Message to not even dumb people, Earth. Do you read me? HELLLOOOO? I'm hoping you haven't hopped off to Mars or Jupiter or the next galaxy or something.
I'm currently in Immersion - you know, that J-term like thing that my school does - and I'm in Ithaca, New York essentially on a writing retreat! I'm editing a NaNo novel I wrote sophomore year. So that's fun. And difficult. Also I'm working on poetry and submitting to some journals. (Ariella gave me like this master list of journals to try out.)
SO I would love it if we could a) just chat, because I have more free time right now (sorry, I know you probably don't...but hey, at least you're applied to college (even sorrier, juniors - I feel your pain)) OR b) do a little critique group thingie! Perhaps we could send each other something that we're working on, or a few things, as long as it's not too long (perhaps set a limit of 5 or 10 pages?) and critique, either face-to-face (after like preparing notes) or via that email thing.
Also I have a blog thing for my Immersion. Check it out at zenandtheartofwriting15.tumblr.com. That's right, I've jumped on the Tumblr bandwagon. Oi.
I LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL PLEASE REPLY WOO.
Hey, here’s some stuff that’s going down in my life.
ReplyDelete- Started a new creative writing class (the courses are only a semester long, so that means new faces now).
- I got kind of depressed when I realized how much work the editing of my Nano manu was going to be. Like, a lot of it doesn’t make sense or is a bit too maudlin/self-pitying or is just kind of blatantly sexist, so I’m gonna try to fix that. When I’m editing, it’s hard for me not to think about what other people are going to think of it, but I’m working on that. Duty for duty’s sake, right? I like your idea of “living the mindful writing life, not the end product.” I’m gonna try that out.
- I’m coming to Ohio on February 8th + 9th! ( overnight visit to Wooster)
-It’s currently 65 degrees in Houston, so no snow :|
-My creative writing teacher, another senior, and I are trying to start a lit mag at my school.
-Read Confederacy of Dunces over Christmas break, so thanks, Rami, for that recommendation.
-I too am considering jumping on the tumblr-wagon for venting purposes
I’m all for chatting or whatever sometime soon. I just don’t know if we’re all checking here as regularly as we used to. I still am just because it’s my browser’s homepage. But there’s no reason we/I can’t change that.
Also, do you have that list of journals Ariella gave you?
Postscript unconnected to anything else: You guys should all listen to milo (http://miloraps.com/music/ http://miloraps.bandcamp.com/music). He makes me feel less alone, and I think he’s the kind of guy I want to strive to be.
Hello friends. I like you all! So, following Sweaty D's lead, I'll fill you all in on some of the happenings of my life.
ReplyDeleteI, rather unfortunately, have not been writing as much as I would like to since Kenyon, due partly to an unfortunate case of the lazies that I've come down with and partly to the hell known more commonly as 11th grade. Seriously, I envy you all. You've already made it through most of high school! But, that aside, I am hoping to start writing more. I've made a schedule and everything.
I, however, have been reading at a pace that I like. I've read a fair few excellent books since I left you, like: Blood Meridian, by my pal Cormac McCarthy, As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, the Tenth of December, by George Saunders, Kavalier and Clay, by fellow member of the tribe Micheal Chabon, and, most recently, White Noise, by Don Delillo. They were all fucking exceptional, but I'd specifically recommend white noise and the tenth of December if you like that postmodern thang. I am right now reading 100 Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and it is incredible. I really think that you would like it, Mollie, because it is just so amazingly poetic and beautiful.
Oh, and also, what'd you think of Confederacy, Daniel?
I've joined my school's Onionesque satire newspaper, which is good fun, and also, I assume, seductive and sexy-looking for prospective colleges.
Other than that, I haven't done much in the past six months or so. I go to school, come home, read, perhaps write a bit, drum, play video games, perhaps play harmonica if the fancy strikes. My life is kind of comprised of the small pleasures currently, which I'm okay with. Though I am jealous of you guys and your awesome, eventful lives. ;)
Leah and I are still together, by the by. We still do silly things, and other such adventures, together. We just recently went to a one-person cello concert in the city, which was truly awesome.
But, enough about me. I'd love to do this whole critique thing, and just generally talk more, with you all. In fact, I just recently finished something I'd like to share.
So yeah. That's cool. You guys are cool. And yeah, I really miss you fall.
:)
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DeleteDang, sounds like you read fast. My turtle-pace reading speed feels inferior. Any recommendation for someone looking to get into McCarthy? Also, does your Onion thing write about just school stuff or what?
DeleteHello! I miss you all dearly and sincerely, and every moment you are out of my live is like a thousand pricks by a thousand needles. My life, recently (also, it's really late, so if none of this makes much sense please forgive me, and I will try to amend any confusion at an awaker date):
ReplyDelete-I tried to be cool and change my Facebook name to something clever (namely, Paskell's Triangle), but it failed miserably and now my new name is Triangle Paskell's. So, yeah. If you can't find me on there, that could be why.
-I am dating a girl now, and her name is, coincidentally, Ariella. But it's not really a coincidence because her last name is Carmell, and you all know her. And because her parents are apparently the best people ever (second to all of you), they are flying me down to Los Angeles February 6th-8th (I might see you at the airport, Daniel!) to visit. That's kind of neat
-COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND ANGST AND RESULTANT EXISTENTIAL CRISES
-My American Lit class this semester has Howl and the Footnote to Howl in the syllabus
-It's 45 degrees right now, but last weekend it was about 10-20 below. The air was hurting my face and there was snow everywhere. Ohio weather is terrible
-I've been thinking about, instead of majoring in economics, going to college for philosophy.
-I, too, have not been writing as much as I would like. But if anyone is looking for book recommendations, I highly recommend Stoner by John Williams (it is not about drugs, just an unfortunate name) and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I've also been working on my movie literacy, so on that front I would recommend Roman Holiday, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Annie Hall (if you haven't seen it already, at least). Fun!
-That's about it for my life. I rearranged my bookshelves by height, which I also recommend, but yeah. Nothing too incredibly interesting!
Mollie, I've been glancing at the tumblr sporadically, and it looks like an amazing opportunity! I hope you're having a lot of fun, and being really successful with it. And good luck on the submissions!
Daniel, I wish you luck, too, on editing your Nano manu (that's such a delightful term, by the way). I believe in you. What's it about, if you don't mind sharing? And Milo sounds really neat. I only listened to a couple songs, but I like him so far. Is it just a crazy coincidence that his name's Milo?
Rami, you're wonderful. You should send me videos of you playing the harmonica. I'm glad you and Leah are still together, you two are great! And I did see a little about the cello concert. Man, New York seems like such a neat place
DITTO. I would love to chat and maybe do the critique. I really do miss all of you, because you're all amazing, talented people
My life, in short, random bullet points:
ReplyDelete- I've just deactivated my facebook.
- I've not been writing as much as I'd like.
- I'm a slow reader. Working on that.
- Rami and I are still together.
- We did indeed just go to a one person spectacular cello concert.
- I want to work out more. Work out = endorphin release = happier Leah.
- Done submitting college apps. Got into Binghamton, my safety school. Brandeis is where I want to be; I just need the monies. Now we wait.
- Scholarship applications. Fml.
- I've decided, almost 100% to spend a year abroad in Israel in seminary. The place I'll be going is called Midreshet Harova, it is located in the Old City, about 5 minutes from the West Wall. This seems wonderful - indeed, it is - but you should know it is a common thing 18 year old Orthodox Jewish girls my age do. So in my community, it's not all that unique. Nonetheless, I'm excited, should I end up going.
People go to spend a year learning about Judaism in depth and to be immersed in the land and the culture. It is also claimed that it teaches those less mature girls and boys independence. I hope to learn about Judaism a lot more than I already know so I can become more in touch with my Jewish self.
- Speaking of which: I've recently decided/discovered that my life has been slightly lacking and that I feel best about myself when I am involved in and thinking about spiritual matters. I have therefore decided to investigate it and delve further into it so I can feel better internally more often. I find that I am a spiritually inclined person, and this would be healthy for me both emotionally (mentally) and religiously (Judaism). I've started reading this book called "I'd Like to Call For Help But I Don't Know The Number," an unfortunate title, by a highly knowledgable Dr. Abraham Twerski.
- The Cold War Kids. I love them. Give them a listen, please.
- I've invested in twinkly lights. They make my room feel warm (in atmosphere, not temperature, for my room is always freezing) and nice.
- Do send random hellos, they make me less sad. I promise.
Love and miss you all tremendously.
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