Author Updatery

Over the course of the last couple of days, running errands and all that, a couple of authorly things have resolved. Honestly, with very little effort from me.

I will apply to Odyssey AND Viable Paradise. I’ve talked to Bryon about both. As soon as school is up and running, I’ll chat with Allison about the possibility of six weeks off, if Odyssey should accept me, and professional development funding for either. I honestly think work will want me to swing toward Viable Paradise, but you never know, as no one’s offered me an extended contract just yet.

Thanks to all of you who have been kind enough to offer advice and answer my many questions about this process. I really appreciate it!

Key to applying to workshops is the Fulbright mentality. With that in mind, I’m still planning on Convergence as a summer antic. If I am accepted to either, we’ll adjust our plans.

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As to the other recent authorly concern, the Wiscon reading group is also formed. My partners in crime will be Ellise Heiskell (avid costumer and beginning writer), Catherine Cheek (Clarion workshop alum, visual artist, and broadly talented person), and Gregory Frost (member of the University of Iowa community of the fantastic, scholar, itinerant gentleman, and author of some of the most mythic work I’ve read in recent years. ) And yours truly.

What I like about this group is that it pretty much represents Wiscon in microcosm. Wiscon has always struck me as a con which attracts people talented on multiple levels, with multiple interests. It also is the kind of place where a beginning writer like Ellise could read with a gifted and talented author like Gregory. The hierarchy is flattened. Long live the revolution!

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I should do something creative today. It’s been more of a slug vacation than I would have liked, so I will finish the whole internet thing, and do some writing, and then…probably it’s a day of sewing. Work begins anew Monday. Maybe some structure will help.

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Gossamer and Veridian Plans: Applications and Drafting

I’ve rested as much on my laurels as I can in regard to past material, and now that I have some readers to help me, I can make some definite plans.

The first thing I need to have done, and I want it done in two weeks, by January 17th, is to have a summation of where the novel is going. I need some idea of how Feldspar’s plans are unfolding, and I need to look at other character’s motivations. My God, this sounds suspiciously like…outlining!!!

After that, I will polish up the summary and submit it and part of the work for Odyssey and Viable Paradise, along with applications and materials. I thought about sending off Mark Twain’s Daughter, but honestly, since this is the novel I’ll be working on, this makes more sense.

By the end of January, my goal for G&V will be one chapter every two weeks, send to Team G&V (Yo, Jenn, Cat, and Yvonne). This process should start February 1st.

Beginning tomorrow, then, I’ll lay some pipe for this story, see how much verbiage that is, and figure out how much of the real McCoy I can send with the rest of the two workshop aps.

It’s good to have a plan. Little goals and personal deadlines keep me honest. How about you guys?

Cath

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.