-
So you think you’re done…
Or at least, well, that’s what I thought. Sort of. When back in May, in my third semester, I finished a new draft of a novel I had been working on for…ahem…a lot of years, I was ecstatic. But the glorious feeling that yes, I got it, that I nailed it this time, lasted for about…oh, twenty minutes. After…
-
Back from Residency: The Wondrous Magic of Wonderland
I am back! I am back! I am back! Totally wiped out, and yet, at the same time, it feels as though the well is filled to the brim, spilling with magic. Ready to face my final VCFA semester. I think. 🙂 A bit nervous at the prospects of working with one of the most intriguing,…
-
In Honor of Breaks: A Totally Rambling Summertime Post
“Summertime, and the living is ea-ea-ea-zy, fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high….” Fun fact: Once upon a time, at age 14, I sang this song, silly accent and all, and played it on the piano, on national Russian television. 🙂 Since then both the video and the audio of this little milestone had…
-
Words, Words, Words
What are stories made of? The answers are many: characters, setting, plot, theme, ideas, emotions. But underneath it all, we writers forget sometimes, don’t we? That first and foremost, stories are made of words. In this post, I would like to explore the storytellers’ most basic building material: language. According to the American Heritage College…
-
Things Don’t Just Happen: On Cause and Effect, In Fiction Anyway
Do you believe in serendipity? Happy coincidences shaping your life? Do things just happen to you? Or has a chain of decisions and actions brought you to where you are today? A combination of both? Randomness may have a place in real life from time to time — and even that we could argue about. But…
-
Assassins, Not Liars
“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.” Stephen King (On Writing) The name of my Vermont College of Fine Arts class is Darling Assassins. I will confess: when we were deciding on a name during the summer residency of 2013, I spoke up against it. I…
-
Writing Out of Order
Yikes, it’s really been a while! Sorry!!! This post may not be a revelation to many writers out there, but the following idea was quite a discovery for me: writing out of order. Sure, I’ve heard about it before. Somehow, I always thought this method was reserved for wizards and other super-human types. 🙂 I thought my boring brain was…
-
VCFA Discoveries: Know Yourself! (and More)
Okay, time to reveal the latest from the January 2014 Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults residency. Yes, it’s time. I know. Don’t look at me like that. I’ve been busy. 😉 I still am, so let me jump right in! These are the lessons and discoveries that stuck with me, synthesized from…
-
An Honest Promise of a Great Beginning
With 2013 winding down, the New Year is almost upon us. I figure this is a pretty good time to talk about beginnings. Well, it’s my excuse, anyway! In a way I have been investigating beginnings my entire first year in VCFA — both through my critical and creative work. After two semesters, 100+ books…
-
HOW DID THEY DO THAT? Learning From The Best
So I am about halfway through the Writing For Children And Young Adults program now — another year to go! — and last week I wrote my last Vermont College of Fine Arts essay. The realization makes me feel surprisingly wistful. The essays, anywhere from 3 to 10 pages long, were meant to help us tackle…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Katiaesque 