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."