Word Count (12 Apr)

Today's word count: 13,500

The last scene I wrote didn't quite go how I expected. It quickly turned dark and violent. I'm okay with that, as it was a hit in workshop class (and let me tell you, when you're writing a character-driven novel and spend a semester getting dinged with comments like "I just don't see where this is going", it's nice to have people react positively to your work).

My instructor, author Karen Stolz likes it and that's really where the rubber meets the road. Not to imply that my peers' critiques aren't important to me (quite the opposite), but that you should really, seriously listen to the advice of those who've been around the block a little, especially when your instructor's critiques are somewhat at odds with what your classmates think.

Just because you're in a creative writing class doesn't mean everyone else there is trying to become the next Faulkner. At the smaller schools, like the one I attend, most of them are doing this as a minor, or as part of a Communications or more general English degree.

Just keep plugging away, doing what you're doing. That's what I tell myself. I hope it ends up being the Right Thing.