So, I figured I'd do two things: first, I'm trying to make today a happy occasion by saying LOOK AT MY NEW DESIGN, YA'LL! What d'you think? I wanted something a little bolder, and a little more colorful. I think the new design adds a little more comfort, but I'd love to hear any of ya'll's opinions on the new look for The Wallflower.
The second thing is: I'm going to tell ya'll what I'll be up to from today until May (hey, I rhymed!). So, here's the list of classes I'm taking here in the world of college, along with my current thoughts on them (written the day before I actually attend any of them for the first time):
- ENGL 356 - Form & Technique in Poetry: Sonnet - Ha! Me, poetry? It's never been my strength; in fact, it's always been my weakness. Now, if it were focusing on Free Form poetry, I could find it in me to be a little more excited. Truthfully, I'm only taking this class because it's required for my degree, so while I'm keeping my mind open, I think I should send out this PSA: I might go a little crazy.
- ENGL 413 - Advanced Creative Writing: Prose Workshop - Huzzah! I love workshops. And this one's advanced. Which makes me nervous, because everyone in there has the possibility of being advanced writers. *gulp* But I'm really excited for this one: it's a smaller class size than my last workshop, and there's so much opportunity to learn some new things about writing. Bring it on!
- ENGL 307 - Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction - This is going to be a whole new world. Seriously. I've no clue what to expect, but I'm a bit excited for this class, too. I have no clue how I'll feel after actually starting this class, but it'll be an adventure, right?
- ENGL 430 - Online Publishing - Okay, if there's any class that I'm the most excited for, it's this one. This is the class where you learn all things publishing online, including publishing the English Department's online literary magazine. I WAS MADE FOR THIS CLASS, GUYS. So, obviously, I'm buzzing.
- HON 400 - Honor's Thesis - If ya'll follow me on Twitter, you've probably seen me talk about my senior thesis. This is it. I'm going to be retelling fairy tales (yay!) in the form of short stories, and adding my own sci-fi twists on them. I'm nervous, oh so freaking nervous, but I think it helps that my adviser for this project is also my professor for the Creative Nonfiction class. So hopefully this goes well?
So if I go a little mad, don't hold it against me. I'm legit taking five writing-intensive classes. The plus is that they're all involved in different genres, and I really hope that the nonfiction and poetry class expand my horizons a little bit. The negative in this is that, as per usual, school cuts my own personal writing time into about 5% of what it usually is. However, given how excited I am about my newest draft for THE HOLLOW MEN, I absolutely refuse to let that get in my way.
So what am I going to do to keep writing, even during school? Ava Jae wrote a blog post, How I Became a Morning Person, and while I initially thought, "Ava, you are a better woman than I will ever be," I started to think that maybe there was a way I could make this work for me. For the last two semesters, I've had to put my writing on hold as the semester got crazy and assignments started to pile up. After classes, at the end of the day, I was exhausted and would rather do nothing, or else that time was reserved for homework. So I wonder: if I wake up early and reserve 1-2 hours for just writing as soon as I'm up/have coffee, what might happen?
Which means that this semester truly is going to be an adventure for me, isn't it? Plus, a random fact: three of my textbooks are lost in USPS/delivery limbo.
*takes deep breath* Wish me luck, guys!
If ya'll are starting a new semester at school, what classes are ya'll taking? What are your thoughts on them? How do ya'll expect to juggle your classes, classwork, and/or jobs with your writing?
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Blogger @Rae_Slater's going on an adventure! Or back to school. And she's dishing out her thoughts on her new classes. (Click to Tweet)
It's happened. @Rae_Slater starts a new semester at college. Here's her class list + thoughts. Plus: new blog design! (Click to Tweet)
Definitely like the new look. Not much good with colors and text and such, but my very unprofessional opinion is that it seems very clean and tasteful.
ReplyDeleteAnd huzzah for your new semester! Your thesis sounds fantastic. Here's wishing you the best of luck and best of times.
I am also going attempt to be somewhat more of a morning person this year... I am feeling very grumpy and apprehensive about the whole thing. Let me know how it goes for ya. ;)
Thank you so much! I always get nervous with new designs, but I feel like this is still me but with a little more flare. And I'm totally excited for my thesis; I'm really hoping it goes smoothly, but *crosses fingers* we'll have to wait and see!
DeleteGood luck being a morning person! Today was only my second day getting up so early for just writing, but last night I was ecstatic. I actually couldn't wait to wake up at 5 am to write. I did have to up my coffee from one cup to two (one at 5 am, the second at 6 45, which is when I would normally wake up), but I love coffee, anyway. So far so good! Hopefully it goes just as smoothly for you!