what date, and that, generally, there would be no surprises.  But, that was law school.

Getting a masters is apparently very different.  Getting a masters in a creative field is even more different.

My professor handed out a syllabus and promptly said that it was a basic idea...that it was probably going to change.  Huh?  I searched the document for how my grade would be calculated and only saw what grades were possible.  Wha...?  Apparently our assignments consist of writing reports on what we think about something we have read and not based on research or some other factual information.  Hmm...

I sat there wondering if my brain was going to explode.  I am not used to loosy goosy learning.  At least, not anymore.  Its been a little while since undergrad.  I was an English major, so I guess I should know a little about how creative people learn and what it means to teach the craft of writing.  But...the uncertainty is a bit scary.

But, then my professor said something that totally made me chill out.  He said that his goal is to teach us how to read like writers...to take out the methods in our brain that lead to studying text in the same way an English student would (in the same way a law student would)...because at the end of this, we will be writing what it is those people study.

 So, I relaxed.  We shall see how long I can go with the flow.

But for right now...