Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Still Alive…but barely

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Wow–I’ve really been absent from blogging these past few weeks. The VCFA semester came to a screaming end, sort of. The first week of Dec. required my last packet to be submitted. It was bittersweet. Really. I was relieved that I had accomplished the last packet and felt good about the work I’d submitted, but then again, it was the last packet. My last one! I’ve grown to enjoy receiving feedback from my advisor and seeing how I can improve my writing. And I’ve loved immersing myself in the picture book genre this semester. I know I’ll never have another experience like this for the rest of my life. That’s the “bitter” part.

The second week required me to submit to the admin office the “secret sixth packet” which consists of evaluations, summaries and writing samples from the semester. Not hard work to compile, but it did take time and took some thought with my responses.

And all the while, I’m still working the bugs out of my PowerPoint presentation for my panel presentation for the winter rez. The four other PB Semester students and I each have 15 minutes to give a talk, then our advisor gets a few minutes at the end. I have my talk finished, but I keep having glitches in the actual slide show. Sigh…technology and I DO NOT get along sometimes. It really is a love-hate relationship. But I’m doing everything I can to assure that it’ll be running smoothly by the time I get to the residency. Fingers crossed. Toes too.

Oh, and there’s this little thing called Christmas looming…
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I’m Back But Not Really…

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No, I haven’t completely abandoned my blog… I took a few days off to visit my family in New England, came home to a two-day migraine (travel does that to me), and have been playing “catch-up” ever since.

Last week was the last round of manuscript critiques between my fellow PB semester students (Mary, Meredith, Barbara and Abby–you all totally rock!). It was actually a bit sad, having that last round of stories to share. These writers are highly creative, solid in their skills, and give amazing feedback–I’m going to miss them so much! (not to mention Kathi, our fearless leader).

Today I sent Kathi my final packet, complete with one new story plus three revised pieces. Honestly, if she’d have taken five mss, I’d have sent her five. Or six. Or seven. It was tough to decide which ones to put under her skilled eye and mind for the last time. I’ll also miss working under her guidance and direction, and can’t imagine what next semester will be like without my little “PB family.” But as it is with every little bird, they must be pushed from the nest and learn to fly on their own. But Kathi might have to shove me really hard ;-).

Now I’ll have to focus on the panel presentation our group will give at the winter rez. Each of us gets to give a 12-15 min. talk that highlights our long essay from this semester. I’m talking about anthropomorphism with a focus on cats. Of course, once I started reading my essay out loud, I realized that I could not have chosen a more difficult word to say out loud repeatedly! Oy…anthropomorphism. What was I thinking?

And next week I have one last “sixth” packet to turn into the college admin; a sort of summary of this semster’s work. And then I’ll have to start preparing for the winter rez in January (Down coat? Check. Wool cap? Check. Winter boots? Check. Electric blanket? Check. Etc….).

So, my blogging will be limited in the near future. Hopefully though, I’ll have some new Mini-Views coming up in the next few months, along with some other interesting points of interest.

Sylvan Dell New Blog Feature

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Sylvan Dell Publishing has begun a new feature on their company blog, called “Teachable Moments.” They intend to share tips and suggestions for teachable moments with teachers, media specialists, parents, book store personnel…anyone who could utilize their books and free educational materials (what teacher couldn’t utilize free educational materials??). They’ll be featuring this once a week. Today they’re kicking it off with the new moon.

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Quick Note

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Just a quick note–check out the new photo on the right, Blackberry Banquet’s # 1 Fan. Isn’t that just too cute? Now, that’s what I call putting your nose into a good book! Thanks to my writer friend, S.W., for sharing the picture of her adorable granddaughter while reading her favorite book.

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Packet #4: Done. One more to go…

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I’ve turned in and already received the feedback on my fourth packet. Phew!!! Another great experience.

Have I told you how much I admire and adore my advisor Kathi Appelt? Not only is she a fabulous, Newbery Honor-winning author, but she’s a cat-lovin’ Texas gal with a passion for picture books. Now, Kathi has an extraordinary way with words when it comes to the pen, but she’s also the most astute critiquer I’ve ever worked with. Her ability to find what needs work in my writing is so spot-on that I totally trust her opinion and am willing to try anything she suggests (seriously, she could tell me to run out in the street and swing a dead chicken over my head five times to stimulate my creativity and I’d do it!).

Back to the packet; a couple more mss near finished. A brand new one that’s a good start but definitely needs some work (which is expected). Best of all, I’m pushing myself creatively and finding that it’s not so scary after all. And I’ve now got the okay on my long essay and can begin focusing on my presentation for the winter residency. My topic is anthropomorphism with a focus on cats. Yes, CATS. Surprise, surprise. It should be a howling good time. >^..^<
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Blackberry Banquet Art Activities

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This morning I discovered some fun art activities to use with Blackberry Banquet, on the Growing & Learning by Leaps & Bounds blog. This clever mom showed her children how to paint with blackberries AND they created blackberry Playdough. How fun would that be? I can just see the little berry-stained hands of small children and the berry-scented Playdough as it squishes through their fingers. Definitely worth checking out!

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VCFA Workload

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This morning a friend called to see how I was doing. “How’s the MFA going?” she asked.

I laughed and said, “Well, I’m so punchy from writing and researching that last night it took me three tries to put on my facial lotion–first I picked up the toothpaste, then the sunscreen, and finally on the third try, picked up the jar of nighttime face cream. Then this morning I emptied my cats’ water bowl and left it in the drying rack. The cat sitting by the food mat reminded me to refill it, as he was obviously thirsty. Oh, yesterday I was so punchy I walked into a wall. And this morning I realized I ordered the same book twice from Amazon.”

“Oh no, are you regretting that you signed up for the program?” my friend asked.

“Heck, no!” I said. “I’m loving every minute of it!”

And that’s how it is, really. I don’t know if I’ve ever been this busy in my entire life, or put out so much mental energy. Maybe I did in college, but that was a long time ago, when I had a few thousand or million more brain cells. As soon as one project is done, there’s another waiting. It’s kind of like the Russian front during WWII. You know how the Russian soldiers just kept going up against the Germans, and if the soldier in front of them dropped, they picked up his weapon and kept moving forward. This has that same never-ending feel to it. But without guns. And nobody fires anything at you. And there’s no death or destruction. Maybe that wasn’t the best analogy…

There are times when I can’t sleep at night because my mind won’t shut down. I feel guilty if I take a full day off (oh wait, I haven’t done that yet. Never mind). And there is an ever-growing pile of picture books, research materials and three laptops in my living room that seem to have taken up permanent residence.

Yet, I love it. I cannot think of a single thing I’d want to be done differently. I love that my advisor pushes me to try new things and see things in a different light. I love reading and critiquing the work of my four other classmates and receiving their feedback on my own work (they’re brilliant) . I love the support the students and faculty give each other. I love the critical aspect of the program (I never dreamed I’d actually enjoy writing critical essays–who knew?). I love trying new forms of writing, like the biography I’m working on right now.


Yes, life is good in the VCFA MFA program.
Even if I do fall asleep on my keyboard sometimes.
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Packet #2: Done!

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Wooohooo! I survived turning in my second packet! Yesterday I heard back from my advisor, and as always, received thoughtful, encouraging and challenging advice. I’d love to stop and take a breather, but there’s no time for that. Packet #3 is due in less than four weeks, and that one takes the essay up a notch to a longer length. Plus, there are all those revisions…