Lectures.
Workshops.
Semester study plan looming.

Can’t…come…up…for…air…

Okay, this place is awesome, and awe-inspiring. I had my first workshop session yesterday and I was blown away at the insightful comments on the work being critiqued by the students and advisor, Uma Krishaswami. Uma has a calming energy along with keen eye and amazing insight into picture books. I was totally floored by our workshop session. Tomorrow is my turn for getting my two stories critiqued, and Kathi Appelt should be there as well, which I’m really looking forward to.

I’ve seen six faculty/graduating student lectures thus far, on a variety of topics. Very interesting and packed with information.

The dining experience has been…hit and miss…so tonight, when my fellow first semester students opted to go into Montpelier for dinner, I jumped on the chance. It was kind of funny–it felt like we were breaking out of the big house or something (not that VCFA feels like a prison at all, but we’ve just been confined to the program for five days now and all felt the need for a little break…out). And even though it wasn’t quite like the Mexican food I’m used to in CA, it was still good.

Tomorrow AM I hope to walk into Montepelier and get some real coffee (not the cafeteria stuff). I’m craving a decent cup of coffee like you wouldn’t believe!

Until then…

Unbelievably, I have a few mins. of spare time so I thought I’d squeeze in a quick post. It’s the morning of day 3 here at the rez and this is when I feel the real work begins. Today we have our first “workshop” (group critique session). I’m super-excited about this as we’ll be immersing ourselves in our picture book manuscripts. I’m also eager to meet and work with Uma Krishniswami, last semester’s PB semester advisor (Kathi Appelt won’t be here today, as she’s at ALA receiving her Newbery Honor Medal for The Underneath). I’ve heard fabulous things about Uma so it’ll be a pleasure to meet and work with her.

Today I also will hear three faculty lectures. Much to my disappointment, I had to miss last night’s opening faculty lecture because I had a migraine. It killed me to miss out on hearing Tim Wynne-Jones, but I knew I needed to take care of myself in order to prevent the headache from worsening.

Friday evening and yesterday involved a lot of orientation (how many times can one state their name, where they’re from, and an interesting tidbit about themselves?). We were flooded with info on using the library’s vast amount of resources for research (a good thing–but wow–so much to absorb at once) and finally in the late afternoon joined the returning students and faculty. Yes, I slept well. Exhaustion will do that to you.

Two frustrating things thus far are that I can’t seem to access my email very often (very hit and miss), and I can’t seem to figure out how to download photos to put on my blog. That might have to wait until I return home.

But so far, so very good! I can’t wait to get started with today’s events. I’ll keep you posted…

I’ve checked into the VC dorms and will soon begin my MFA adventure. My son and daughter-in-law drove me up and helped bring my bags to my room. Yes, life is full of ironies–the son drops his mom off at college. He even warned me, “It’s okay to experiment in college, just don’t make it a habit.” 😉 Hmm…experiment with writing–sounds like a good plan to me. And if it works, I’ll definitely make it a habit!

The dorms are…uh…sparse? Yes, sparse, that’s a good word to describe it. But that’s okay. This isn’t a vacation and my focus is on the writing program, not feeling pampered. The room definitely has an institutional feel to it, but it has the basics (even a big fan, which feels very nice right now considering the warm temps today). Because of my potential for migraines, I’m in a single room, which is fabulous because I can spread my “stuff” all over.

Today the new students check in; tomorrow the returning students arrive then we let the games begin!

I couldn’t sleep last night, a million thoughts swirling in my mind, so I’m looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep tonight. It may be my last for a while!

I’m in New England now, enjoying a little family time before I start my first VCFA rez. You know, since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed a couple of differences between Rhode Island and California. First, the drivers. Folks here don’t seem to honor traffic lights and signs as much as those do on the west coast, so I’ve found that I have to watch carefully before crossing any streets! (yep, hold hands and look both ways).

Second, people here don’t use Bluetooths or other hands-free cell phone devices. This morning I strolled down to a local coffee house and bought a drink, some freshly ground coffee for home use, and a muffin. I was talking to my husband on my cell phone and realized that I didn’t have enough hands to carry everything plus the cell phone, so I put on my Bluetooth. As I was sitting in the park chatting with him, and later walking home while continuing our conversation, I received many a raised eyebrow from passers by. They must have thought I was talking to myself. One person even purposefully avoided me, giving me a wide berth as he walked past, staring at me like I was crazy!

I also received the schedule for the residency, which begins in four days. My initial reaction was, “Holy cow, don’t those people EVER sleep?” It’s a ten-day packed schedule of interesting lectures, activities, workshops and social events. Kind of like an SCBWI national conference on steroids–but longer! Today I’m going to sit down with the schedule and prioritize the “must-see” events, the “really want to see” events, and the “if I have any energy left” events. And I still need to re-read all of the mss from my workshop group to refresh my memory, and finish one book from the recommended reading lecture list.

Phew!

Tens days and counting! My body is still in CA but my mind is in VT.

I’ve finished all of the manuscripts for my workshop group (wow, some pretty great writing!). I mailed myself a CARE package for my stay in the dorms. Today I received one more book I want to read before the rez begins so I’ll dive into that tonight. And I’ve got a three-page list of all I need to do and pack before I leave–ahh, don’t you just love making lists?

I’m hoping I’ll have the time to make posts during the rez, but until I’m there and living through it, I won’t know. Folks say it’s exhilarating, educational and exhausting, so we’ll see what the schedule allows.

Until then…

Eighteen days and counting… (okay, is this too much? Am I overdoing the countdown?).

I’m also starting to think about the details of housing and life in the dorms. Not being a “spring chicken” anymore, I don’t travel quite as lightly as I used to. It amazes me that I used to be happy spending my nights in a sleeping bag on the ground with a pile of clothes for a pillow and an occassional mouse darting over my legs (from my backpacking days).

Twenty-four days and counting to VC!

I’ve been busy organizing my thoughts, making a ka-zillion lists, doing the suggested reading, and yesterday I received a lovely packet of twenty-four picture book manuscripts that I’ll need to critique before my arrival. The manuscripts are all written by the nine other people in my workshop group for the residency (which I’ll call “the rez” from now on, to expedite typing). I’m so excited to read them and get a sense of the other writers I’ll be working with. Five of the students have just finished the Picture Book Semester and the other five are those who will be doing it this fall (including myself). Talk about hanging out with like-minded folks!

And fun of all fun, last weekend I went to Staples to buy new school supplies. Yep, I’m just THAT big of a nerd that I get excited over buying new school and office supplies :-}.

A few weeks after my acceptance to Vermont College of Fine Arts, I had to start thinking about what I wanted to do in the fall. You see, there is the regular program and there’s the Picture Book Concentration / Certificate Program, which is a one-semester intensive Picture Book concentration. Students can enroll in this as a single-semester certificate program, or the MFA students can do this as one of their four semesters in the program. I was definitely interested, as I love to write this genre, but first I wanted to know who was teaching it.

Well, when I heard that Kathi Appelt was scheduled to teach it, I jumped at the opportunity! Only after waiting to hear if she indeed would be teaching it (there was some concern that she might not–apparently, writing a Newbery Honor Book puts some demands on one’s schedule ;-). But she was teaching it, so I put in my request for a spot and submitted a sample ms. After a few weeks, I received news that I’d been accepted! Wow, I was–no AM– so stoked! To study under Kathi will be amazing! I’ve always admired her work (she’s a master of rhyming PBs and targeting the preschool audience). I can’t wait to meet her and work together.

In the meantime, I’ve also submitted housing forms for the dorms, arranged my travel plans, and submitted two mss for the summer residency “workshop” (critique session). And there’s the reading list–I’m on the first of many books we have to read for book discussions at “the rez.” Speaking of which, I should be doing that now!