Lessons Learned at Residency

I’m back home after six days at Seton Hill university for my first MFA residency. I’m not sure what I expected when I went, but whatever that was, the actual experience exceed it.

The Writing Popular Fiction program isn’t so much school as it is an incredibly warm incubator for writers. I sat in several modules on the craft of writing fiction, as well as critique workshops where we had the chance to give feedback on works in progress and have our own work evaluated. Even after five years of having my work judged by agents, editors, and readers, I was still sitting there with damp palms when my turn came. I shouldn’t have worried, though, because the feedback I received was both thoughtful and helpful.

In addition to the normal coursework, we were treated to two talks by the lovely Philip Palmer. In addition to being a respected author of space opera, he is also an esteemed writer and producer of screenplays and radio plays for the BBC. In other words, the man knows his craft, and it’s obvious he’s very passionate about sharing that knowledge. I was also lucky enough to spend time getting to hang out with Philip and Nicole Peeler, who is a professor for Seton Hill as well as my good friend, because the three of us are all published by Orbit. We also had a fun signing together at Rickert and Beagle Books in Pittsbugh after residency.

Now the real work of the program begins as all the student head home to produce pages for our term writing assignments and do our readings and write papers for the Readings in the Genre courses. I sat down today and plotted out all of the deadlines and due dates this term, and I admit I’m nervous. But that’s all part of the process, I suppose. If it was too easy the lessons wouldn’t have as much staying power.

Besides all this school stuff, I’m also ramping up for the release of Dirty Magic on Tuesday. In addition to all the guest blog posts going up and the normal tweeting and Facebooking, I’ll have a signing in Houston on Friday at Murder by the Book in Houston at 6:30.

And typing all that has exhausted me. But, and this was a result of the MFA residency I didn’t expect, I understand how incredibly blessed I am. We get so caught up in the business that it’s easy to forget the reasons we were drawn to the art. It’s such an honor to know that people pay hard-earned money to read the twisted products of my warped imagination. It’s a job not to be taken lightly or for granted.

Now, I’m heading out to speak to my son’s school about what it’s like to be a writer. After my week in Pittsburgh, I’m ready to recruit the next generation of storytellers into the fold. It’s not an easy job, but it is a wonderful one.

Happy reading!

Jaye