Literature as a high art

I am currently taking English 161 through the community college. It is an analytical literature class where elements of story are broken down and picked to pieces. Since I have almost worked up the courage to tell my family that I want to be a writer when I grow up (at 31 and the mother of 2 I would have thought this would have already happened- growing up, I mean).




Patience has suggested I share what I am learning. Which I will happily do, though I promise no great insights or comprehension. For today, I will make a list of what I have learned in the last couple of weeks.



1. "Real" literature is depressing. Okay, I already knew that, I hated everything they made me read in high school except "To Kill a Mockingbird".



2. What a short story consists of. Everyone else in the world probably already knew this, but I couldn't quite piece together a complete tale that wasn't full on novel. I think that a short story is more than just a scene out of someone's life, but a scene or compilation of short scenes that holds some true human meaning. That's why a guy driving to town isn't a story, but a guy driving to town to kill a bunch of people at the mall and and accidentally shooting his own daughter is.



3. Reading Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" I learned that you can not only write in the collective We, but you can also skip around in a story without making the reader feel confused. (You know the sensation, "Wait, when am I again."



4. I am really not as smart as I thought I was. I am glad about that. I like learning. Learning gives me hope. Stephen King once wrote that a bad writer will never be a good writer and that a good writer will never be a great writer. While I do believe that you have to be willing to work hard and have some aptitude toward the written word, He is wrong. At least a bad writer can become good. And how many "great" writers are there anyway.

Muses Unite

I am currently googling Plotters block and plotting for idiots. Yes I am so stuck. I have worked myself into a state where I am certain I can have no fresh ideas, that I will never complete anything, and that I will simply slip away into meaninglessness. I can't write my own name at this point.

Next maybe I will start looking for other peoples plots to steal. That's healthy right?

November Meeting

Lets meet at Etcetera Coffee House at 320 N. 6th Street on Saterday the 14th at 3pm.

October

No meeting. Sorry. The Library is currently unavailable. We will schedule early November and keep on track at a new location.

Thank you!

Bill and Patience,

I wanted to think you for your advice in the last meeting. I really enjoyed learning with you.

Bill, I was especially struck by what you said about magic and technology. Consistency is hard, but necessary for good writing. I have some decisions to make about the world I am creating.

October Meeting

I have had two personal family emergencies already this month, and have not scheduled the meeting for October. Sorry, I'll get on it!

Meeting Day Changed for September

A little change to schedule this month. PPW meeting is scheduled for SUNDAY, the 27th at 3-5 pm. It will be in the MEETING ROOM instead of the conference room. (Their schedule was full this month).

I hope to see you there!