On a sickly start to Spring.

Sorry I’ve been missing in action as of late. Just over a week ago, I came home shivering and exhausted. I had a nasty head cold that basically kept me out of commission until Friday. I’m feeling much better now, though.

Miracle Maddie

Maddie Girl is staying healthy despite some kind of funk making its way through the house. We’re all so excited to see what a stem cell treatment can do for her when she isn’t battling three infections! She’s leaving for HOST in Mexico on Thursday and staying for a week. Missy tells me she’s enjoying having two puppies in the house, but Mom tells me it’s hectic. I think both statements are likely true.

Meet Hopper (gray) and Sparky (brown). They’re Labradoodles. Hopper is joining Miracle Maddie and family while Sparky is going to keep my parents and Louie company.

Ireland

Spring is surely on its way. Despite the ceaseless rain of the last week or so, there was a gorgeous morning where I saw plants blooming and heard birds singing. Just about that time, I walked into the living room and there was a small, round bird perched on the couch. As soon as I saw him, he took off presumably through the window he entered. I’m sure it was a sign, but I still haven’t figured out what it was foretelling.

On Wednesdays, I don’t have any classes scheduled, so I’ve been trying to make a habit of leaving the apartment and writing or reading somewhere. I had breakfast at Scholar’s and wrote a little, and then read an entire book in one sitting at the library. I would have liked to get more writing done, so I think that’s the goal for this Wednesday; maybe spend more time in Scholar’s and just write and suck down coffee after coffee. It’s not usually busy in the mornings.

I’m learning the software for UL’s literary journal, The Ogham Stone. I’m proud of myself. It’s not terribly difficult, but it’s not super easy. I’m going through the tutorials and taking notes. Also, I’ve nearly completed the Garda vetting progress which will clear me to teach Creative Writing and Mungret Community College. I’m excited to get started! I’ll be working with 20 senior students who are excited about working with me and interested in Creative Writing. The idea is for me to be more of a “mentor author” than a teacher and really model the writing and publishing process with them. What an amazing opportunity!

Donal Ryan is every bit as brilliant as his writing suggests. My friends tease me about fangirling, but seriously–he’s a genius. Even if he’s not telling me something new, the musicality in his delivery and his phrasing are beautifully unique. And it’s enough to just sit and talk craft with a working, award-winning author.

Writing

Speaking of, I had my one-on-one meeting with Kit de Waal as part of the dissertation rehearsal model. I was worried because I felt like the piece I sent to her lacked urgency and was feeling a little deflated since I read the comments on my final submission for workshop. But Kit said my only problem is a lack in confidence. I don’t trust myself enough as a writer to trust the reader, so I state the obvious and refrain from leaving space for the reader. She thinks that’s why I overwrite and that’s totally fine, but I have to make sure to do the work and clean all that up while I’m editing. She pointed out examples of it in the piece and pointed out where I’d done the work and polished it. It was SO helpful and now that I know what to look for, I think I can really make my prose sing.

She also introduced me to free indirect speech, which is defined as “a form of narration written in the third person while maintaining some essential elements of a first-person narrator” (Citation). In my own writing, I think I’ve been attempting this but rather than use the character’s voice, I’ve been awkwardly using my own authorial voice and I further believe that’s why sometimes my writing is clunky.

Above is an excerpt from one of my favorite short stories of all time. Can you see where the shift happens from traditional third-person narrations to more of a blending of third- and first-person points of view? The color coding helps, but I think the shift is obvious enough to be noticed if you’re looking for it. O’Connor’s talent and attention to craft makes the shift subtle so that the reader simply glides in and out of the consciousness of the grandmother.

Another amazing story by another enormously talented woman and much to the same effect. Connie is the main character and though the narration is not first-person, the blending of typical elements of that kind of narration help the reader know her intimately. The key to that kind of intimacy without fully using first-person narration (that can be restrictive in its own way) is free indirect speech.

I also started a writing group with some classmates. The first meeting was on Friday at my place, and I think it was a success! Although we didn’t write all that much, we did discuss it in depth and I ended up forcing them all to watch “Fight Club” because I think it’s strong writing. And Joseph, one of the attendees, pointed out that it was Stephen King who said we must consume stories in order to create stories. Or something like that.

I checked in with my publisher and was delighted to hear back that formatting is going well so far and that everything is on track! I’ll get a chance to see the formatted version (the galley pages) and check them over before publication and release. They’ll be in touch soon with formatting options and I’m already dreaming of planning a release party.

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