The Creative Juices are Still Flowing


It's been a slow year for me for submissions. It feels like many things have happened that have affected my writing. Last year, I was sorting through my grandfather's death, and then a few months later the suicides and upheaval at my school were awful. It seemed like I didn't like very much of anything I was writing, and when you don't like what you're writing...it is hard to get a groove going. Teaching high school is unfortunately all-consuming and most of my creative ability has been used up in lesson planning, play-directing, and creating the hated Yearbook.

I haven't been creating enough new work to get really excited about sending in very many pieces. However, it has not been a completely dry year.

This month, I had my poem (it's so dark and painful that I'd rather not publish it here), "Grandpa's Clothes," published in the Lit. Magazine, Midnight Screaming, and I just recieved word from "Whistling Fire" that they have accepted my creative nonfiction piece, "How to be debt-free," for their literary website.

In other good news, I am currently in the process of creating another human being. We are almost 8 weeks pregnant. However, I promise not to make this a baby-blog. This is still very much a writing blog. If I want to write about morning sickness, cribs, cute baby clothes and labor pains, I will create a new blog just for that. Of course, if I happen to write something particularly funny that I believe has universal appeal, it may drift over here.

This will be my last year working (PTL!) and when I stay home with my baby, it is one of my life goals to earn an MFA in creative nonfiction writing. I knew I wanted a writing masters, but I probably would have still tried to move toward fiction if I hadn't taken the Los Angeles Review Creative Nonfiction Workshop this summer. The workshop and this blog have shown me that while I love to read great fiction...it's not actually my favorite thing to write, at least not while I seem to be incapable of developing a decent plot.

I am currently working on a new creative nonfiction piece called, "How I Became a Mountain Woman." I think it's going to be great, but I really want to develop it and try to get it published before I post it here.

Comments

  1. Carolannbennett1November 5, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    Sandy good to have you writing again. I was moved by the piece you wrote last week about Halloween. Could I read your poem about Grandpa's Clothes? Hope your getting rest.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Betsy GrantNovember 7, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Congratulations on your published works! You might not think you have ease in creating plots, but fortunately every day life is full of interesting stories, and your writing is very enjoyable to read!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownNovember 8, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    Good for you!!! I am sure you will love getting a literary masters. You will excel, as you do in so many other areas of your life.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Randy4jesusNovember 14, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    Congrats on getting published two more times!

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownNovember 20, 2011 at 2:42 AM

    "My Mother Thinks I'm A Good Writer" has been included in this weeks A Sunday Drive. I hope this helps to attract even more new visitors here.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2011/11/sunday-drive_20.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. Betsy GrantFebruary 4, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    Interesting to re-read this post from Nov. and to realize the success that followed for you in the months afterwards. It's a good reminder to remember that our actions today bring the fruit of tomorrow. Good job!

    ReplyDelete

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