“was part of the notorious Endless Rewrite Contingent and it took a while to break out of that self-absorbed habit. Instead of being so inward looking, it pays to keep your eye on writing stuff that will be truly useful and enjoyable to others. If possible, get major works out the door (published) asap, not just articles. We don’t have forever here!”
I really agree with this. I blame MFA programs 😂. Course I blame everything on MFA programs. But still, I think I’m right on this one. They kill writers’ spirits. Just write. A lot. Produce. Get a rough draft out of yourself. Pause. Come back to it. Keep going. Endless revision becomes boring and irrational after a while. Trust your instincts.
Although I do have an MFA degree and am grateful for the three years of solitude and study it gave me, I have some worries for students unless the leader combats and interferes with collective thought. I did expose my deepest self (see Rita Dove below) and remain grateful, particularly to Lee K. Abbott and Melanie Rae Thon.
Here is Rita Dove from The Paris Review: "In workshop, I was often afraid that the issues and experiences important to me were not going to be critiqued seriously, and that I wouldn’t be strong enough to toss it off—that the damage would be irreparable. So I decided subconsciously—and sometimes consciously—not to expose my deepest self to that disregard. I think I turned in just three poems to workshop in my last semester—three! I wrote more, but I didn’t want to show them to the hyenas. I thought, Let me learn as much as I can, so I’ll be able to apply it to what matters to me later, without these malevolent voices nattering away. But even after leaving Iowa, I could still hear them clamoring, back in the cornfields. I think that’s why, after graduating in May of 1977, I started writing fiction. I loved German novellas like Der Schimmelreiter by Theodor Storm and Stefan Zweig’s Schachnovelle—and I tried to write with a sense of that longer arc in the stories that eventually became Fifth Sunday (1985)." —from The Art of Poetry No. 113
Did I ever need to read this! Thanks for the reminder about pushing hard Laura Moreno. Great advice. Thanks for sharing this Mary Tabor. I love your posts.
Thanks for your comment, Krista. I also really needed to hear that these posts make a difference. As I wrote to Isabelle in the comments, I feel this is the perfect time to prepare a book proposal or proposals for whatever project you have in mind. If you so choose, an outline or list of chapter titles and the first 3 chapters, or whatever works for you, is a great start this April. Thanks again!
Krista, so grand to hear from you. Why don't you do a guest post for me and talk about your writing, how we met and our work together? I think you'd be fab. And all you do is send me word doc and your photo. I loved working with you and miss our friendship that became so important to me. Love, Mary
Thank you so much, Isabelle, for pointing this out. I sure hope you're much better now, ready to write. In fact, let me give you and other readers a deadline of sorts. There's good creative truth -telling energy in the air in the spring, so let us commit to at least get an outline and the first 3 chapters done in April, enough to submit as a book proposal. I will be posting on how to finalize the book proposal very soon. Blessings this Holy Week and a joyous Easter!
Isabelle, Maybe a write a guest post for me--perhaps on how we worked together for a long time and what you wrote during and after that time. That would be pure gold. Love, Mary
“was part of the notorious Endless Rewrite Contingent and it took a while to break out of that self-absorbed habit. Instead of being so inward looking, it pays to keep your eye on writing stuff that will be truly useful and enjoyable to others. If possible, get major works out the door (published) asap, not just articles. We don’t have forever here!”
I really agree with this. I blame MFA programs 😂. Course I blame everything on MFA programs. But still, I think I’m right on this one. They kill writers’ spirits. Just write. A lot. Produce. Get a rough draft out of yourself. Pause. Come back to it. Keep going. Endless revision becomes boring and irrational after a while. Trust your instincts.
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Although I do have an MFA degree and am grateful for the three years of solitude and study it gave me, I have some worries for students unless the leader combats and interferes with collective thought. I did expose my deepest self (see Rita Dove below) and remain grateful, particularly to Lee K. Abbott and Melanie Rae Thon.
Here is Rita Dove from The Paris Review: "In workshop, I was often afraid that the issues and experiences important to me were not going to be critiqued seriously, and that I wouldn’t be strong enough to toss it off—that the damage would be irreparable. So I decided subconsciously—and sometimes consciously—not to expose my deepest self to that disregard. I think I turned in just three poems to workshop in my last semester—three! I wrote more, but I didn’t want to show them to the hyenas. I thought, Let me learn as much as I can, so I’ll be able to apply it to what matters to me later, without these malevolent voices nattering away. But even after leaving Iowa, I could still hear them clamoring, back in the cornfields. I think that’s why, after graduating in May of 1977, I started writing fiction. I loved German novellas like Der Schimmelreiter by Theodor Storm and Stefan Zweig’s Schachnovelle—and I tried to write with a sense of that longer arc in the stories that eventually became Fifth Sunday (1985)." —from The Art of Poetry No. 113
Yes, trust your instincts. I love your formula: Rough draft. Pause. Come back to it. Keep going. 😎
Really enjoyed this - thank you Laura, and Mary!
Thank you, Rebecca. I am also enjoying your posts! Keep it coming.
Oh, how lovely! Thank you! 😊
Great post. I love it, too.
Did I ever need to read this! Thanks for the reminder about pushing hard Laura Moreno. Great advice. Thanks for sharing this Mary Tabor. I love your posts.
Thanks for your comment, Krista. I also really needed to hear that these posts make a difference. As I wrote to Isabelle in the comments, I feel this is the perfect time to prepare a book proposal or proposals for whatever project you have in mind. If you so choose, an outline or list of chapter titles and the first 3 chapters, or whatever works for you, is a great start this April. Thanks again!
Thank you Laura. I am newish, late bloomer writer, so appreciate all advice from people who have experience.
Krista, so grand to hear from you. Why don't you do a guest post for me and talk about your writing, how we met and our work together? I think you'd be fab. And all you do is send me word doc and your photo. I loved working with you and miss our friendship that became so important to me. Love, Mary
Dear Mary and Laura,
"We don’t have forever here!" So true. This didn't hit until a serious health issue came up earlier this year. And what am I waiting for now?
This post is absolute gold. So precious. Thank you both for writing and sharing.
Thank you so much, Isabelle, for pointing this out. I sure hope you're much better now, ready to write. In fact, let me give you and other readers a deadline of sorts. There's good creative truth -telling energy in the air in the spring, so let us commit to at least get an outline and the first 3 chapters done in April, enough to submit as a book proposal. I will be posting on how to finalize the book proposal very soon. Blessings this Holy Week and a joyous Easter!
Thank you, Laura. You too.
I'm almost there. Have all the pieces I want, just have to get it out.
Isabelle, Maybe a write a guest post for me--perhaps on how we worked together for a long time and what you wrote during and after that time. That would be pure gold. Love, Mary
I have been thinking about this for a while. Will do and very soon, I hope:)