Grad School

Intrepid 
[in-trep-id]
resolutely fearless, dauntless 

This word always strikes me as weird, because it sounds so weak, doesn't it? I always think it should mean frightened.

But, it's a good word to describe this semester and my approach with writing. Both because what it means and what I always think it means. I feel like more and more I just want to strive to be fearless in my writing. To kick myself out of my comfort zone so much that I no longer really have a comfort zone. This is pretty scary sometimes. I submitted a few poems to a contest, which was a new thing for me. So we'll see.

So this is the first week of semester #2 of grad school. So far, so easy. But then I've only had one class so far. But I did teach my first class. It's co-taught (with my roomie!) and just a work shop of 12 students, but still, I taught/am teaching college. Weird.

But this semester promises to be a good one. I scheduled myself 2 hours to write every morning 9-11, which has been a wonderful way to jump into my day. Today I edited a poem and worked on my WIP. Later I'm going kickboxing (so excited!) and out to $1 pint night with a good friend to celebrate his new job!

If you're looking for some good stories to read (for free!) check out Ninth Letter. I recommend the fiction piece by Matthew Burnside which is fantastic and he's a great guy. But seriously just check this out because the website is SO cool.

And/or, check out my blog post on the Flyway blog. 

Ain't a New Year w/o Some Resolutions

Avidity
\uh-VID-i-tee\ 
Enthusiasm or dedication

I like resolutions, because I like goals. Goals give you self-competition which has has always worked for me. And I think the whole point of a New Year's Resolution is to make you a better version of yourself. You don't have to meet all your resolutions to do that, but if by the end of the year you're a better person than when you began, I think that's a win.

And let's face it, we all like winning. (If you don't, then you lose, and then you're happy anyway, so everyone goes home happy).

Last year I hit nearly all my resolutions. Which, might be a first.

I:
-Got a story published!
-Got into grad school!
-Read a lot (maybe not 50 books, but quite a bit and a lot of poems/short stories)
-Lost weight
-Wrote a lot (maybe no every day, but more than I ever have)

So for this year I have a few more resolutions
-Drink my coffee blacker
-Dance in the rain more
-Continue publishing
-Make $$ somehow off my writing (paid, winning a contest, or?)
-Make more mistakes
-Read 50 books
-Write all the time
-Laugh more

So am I better person now than I was this time last year? Yes. In a lot of different ways. Definitely, yes. 

2012 and All that Jazz

Exordium

 \ ig-ZAWR-dee-uhm \

The beginning of anything.

So it's a bit of a tradition (started by Kaitlin, methinks) to wrap up the year with a list of fun stuff that took place that year. Plus, my memory is pretty bad some times, so it's nice to document life.

I don't believe in chronology, I believe in chaos. So in no particular order...

In 2012 I:

-Got into grad school (my top choice! hip, hip huzzah!)
-Completed first semester of grad school.
-Was flown to Iowa to visit said school.
-Got my first story accepted for publication. It's about dragons, and is getting published on an island with lots of whiskey (lit mag: Whiskey Island) (yep I'm a real writer!)
-Got paid essentially just to write/go to school (point #2 for being a "real" writer).
-Acquired a very cute kitten, Bueno.
-Moved across (half) the country to Iowa.
-Visited good friends in WI and took a fabulous road trip to St. Louis and New Orleans with Kaitlin.
-Enjoyed many a $1 Wednesday pints in Ames.
-Tutored people from: Saudi Arabia, China, Korea, Peru, Mexico and of course, the US.
-Canoed to Canada.
-Went to the International Food festival in Des Moines with some lovely company.
-Started an Etsy Shop
-Got paid to write an article.
-Was a guest blogger on Tell Tell Poetry
-Camped in the Boundary Waters.
-Went to oh so many potlucks.
-Saw Pres. Obama and helped him get re-elected.
-Spent a birthday in Vegas and saw LOVE.
-Had a car illegally towed.
-Spent a few wonderful nights in San Diego with friends.
-Drank wine with friends on a friend's terrace in Chi-town.
-Flew with a kitten.
-Ate pricey fondue (cheese and chocolate) and discussed philosophy at length one night.
-Started a YA Gothic novel.
-Read a ton of books--including a lot more lit mags, poems and short stories.
-Got my own apartment (which lovely friends helped me move into!)
-Lived using just public transit and a bike (and loved it).