Let’s Talk About Gatsby

At some point in everyone’s education, they probably have, or will have read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I hardly feel the need to talk about this book in detail because of how well-known it is. In fact, you’d think people were sick of talking about this book because of how often it’s discussed. But no! It’s not possible to ever stop talking about this book because it is one of the most incredible books ever! Sure, it’s one girl’s opinion, but it’s shared by enough people that I feel justified in exclaiming it with exorbitant levels of cheer. Each time I re-read it, it just blows me away.

Know what else blows me away?

The trailer for the new movie.

I AM SO EXCITED.

EEEEEEEEE!

Now I know most people hiss and cower from a movie rendition of a book, but for me it depends on what the movie makers are trying to do. To recreate a book shot for shot in a movie? That’s just not possible because the mediums are completely different. But a reimagining of a book, a caputuring of the story and the spirit–now that can be a success that I can get behind, and this movie looks to be just that.

Plus, did you see all that glitter?? eeeeeee! (Full Disclosure: Moulin Rouge is one of my favorite movies of all time.)

Perfect Spaces

It’s the best time of the year right now–cool in the mornings, warm in the afternoons and comfortable in the evenings. I don’t have classes to attend, I’ve barely one shift a week at work, and I can focus all my attention on finishing up my thesis. And because of the wonderful weather (and heaps of free time) I am able to enjoy my cozy moments reading and writing in exactly the way I want to. This means finding the perfect space to get my work done, and now that I’m no longer stuck inside, I can pretty much go where ever I want–yay!

To the left is my favorite spot in my apartment–my porch. I live on the second floor, so not the far up, but just high enough not to have to worry about too many bugs or the neighbor’s dogs. Instead, I get to have my potted herb garden, a nice view, the sounds of a babbling brook just beyond those trees, and a cool, shaded spot to get all my work done.

My favorite time to be out is early morning or late afternoon, drinking coffee, or a summer mojito (with mint from my own garden!) You can actually find the recipe for that drink at The Yummy Life, and yes, I even made the simple syrup from scratch. It’s all homemade, except for the white rum, because that would be moonshining and I just don’t have the space for a still in my apartment. And sadly, we don’t have any deep, foreboding caves near by, so I am out of luck there as well.

Finding your perfect space is really important, especially when you have to train yourself to get things done. When I’m laying in bed, my body knows it’s time to sleep, so I rarely get further than ten pages into a chapter before needing a nap–and with about 14 more books to read in the next 5 weeks, I can’t afford too many more mid-day naps. And the living room has a tv, and cats, and those are the two most distracting things in my apartment.

So outside it is. No cats, no interruptions, no distractions. Just me, my book, my garden, and whatever refreshing beverage I choose to take out with me.

As for writing, I need a desk, so the one in my room suits me quite nicely. That, or heading over to the library with all the students taking summer classes. Sometimes sensory depravation is exactly what you need to lose yourself in your own story.

Where are your perfect spaces?

The Black List Folder

I was talking to the managing editor at Writer’s Digest magazine the other day and he was offering some advice about starting up a freelancing career while I search for a more permanent “big girl” job with those sweet, sweet benefits. He mentioned how he’d had some pretty bad experiences with some of the people who’ve pitched him stories for WD.  Apparently their unfriendly, unethical and blatantly rude actions landed them a special place in the WD Blacklist Folder.

He wouldn’t tell me who was in it, but he mentioned that there were 5-6 names in there. I guess you manage a magazine long enough, you’re bound to experience up a few sour deals.

How does one land themselves in the black list folder?

1. Pitching a story to the magazine then trashing the same magazine on their blog before the pitch is even on the editor’s desk. Yes, this actually happened. Apparently this gentleman never heard of the ol’ “burning bridges” adage.

2. Trying to send the same article with only minor changes to the magazine while simultaneously publishing it in a competitor’s magazine. This may have worked 20-30 years ago, but with the internet, not anymore!

3. Being super annoying. I can only imagine what kinds of horrible stalking and creepy-letter-sending will land you in this category. Did I mention WD gets a lot of prison mail?

Now, on a more upbeat note, here is some of his advice for breaking in to freelancing and magazine writing. According to him, the process is pretty simple. Being successful, ah! Now there’s the rub.

1. Keep pitching stories. Can’t stop, won’t stop!

2. Build relationships with editors and publications. But not ones that start with sending vagina poems. Seriously, this won’t work.

3. Try to bypass general slush pile emails and submit directly to editors. Apparently so few people do this that you are more likely to get a quick response. Of course, if you’re like me and fear pissing people off (and landing in the black folder), you walk a fine line with this one. Do you risk getting a cranky email about only submitting to the submissions email? Up to you. Can’t be worse than a form rejection, right? right??

Frozen Banana Bites and The Copy Edit Test

Last week was a busy weekend. I went to the grocery store, I read some books, graduated college again…and I also worked my butt off trying to finish the F+W Media freelancing test to qualify for a copyedit/proofreading gig.

I can’t give out any specifics of the exam because that would be unethical, but I can say that it is an exhausting experience. I know that what they gave me is meant to have a number of errors to see how many I catch, and written poorly to see how I clean it up, but if I ever receive a manuscript that read like the pages they gave me I would suggest they fire the writer, and dock the pay of the editor that acquired the book.

My eyes practically went cross-eyed making copy edits and suggested revisions. And the proofreads, though less intense, made me constantly second guess myself. I’ve never looked up so many words I knew how to spell just because I was so paranoid that maybe I had been spelling them wrong my entire life.

I won’t get my results on the test for another few weeks, but I have definitely gained a new appreciation for what copy editors and proofreaders do. Their work is not easy, so if you are currently enlisting the services of one, thank them. I mean, sure, you’re probably already paying them, but thank them too!

Luckily, I was able to break up the mental jumping jacks by trying out a Frozen Banana Bite recipe from the (never home)maker blog, a new favorite.

But instead of coconut for the topping, I used some crushed walnuts.

Here’s the recipe:

• 2 large bananas
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• Topping of choice

1. Cover a large plate with a piece of parchment or wax paper.
2. Cut up the bananas into good-sized chunks. Each banana should give you around 7 to 8 pieces.
3. Heat the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds. It should take about 1-1.5 minutes. Stir until smooth.
4. Dip the banana pieces in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Lay them out leaving some space between them on the parchment/wax paper.
5. Sprinkle on your topping of choice and transfer to the freezer for about an hour until hardened. For best results, leave overnight and store in a ziplock container for up to two weeks.

What do you mean, no more workshop?

That’s it. I’m done. Done with graduate workshops and required one page responses. No more 12-13 copies of a story printed out and stapled, (and with page numbers, damnit). No more three-hour classes of back and forth debate, or discussions about everything from the title to the use of onomatopoeia. Finally, I am free of workshop.

Oh god…no more workshop…

This weekly ritual that I’ve been adhering to for two years is finally over. No one is required to read and respond to my work. No one has to think about what it all means, or what my character’s motivations are. No one has to care.

It’s scary to think that now I’m on my own. But I am so glad I had the incredible workshop experiences I did, better this year than last, but beneficial just the same. I think it prepared me for how I need to look at my work when it really is just me looking at it. Now that I know no one will be sitting there, waiting to tell me what I need to fix, it makes me want to take my own personal editing and revision more seriously. But it’s still really scary.

And it’s sad too. I’m going to miss everyone I’ve spent so much time with, and their work–the stories I will never know the ends to! Alas!

Not to mention the adorably self-aware emails:

Hey All,

So as I read my end-note again, I think it might sound a little passive-aggressive?  That certainly was not my intent, I really do want comments on thematic cohesion, lack of plot and conflict, etc.  I think I was just trying to say that my insecurities regarding this piece are about both the content and form of the piece.  So comments about length, pacing, sections that don’t work within the form would be appreciated also.  Was this email even needed?  Anyways, thanks for reading!

Oddly enough, as glad as I am to be done with workshop, I know the first thing I’ll do when I graduate and move to Columbus is seek out a writers’ group. Something about it seems so natural now. It’s a second nature. Guess I did learn something from grad school after all.

This Made My Day!

As I mentioned earlier in my post about the Farewell Reading, the event was a huge success. We had a packed room and not enough chairs to seat everyone. Part of this was because some grad students offered the reading as extra credit to their ENG 111 & 112 classes as long they submitted write-ups about the experience afterward.

Well, a friend of mine, who actually put the whole reading together, had some of her students in attendance and just posted this on my Facebook wall:

It pretty much made my day.

No, it made my week.

No–this validated my decision to go to grad school.

Also, if anyone is interested in that awesome band, Ellery, that I mentioned earlier, Tasha is actually the singer/songwriter/female half of that musical duo. She’s pretty amazing, and so is her poetry. Seriously, check them out!

My Farewell Reading

As the semester wraps up, it’s starting to become more and more real that I won’t be coming back to Miami next year. It will be the first time in five years where Miami won’t be my home, and I won’t have classes to attend, or homework to complain about. It’s weird.

But the end of the year, though bittersweet, is always accompanied by some great events. Like the “Goodbye Forever” final grad student reading. Not only was it the last reading of the year, but it was the very first time I got up in front of a (very large) crowd and read my own work. For everyone outside of the fiction program, it was the first time they’ve heard or seen something I’ve written. It was exciting, scary, and as soon as it was over, I wanted to do it again.

I’d say I did alright. I practiced a little before hand, but not enough to allow me brief glances at the audience. The whole “eye contact” thing would have been great, but I figured for my first go at it, not flubbing the words would be better. I even got some solid laughs! I may have preempted the biggest joke in the story by chortling at it first, before actually delivering it. Everyone said it was endearing, but I’m going for the hard sell, deadpan delivery next time. It’s what the story deserves.

The other readers were amazing. I got to hear a number of the second years that had also never read before and damn, I am sad to see them go. Check out the names on that flyer because you will see them in print someday. And definitely catch them at a reading if you can, because they are great.

Unusual for a reading, but a great treat, was listening to a short concert put on by Ellery (www.ellerymusic.com), which consists of one of my grad school friends and her lovely husband. I’d never heard them play, but they have had quite the success in recent years and actually only went to grad school to try something different.

I, of course, bought both their CDs and you should too. They are fantastic. And if you ever get to see them live–wow. Just, wow.

It was a great night–sad, but wonderful. There are so many people that I hope I keep in touch with, or at least see again sometime in the future. Somehow it feels like grad school lasted an eternity, and yet my time with these people was way too short.