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Oregon Coast Writer’s Workshop Journal, May 1-May 9, 2004
Wed, May. 12th, 2004 12:24 amNow that I'm back and beginning to get back into the rhythms of life, I'm posting my journal of my time in Lincoln City, OR. As has been my habit with big trip reports and the like, this is broken up into chapters, and those chapters are broken up into bolded headers for the purposes of time management and easier reading. Hope it helps.
Overall, the experience was an unparalleled one for me. My hope is to continue the writing patterns I established there (without my habit of waiting until the last possible minute to get everything done ::sigh::). And I hope, also, to keep in touch with everyone I met there. They were, without exception, terrific people, very talented (with a couple of particular standouts).
Okay, all that formal shit aside, the truth is that by Wednesday morning, all that creative energy and excitement began to get me stoned—in a good way. I felt like I had a buzz for days. Some of it's worn off by now, mostly due to exhaustion. But it's easy to conjure it again; I've already tried.
So, here goes:
( Day 1: Saturday, May 1, 2004: Travel and beginnings )
( Day 2: Sunday, May 2, 2004: Getting to know you all...and myself )
( Day 3: Monday, May 3, 2004: I start to learn about my self-sabotage tactics )
( Day 4: Tuesday, May 4, 2004: Kris and Gardner take away my security blanket and I melt down )
( Day 5: Wednesday, May 5, 2004: My story gets critiqued on Hump Day, and the house energy changes )
( Day 6: Thursday, May 6, 2004: Writing, the Godzilla Foot of Plot Avoidance, and thoughts about same )
( Day 7: Friday, May 7, 2004: Seals, reverse sex, and anthology composition )
( Day 8: Saturday, May 8, 2004: Anthologies, Oprah Winfrey and the final party )
To say that this was a life-changing experience doesn't nearly cover it. In the few days that I've been back, I've realized that I've made some friends I really do want to keep forever. Equally important is that now that I've stared myself in the face as a writer, I understand that to continue, I need to make some major changes in my life having to do with scheduling, self-discipline and time management. Someone once told me that I couldn't be an artist, that practical life wouldn't allow it. I'm beginning to think that practical life may be overrated, and that staring into the fire, jumping in, may be the way I'm heading. it could mean making changes I haven't foreseen. It's going to be...interesting.
Overall, the experience was an unparalleled one for me. My hope is to continue the writing patterns I established there (without my habit of waiting until the last possible minute to get everything done ::sigh::). And I hope, also, to keep in touch with everyone I met there. They were, without exception, terrific people, very talented (with a couple of particular standouts).
Okay, all that formal shit aside, the truth is that by Wednesday morning, all that creative energy and excitement began to get me stoned—in a good way. I felt like I had a buzz for days. Some of it's worn off by now, mostly due to exhaustion. But it's easy to conjure it again; I've already tried.
So, here goes:
( Day 1: Saturday, May 1, 2004: Travel and beginnings )
( Day 2: Sunday, May 2, 2004: Getting to know you all...and myself )
( Day 3: Monday, May 3, 2004: I start to learn about my self-sabotage tactics )
( Day 4: Tuesday, May 4, 2004: Kris and Gardner take away my security blanket and I melt down )
( Day 5: Wednesday, May 5, 2004: My story gets critiqued on Hump Day, and the house energy changes )
( Day 6: Thursday, May 6, 2004: Writing, the Godzilla Foot of Plot Avoidance, and thoughts about same )
( Day 7: Friday, May 7, 2004: Seals, reverse sex, and anthology composition )
( Day 8: Saturday, May 8, 2004: Anthologies, Oprah Winfrey and the final party )
To say that this was a life-changing experience doesn't nearly cover it. In the few days that I've been back, I've realized that I've made some friends I really do want to keep forever. Equally important is that now that I've stared myself in the face as a writer, I understand that to continue, I need to make some major changes in my life having to do with scheduling, self-discipline and time management. Someone once told me that I couldn't be an artist, that practical life wouldn't allow it. I'm beginning to think that practical life may be overrated, and that staring into the fire, jumping in, may be the way I'm heading. it could mean making changes I haven't foreseen. It's going to be...interesting.