So, another year ending, and time to review. My plans for 2018 were (achieved goals struck through): Complete the MFA thesis novel (military fantasy) by February 1. (August 15, but still done!) Complete my craft essay by February 12. (Done.) Develop a paper into an academic article and send it out to the appropriate journals. … Continue reading Year In Review
Ph.D. or No Ph.D., Part Two
Yesterday, I had the dubious "pleasure" of chatting with someone about a full time application. No callback, but perhaps some adjunct work was available. I spoke with the chair, who informed me that without a Ph.D., I will never get a full time job at that particular institution, and most likely, no institutions within the … Continue reading Ph.D. or No Ph.D., Part Two
Yes or No? Stay or Go?
Sometimes, decisions have to be made. Saying no to one thing means saying yes to something else. It is a hard decision when both are really good, plus there's the sunk-cost fallacy to factor in. (Tuition dollars, time spent, etc.) My dilemma was simple: get the Ph.D.? After all, for eight years as an adjunct … Continue reading Yes or No? Stay or Go?
Commencement: A New Chapter!
Well, with all the MFA coursework, the blog went to the wayside again. The MFA was a rite of passage in some respects. Somehow, getting a "terminal" degree did not kill me. It gave me deeper insight into craft, and an added benefit is being able to start searching for a permanent position again. It's … Continue reading Commencement: A New Chapter!
Dreams, Deadlines and Diplomas….
Piles of papers vie for my attention right now. Digital files also compete on any given day. Some are for the day job, some are for graduate school work and the novel. Four and a half weeks from now, I pick up my regalia. Five weeks out, I go to the Futurescapes workshop. In six … Continue reading Dreams, Deadlines and Diplomas….
Conflict and Character
I am using Halestorm's "I Am The Fire" to start the writing sessions for chapters featuring my female protagonist. It's appropriate for the character's situation, since she tries to deal with her fears and take her rightful place as a strategist in the military fantasy I'm working on. (I have a Green Day song for … Continue reading Conflict and Character
Transitions
Packing boxes seems surreal, especially in the middle of a semester where I'm working towards finishing my MFA, and yet, here I am. The good news is that we're going to a bigger place, which means that the writing space I've dreamed of for years will finally be reality. (Nothing like the thrill of writing … Continue reading Transitions
