I took a beginners writing class recently for a credit (I seemed to miss I needed 9 credits of Bachelors of Arts courses for a history major) and had a similar experience where a class of Freshmen students asked what their thesis should be for a short fiction piece they were assigned to write. Another asked where the rubric was. To their dismay, our writing professor told them to be creative, and write as they please. Great stuff here, loved "Bird by Bird."
That really makes me sad, Joseph. Our education system has basically paralyzed individual development. The biggest lesson most people learn is to wait for precise instructions and carry them out as if they are a machine, not a human. So sad. Thanks so much for commenting! Hope you are well and best of luck with the studies!
I am struck by your comment, "When I write something I like, let that satisfaction suffice." Does this extend beyond overcoming likes addiction and to not caring whether a piece is published or not? I think I have some similarities with your student (aside from being much older ;)) in that I assume there must be some formula I have missed. Many deny it is so (& I want to), but then the structure, style and topics of pieces that editors seem to accept is very similar, defying that denial. Curious.
I totally understand your dilemma here, Jessica. Thanks for your comment. I've just been thinking about a similar tension. Yes I want to just let my satisfaction rest in having done the work. But yes there is also the desire to share that work with others too, isn't there? And that, sadly, involves trying to publish it. When it is successful, that's wonderful. But I've been receiving a ton of rejections lately and it's really hard not to let that get in the way of the satisfaction I have with the stories. I have no real answers to this problem, unfortunately, just an offer of solidarity. I try to remind myself that taste is a subjective thing, and that someone not being willing to publish my stories doesn't mean they're bad. I have had 2 stories accepted this past year and that is a thrill.
What's ironic is that the stories that are being rejected are, I think, better than the ones that were accepted, so I'm trying to focus on the ironic humor of that, I guess :) Thanks for your comment and best of luck! I look forward to reading something of yours someday!
I took a beginners writing class recently for a credit (I seemed to miss I needed 9 credits of Bachelors of Arts courses for a history major) and had a similar experience where a class of Freshmen students asked what their thesis should be for a short fiction piece they were assigned to write. Another asked where the rubric was. To their dismay, our writing professor told them to be creative, and write as they please. Great stuff here, loved "Bird by Bird."
That really makes me sad, Joseph. Our education system has basically paralyzed individual development. The biggest lesson most people learn is to wait for precise instructions and carry them out as if they are a machine, not a human. So sad. Thanks so much for commenting! Hope you are well and best of luck with the studies!
I am struck by your comment, "When I write something I like, let that satisfaction suffice." Does this extend beyond overcoming likes addiction and to not caring whether a piece is published or not? I think I have some similarities with your student (aside from being much older ;)) in that I assume there must be some formula I have missed. Many deny it is so (& I want to), but then the structure, style and topics of pieces that editors seem to accept is very similar, defying that denial. Curious.
I totally understand your dilemma here, Jessica. Thanks for your comment. I've just been thinking about a similar tension. Yes I want to just let my satisfaction rest in having done the work. But yes there is also the desire to share that work with others too, isn't there? And that, sadly, involves trying to publish it. When it is successful, that's wonderful. But I've been receiving a ton of rejections lately and it's really hard not to let that get in the way of the satisfaction I have with the stories. I have no real answers to this problem, unfortunately, just an offer of solidarity. I try to remind myself that taste is a subjective thing, and that someone not being willing to publish my stories doesn't mean they're bad. I have had 2 stories accepted this past year and that is a thrill.
What's ironic is that the stories that are being rejected are, I think, better than the ones that were accepted, so I'm trying to focus on the ironic humor of that, I guess :) Thanks for your comment and best of luck! I look forward to reading something of yours someday!