Disclaimer:
I don’t believe I have 500, let alone 700 to 1000 words, to describe this semester and my internship that I haven’t already written and posted to discussions, this blog, and my Writer’s Contract. I will try my best. For me, this assignment appears to be an exercise in redundancy.
My internship was what it was – what I took away from it had very little do with what was shared with me by my hosts and quite a bit to do with what I dug up on my own. While I was assigned the work of compiling information on MFA programs across the country for MeR’s associate editor Doug Scibeck, I can say I experienced – again – ageist micro aggressions cloaked in politeness, perpetrated by my twenty or thirty-something “Boss”.
I could have done without the later…
On the brighter side, my curiosity, my rebellious nature, spurred me to read submissions anyway, and many of those authors inspired me to write with renewed vigor, as I had been in a bit of a slump for some months prior.
My writing has been resuscitated.
Where I’d hit a wall with the material for my thesis, the wall has fallen sufficiently for me gain a second wind and climb over it. I believe I have all the fodder I need to complete at least 150 pages before next fall when I get into MFA 690, Thesis I.
That’s a relief!
Where the plotting of my novel (historical fiction set in Spain) had stagnated, I’ve learned new techniques that are encouraging my creativity to once again flourish. Such is my inspiration, and how I’ve decided to arrange/take what MFA courses I have left, that I decided to drop my Summer elective and focus on my writing.
I’m on a roll…
This semester gave me time to fill. I was able to partake in almost a dozen craft webinars and workshops I wouldn’t have had time for if this course had been more rigorous and had MeR utilized my skills to their benefit, instead of kicking this old lady to the curb.
That’s how I felt.
I’m grateful to have had time for David E. Grubb’s A Trip From God Book I, Jane Friedman, Reedsy, Sharla & Allison’s Craft Talks, Midstory Writers, Dinty W. Moore, Heather Sellars, Lisa Cooper Ellison, Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, Blake Snyder, Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey, Beth Kephart, Allison K. Williams, Jennie Nash, and all of the yet or relatively unknown authors whose work I’ve read these last three months.
Yes, I am grateful.
My gratitude extends to my classmates Ann Kendal, thank you for our chats along with your inspirationally enviable style of writing, Tiffany Grant, thank you for your exuberance, grit, and candor, Cynthia Rossi, thank you for your cheerfulness in the face of physical pain while reminding us of the unity books bring to a community, Lizzy Mitchell, (who really should add voice over acting to her repertoire) thank you for being a testament to successfully juggling your work and an MFA program.
The very best to Us All!
To Kate Whouley, my sincere thanks for the times we were able to meet via Zoom and for your taking the time to offer your feedback and comments on our assignments. I hope MFA 680 & 681 will continue to evolve for the better of the students yet to come.
Yes, It’s a WRAP!