Thread: 12/6

Enrolled in a creative writing class this semester, and today was my first day. Kind of just for the hell of it. Beforehand I asked myself what I wanted out of the class, what I was hoping to get for my money, and I didn't (and still don't) know. Maybe just to feel connected again, and to create a small portfolio of work in the meantime. I think that's probably it.

I've heard others talk about their bad experiences with this sort of thing. Ineffective teachers and whatnot. My instructor seems cool enough. Has the brooding writer-look nailed: scruffy hair, hard features, ill-fitting clothes. Looks like he might enjoy getting out of his right mind every other night. I like him.

Covered a lot in the first two hours. Have to admit I was impressed. We talked about the difference between concrete and abstract language, moved on to the sound of words, he stressed the importance of being precise, of always choosing the right word, always being aware of the subtle nuances between similar words, attention to detail.

Seems like he actually might be worth it. I think I got in his good graces unintentionally. I brought a book of Carver's collected work and he saw it on my desk and later called me out on it, saying that we all really ought to be reading as well as writing (yes, yes), and that we'd do well do check out Carver, as well as Chekhov and Flannery O'Connor.

This is just for fun, this course. To take the edge off. I think it was last week that I had some labs drawn after suspecting a family history of Thyroiditis, and a couple days later, surprise surprise, they call and tell me I have Hashimoto's disease (autoimmue thyroiditis). I'm kind of numb to these kinds of discoveries now. Just another box to checkmark, another pill to take.

But I continue to write. Little offerings here and there. One and a half short stories last month, and probably more this month, with school and everything.

Sounds like an awesome class, it's rare to find a lecturer who really inspires you, but it sound like the kind of class I'd love to sit in on. Sorry to hear about your health problems, but hopefully finding yourself in your writing again will be good catharsis. Cheers

The class and instructor sound fabulous. Sorry about the auto-immune thing. I hope that it can be easily managed.

Yeah, I dunno. Jury's still out on both. Haven't really got much out of the class, to be honest, but hey, I'm trying to stay positive. But there's still a nagging feeling I get that it's all a sham. I guess I'm kind of waiting to run into a super-hardcore teacher, someone like John Gardner (one of my dead heroes/writing buddies), who won't take any of my shit, and tell me what's the what in regard to my fiction. So far, though, it's all nice. We got our kids gloves on.

About the autoimmune thing, yeah. I just think it's kind of amusing anymore. Symbolic. Part of me is convinced the other part of me is a foreign intruder. There's some writing juice in that.