If I didn’t have a good excuse before for my sluggish posts, now I do: graduate school. I just finished my first semester of my MFA program in poetry, and I am glad to say that — after several all-nighters, too many deadlines, and too many extensions of deadlines — I have most of the hair on my head left. It was mighty scary seeing so many strands of hair littered all around my writing desk.
Taking on the formal study of poetry, I knew I was risking the same thing that happened to me in the formal study of art — allowing my high-strung, obsessive nature to snuff out my joy in creativity. I used to love drawing, but now, after my art degree, I can only doodle. After going into the program quite green, I now know a lot more about poetic craft and tradition. But I’m a lot stiffer in my expression, too aware of the poetic giants and crafty rules. I’m also writing a lot about depressing subjects, as if now that I’m serious about writing (in an MFA program), I need to write about serious things. Bah.
I need to practice better time and energy management this upcoming year (and the rest of my life). I need to remember how to have fun in my writing. Hmm, doesn’t this sound rather stiff and serious?
Shawnte said
I was just looking up a few of the writers I remember liking from Tracy and Patrick’s Monsoon readings. It’s good to see that you’re still involved with literature. Hopefully, you still do occasional live readings, as well.