Today I sat and reflected on how different my program is from other grad programs. For instance, in my plot workshop today I presented a plot chart and two writing prompts on Feed by M.T. Anderson. I did this lovely presentation with Monica, a friend of mine who is in her third semester here at VCFA. During this workshop I was incredibly inspired by my surroundings. I sat and looked out the window and wrote everything I saw: the quaint houses, the old buildings, the chipping paint on the window frame. I felt the sun through the glass. I heard the window unit kick on and off as it blasted cool air into the stuffy room. I was more connected to that than to the writing prompt that I helped create, and it was okay. I just went with what I felt, and I ended up with an interesting idea inspired by Feed. I found myself unable to let go of the connection to the place that I sat in. |
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If anyone has ever seen my notebook I use at school they'll know how bad my writing is. It's not even that I have sloppy handwriting, it's just that I get so carried away sometimes when I write that I start to write outside the lines. A note here, a sentence there. It all culminates into a scribbled mess on the page. From a distance it looks sloppy and unintelligent, but if you take the time to sit and read it it all comes together to make a bigger picture. Just like that painting by Georges whoever in Liar & Spy. Stipple art. Nothing more than a huge mess of dots up close but the bigger picture is a work of art. I haven't had the time to blog since I've been here really but here I am, in my plot workshop of my second semester at VCFA, thinking about my terrible handwriting in my notebook. Ridiculous, right? Maybe slightly, but it makes perfect sense to me. I'm rambling. I've been working on the same story for almost a year now. That's the longest commitment to any piece of writing I've ever had. I have eight rough chapters and a basic skeleton of where the rest of the story will go from here. Sometimes, though, it feels like the only real thing I have are these little scraps of thoughts written outside the lines and in the margins of this notebook. This notebook that contains more information and more work and more knowledge of craft than anything I've ever owned. Hidden gems mixed in with notes from fantastic lectures that I wish you all got to read and experience. Sometimes it feels like real magic, like I got whisked away to Hogwarts in a flying car after missing my train. Tomorrow I'll learn to fly on the Nimbus 2015, the latest and greatest model in the line of brooms. Okay maybe that was a bit too far into my fandom. Sorry. It is weird being back though. Only six months and I feel like so much has changed. I'm no longer afraid of everyone who looks at me. I feel more comfortable speaking up and offering my opinion. I feel that sense of belonging I was afraid would never come. I guess I feel like a writer among writers. The best thing about being here is feeling like I'm on a working vacation. Some people escape through reading, some escape through work. I'm lucky enough to do both. It's been stressful back home (and I'm sure it'll be stressful again, both personally and professionally,) but being here makes it seem like everything is going to be okay, like maybe I can find a way to become a real grown up after this. It's like being filled with hope, and peace, and the feeling that maybe, actually, life really is about to begin. It's the weight of possibility. It's the weight of living. Does this even make sense anymore? Goodnight. Well, here I am, in the last place I ever thought I'd be and it is BEAUTIFUL! I'm so excited to finally be here and to be surrounded by these brilliant people. I made a new friend, Kate, and we went exploring around the campus. The bookstore is adorable and I can't wait to buy way too many books when they open tomorrow (sorry Mom.) I'm so excited for this adventure. I had a conversation with one of the graduating students on the way here from the airport. Not only did she alleviate all of my fears (without knowing she was, mind you) she also opened my mind to new ideas. I was so set on coming in here and leaving with one complete YA novel, ready for publication. I still want to do that, my number one goal, but I want to try my hand at other genres as well. I think it takes an incredible amount of talent to write a picture book. I've tried it and had less than stellar results. I won't even tell you about the travesty that was my middle grade novel concept. The thing is, these people make me feel like I can do these things. Everyone has such different backgrounds and different goals but here we all are, learning from each other. Okay, this is all I can do for now. I have a meeting in ten minutes. The adventure is just beginning and I can't wait to report back with more fun experiences. |
AlexisMaster of Fine Arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts, Rowan University alumna, sister of Theta Phi Alpha, and future YA author extraordinaire. Archives
February 2017
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