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2018 is a new year, but it will also be a big year. It's hard to grasp that in less than four months, at twenty-one, I will graduate with a dual-English bachelor's degree in Rhetoric & Professional Writing and Creative Writing Hybrid Forms. I have three classes left, starting next week. Deep breaths. I still remember my first college courses. I was actually a senior in high school, studying at a vocational school in a Graphic Arts & Communications program. The program still thrives, and their students will be creating the invitations for my August wedding reception. Graduating from college, getting married... Oh, and graduate school. I'm still waiting about other acceptances and assistantships, but it only adds to how massive this year is. On top of that, PULSE by Danielle Koste - the novel I edited - finally released on the first of this month. From what I'm seeing and hearing, it's selling by the box at this point, and I could not be happier for Danielle. She has worked on this book for years, and it's finally alive and in the world.  If you're interested in purchasing a gorgeous copy of your own, you can find both digital and paperback versions through Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. She has several other outlets listed on this post. Another collaboration with Luna Eclipse was published with Jazzy Magazine, as seen below:  The historical twist was a delightful change. Luna's pieces often tie in mythology, a subject I always wished to study but never quite found the chance.
This year, I hope to dive into mythology, screenwriting, and more. I have plans to finish the first novel in The Corruption Trilogy and start the second. On top of that, I'd like to either publish a chapbook or start on a collection. It's a new, big year and I plan to make the most of it.
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William Longgood once said: "Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination." My semester hasn't been over for a full week and so much has happened. I received Danielle Koste's PULSE in the mail this weekend. I met this book online several years ago when it was a draft on Wattpad, and after seeking advice from Danielle, we became close friends. Editing her book is an honor and a privilege. I mean, just look at it.  Our friends at Yonderworldly Designs crafted that gorgeous cover, and wow, does it shine. I have received several complements on their behalf.
A few days later, I was asked to represent all undergraduate Arts & Sciences students at the University of Cincinnati on the new Career Fair Steering Committee. This committee could better students' access to internships, co-ops, and careers post-graduation, and I am in shock to be asked in the first place. To represent thousands of Arts & Sciences undergraduate students is mind-blowing. Even after accepting this opportunity, I am still in shock. And now, I have received all my grades back. In each of my courses, and my internship with the Rhetoric & Professional Writing department, I earned an A. Not a single A minus, either. I found this out minutes ago, actually. It hasn't set in, yet. I'm a bit speechless. What I can say in this moment, however, is that to Longgood, dreams and dedication are a powerful combination, but if you combine that with the support I have, well, I am honored and privileged and graced and so many more adjectives that elude me. Thank you to everyone that has supported me throughout this rigorous semester, and of course, the many years leading up to it. I hope I have made you proud now, and I hope to continue doing so in the future. Keep those fingers crossed for my graduate applications! That's the next hurdle before actual graduation.  Yesterday, I scheduled the final three courses of my undergraduate education.
Wow. Is it possible to hold your breath yet feel like you're finally able to breathe at the same time? That's about where I am right now. In other terms, I'm choking up. I cannot believe that I registered for my last semester yesterday. They were small actions, just submitting the courses I selected weeks ago with a few clicks of my keypad. It didn't feel quite as momentous as it does now. My (often) hour-plus commute decreased from three times a week to once a week, and rather than three classes and an internship, I only have three classes. Two of the courses are online while my Rhetoric & Professional Writing (R.P.W.) Capstone is in person. This is the final course to determine whether I have earned the R.P.W. part of my dual-English degree. Right now, as I'm sure many of you are aware, I'm currently in a Creative Writing: Hybrid Forms Capstone for my creative major. It's hard to fathom that I will have my double-major B.A. within the next six months when I still starkly remember taking collegiate courses during my senior year in high school. I had my entire degree planned out then, and although a few courses have changed here and there. I'm blown away by everything that I didn't expect. At Sinclair Community College, I never anticipated working for their Writing Center or tutoring department. Additionally, with their yearly Spectrum Awards to celebrate writing of all types and at all levels, I was nominated for four different award categories. Though I won three of four, as shown on my bibliography, I was honored as the top English student that year. Because the professors believed in me. So many of them still believe in me. I'm tearing up right now. I'm forever grateful to the faculty at Sinclair Community College. Tim Waggoner, Adrienne Cassel, Adam Williams, and Caroline Reynolds personally instructed some of my courses. Elizabeth Scarborough hired me on as a tutor; to this day, I have never loved a job more. I was also graced by the recognition and support from the Chair of the English department, Lisa Mahle-Grisez. Because of them, and several others, Sinclair lives in my heart each day. I have been similarly blessed at the University of Cincinnati with professors like Laura Wilson, Jonathan Kamholtz, Christine Mok, Teresa Cook, Rebecca Lindenberg, and Chris Bachelder. The internship I currently have with their R.P.W. department has been eye-opening, as well, and I've been lucky enough to learn bits and pieces of what makes an English department successful. As I choke up about my final semester and await responses from my graduate applications, I cannot help but be thankful to the people that supported me each step of the way. I hope to make you all proud. In my first October post, I vowed to write more. I am happy to announce that I have! To my novel, THE CORRUPTION TRILOGY: VERIWEN, I have added more than 4,000 words. Then, for my hopeful collection STOLEN MOMENTS, I finally nailed down the structure and organization. This revelation is a relief in itself. Of course, coursework still comes first.  PERSEPOLIS is the next text up for discussion in my Hybrid Forms Capstone course. I am a little more than halfway through, and because I saw excerpts years ago, I know the pain is just on the horizon.
When I experience pieces like these, I am reminded of the V for Vendetta quote: "Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth." We need more pieces like PERSEPOLIS in the world. For insight. For awareness. For honesty. For truth. Someday, I hope to pen something even a quarter as impactful. In the last few years, I have noticed that my writing grows congruently with my education, which is one of the many reasons why I decided to pursue graduate school. Well, this morning, while knee-deep in PERSEPOLIS, I received an acceptance email from one of the three graduate schools I applied to. Graduate school as an institution is intimidating, so this acceptance is comforting. I am truly honored. With all of my program applications, I also applied for teaching assistantship positions/funding, as I cannot afford to attend graduate school otherwise. With the college that accepted me this morning, their assistantship is a secondary process, so I'm waiting to see if I am offered a position. It will be a few months yet before I hear from the other two graduate schools I applied to, but I am thrilled. So thrilled. I mentioned before, on my Facebook writer's page, that my writing sample was a risk; I am in tears knowing, for at least one institution, the risk paid off. Keep those fingers crossed! Now, it's a waiting game. The season of Spook is upon us, and naturally, I couldn't be happier.
I also couldn't be busier. I'm knee-deep in my second-to-last semester at the University of Cincinnati, finalizing my graduate school applications, working full-time as a Lead for a medical alert monitoring company, and snatching every moment in-between to write. STOLEN MOMENTS - a poetry chapbook or collection, I haven't decided yet - entirely encompasses this experience. It may turn into a hybrid form as I continue, but I haven't decided yet. I've found direction is often directionless in writing, anyway. Despite STOLEN MOMENTS, I've been itching to write fiction. Between editing Danielle Koste's upcoming novel, PULSE, almost two months ago and reading my fellow friends' works-in-progresses, this itch is mosquito-bite unbearable. The non-traditional, dystopian-fantasy trilogy of mine has been put on hold so I can focus on my academics and graduate applications, and I am steadily submitting my YA mainstream novel, FINE, but it is not enough. I want to pour hours into a blank page, spinning the stories screaming in my head. I want to explore new, innovative forms, much like the ones I am studying. Some, like scriptwriting, take more research. Take more time. The craving won't go away, though. It just growls in my stomach, louder and louder and louder, until I'm writing a blog post. This blog post. It occurs to me, now, how many writers talk about writing more than actually writing, and how, now, I am aware that I am doing the same as we speak, or rather, as I write and you eventually read. So, once I've completed my graduate application, I'll swap those hours for my fiction pursuits. I still want to publish a novel before graduate school, and if that's going to happen, it's time to find more time. What a beautiful conundrum. With only a day and a half left, give or take, January has been a long month. Here is an equally long update, and an exciting announcement, detailing how I spent it!
One of the first posts I published on my Facebook writer's page involved submissions. To date, I have now submitted to a total of 10 places with 26 pieces (some simultaneous, others not). I am thrilled to hear back from them, along with the other submissions I had out already in 2016! The e-zine edition of the February The Horror Zine is now up and running! The full home-page featuring all artists, writers, and updates (including a spectacular set of awards!) can be found with this link: http://www.thehorrorzine.com/ And my personal feature (including my photo, blurb, and published poems), can be found here: http://www.thehorrorzine.com/…/F…/AutumnLala/AutumnLala.html If you get a chance to read, please let me know what you think! It was an honor and privilege to work with the amazing editor, Jeani Rector, and I hope to do so again in the future! On another note, Luna Smith / Luna Eclipse Modeling and myself have been collaborating more and more as the weeks pass by. We've got exciting stuff happening, now and in the near future. I'm beyond blessed to have the opportunity to work with her. If you have a chance to check her out, please do so! She, and all the photographers she works with, do wonderful work! Moving forward... As you all know, I accepted the Editor-in-Chief position of the University of Cincinnati's Odyssey community earlier this month. Two of my creators' articles made it onto their (Odyssey's) Facebook page, and one of those two is still trending. I am proud/thrilled/jumping-off-the-walls-ecstatic to say that my team exceeded our page view goal by hundreds of thousands. I hope to make this a trend in the coming months, and with your support, I know we can! If you all did not see, Peg Allen at my previous vocational school, Warren County Career Center, also interviewed me! I am so grateful to have graduated from an institution that supported me and encouraged me when I needed it most. I wouldn't be the professional I am today without them. Here is that link once more: http://www.mywccc.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx… Of course, I am also a student. Currently, I am starting the fourth week of my 15 credit hour / 5 class semester. There is more reading than I anticipated, but I am enjoying my classes and doing my darnedest to impress my professors and get ahead so that I can dedicate more time to Odyssey, my writing, and my personal life. Because of this, and my amazing professor, Laura Wilson, my announcement comes from an academic source. I was offered - and have accepted - an internship with University of Cincinnati's English Department for next fall. Specifically, for the Rhetoric & Professional Writing Department. My long-time friend Clarity Amrein and I will be working on a number of projects, including promoting the program so that more students can discover how beneficial and versatile it is! If I land the other internship I have my eye on for this summer, I will graduate next spring with my double-major B.A. with two editorial positions, two Editor-in-Chief positions, a Teaching Assistant position, and two internships under my belt. *takes a deep breath* It's been a long month - a long year - but I could not have done it without you all. Thank you for being here, supporting me, and encouraging me as I continue to build my career. With the introduction of social media into our society, the way people interacted changed. The phrase, "glued to your phone," comes to mind. The dynamics of relationships have shifted as social media has dominated conversations. Needless to say, social media has become an issue for writers, as well. Some cannot stay off of it, which is where isolated programs such as Scrivener come into play. So, if it effects even the production of writing itself, how does this new phenomenon effect the publishing industry as a whole?
For starters, we now have what most call Digital Literature. It has a certain ring to it, don't you think? In fact, this new wave of literature has swept the nation - the world - so quickly that I am already taking a college course on how it is directly effecting the publishing industry. The market, especially. We aren't too far into the course, having only read an article or two, but my curiosity propels me to investigate further. In an earlier article, I may have touched upon my writerly roots. For a re-cap: I began writing online on a website called Quizzaz (now named Quotev) where people around my age bracket posted stories of varied lengths. I wrote stories, received feedback, posted updates, gained followers... The whole she-bang. At the time, I was a middle school student with an interest in words, ie. what they could do and how they could make people feel. Looking back now, as a senior in college, my writing was horrifying. However, I noted other, more important aspects in my reflection. While it opened up a platform for feedback and criticism, there were several detriments. Most writers on the website were young, inexperienced, and wholly satisfied with their current skill level; on this plane, there was hardly room for betterment since the criticism was — often times — laced with positives and pleads for the author to post rather than observations or notes for improvement. Overall, the state of quality for the stories on the website stayed the same with a few notable members rising through the cracks. Fast forward to today, where dozens of these interactive, writerly websites exist, and I am brought back to the moment where I was — for a lack of better wording — searching through digital slush in order to find a story worth reading, be it from a technical, stylistic, or narrative standpoint. I had to remind myself — force myself — to only spend my time on the crème de la crème of stories in order to further my skills the way I wished. I am conflicted on how to feel about this, especially in regards to the future of writing and what it means to publish. Amazon has a publishing feature with, essentially, no barriers. This allows anyone computer-literate to publish their work. Having sifted through enough writerly sludge online, this saddens me. But it also makes me strive to work that much harder to rise through the cracks. So, that's what I encourage you to do, as well. Since this literary evolution - spurned on by technological and societal advancement - is largely out of our control, embrace it. Take it as another opportunity. Discover what you can do through this new medium and ride the waves of inspiration. As always, please share your thoughts with us below! How do you feel about the surfacing of digital literature? How does it effect you? And if there is any writerly topic or subject you wish to see discussed, please don't be shy! In earlier articles, I have remarked - really, stated over and over - how important it is to a writer's career to be an opportunist. Sometimes, opportunities walk straight into you, refusing to budge without acknowledgement. Sometimes, they pass by - simply existing - waiting for your initiative. Thus far, I have experienced both.
Now, I cannot say with absolute certainty which is better and which is worse - since the value of opportunities is subjective in itself - but I can introduce an opportunity to you and let you judge it for yourself. For years, I have been subscribed to Writer's Digest. If you are familiar with my Facebook Writer's Page, or one of my other accounts, you may have seen a picture of my collection: magazine after magazine precariously stacked into a leaning tower, moments away from slipping into a whirlpool of paper on my apartment's floor. However, Writer's Digest has both a beneficial print and online platform. While you have to pay for the magazine subscription - to me, a worthy venture given the variety of content - access to the website is absolutely free. There are several other subscriptions and services Writer's Digest offers that cost money, but today, I will not be discussing those. Instead, I'd like to point your attention to Writer's Digest's Editor Blogs. Essentially, there are four Editors Blogs, which I will outline below: 1. The Writer's Dig produced by Brian A. Klems. In this series of posts, Klems "covers everything about writing" which is an awfully broad definition. However, they expand upon it slightly. Aside from the assortment of Guest Columns, it's what I aim to do with "Wrong, Or Write? Take:..." Click here to check it out! 2. Guide to Literary Agents by Chuck Sambuchino. The title of Sambuchino's blog explains the premise succinctly. Though, as you read Writer Digest's description of this blog, there seems to be much more to it. Sambuchino also keeps up with conferences, contests, publishing opportunities, and more. Click here to check out what else he has to offer! 3. There Are No Rules by the editors of Writer's Digest. Unlike the previous blog, the title of this one is misleading when paired with Writer's Digest's short, explanatory excerpt: "Get on the cutting edge of today's publishing trends and how authors can succeed in a world of fast-paced technological change..." To check out what "There Are No Rules" is made of, click here! 4. Poetic Asides produced by Robert Brewer. Brewer focuses entirely on poetry in his Editor Blog from the market to issues effecting poetry to poetic forms in themselves. Additionally, when he introduces various poetic forms, readers and writers alike may submit examples for a chance at being published in a future edition of their print magazine. To take a look at all of Brewer's posts, click here! After browsing through, I feel this is a wonderful feature. Multiple articles are published each day packed with advice, information, and opportunities. No matter what you write - or what you are interested in - I am almost positive you will find some worthwhile tips and resources within the pages of these blogs. 2017 is upon us. Many welcome the new year with open arms, a smile, and a succinct: "Finally!" The end of the year - especially after the holidays - is exhausting. At this point, most of us are ready to wash off the past year and ease into the new one, which can make writing motivation ever more the elusive creature. For other writers, however, they are eager to begin a new project alongside the fresh start.
Keeping up with a writing project - like any New Year's resolution - can be a chore. A new year can often mean new obligations, new priorities, or even the old ones catching up to you. In these times, it's important to keep the project at the forefront of your mind. Give yourself daily reminders. Post it notes placed in the areas of your home that you frequent - the kitchen or bathroom, for instance - are a good start. It's a type of positive, auto-suggestion where you suggest a behavior to yourself. Followed often enough, it can become a habit. Have more time? Dedicate a certain part of your day exclusively to writing. To remind yourself in the beginning - until it becomes routine - perhaps set an obnoxious alarm on your phone so you never forget. The alarm is a small way to keep yourself accountable. If accountability is a problem along with motivation, utilize your writing community / writing friends. Group together - support each other - and set daily or weekly goals for each other that you have to meet. Working with others can be a difficult task due to scheduling, which is why I favor a weekly goal where you can set aside one day a week to come together and share your hard work. On a larger scale, when you are not the only one writing, the expectations may vary person to person and that's okay. One person may have a personal goal to write two chapters a week. One person may wish to write one chapter and read a published book. Another person may be working on a different medium - say, poetry - and have specific, numeric goals for how many poems they would like to draft or finalize in that time-span. Another member could still be in the planning stages of their project, discovering just what it is they want to do and how they would like to go about doing it. Every writer has their own unique life with their own set of priorities and expectations; it's natural for each to have their own goals. Please, share your thoughts with us below! How do you like to start the new year? With a fresh start, or finishing something not-quite-so-new? And if there is any writerly topic or subject you would like to see discussed, please don't be shy! In the World of Writing, a writer can expand their knowledge through a multitude of avenues. Online resources. Conferences. Books. School, whether that be lower or higher education. And in both, creative writing courses are available.
Creative writing courses are hit or miss. In my writing group, this is the overall agreement. I have heard stories of both revolutionary and disastrous classes, attentive and insensitive instructors, as well as dedicated or lazy classmates. All of these factors, and more, contribute to whether a creative writing course is successful by its end. This past semester, I enrolled in an intermediate creative writing course. It comes after the introductory course but before the final capstone that determines if you have met the university's graduation requirements. We had a graduate student for an instructor - only teaching for tuition reduction - and a small, cozy class of sixteen. It was a miss. The instructor based the course on his interests (something he admitted more than once), often let his frustration boil over and create a tense classroom environment, directed his students to change the entire plots of their stories to fit, once more, his interests, and was wholly unprofessional throughout the term. Still, I worked around it and earned an A. However, the failure of the class made me think of my future. For years, I have intended to pursue a graduate degree (or two) in order to become an English professor. Just as remarkable classes have me reflecting on how I will teach, terrible courses force me to consider how I will teach. Or rather, how I will not teach. As an educator, I think it's important to prepare students for their endeavors beyond the classroom. In the writing sphere - creative writing in particular - this means a multitude of areas. So many, in fact, that it may be difficult to lecture, write, and workshop on top of addressing those subjects. In a creative writing classroom, these topics are where I would start: inspiration (listing different prompt blogs when they feel stumped), commitment (when it comes to sticking to longer projects such as novels, especially), editing, publishing, and communities (even encouraging them to build their own). On the online platform the university would use, I would include various resources with each of these topics, including helpful essays, websites, blogs, articles, books, etc. It's important to provide students with the resources they may need, explain or demonstrate how to use them thoroughly, and be open or available for further questions. That's what it's all about, isn't it? Making sure you give the students the tools to succeed in their given field? If all educators were more mindful of this - of their potential impact - the overall state of American education would be in a better place. And maybe creative writing classes wouldn't be so hit or miss. Please, share your thoughts with us below! Have you ever taken a creative writing course? If so, how did you feel about it? Was it a hit or miss? If there are any other tips or resources you think are useful, please comment them below! And if there is any writerly topic or subject you would like to see discussed, please don't be shy! |
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