Acceptance: Graduation Imminent
Today I received my most meaningful acceptance letter yet, an email from Doug Rice concerning my novel project. JenI have finished reading your project. All looks good. I think you did a much better job with [the narrator] in the creation myth and of the movement through the city as well as getting her on … Read more
Don’t Write For Mom And Dad
I had an awful dream last night. My mother was reading a draft of my novel, and it was covered in red felt pen markings with corrections she’d made. Entire passages were crossed out and her notes included suggestions for how my writing could be improved. On top of the first page was “51%” and … Read more
Creation Myth Revised – Another Draft of My Novel
Just last Thursday, I submitted another draft of my novel to Doug Rice. It felt wrong to blog when I was supposed to be “writing like the Dickens.” In any case, now I can breathe a little before he gets back to me with feedback. My last meeting with Rice, which followed my Collective Reading … Read more
Winter Break Correspondence: Acceptance, Rejection & Overdue Books
So, I’ve been–under the weather lately, and haven’t been up to posting more than the occasional call for submissions. A lot has happened over winter break–good, bad and ghastly. Here’s a brief update. Just in time for Christmas, I received an email from Trina Drotar, co-editor of CSUS’s literary journal, Calaveras Station, to congratulate me … Read more
My Novel: A New Hope
Today, I worked on my novel and was pleasantly surprised by my new revisions. I rewrote one of my opening scenes. It’s better, with fuller more careful descriptions. For months I’ve been too intimidated to tackle old words with new skills. Revision is like exploring your way out of a maze. The more words you … Read more
My Novel & Peter Granbois: Tiresias in Disguise
Once, during my first semester in the CSUS Graduate Program, I sat in Creative Writing Professor Peter Grandbois‘s office, and he told me with complete honesty: Most first novels will sit in a drawer and never get published. At the time I wanted to melt into the floor and just die right there. Now I … Read more
August Binding of My Novel LD
Every month, I like to bind a current working typescript of my novel, LD. I do this for many reasons. The most important is that I feel oh so professional when the pages come rolling out my printer. The last time I bound LD was way back in May. Since then, I’ve been putting off … Read more
Overhauling My Novel – Revise. Rewrite. Rethink.
This morning I woke up as many writers, I am sure, wake up–depressed, feeling worthless, and wondering if I’ll ever shape up to be a good writer. As I lay in bed, I asked myself: What are the major flaws of my novel? The answer: dragging exposition heavy narrative stubborn protagonist who I cannot control … Read more
The Writer Made Impotent
I’ve been struggling with my novel lately. I just can’t shake the feeling that the entire premise reeks of BAD. I wonder, should I introduce a new character? A new plot problem? What can I do to make this a more interesting novel with character and plot that really inspires the reader?—- Nothing. It’s just … Read more
Passi, Philippines – Pictures for Inspiration
This last Spring, my parents went home to the Philippines, where they are building their retirement home. Since the majority of my novel, LD, takes place in the Philippines, I asked my dad to take some pictures that might inspire me. He did a fantastic job. All of these pictures were taken on the island … Read more
