Advice From Previous Graduates
I'm attending Norwescon 33 with my husband and have had the pleasure of meeting a number of fine people from Clarion West. To the words of wisdom we've already received from Clarion graduates, I've been asked to add the following:
1) It's hot. Stay hydrated, bring fans if you can.
2) Have 6 solid stor ideas when you arrive, with as much detail/description/thoughts/hints as you can manage. Or, as it was described to me, "By week five when you try to pull something out of your a$$, you're gonna find your a$$ is empty."
3) Be mindful of your health.
4) Don't waste your time on TV.
Sandra
Comments
Submitted by Frank_Ard on April 2, 2010 - 1:45pm.
Good wisdom, all around! Thanks, Sandra!
I didn't realize it would be hot as far North as Seattle. I'll definitely try to pack some fans, if possible.
Submitted by mike alexander on April 2, 2010 - 7:29pm.
I don't have any fans, just a couple of well-wishers.
Submitted by Frank_Ard on April 2, 2010 - 7:41pm.
LOL! Story of my life.
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 2, 2010 - 7:35pm.
I can always hope that you guys showing up will drop the July temps by 10 degrees or so. I don't do heat well at all.
Submitted by wtvand on April 4, 2010 - 11:20pm.
We had a record heat wave last year--a week of near 100 F. One day was highest temp ever recorded in Seattle, I believe. I blame Randy's pact with Lucifer.
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 5, 2010 - 10:46am.
So I have Randy to blame for being so miserable last year. Right! Time to get the rubber hoses!
Submitted by Andy R on April 2, 2010 - 7:30pm.
Great advice, thanks for passing that along, Sandra!
Submitted by saycestsay on April 3, 2010 - 12:17pm.
Perhaps we could make a shrine of the tv. You know, cover it with a dark cloth, stack up a couple/few books, pens, pencils, paper, manuscripts, envelopes, notebooks, stamps... oh wait, I'm describing my desk.
Submitted by Tracie on April 3, 2010 - 3:12pm.
Great suggestions! I'd heard about the heat from other grads, but since it was 82 here in sunny Florida today (with some crazy humidity to boot), I'm feeling good about my native tolerance levels. We should make a pact to walk for exercise on occasion, and to eat well (or as well as possible).
Submitted by Stephanie on April 3, 2010 - 7:04pm.
You can DEFINITELY count me in for walking, and I will do my best to eat well (and not be the chocolate hoarder that I am now)! :)
Submitted by grewvie on April 3, 2010 - 7:29pm.
If anyone ever wants to go running, I like to do it a lot (and take walks, of course), so if you want a running bud some day, count me in. I go slow, like to look at my surroundings, and breathe in the world. Sometimes I'm game for talking, sometimes the meditative aspects take over and the only sounds come from feet crunching against the ground. Anyway, it would be fun.
Also--I'll sign the pact to eat well. Pretty far sugar addicted, but it'll give me a chance to calm it down. I guess not eating dairy/meat offsets my propensities for sugar. Maybe.
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 3, 2010 - 8:40pm.
No meat? Sacrilege!
Submitted by grewvie on April 3, 2010 - 10:20pm.
I take my "sin" pretty seriously.
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 3, 2010 - 8:41pm.
Walking would be great. That actually helps my writing. My subconious takes over, and problems I didn't know I was having solve themselves.
Submitted by AdamBrymora on April 3, 2010 - 9:03pm.
Likewise, on walking-assisted writing.
...But I've found that in order for it to work I need to walk somewhere free from distractions (busy streets won't cut it for me). I guess my subconscious mind needs to be free to walk with me.
Submitted by grewvie on April 3, 2010 - 10:19pm.
Adam,
There's a forest/park not far from our domicile, and on the way there, a fairly quiet neighborhood.
Submitted by AdamBrymora on April 3, 2010 - 10:25pm.
Sounds good, though I can't speak for my subconscious!
Submitted by grewvie on April 3, 2010 - 10:29pm.
Ha, but who can? Mine is currently (I suspect, for do I know it truly?) slashing at me and wailing about going to sleep and how tomorrow is Zombie Jesus Day (I guess it's today in your part o' the world) and it needs to sleep so it can suffer through the 'festivities' without wilting. Or, wait. Maybe that's just my id. Different thing, maybe.
Submitted by mike alexander on April 4, 2010 - 6:31am.
You're going to burn in hell for that, you know.
Submitted by grewvie on April 4, 2010 - 1:55pm.
Well, after reading Joe Hill's Horns, hell doesn't sound so bad!
Submitted by remy on April 4, 2010 - 7:17pm.
Leisurely bike rides do the same for me. And Seattle seems to be a pretty bike friendly city, with miles of paths!
Submitted by remy on April 4, 2010 - 3:52pm.
I love the suggestion to eat as well as possible! I wonder how much input we'll have in the food/meal planning? I imagine that between the 18 of us we have 27 different approaches to food and dining.
I can't walk or run very well due to some lower back problems, but exercise is really important to me. Maybe I'll bring my inline skates and glide along side y'all, if that's ok. I also plan to buy or borrow an old bike when I get to Seattle.
If anyone's ever up for some weekend kayaking (there's a rental place within a mile of our dorm), let me know!
Submitted by Frank_Ard on April 4, 2010 - 8:17pm.
Remy, count me in on the kayaking. That sounds like a blast!
Submitted by Stephanie on April 5, 2010 - 8:01pm.
I love bike riding! I own a beach bike and ride around So Cal beaches when I can. I've never been kayaking, but I love trying new things; you can count me in! :)
Submitted by grewvie on April 5, 2010 - 8:22pm.
Me too--kayak, kayak! I wish I could bring my bike up there. :(
Submitted by Frank_Ard on April 4, 2010 - 8:18pm.
I don't do a lot of jogging, but I walk a lot to think about writing and such. I'd love to join the walking gang. Let's roam Seattle!
Submitted by neile on April 4, 2010 - 4:23pm.
Last year Seattle had a record-breaking heatwave. Most summers it's pretty mixed--there will be chilly days and there will be warm days. Bring clothing you can layer.
For people coming from farther away, we have a stash of items, like bedding, towels, pillows, lamps, and fans, paid forward from previous years' students. Once the people coming from farthest away have what they need, it's open season on these items for anyone who needs them. We always have more sheets and towels than we need.
Submitted by kcball on April 4, 2010 - 8:11pm.
Sandra:
Good to get a chance to say hello to you Sunday at Norwescon.
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 4, 2010 - 8:44pm.
Thanks for being patient. The crying young gentleman was my youngest son, James, physically 13 and cognitively 4. He doesn't do well in crowds and needed quiet time to help calm himself. And being the horrible, mean, terrible parents we are, we insist that he continue to experience a variety of situations so he has a better chance of getting used to them. After 10 minutes or so off by ourselves, he was able to tolerate the crowds, though not entirely comfortable.
*looking for my rubber chicken suit*
Submitted by kcball on April 4, 2010 - 9:10pm.
Not a problem. Family always comes first.
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 4, 2010 - 8:50pm.
Here's a shout out to KC, Leslie, Caren, Cat, Derek (sp?), Cory Doctrow, and the rest of the Clarion West crowd that welcomed me into the fold this weekend. The well-wishes and openness was much appreciated and taken to heart. Perhaps I should post this in "Is It June Yet?"
So...
Is it June yet?
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 5, 2010 - 10:49am.
To second wtvand's advice from another thread (can't remember which one), we were also admonished to "not worry about impressing your classmates those first two weeks, because everyone tries to one up the others until people get settled". Write for yourself and the story, that's what matters most.
Submitted by icemaker on April 6, 2010 - 12:29pm.
I'd say, definitely have story ideas but do not be surprised when you churn out something altogether different. It may be a development that has grown out of your writing exercise. or it may be something that grew out of an interaction with a classmate, an idea that happened while reading someone else's writing. Keep your mind open, let it breathe. My best stories were not from the canned starters.
As for TV? Why not, if you have turned your story in already? Again, it may even give you an inspiration. The one rule I'd say is absolute is -- the health. And hydration. It being about health.
julia,
CW2009
Submitted by Sandra M. Odell on April 6, 2010 - 5:00pm.
I really appreciate the check in. Words of wisdom are always appreciated.
Submitted by Tracie on April 6, 2010 - 2:54pm.
I really appreciate the alumni (and Neile) checking in on us and giving advice! I'm excited about the experience (duh) but nervous about being prepared for mental and physical survival.
Here's hoping it's not too hot to walk and otherwise recreate although the thought of floating on water in a tiny little boat is frightening to me...
Submitted by akashiver on June 6, 2010 - 1:52pm.
What's this about avoiding TV????! I had some of my best TV watching experiences at CW. Avatar for the win!
I'll ditto the comment about fans, and throw in one about umbrellas, because Seattle isn't always hot in the summer. I'll also add that coffee mugs seemed to become prized possessions by Week 4 of the workshop. Also, it's tradition for people to pitch in and cook a dinner on the weeekend, so the chefs among you should think about bringing recipes and a small bag of ingrediants (a la "Top Chef") if there's something you have your heart set on making.
Re: story ideas - I don't recommend doing a research-intensive story at the workshop, but if one of those story ideas requires you to know about, say, 19C London, it's a good idea to bring a book on 19C London with you in your suitcase.
That's all for now. I really envy you guys: CW is a wonderful experience, and you're going to have a blast.
--Siobhan ('09)
Submitted by Tacfit (not verified) on August 19, 2010 - 1:37pm.
I really hope I can go next year
Submitted by vfrickey on November 25, 2010 - 9:07am.
Actually, I find that driving and getting out of the house stirs the brain and creates new connections and story ideas. The last story I sent to Analog benefited incredibly from an idea I got driving back from the Post Office to get Priority Mail envelopes to send my MSS off - had to throw it in, then chop and channel the story to fit in the new scene, but it strengthened it, I think.
While watching TV for me is incredibly narcotic - not a good thing for developing a story.
Vance Frickey
"The proper study of man is everything." C.S. Lewis
Submitted by vfrickey on November 25, 2010 - 9:17am.
If I'm chosen for 2011, I promise to bring stuff for a nice, big jambalaya. All Cajun men know how to cook. I'd say it was genetic, but we're such a hodgepodge of ethnicities that it has to be cultural.
And I have to say in all modesty that our family jambalaya recipe helped my younger son's' Scout troop win two jamboree cooking contests. It's something you can throw into a dutch oven and cook over a campfire (which is exactly what my son, supervising the cooking process á la Gordon Ramsay, did).
Just sayin'
Vance Frickey
"The proper study of man is everything." C.S. Lewis