Sunday, February 8, 2009

In Search of Excellence

This was the week I heard the word. Excellent. She repeated it twice and added, with a few minor changes, you could submit it for a contest. You have a real talent for writing in that voice.... I couldn't believe she said that. To me. I had written a story about a sewing teacher, Mrs. Larsen - my fond memories of going to her house every Tuesday afternoon for several years - which then led to being a camp counselor at Camp Middlesex (a 4-H camp)in Western Mass. for several summers. Phaedra's (my writing teacher)words fired my motivation to continue working on my "craft" (as they say in the inner circle of writers)- especially since I've been feeling a bit discouraged lately with the love's laborious task of writing....

So onward and upward; I'm not feeling inspired to submit it to a contest but who knows maybe sometime in the future.... What I do know and sense is that my hard work over the past months has started to pay off - becoming familiar with "point of view, character development, narrative, fictional devices, voice, etc." I love to learn; I am a perpetual student - better yet when you reach that point actually having accomplished a milestone in your subject. So I'm no pulitzer prize winner (yet) but her words were enough to keep me moving forward.

My cold is officially over - it always seems that no matter how much rest, vitamin C, echinacea and chicken soup you consume it still seems to take a couple of weeks for its effects to lessen. So back to my workout schedule at the gym. I have finished my pilates class and have a new appreciation for my abdominal muscles (or lack thereof). I watched in amazement as the instructor and several students did moves I can only dream of accomplishing someday. I only have 2 more sessions with my trainer and will use them to become even more acquainted with the intimidating equipment in the weight room. She now has me doing free weights - another whole process - in itself....

No comments: