I've been taking swings at my statement of purpose for a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing for a few weeks now. Finally, in the last week of November, I'm getting serious about it. Why now? Because I promised myself I'd have all these technical pieces finished by Dec. 1 (one month before my earliest deadline). So it's crunch time.
Helpful resources I've found in my search:
"How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose," Vince Gotera
Practical how-to advice for a MFA statement of purpose:
http://www.uni.edu/~gotera/gradapp/stmtpurpose.htm
"A Purposeless Statement?" Peter Derby
A little more theoretical advice, but necessary to make you step back and realize there is no magic words that can unlock your MFA:
http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2006/12/2006121301c/careers.html
As always the MFA Blog has some good tips:
http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com/2007/08/tips-on-statement-of-purpose.html
And if you're interested, M. Ramirez Talusan from the MFA Blog, has posted her old statement of purpose online:
http://mramireztalusan.blogspot.com/2007/11/mfa-statement-of-purpose.html
Their advice in summary? Don't bad mouth people, write like a professional not an artist for the essay, tell a captivating story or tell about your writing interest if it is more captivating than you are. Oh and say specifically why the hell you're crazy enough to go to get an art degree in writing.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Crazy Writing Contests
Answers.com is sponsoring a crazy little writing contest. They give you 10 words (actually 9 words and one phrase) and in 750 words or less you have to include all ten in their proper usage. Use any written form you like.
Attempts at, and my final entry will be posted on this blog.
The words:
a lick and a promise
ataraxia
contraband
halva
mantic
praxis
sapid
semilunar
serendipity
zeitgeist
I encourage others to take up the zany challenge as well, because the world can always use some more zan'.
Find more information: http://www.answers.com/main/writing_challenge.jsp
Attempts at, and my final entry will be posted on this blog.
The words:
a lick and a promise
ataraxia
contraband
halva
mantic
praxis
sapid
semilunar
serendipity
zeitgeist
I encourage others to take up the zany challenge as well, because the world can always use some more zan'.
Find more information: http://www.answers.com/main/writing_challenge.jsp
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Keep Writing!
I once dated a guy who claimed he was on the verge of the next Great American Novel (dispelling the myth of the 'Great American Novel' will be a later entry). He told me he had planned the whole thing out in detail. Plotted it meticulously. Developed characters that the critics were going to love him for. With such great insight into the human condition that it would be on reading lists long after his death. Except this was all in his head. He hadn’t written down a single word.
I pushed for him to write it. To write anything. I even threw my weight behind it both as girlfriend and as fellow writer, but he wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t even discuss it with me other than to tell me it would be great and talking about it would ruin his vision.
To this day, I’ve never seen him publish anything. Anything.
I don’t tell this story to upset or to discourage. I tell it to reinforce that if you want to write there is a necessity of actually writing. No one runs the Boston Marathon just because they’ve been thinking about it without getting up and running every morning for months before hand. You have to get over whatever is keeping you from running -- your ego, your inexperience, your bad knee or your schedule -- and hit the pavement.
The best advice anyone can give to those who want to write is to write constantly. The second best: don't be afraid to talk about it. Constructive criticism and feedback are very important to learning any new skill. And no one, no matter how great a writing, ever publishes without accepting both criticism and feedback.
But first you need to keep writing. Think of being on that morning run again: it's easier when you're already in motion than when you are starting from a complete stop. The second mile is much easier to start than getting off the couch ever is. Once you decide to write, and write for writing's sake there are ways to trick yourself into writing more. Just like there are ways to trick yourself into running further when you're out on the pavement.
1. Keep paper on you always, I have a thin little pocket notebook perfect for my back pocket. (People keep asking me if I’m a reporter and if I’m feeling spunky I tell them yes.) Write down anything interesting you think or hear or see. I’ve got a great description of the bum who lives on my corner and a transcribed conversation between three hicks about the end of the world all because I kept my eyes and ears open and paper in my back pocket.
2. Keep a journal. Keep five. Anything that makes you write. I have one journal that is notes on my own life, not very useful for stories but cathartic. Another is ideas for fiction. A third is made up entirely of single lines that rattled around in my brain and would not stop bothering me until I gave them space on paper. It might not be a good space, or the right space but I will find that someday and in the meantime I don’t let myself worry about their rhyme or reason. A fourth journal I use for notes on humorous subjects that I might want to blog eventually. My father keeps a journal entirely based around recipes he finds and his experiences making them. You get the picture.
I've read that there's a school of thought that you need to keep at least one handwritten journal so that you can stay in touch with actual "writing." I think this is a bunch of bull. Do what feels right for you. If labor intensive longhand slows down your process then forget it. If you can't type to save your life then use a pad of paper and pay the neighbor kid to type it up later. NO ONE has the upper hand on method; it is, after all, an art not a science.
3. If you struggle with getting to the point where you write for the sake of writing constantly, then take a class. You'll also get that much needed chance to talk about your work. Writing workshops aren’t just for college students. They’re popping up around the country, in city recreation programs, community colleges and bookstores nationwide. And if you still can’t find one there’s always the internet and low-residency MFA programs. Also available are week or weekend long workshop retreats. I went to the Kenyon Review's workshop and loved it. All these options present deadlines. Deadlines are an amazing thing. Some times you really do just need a boot to your behind to get you going. See Poets&Writers for listings of writing programs and conferences and residencies.
4. If you possess more discipline and can do it on your own then set aside time to write each day. Or maybe you want to begin with setting aside a few hours Saturday morning to work yourself into it. Mornings or evenings doesn’t matter, but whichever you choose make sure it is something that you are not going to trade for time to sleep or do laundry when push comes to shove.
In the end, these ideas are all just suggestions to trick yourself into writing. Everyone’s different and maybe something else will work for you. But there is one sure fire way to fail at writing: by not writing. Remember that old boyfriend of mine? He’s only ever written one short story, and, last I heard, still not one word of that supposedly great novel.
I pushed for him to write it. To write anything. I even threw my weight behind it both as girlfriend and as fellow writer, but he wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t even discuss it with me other than to tell me it would be great and talking about it would ruin his vision.
To this day, I’ve never seen him publish anything. Anything.
I don’t tell this story to upset or to discourage. I tell it to reinforce that if you want to write there is a necessity of actually writing. No one runs the Boston Marathon just because they’ve been thinking about it without getting up and running every morning for months before hand. You have to get over whatever is keeping you from running -- your ego, your inexperience, your bad knee or your schedule -- and hit the pavement.
The best advice anyone can give to those who want to write is to write constantly. The second best: don't be afraid to talk about it. Constructive criticism and feedback are very important to learning any new skill. And no one, no matter how great a writing, ever publishes without accepting both criticism and feedback.
But first you need to keep writing. Think of being on that morning run again: it's easier when you're already in motion than when you are starting from a complete stop. The second mile is much easier to start than getting off the couch ever is. Once you decide to write, and write for writing's sake there are ways to trick yourself into writing more. Just like there are ways to trick yourself into running further when you're out on the pavement.
1. Keep paper on you always, I have a thin little pocket notebook perfect for my back pocket. (People keep asking me if I’m a reporter and if I’m feeling spunky I tell them yes.) Write down anything interesting you think or hear or see. I’ve got a great description of the bum who lives on my corner and a transcribed conversation between three hicks about the end of the world all because I kept my eyes and ears open and paper in my back pocket.
2. Keep a journal. Keep five. Anything that makes you write. I have one journal that is notes on my own life, not very useful for stories but cathartic. Another is ideas for fiction. A third is made up entirely of single lines that rattled around in my brain and would not stop bothering me until I gave them space on paper. It might not be a good space, or the right space but I will find that someday and in the meantime I don’t let myself worry about their rhyme or reason. A fourth journal I use for notes on humorous subjects that I might want to blog eventually. My father keeps a journal entirely based around recipes he finds and his experiences making them. You get the picture.
I've read that there's a school of thought that you need to keep at least one handwritten journal so that you can stay in touch with actual "writing." I think this is a bunch of bull. Do what feels right for you. If labor intensive longhand slows down your process then forget it. If you can't type to save your life then use a pad of paper and pay the neighbor kid to type it up later. NO ONE has the upper hand on method; it is, after all, an art not a science.
3. If you struggle with getting to the point where you write for the sake of writing constantly, then take a class. You'll also get that much needed chance to talk about your work. Writing workshops aren’t just for college students. They’re popping up around the country, in city recreation programs, community colleges and bookstores nationwide. And if you still can’t find one there’s always the internet and low-residency MFA programs. Also available are week or weekend long workshop retreats. I went to the Kenyon Review's workshop and loved it. All these options present deadlines. Deadlines are an amazing thing. Some times you really do just need a boot to your behind to get you going. See Poets&Writers for listings of writing programs and conferences and residencies.
4. If you possess more discipline and can do it on your own then set aside time to write each day. Or maybe you want to begin with setting aside a few hours Saturday morning to work yourself into it. Mornings or evenings doesn’t matter, but whichever you choose make sure it is something that you are not going to trade for time to sleep or do laundry when push comes to shove.
In the end, these ideas are all just suggestions to trick yourself into writing. Everyone’s different and maybe something else will work for you. But there is one sure fire way to fail at writing: by not writing. Remember that old boyfriend of mine? He’s only ever written one short story, and, last I heard, still not one word of that supposedly great novel.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Advice for Middles
I don't normally post links on this site, but I just found a terribly entertaining bit of self-help for getting through the "Great Swampy Middle" of a piece of fiction by Jim Butcher.
For instant writing-help gratification: http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/1865.html
For instant writing-help gratification: http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/1865.html
Monday, November 12, 2007
Day Pass
I’m sitting at a Starbucks now; I’ve purchased the large size day pass to claim my table with. Which is good because I’m sitting at a big table and I plan to be here a while. Well it’s not that big of a table but it’s big enough that it’s not a spot on the floor like some of the others. However it is in an awkward space so I feel even less bad. Dude, why do I feel bad at all, remember the extra large day pass? Yeah, no hard feelings here. I’ve got my Kenyon Review tote bag also taking up space on the table, like I’m daring someone to ask me about it. Which probably won’t happen.
Outside the window a guy just walked up and swapped the numbers on the Marathon’s price sign. Dropped the price of gas from $3.19 to $3.16 by turning the 9 over and around. Seeing how easy it was to do it I wonder if he was really associated with the gas station and if anyone would see you if you swapped it and you weren’t an employee.
Outside the window a guy just walked up and swapped the numbers on the Marathon’s price sign. Dropped the price of gas from $3.19 to $3.16 by turning the 9 over and around. Seeing how easy it was to do it I wonder if he was really associated with the gas station and if anyone would see you if you swapped it and you weren’t an employee.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The Whereabouts of Scott No. 517 -- Installation Nine (Final Installation)
(fiction; continued from previous; final installation)
The only thing Scott No. 54 ever won was the draft lottery.
He decided to be proactive about his bad luck and take classes at the local junior college to postpone his patriotic duty. Less than two years later he found himself in his original predicament as his GPA as 1.12 and he was not taking enough courses to qualify as a student.
The only classes he was passing were bowling and skiing. He was the college’s best bowler.
Ergo: he joined the air force and he learned the river of shit theory.
First: it should be explained how he joined the air force.
He intended to join the navy. His father had been navy. It made sense. He went to visit the navy recruiter. On his way out the air force recruiter stopped him. “You know the navy goes with the marines, don’t ya?”
Scott No. 54 raised an eyebrow. “Can you make me a better deal?”
And so Scott No. 54 joined the air force where he learned the river of shit theory.
Preface: Scott No. 54 did not like taking orders, listening to authority or having to go with the crowd. In general, he was a pill.
His commanding officer pulled him aside one day. “Listen, son. Life is like a river of shit.”
Aside: the military has the best metaphors when it comes to color.
“No matter what you do you’re neck deep in a river of shit. You can fight against it and eat shit the whole way or you can go with the flow. Shit doesn’t smell good but it tastes worse.”
Fact: Scott No. 54 got along quite well in the military after that.
They even offered to promote him if he stayed on another four years. Scott No. 54 politely declined.
* * *
An anonymous tip has lead to the location of Scott No.517. He was discovered residing in a small but comfortable cabin off of Lake Huron. At this location Scott No. 517 was thoroughly questioned. He claimed the decision to stay at the cabin was based on the pleasant summer weather. Pleasant so long as you don’t mind cold mornings. Which Scott No. 517 does not. He stated his intentions to remain at this cabin residence through deer season.
We find ourselves sadly disappointed with his lack of grandeur. And most notably with his inability to answer our questions. He did however make reference to a Scott No. 518 with whom conversation may prove fruitful.
The existence of a Scott No. 518 was previously unrecorded and operations are underway to verify said existence. His status and story are currently unknown. A search to determine his location is underway.
The only thing Scott No. 54 ever won was the draft lottery.
He decided to be proactive about his bad luck and take classes at the local junior college to postpone his patriotic duty. Less than two years later he found himself in his original predicament as his GPA as 1.12 and he was not taking enough courses to qualify as a student.
The only classes he was passing were bowling and skiing. He was the college’s best bowler.
Ergo: he joined the air force and he learned the river of shit theory.
First: it should be explained how he joined the air force.
He intended to join the navy. His father had been navy. It made sense. He went to visit the navy recruiter. On his way out the air force recruiter stopped him. “You know the navy goes with the marines, don’t ya?”
Scott No. 54 raised an eyebrow. “Can you make me a better deal?”
And so Scott No. 54 joined the air force where he learned the river of shit theory.
Preface: Scott No. 54 did not like taking orders, listening to authority or having to go with the crowd. In general, he was a pill.
His commanding officer pulled him aside one day. “Listen, son. Life is like a river of shit.”
Aside: the military has the best metaphors when it comes to color.
“No matter what you do you’re neck deep in a river of shit. You can fight against it and eat shit the whole way or you can go with the flow. Shit doesn’t smell good but it tastes worse.”
Fact: Scott No. 54 got along quite well in the military after that.
They even offered to promote him if he stayed on another four years. Scott No. 54 politely declined.
* * *
An anonymous tip has lead to the location of Scott No.517. He was discovered residing in a small but comfortable cabin off of Lake Huron. At this location Scott No. 517 was thoroughly questioned. He claimed the decision to stay at the cabin was based on the pleasant summer weather. Pleasant so long as you don’t mind cold mornings. Which Scott No. 517 does not. He stated his intentions to remain at this cabin residence through deer season.
We find ourselves sadly disappointed with his lack of grandeur. And most notably with his inability to answer our questions. He did however make reference to a Scott No. 518 with whom conversation may prove fruitful.
The existence of a Scott No. 518 was previously unrecorded and operations are underway to verify said existence. His status and story are currently unknown. A search to determine his location is underway.
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