Making History

Is this blog going to remain part of English 189 for future classes at Mills? Might be a cool history. I vote you keep it.

Something Important

Most of you probably already know this, either from experience or intuitively, but I'm going to say it anyway just in case:

When you get up to read on Monday night, or anytime you do public speaking, NEVER apologize! I've been in too many situations when someone started out by saying,
"I'm sorry, I'm so nervous..."
"I'm sorry, but I had a family emergency last night and I was up until 5 Am and I had to take my cat to the vet so I'm not really all here..."
"I'm sorry but I hate public speaking so I put off until the last minute..."
"I'm sorry, but this isn't finished and anyway it's not really that good..."

What can your audience do with that kind of information? It only makes them uncomfortable and prepares them to have a more uncomfortable experience, feeling sorry for you in the meantime instead of enjoying the sound of your beautiful work.

I'm excited that our group is setting the standard. I'm excited about Monday night and hearing each of you. We're going to be awesome. Thank you all for a great semester, especially the emotional support and encouragement to keep going. 2007 Seniors--You Rock!!

Emily's Musical -- the details

Martha noticed the details for the musical I'm in weren't very clear so here are the full details. I'm in the women's chorus playing "Bertha," have a couple of mini singing solos and a number of goofy acts to perform on stage:

Gilbert and Sullivan's
The Grand Duke
April 20, 21, and 28 at 7:30 PM
April 29 at 2:30 PM

All performances will be held in Dinkelspiel Auditorium on the Stanford Campus. You can either buy tickets online or just show up and buy them at the door. Everyone is welcome to come as your schedule permits!

More info here:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/savoyards/home.html

The Grand Duke

A pic from dress rehearsal of Emily in her Greek costume (there is a German costume setting and a Greek one). I'm on the far left in blue.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/savoyards/home.html

What to do at the Reading--Not!

Elmaz using herself as a visual aid...

And she thinks we don't take her seriously...

Formatting

Okay, so now that I'm actually, done (with the exception of the last go at line editing), I have a problem. My thesis is formatted into 24 chapters, which come out to a total of 57 double-spaced (44 at 1 & 1/2 spaced) pages not including a title page. It wouldn't be quite so long if all of the pages were completely filled, but some of the chapters end with like three or four lines before the page break, which is irritating. How should I format this for the final turn in?

Best Dressed Feet at the Senior Alum Dinner

Guess Whose?

Put a Fork In It; It's Done

Join us for the seniors' creative writing reading on Monday, April 30, in the Bender Room. This features the writers from the Creative Writing Thesis class English 189.

Delicious snacks and drinks will be served -- this will be a smashing, energetic event! Hope to see you there.

Class Performance

What do y'all think we should title the end of year performance? Post your ideas for a title here as comments -- be it "The Abyss of My Soul" or what have you. Thanks!

Zaatardiva

Here's the link to the poems for Zaatardiva.

Kim's volunteering and a cry for (A/V) help

Does anyone with affiliation with audio-visual services want to serve as a go-between? Just for setup info. I don't mind doing this publicity stuff, but I'd really really REALLY rather not do the A/V stuff if anyone's willing. Pretty please with a hell of a lot of sugar on top?

I just wanted to put in writing what I volunteered to do:
1. To submit the event to the weekly, the student activities schedule, student news (I thought I should probably wait to do that until closer to the event)
2. To submit the room reservation/set-up request, which I've already done. I've requested the Bender Room from 7-9 on April 30th (6:15-9:45 for cleanup). I've asked for 100 chairs, 2 tables, and 3 tablecloths, and for Mills to cater/provide coffee, tea, and sodas if possible. I also requested a lectern and speaker and setup services from A/V, but that might cost extra because it's after business hours (someone needs to communicate with them). Also, because we're having alcohol, then Elmaz you have to fill out and submit the form here and I think contact someone listed there: https://bannerweb.mills.edu/alcohol_security.htm

how's the thesis going?

so gang...did you write over the break? or did you break? how atttached are you to your project or does it end up last on the list after all the other work is done? how different is writing for a thesis from writing for class? see you for the soldier presentaitons...

I know this isn't a discussion question, but...

I just wanted to give huge thanks to everyone for all your help today. Your suggestions and support are already doing a lot to help me push forward with the King et al...so thank you!
Aaaand I really wanted to thank you all for politely putting up with my excessive comments on your wonderful pieces. :)

Recovery

Here's what I do to recover from the hurt.

1) Talk to a supportive friend and vent. I try not to talk to lots of people about it though. I believe too much "venting" gives the hurt too much energy and actually makes it worse.

2) Give myself some space. I put the paper away and put the thoughts "on hold" until I'm clear and, not crying, and not tired. Sometimes I need a few hours, sometimes a few days.

3) I try to be objective about the criticism while recognizing that another's opinion is only one opinion, and having a title in front of one's name doesn't necessarily mean they have the last word. Once in a poetry class, the teacher was adamnant that a certain poem was about a baby. The class agreed with him, I think because he spoke with such authority. I finally spoke up and said that I thought the poem was about sex. When the writer got to talk she said that I was right. So it helps to remind myself that sometimes people can be wrong about my work.

4) I tell myself the kind of things a nurturing friend or parent would say. I usually do this while I'm drifting off to sleep. (Learning to parent ourselves with love works in a lot of situations).

5) I keep a file folder of cards and past positive comments. Every once in awhile I'll take them out and read "kudos" for past accomplishments. That puts everything back in perspective.

6) I recognize self-doubts as normal, but also very dangerous. Self-recrimination serves no positive function, so I try to avoid it at all costs.

7) Get mad (but never at myself!) and go back to work.

dealing with workshop criticism

gang,
i have a question for everyone: how do you handle workshop critcism? what is your technique for both emotional and literary recovery? do you go it alone or ask for help? do you talk to the instructor?

First Thesis Draft

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry I didn't have hard copies of my draft today. I sent it as an attachment to the class list, and to Emily, so if anybody didn't get it let me know. See you all next week!

sierra

Class Notes

Hi everyone,

Remember to email Elmaz and myself any general or specific questions you have about writing, publishing, or related stuff and we'll collect them to address them in upcoming classes.

Homework for next week, 2/27:

1. Read and critique all remaining first rough draft sections.
   
2. Read Starred Wire.
   
3. Send in Elmaz and me your comments on the group presentation for Ruby.
   

Remember to get your thesis plans to Elmaz/me if you haven't done so already.

Thanks!

How's this for a grabber?

My favorite book of all-time is The History of Love, by Nicole Kraus. The opening lines read: "When they write my obituary. Tomorrow. Or the next day. It will say, LEO GURSKY IS SURVIVED BY AN APARTMENT FULL OF SHIT." What a read...I laughed, I cried, and when it was over, I pressed the book against my chest with both hands and fell asleep. The next night I started reading it again...Martha

Question

Can someone please explain the difference between memoir and autobiography? Also, can memoir be written in the 3rd person and still be memoir? Thanks! Martha

first 2 pages

Hi everyone,

My first 2 pages were from Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. Check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/Middlesex-Novel-Jeffrey-Eugenides/dp/0312422156/sr=8-1/qid=1170725224/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-1205418-7742461?ie=UTF8&s=books

The very first line is:
"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974."

I love this opening because it's so startling yet, he finds a way of making it sound mundane at the same time. I dig it.

-Yalitza

first two pages

The book I wanted to bring was, "Said the Shotgun to the Head" by Saul Williams. This man writes incredible poetry, had me at the very first line, first two pages, never lost me until it was time to finish the book. When I finished it, I read it over again immediately. I bookmarked certain pages, thought about tattooeing some of his words on my body.... the poetry is musical, rhythmic, and blows your mind into intensely deep and thoughtful places. Saul Williams' poetry reminds me of the acutely aware and intuitive subconcious each one of us posesses, but mixes it with common logic and sense. His words are loaded, so compact and rich, it will keep you thinking for days. His poetry makes me feel like I discovered a new way to breathe, a way that makes you and everything around you turn into a god. So yeah, this would be the book.

Andrea's book

Anyhow, I wanted to submit my choice for what I believe is a masterly written introductory piece. My choice was Nabokov's Lolita. Lolita was one of the first books I read cover to cover because of its rich unrepressed descriptions ( at the time of reading, I was a precocious teen and topics concerning taboo sexuality/ forbidden courtships appealed to me). I can remember the author's illustration of Lolita's lips as "candy licked red." It captivated my attention and I've never really let go of the obsessive, sensual quality of his writing.

-Andrea
(Emily posting for Andrea until blog problem sorted out)

first two pages

Hi all,

The book I chose was Madeleine is Sleeping by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum. I'm not sure how to create a hyperlink in my post but the following website tells a little bit about her and the book. http://www.amazon.com/gp/sitbv3/reader/105-5192761-9745260?asin=0156032279&pageID=S013&checkSum=JPf2ntZhBnsiI1jDEzD/qKAhSq9GPud4Alt14VYa5YA=

The first two pages set up the form and voice in her book, but only just begin to show how completely amazing and bizarre the content and prose are.

caroline's 1st two pages selections

2:

Lucile Clifton's Blessing the Boats though admittedly I prefer the superman poems in the back

&

C.D. Payne's "Youth In Revolt"
You can try this link that will open in a new window or tab to view the first two pages in PDF format. You'll have to hit the next arrow on the sides probably to get to it. It starts int he form of the journal entry and something about "Nick the prick," "gangsters," and "oakland."

Question for the Class + First 2 pages

The opening I brought in was from Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones." Like some of the other openings we read, it beautifully juxtaposes a detached tone with a sense of nostalgic longing (a powerful combination).
I had a question for Elmaz regarding workshopping critiques that she suggested I post in the blog. I've taken plenty of fiction workshopping classes (including Y.A.), and I feel that I've taken enough literature classes to critique poetry, but I haven't taken any nonfiction or memoir writing classes. I've been basically approaching nonfiction as I would prose fiction, including verbal critiques. Does anyone have other ways that they approach nonfiction/memoir workshopping? Or tips? Or questions about how to approach Y.A., poetry, fiction, that we could all discuss?
Thanks
-Kim

Yesterday's reading was intense...

but you are amazing women. Thank you so much for the great feedback. I appreciate every comment. Some of you are incredibly intuitive readers as well. I don't know how this story is going to play out, what voice I'll use, which details to include or exclude. The process of writing, then reading aloud, then hearing feedback is crucial to my being able to do this work. Scary, but doable--because of all of you. I realized last night that even though I know only some of you, I trust our group as a whole. I might cry sometimes...just so you know....but please continue to be as honest as you can. I do not take offense! Thanks again for yesterday, Martha

my book...

Hi class,
The book whose opening I fell in love with and brought to class but did not read is Mama Makes Up Her Mind and Other Dangers of Southern Living by Bailey White.

It is a memoir, it is hilarious and if you haven't read it yet, you should. The opening isn't just the first two pages, but the first chapter/short story of the book (which is about 2 1/4 pages, so i was close).

Peace,
Alexi

Titles and Authors

Hi Ladies,

I'm not sure if Elmaz and Emily want the titles and authors of the books we chose in comment form or in a separate blog, so my apologies if I'm not doing this correctly.

My book is: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

See you all next week and thanks for all the great input today in the workshop! You ladies rock!

Black fishnets and white snow

In class we talked about a couple of ways juxtaposition of tone and subject creates an emotion, or tension, between what and how something is said. In the opening of Middlesex the narrator lays bare pithy issues ranging from gender identity, rebirth, and social alienation in a detached and journalistic voice, yet in Madeleine is Sleeping we see simple images of sleep and the human figure portrayed through highly dramatic language.

How do you see juxtaposition appear in your own work? It could be between two images portrayed, between images and tone, setting and dialogue, for instance. What kind of tension is created by your use of juxtaposition? And how does that tension serve to drive your piece forward?

Schedule updates:
We're spending the 2/6 class finishing up workshopping our first two pages. Be ready having read Ruby for group discussion on 2/13.

To recap the homework for this week:

1. Send me the titles and authors of the books you chose to model for your first two pages, or post them on the blog yourself. If you send a link to the books themselves, I'll post that too!
   
2. Write a rambling, informal letter to Elmaz and Emily on what you want your thesis to be about by Friday 2/2.
   
3. Breathe.
   
4. Read and write comments on the first two pages submitted by your classmates. This can either be notes in the margins and/or a short written critique, however you are so inspired.
   
5. Maybe start reading Ruby for the 2/13 class.
   
6. Are you still breathing? Phew.
   

e pluribus bloggum

Everyone should now be added to this blog so you can post at will.

The first page.

How do you get your reader committed to reading after the first page?

In the excerpt you've chosen for your "best first two pages" example, what about the first page gripped you? What questions did it raise in your mind that made you want to read on?

Look closely at word choice and tone of the piece. How did the language affect your reaction to the story?