So this is my second semester where i've taken ONLY maths, sciences or statistics, and let me tell YOU, all left brain work and no right brain play makes Sethy a DULL BOY.
anyway, i'm taking a 2 credit writing class this weekend just for fun and superfast credit. i thought it was just called "Creative Writing" but i got this thing in the mail the other day that called it "Creative Writing Workshop: How to be an Original Writer," and that sounds a little bit lamer, i have to admit. i have very vivid ideas about the lame-o's who are going to be in the seminar with me. i visualize berets, art fair earrings, ornate and complex facial hair and lots of not very subtle proclamations about how "in the writing group that i belong to..."
I also suspect that the people in that class who AREN'T 'like that' are going to be the dregs of the academic barrell, who are only in there because the class was still open for registration and to keep up their minimum number of credits for the semester.
i could be totally wrong, of course. i've never taken a writing class that wasn't required before. i mean, I love writing, i know some cool writers, but mostly in my experience i've found that self-identified writers are cringe inducing and mega lame and either SUPER untalented and/or complete posers.
maybe i'm just predjudiced. maybe i'll find these notions of mine challenged by this experience.
Update:
The highlight of the evening for me was when the instructor said that in the short story writing class that she's teaching this semester, she was forced to ban VAMPIRES as subject matter. While hilarious, i also felt an overwhelming sense of pity for this woman- i can't IMAGINE how awful it would be to read non-stop vampire stories as conceived by 30 or so moderately to UN talented 18 - 20 year olds who either want to be Anne Rice or Stephanie Meyer. oh, the unbearable darkness! VLAH!
moving along...
it was just day one, and we only met for two hours, but so far, i was partially right... people did work their writing groups into their introductions, and there were a couple of people saying insufferable things, BUT:
the vast majority of the group are middle to later aged women. What made me think that maybe i should dial back my judgement a bit was the fact that most of the people there talked about wanting to be able to express something and not knowing how to do so, and they also talked about the fear that they had surrounding that need, as well as the possible consequences. THAT is something that i can respect and have compassion for, so that's what i'm holding onto for dear life. if their writing is awful is beside the point. they have something that they feel like they have to say and they're struggling to say it. that's real, and human and- in my humble- admirable.
having said that, i may feel very differently by sunday afternoon.
I'm eager to hear how your thoughts progress as it goes (but wait - two credits for one weekend? howizat?). I've had some awful, demoralizing writing classes and some great, life-changing ones. And at least one where I was the ONLY guy.
ReplyDeletemost of the people aren't taking it for writing credit... she actually said "if you want a letter grade for this, check the last box in the column next to your name," and i glanced through it, and only like, 10 out of 40 people are seeking credit. the 2 credits seems pretty gratuitous, i know. and it IS, given what we've actually done so far. i can't imagine that tomorrow is going to change all that, but WE'LL SEE :-)
ReplyDeleteanyway, STAY TUNED, because i DEFINATELY have some opinions forming.