If I have one lesson to learn in life, it is to be more patient. A year ago, I had no friends in my new home state of Indiana, a quasi-uninteresting lump of a sleepless baby, and I was completing an MFA in creative writing that was feeling like a frustrating waste of time. I walked around, half-crazed, wanting to be patient but not reveling in anything of the sort.
This past weekend, I reunited with a college suite-mate I recently found through Facebook. He lives in Indianapolis! He is a fantastic, fun, smart, human being and he has a three year old and a new daughter. And Sweet Cheeks really likes him. It’s not that the people we’ve met here haven’t been nice, but there’s a hellovalot to be said for reuniting with another east coaster who shares a piece of your history. I felt like myself at his post-Mini Marathon BBQ party, even around a group of people I really barely know.
Pitter is sleeping pretty well now, or at least enough that I don’t feel sleep deprived anymore. And this makes life for him and me much more enjoyable. Kids can be fun! Who knew?
And, my MFA and the connections I made with others while earning it has finally put me in a happy position. I am officially one of the new fiction readers at the really cool online literary magazine, Our Stories.
What makes this journal unique is that unlike the rest of the literary world, when a writer’s piece is not chosen for the magazine, Our Stories staff provides a useful critique of the story, not just a pat rejection letter. Not only that, but writers can pay for one-on-one or group workshops with skilled staff (like myself) for in-depth analysis and assistance with revision.
Also, Our Stories conducts kick ass interviews with top writers including George Saunders, TC Boyle and the most recent Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz.
I’m thrilled to put my teaching and fiction-writing workshop skills to some use for this truly unique lit mag, and I hope you go on over and check it out.
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Later this week I plan to post at least the first installment of Pitter’s birth story. It’s been much on my mind as I move into the end of Patter’s second trimester and start thinking about labor again.
3 Comments
May 8, 2008 at 7:57 am
Congratulations!! I just checked out the site and it looks awesome:)
June 27, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Your site was recommended to me by Fighting Windmills. i will visit the magazine.
June 27, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Sorry, but here i am again.
i just have to say that giving each entry for contests critique is oustanding.
i look forward to visiting often.