Pat Schneider's Workshop Comes To An End

My class has ended. I'm sitting in a Panera's typing this, an infallible signal I've returned to the real world.

Although it's just early afternoon, I feel drained. I want to go home and sleep for three hours. The last assignment we had in class was a challenging one for me and I feel a bit raw. One woman in class that I walked out with was getting in her car for a 2 1/2 hour drive home and I envied her. Two hours alone in a car to decompress with the radio to drown out thoughts sounds just about right. Instead, I've commandeered a square table and spread out the pages of research I'll need to write my article. I need to have a working draft complete by 5PM and I'll have to block out all distractions and focus to get it done.

I'm sipping a caffeine-free Diet Pepsi that I didn't really want but felt obligated to purchase, given my plans to hog a table for the next 3 hours.  The manager who I know from his days of managing the branch on Lawndale in Greensboro, is having a sit down talk with a young female employee who from her crossed arms, wide eyes, and leg tapping, is obviously upset and defensive. I'm not close enough to hear the specifics of the altercation that's led her to be called to task, although I did hear her start her end of the conversation with a benign, "I don't know why you all lie so much."

No more putting it off. Mutant genes and epileptic dogs and genetic research call to me to put their story in some semblance of order.  Banzai!

Writing Class Update

I am lovin' the creative writing class I'm enrolled in this week. Honestly, I wasn't sure it was for me on day one. There was a lot of "creating a safe environment" and "honoring our inner voice" and "What I hear you saying is..." talk that made me fearful I'd entered a mushy-gushy let's-pass-around-flowers-and-contemplate-our-navels zone.

Couldn't be further from the truth. I see now the benefit of establishing that safe zone as there was been some raw writing that's come from class members this week. The group is energetic and fun and yesterday when our assignment was to write an erotic piece, I went home with my belly hurting from laughing so hard at what some people came up with. (Laughing with them, not at them.) It's an extremely talented group of 11 women and one brave man. I'm loathe for the class to end. Turns out I can churn out a LOT of creative writing when I have someone there, leading me through timed exercises. I kind of hate to return to the real world.

But the real world is already creeping back in. I'm working on an article at the moment that not only isn't coming together, it seems to be falling apart at an exponential rate. I'm really not sure how I'm going to salvage it and did I mention the time restraints? I credit my current enjoyment of my writing class for keeping me from being ultra-stressed out over it. I just tell myself I'll get through it and finish it because I always do. But unfortunately, given the time constraints, I'm spending afternoons on the article instead of on the take-home assignments from class.

I've been having...mmmm....if not insights, at least thoughts about the direction I'd like to grow my career.  Not quite ready to share yet as I'm still wavering in areas. Part of the quandary is I'm very much a grass is always greener on the other side type person. So I never just SETTLE for where I am. It's one of those qualities I love/hate about myself.

Okay...off to write some creative erotica. (And you thought writing classes were boring....)

Read This & Feel Good

My neighbor's 79 year-old mother just received her high school diploma. I don't know the full story, but she had to drop out of school around age 14 or 15, I think to help with income and the family. But she always felt bad that she'd never graduated high school and so decided at the age of 77 that she'd do something to change that. So she's been taking GED courses and just finished her last one. She walked across the stage at the community college graduation ceremony to receive her diploma. Her kids were cheering the loudest.

How's that for a warm fuzzy to start your day? Personally, I'm inspired. She's not planning on doing anything with the diploma, but it was important to her so she set a goal and accomplished it. At age 79. Makes me look at my own life and some things I've been hoping to accomplish but have taken no action toward. What's my excuse?

Class All Week

I've enrolled in a week long creative writing class in Winston-Salem this week, taught by Pat Schneider. Why? I don't do much creative writing these days and while I don't necessarily miss it, I fear letting that creative muscle go too long without use will cause it to deteriorate at an accelerated rate. And I'd like it to still be there should I ever feel the need to call upon it.

Forced creativity--that's the key. If I can't make myself sit down and write something, then I'll pay someone money to make me sit down and do it. (It's hard to see my logic put down on paper--it always sounds so much better in my mind...)

I also think practicing creative writing can be a great source of inspiration to beef up my non-fiction work. The more an article reads like a story, the better.

I have no idea what to expect of the class. I'm not sure how it's structured, what we'll be asked to do, how much is lecture versus writing time (although I suspect very little lecture and MUCHO writing time), if there are take-home assignments, etc.

The word of the week, boys and girls, is BALANCE. Auntie Dena still has a major article due on Monday that she needs to conduct 3 interviews for this week, write the piece, let it sit, review it, then send it. But that's why God made late nights and weekends.

Have a great week.