FairleyAlfy

Also, does anyone else feel like January is an accumulation of months rather than a single month....?

What's weird is that we usually see acceptances before waitlists so I'm thinking it's not real, but who knows, it has been a weird year thus far.

Exactly, I'm ready to really get involved in a community of writers. I did want to take some time away from academics after getting my undergrad, and I think it has helped my writing tremendously, but I'm ready to get back into it.

Right there with you. I have nightmares of being rejected most nights with the occasional dream about being accepted. I keep telling myself that it is fine to get rejected and that I can apply next year, but some days I'm just really moody about the whole thing. What's funny is that I haven't even been rejected yet! haha

Very well said! It's definitely a lottery ticket, and it's the same with the publishing world. I applied to 14 schools, and I'm holding my breath to get accepted into one, but I'm already making plans for if I don't get accepted. I wish we knew about the number of applicants this year, but I think you're right. Lots of young people are jobless right now so it's the perfect time to try for grad school.

Thank you! I'll check them out!

Congrats on submitting your last application! That's a good feeling! I understand the soul-crushing doom all too well. It's killing my sleep pattern. I feel like we will start hearing things in February, but who knows....I hope it's not two more months lol.

I'm poetry as well! The warmest welcome!

That was unkind of them to say those things to you. I'm sorry that happened! Liking Danielle Steel is nothing to be ashamed of! She is actually a major best-selling author and has a large audience. She's just not my cup of tea. There are loads of writers who are best-selling authors that just don't tug at my heart strings. Everyone has different tastes. You don't have to use fancy words to be a good writer. Actually, I have former professors that preferred their students not to use fancy words when conveying a complex emotion. It can be pretentious at times if used frequently. Hemingway is a great example of a writer who uses plain language with no added fluff, but still succeeds in masterful story-telling with well-rounded characters. My vocabulary is by no means great, and I continually try to improve it because I just love playing with language and words, especially in poetry. I usually prefer a writer not for their vocabulary, but the way a writer develops new ways of looking at common topics. I want to be surprised when I read, and I also love fiction writing with a rhythm to it because of my love of poetry. I hope this makes sense. I wish you luck with your writing! If your passionate about it and can't imagine doing anything else, then keep writing no matter what anyone says!

Flash fiction writers don't reduce a novel to 500 words. It's two different types of writing. It's like saying, "Can you turn a poem into a novel?" Maybe, but it would be harder to do. Essentially, you could shrink a novel to 500 words, but it wouldn't be necessary to write a good flash fiction piece, also that method would be mind-numbing and harder to do. I enjoy reading flash fiction, novellas, and short stories because I'm usually a very busy person before I was jobless, and I still wanted to read. While drinking my coffee in the mornings before work, I would usually sit down and read a short story or flash fiction because it still satisfies that hunger for reading, but it doesn't take the whole day like reading a novel does. Also, people enjoy reading flash fiction because they might have ADHD or some other attention deficit disorder, and cannot focus long enough to read a novel, but they still want to read and enjoy a well-written story. I honestly think it takes more talent to write an entire story in less than 1,000 words than writing a novel. It is extremely hard to do. To me, the two quotes you are comparing are completely different sentences. Comparing Steele's writing to Spacedumpster's is like comparing (excuse me for the cliche) oranges and apples. I like Spacedumpster's writing for the complexity of it. I'm not a fan of Steele's writing, but I understand why many people are. It is just not the type of literature I like. That's what makes writing fun is that every person has different tastes in literature. Books would be platitudinous if everyone wrote the same. The sentence, "To her mind, I know I am a vision of the antithesis of this scenario," is not a depiction of what flash fiction is or what flash fiction writers write but rather, a part of the story. It could also be in a novel of Spacedumpster's as well. Every flash fiction writer is different. This might just be a confusing, jumbled mess of a comment, but I hope I have helped you understand why there is flash fiction out there. I didn't sleep well again because of what happened at the capitol yesterday. It almost feels weird to type words or do anything normal after yesterday.

I LOVE your writing style. It's descriptive without being overwhelming and slowing down the plot. I am excited to read more from you in the future.

SAME! It makes my three green accepted submissions look so much better than if they were compared to the 100 rejected I would have on the page ?

Yea, I feel that. I grew up in a super religious household that went to church three times a week. haha I think it's made me a better writer though. Skepticism makes good writing. It's relatable. I think every human spirit has at least a dash of it. That sounds right up my alley! Thank you!

I'm right there with you! I've been trying to distract myself with baking, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and I just finished watching Peaky Blinders. Distraction, distraction, is what I recommend. Find a hobby you've always wanted to dabble in. Work on your TBR. Hike. Breathe. It's going to be okay!

Thanks for the recommendations! I really enjoy reading about spirituality in all its forms, even if it's a bit woo woo. haha I'm not spiritual myself, but I gravitate towards books about spirituality, Abrahamic religions, Buddhism, and whatever else. I think the cynic inside me wants to believe in something.

I've only tripped on LSD, and it was a great experience. I've always wanted to participate in a peyote ceremony though or iboga. Breaking Open the Head by Daniel Pinchbeck is a fascinating book about psychedelics. He's a journalist who goes on a spiritual journey, tries multiple psychedelics, and writes about his experience. It's also a study of Shamanism. Fascinating book!

Thank you! This is helpful! I'll start putting myself more in a schedule now that applications are finished. I'm about about screen time at night out of anxiousness. I have been reading a lot more, but I think the material I read is too thrilling for bedtime. Maybe I should start to read the dictionary before bed. I've been drinking a couple of glasses of wine before bed. It helps...but not exactly a healthy habit. haha

Up at 2:30 in the morning, and this is the eighth night of barely sleeping. I don't think I've ever been so anxious. Anybody have ideas for sleep remedies? Rituals that calm your mind down? I'd prefer not to get a prescription for sleeping pills, but I don't know what else to do.

Yea, I leave to go back to Mississippi to see family at the end of February and figure out next steps, but the idea of leaving the West Coast breaks my heart. I love the beaches here. It's definitely the most beautiful place I've ever lived. I just cannot afford to live in California anymore with being jobless so I had to make a decision. There is a place not far from Oxford called Dismal Canyon, and it's my go to hiking place, beautiful and peaceful with a waterfall. I wouldn't recommend Memphis...haha. Nashville is an easy distance away, and it's a lot of fun. The music scene is great. In the past, it was mostly country music (not a fan), but now there are loads of variety in the music scene. Also, New Orleans is a must see. The food is out of this world, and the music scene is a good time. Agreed. I like a chill scene as well, with good conversation and a old fashioned cocktail. A change of culture and scene is helpful when looking for new things to write about.

It depends on when they send acceptances. Most schools will send out acceptances mid-February to early March, but some may be a bit later, and it all might change with the pandemic. haha I know that's not super helpful. They usually give you plenty of time to decide. I don't worry about choosing between schools until I get acceptances. Why add the extra worry when I don't know who is going to accept or reject, if that makes sense? I applied to 14 schools, and I'm hoping to get into one. haha I have low self-confidence though so in my mind, I don't think I will have to make a choice. Hang in there! We will be here to help when responses start going out. That's the time when being a part of a group like this is super helpful! I wish you the best of luck!! Here for you.

I can speak on Oxford, Mississippi. I grew up an hour and a half from the town. On the weekends, I would drive to see Faulkner's house which is gorgeous and sit in his lawn chair that he use to write in or walk the woods around his house. Downtown Oxford is charming. It's got my favorite bookstore on earth, Square Books, which seems to be constantly filled with writers either doing a reading or just perusing the shelves. It has three floors so plenty of selection for reading. If you enjoy going out and partying, it is one of the biggest party schools in the country. You can't hardly drive through the street on weekend nights during the semesters, and drinks are CHEAP. One bar has three dollar cocktails and all you can eat wings for two dollars. Most eateries are super affordable and have great happy hours. There are many locally owned restaurants that have some phenomenal food. I imagine though that COVID has changed the city some, but hopefully, by the time school starts in Fall 2021, there will be some return of normalcy. If I lived anywhere in Mississippi, it would be Oxford. It's just very different from other towns in Mississippi, more open-minded I would say. I think it's because of the large, diverse population of students.

Yay!! Congrats!

I know! I cut my hair short and dyed it black haha. I cannot pull it off as well as she does, one of my favorite writers for sure. She writes a book every ten years so only two more years until her next one!

Thank you for the recommendations! This will keep me busy for a bit. I honestly like Fitzgerald's short stories more than Gatsby. He is a phenomenal short story writer. I recommend checking out Babylon Revisited : And Other Stories by Fitzgerald.

I read To the Lighthouse in college, and did an extensive research paper on the novel. haha Anna Karenina was the first novel I read that made me want to be a writer. My English teacher in high school gave it to me as a gift. I've tried to read War and Peace many times, but for some reason, it cannot keep my attention. Sounds like we have similar tastes in literature. I would love book recommendations if you have some. I need more reading material to pass the time.