29Feb16 updates

School is such a mixed bag for me at this point.

I'm reminded of a conversation I had with Jason prior to the semester concerning my reasons for going back. He asked then if I could really get what I wanted there, which was to learn to be a better writer.

I told him of course. knowledge is power; there was no way it would make me a worse writer. I wanted my masters, hell, I wanted my doctorate.

Three or some months into it I'm revisiting the question.

Submitted my first paper for asceticism and decadence. Got a poor reception, a C- in fact. There was a myriad of issues, from vague comments to sources poorly quoted or quoted improperly. It's understandable. I've never taken a graduate level course and the class offered for teaching the proper way of doing the paper isn't available till next fall. I gambled and lost. Now I'll have to work it hard to not make it a failure.

the deeper issue is what I'm working for. I'm not puttin those extra hours in on writing a better short story. It's on writing a better paper, the way they want it, and miles from where I want to be.

I have to choose wiser if I'm going to continue this path. I passed on a course dealing with African lit for the headache of British lit and philosophy. At least I'd have been reading books!

Okay" thanks for listening. Reception for my short story was positive and I don't think it was just the usual one student shinin another one on. Scheduled to talk with the professor tomorrow before class.

Read a piece last night that said when you get in moods like this just picture yourself a year from now. It helps. (Smile)

Short Story #1

Submitted yesterday.
As always you want to do more, better. You change and tweak right up to the last in an attempt to make it great in your mind. As always you feel you failed.

Strangely enough i'm learning more about writing in my other classes but the short story workshop not only keeps your skills honed, it offers feedback from other writers, something we need.
I've placed it on wattpad if you want a look at it.

Things are good overall. Have a paper to write this weekend on victorian critics Walter Pator, Matthew Arnold and or John Ruskin. They're talking about the role of the critic in society, how his influence affects not only the artist reviewed but how society sees that work. Primarily the question keeps coming back to what is art?

Savin it for the paper lol

Lundi gras 2016

The day before the big day down here!

I've lived in this city about nineteen years now and rarely indulge in the festivities anymore; but going across the river this year.

I want to feast on the good vibrations prevailent here this time of year. Where even alone you're  surrounded with nothing but goodness and well wishes. The French quarter is better than any alcohol or drug dispite its presence fueling the madness. The fact that it is so finite, Tuesday at midnight the whole thing dials back down from eleven to eight or so, makes it all the more exquisite.

I want to see the smiles, feel the random hugs from strangers. They remind me I'm a part of something good. That humanity isn't just greed and destruction.

Back to school Thursday.