Tuesdays with Story

Writer’s Mail
November 11, 2014

Rebecca’s submission from Lookout

One reader felt that the description of the cat’s killing a pigeon was confusing. Hunting, for Rebecca’s cats, involves “muscle memories” of the prey, which add to the knowledge of the predator who consumes the head.

We discussed how to handle fantasy elements in this type of novel. Consistency in presentation can help the reader sort out what kind of info a passage holds. A recognizable pattern, consistent throughout the book, helps. In today’s sample, Rebecca had hit upon pattern that would work if she sticks to it: a paragraph in italics (this one a gripping little snippet from the last moments of the prey), followed by a Times Roman paragraph on the cat’s processing of the prey’s inner story.

Another element we discussed was cat vocabulary (in many cases English word compounds cleverly chosen to convey cat perception, as in hardwater=glass. Luvvit.) She’s considering creating some words that are not English, such as used by Richard Adams in Watership Down.

We also had a discussion among ourselves about the purpose of the newsletter. I gather I’m not alone in being swamped enough with obligatory work related email, and a slow reader to boot, that I rarely read the blow-by-blow of comments on submissions. If it’s a Toothy Forthy postmortem, well, I was there, and not in need of a recap. It it’s a Feisty Tidy postmortem, I believe I can get more useful insight by going into the site and looking up the work as presented, along with comments stored on the site. I confess I rarely have time.

For my contribution below I tried to summarize in a way that focused more on strategies that can apply generally to other work and less on final solutions to passages from a work still in progress. Even so, I’m still wondering about the purpose of the newsletter. Newsletters have become obligatory. Obligatory things incite questioning in the rebellious soul. 🙂
Karen

Coming Next:
November 25: Jack (???), Rebecca, Lookout, Chapter 5, Alicia, Coastie Girl, Chapter 6, Ruth, Chapter from new story
December 9: meeting will be at Alicia Ashman Library
December 23: Meeting cancelled
December 30: Fifth Tuesday cancelled. (Second and Fourth will host Fifth Tuesday, March 31, details still to come.

POSSIBLY OF INTEREST:
The DIY writers’work ethic: I just read an article in Poets & Writers Magazine about a Portland, Oregon based Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC). The director had bought a used bookbinding machine and tried it out on one of the chapters of his memoir. He photocopied the manuscript, and used the hand-operated letterpress to make the cover. Later he acquired Bind-Fast 5 binding machine and put out his book in small quantities. Later, he did acquire an agent. The article discusses the fact that more indie publishing companies and writers are considering this as the way to go. It would combine the digital technology of printing and the old letterpress that could enable writers and artist to put out limited editions of their work.
IPRC also offers hands-on certificate courses for poets, prose writers and graphic novelists taking one of four yearlong courses. To graduate, one must publish one copy of their own book.
IPRC started a certificate program in which students use the first semester “in an MFA-style workshop writing the story or collection of poems they plan to use for their final project. “ This program started in 2009. The second semester has them editing their book and learning about the techniques to publish the physical book.
I could see that as a possibility as a communal cooperative possibility. A group of writers partnering with an independent printing press, putting in time to create covers with the letterpress, which is definitely time-consuming, but artistically satisfying??? At any rate, just thought I’d share that with the group. If you wish to read the whole article, it is in the November/December 2014 issue of Poets & Writers.
Just out of interest, I checked out possibilities in Madison if enough people in our group are interested. I have not contacted anyone at these places, but here they are: http://www.polka-press.com, which is a cooperative and http://www.silberbucklepress.library which is through the UW Madison library.

Another Midwestern University that seems to have an excellent Creative Writing MFA Program.
Butler’s MFA in Creative Writing, entering its fifth year, represents the latest evolution in our University’s century-long commitment to the literary arts.
The MFA is a 36-hour studio MFA that includes ten three-credit courses and six hours of formal thesis work with an advisor. We offer programs in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, eclectic and exciting courses ranging from workshops in all the major genres to electives in screenwriting, young adult fiction, poetic form, literary editing and publishing, and teaching creative writing.
We offer a combination of top-flight, full-time faculty, nationally recognized visiting faculty, and one of the finest visiting writers series in the country. We operate a vibrant new MFA-run literary magazine and other publishing enterprises, and also offer teaching and service opportunities through an array of programs including our Writing in the Schools community partnership.
Courtesy of the Efroymson Family Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, we are also delighted to announce the opening of the Efroymson Center for Creative Writing. This new center hosts MFA courses and events, provides apartment space for visiting writers, and offers its own innovative series of creative writing programs.
Be sure to check out our brand new Butler MFA blog to see what sets our program apart and learn about all our affiliate programs.
Come join us as we make a new home for creative writing in the Midwest.
MFA Creative Writing
Efroymson Center for Creative Writing
530 West Hampton Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
(317) 940-8733 (317) 940-8733
Program Director: Hilene Flanzbaum
hflanzba@butler.edu

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