Posts

Here's the Latest...

Thoughts on the MFA Program from a Grad School Dropout

-
Outside of my few close friends and family, I don’t talk much to anyone about dropping out of the MFA Program. I think part of that is because I’m afraid some people will think I didn’t have “what it takes” to stick it out, or they will think that I’m just bad-mouthing the Program. On the contrary, I left the Program after much contemplation and, honestly, praying. It was not an easy or flighty choice. It was one I made to better myself as a writer. It probably wasn’t until my final year in undergrad that I decided I would apply to the MFA Program. It took me close to ten years to get my undergrad degree because I took a few years off from school to save money. Then when I got close to the end, I swore up and down I would never go back for more school. One day, that just changed. I applied and was accepted to a Program. Receiving that acceptance email was probably one of the greatest moments of my life. I had a hard time fitting in with most of the other students in my first year,
Post a Comment
Read more

Looking Back (Part 1?): The Definition of Success

-
So when I was publishing The Dragonlord's Heir, I created a Facebook "author" page. I've since disabled it, but I can still go back and read the things I posted. Turns out I posted quite often, from sharing inspirational quotes, to sharing helpful links, to writing my own stuff.  At the moment it has retained 132 page likes. That's not very much, but at the time, I was pleased with it. It was a small audience, and they followed me regularly. That's something to be proud of, even if it is small! As I read through these old posts, I realize how my attitude has changed, and not necessarily for the better. Back then, I felt like I had the world at my feet. I believed the future was mine. The optimism and genuine passion in my words almost brings me to tears. Where is that ambitious, driven twenty-something-year-old? Where did she go? I'm glad I stumbled across these old posts. I needed it. I needed to be reminded of the passion I once had for this g
Post a Comment
Read more

What One Book (Play) Do You Think Everyone Should Read?

-
I’ve read Death of a Salesman many, many times in many, many different literary classes. I’ve written at least three papers on it, all with different theses. I just love this play. I think what captivates me most about Salesman is the pursuit of success within the story, and how each characters comes to an epiphany of what success really is by the end of his or her part in the play. The play challenges its readers to ask a number of questions about success. What exactly is it? How does one achieve it? And are we all phony little fakes? For those who haven’t read it, be aware that it is dark and depressing, but it also isn’t entirely dark and depressing. It depends on how you interpret the ending (I personally like to read the ending with optimism). In spite of this darkness, I still encourage everyone to pick it up at least once, but preferably a handful of times in their lives. I like to think of Salesman as a litmus test for our own definition of success and what we are willin
Post a Comment
Read more

I Have Commitment Issues (With My Writing)

-
It is so difficult for me to stay committed to one story idea. Does anyone else have that problem? For me, it stems from the fear of time running out to find the one . I suppose I’m afraid that I only get one shot at writing something successful that has the potential to be traditionally published. I constantly second-guess myself and my writing, wondering if I’m wasting my time because I could do better with something else. In fact, I'm writing this blog post right now instead of working on my novel because I'm experiencing this exact feeling at this exact moment (ironically, I am wasting more time by not sitting down and just finishing the damn thing). In hindsight, I know that’s ridiculous. One of my favorite quotes about writing comes from the great Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author of Tarzan of the Apes : “If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor.” And it’s totally true because we as writers have a hundred—nay, a
Post a Comment
Read more

A Confessional Apology (Apologetic Confession?): Here's What Happened With "The Dragonlord's Heir"

-
Image
I should mention that I originally wrote this post probably over a year ago. I did not post it right away because — well, for the reasons listed below. I felt like now would be a good time to finally share my thoughts given how I've been struggling lately to feel like I'm doing anything of value with my skills and talents. This is the most honest thing I've written, probably ever. So to channel Usher, these are my confessions. First, I feel like I owe an apology to several people. Namely to the people who read my first self-published book, The Dragonlord's Heir . Yes, I self-published a book under the pen name, Christina Kenway, after Edward Kenway, the protagonist of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag . Dorky, I know. I published my book four years and three months ago, to be exact. It was a middle grade novel about a young boy who discovered he was a modern-day dragon slayer à la Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson. I wasn’t proud of my book after a while, but about
Post a Comment
Read more