Tuesday, September 11, 2012

New School, New Challenges, and News

This week is my first full week of classes in the New Hampshire Institute of Art's Creative Writing BFA. 

A classmate in my Creative Non-Fiction class put it perfectly last night. Loosely quoted he said, "when you finally get past the business school phase, the medical school phase and you admit that really what you always wanted to do was write, you find yourself here. Doing just that." And you find yourself happy with what you are learning.

I didn't jump schools but I did spend years thinking maybe I would manage retail, maybe I would become a veterinarian, maybe I would be a stay-at-home mom one day. But sometimes it takes a while to shed your layers and finally admit what is underneath.

One of the books for that same class, "In Fact: The Best Creative Nonfiction", says, "People in the arts, I read once, take about eight years just to figure out which art they're in. Notify your parents" (Annie Dillard).

I love all arts, but inside I am, and always have been, a writer.

That being said, this school is much more challenging, and I love that. I will be questioned, my bar has been raised. And I am excited about what that will mean for my writing and my life.

Which brings me to my last topic. Publication. This week I received a response from a publisher that a piece I wrote will be included in their online literary content, and it is being considered for their quarterly journal. More on that later.

1 comment:

  1. I hope the new course goes well!It is true about turning to writing when you finally realise that it is that you want.
    Good luck with the publication.

    ReplyDelete