<p>I’m at the Govener’s school for the Arts rite now, my major is creative writing. The thing is, I feel like I can’t catch up…one night when I was uber-caffeinated I wrote Three very, very good pieces that i sent in for evaluation…somehow i got in. Like in class, the teacher took us out to see a very old catus, and we had to write a poem about that…People took it, called it an old man, and said that they wanted to tame his torns…stuff like that…And we also had to write a DMV play and everyone’s was really, REALLY good, like off the chair laughing…
I have the material in my head, but i just can’t think of it, my pieces don’t flow. I have Two more weeks left and I just don’t know what to do. But now that the weekend’s up, i’ll practice… ALso when i write i don’t know how to make them flow, and to group the language so that they work well. It’s really exasperating cuz everyone else is SO much better than me, as in they attend their arts magent school and have been doing it since middle school and the first time i did it was that night i wrote those three pieces…can anyone give me advice or even critiques? i know some people on this board go to arts magent schools for writing and could maybe give me some ideas/advice…</p>
<p>You recognize where your pieces don’t work and what changes you want to make. That’s a great place to start. AND you’re taking this class. So how do you personally get the most from the class?</p>
<p>My suggestion: write something very short that focuses on just one thing you want to work on. Ask for critiques that focus on that one thing. Then write another, and so on. Take from the class what you want, not what others already have.</p>
<p>First thing and most important thing, Monica. Calm down. They wouldn’t have accepted you if you couldn’t do the work. I don’t consider myself a creative writer, but I do know that the stressors you’re dealing with right now could cripple a Clydesdale. Take a deep breath and we’ll see who pops on here to help. I’m sure the calvary is on the way. If not, I’ll come back and help as much as I can.</p>
<p>incognita - I’m going to suggest that you think of the nicest, most approachable of the teaching staff and make an appointment or drop in to see him or her. Bring your 3 pieces that you wrote which got you in. Tell him or her that you feel “blocked” right now, but that this is what you can do when you’re “on,” (ie, the 3 pieces). Ask for their suggestions - how do they get through “blocks?” What do they do when the ideas are in their head and it “just doesn’t flow?”</p>
<p>They will all have been through it and still go through it.</p>
<p>If it’s a little scary to approach one of the teachers, remember this: having students seek their advice directly is what teachers love best. Especially when it’s from students with the talent and interest you have, which got you where you are.</p>
<p>I agree with jmmom. Talk to a teacher there. There should be someone who will be willing to work with you, critique some of your writing, give suggestions, perhaps suggest a book to read. It is hard to help you online, especially since we don’t know what the teachers there are stressing or anything about the curriculum, etc.</p>
<p>Generally the advice I have heard is to get your ideas out on paper without doing too much editing in your head, then see what is good and what is not and decide how to shape and improve it. </p>
<p>You must have talent, or they would not have accepted you. Try not to compare your writing to that of others. They may have a different style than you; that doesn’t mean they are better. And even if they ARE better than you now, you can learn and improve. Some of writing is talent, but much is just learning how to do thing better. You wouldn’t expect to learn calculus in a short time; you cannot expect to become a great writer quickly either. But, if you like writing and are willing to work at it, you CAN do it. Hang in there, and give yourself permission to write bad stuff on your way to writing great stuff! Expecting perfection is the fastest way to set up a writer’s block. :-)</p>
<p>Ingognita – I write very easily, and my kids are always amazed at how easy it comes to me, how fast it flows. One bit of advice I gave them (and give them over and over, because they keep forgetting) is to just WRITE. Don’t wait for the perfect opening sentence – that will probably magically appear two or three paragraphs down! Most of us have some “garbage” that has to get out before the good stuff starts flowing. (So don’t judge me by my CC posts!) If you don’t keep a journal, start. On days when I just can’t seem to get anything fresh and original out, I can look back at my journal, and find something that I think I can write BETTER. In fact, there is a saying that there are no good writers – only good editors.</p>
<p>Lots of great ideas for you here; binx’s suggestions are good for the longer run, if you’d like to develop your skills further. </p>
<p>And for next fall when you want to see how fast it flows and how amazingly bizarre your creative writing can be when you tell your inner editor to take a vacation for a month so you can just <em>churn it out</em>, I recommend National Novel Writing Month (which is November, and is international), <a href=“http://www.nanowrimo.org%5B/url%5D”>http://www.nanowrimo.org</a> – 50,000 words in 30 days. I’ve done it 3 times now, so I know it can be done, and it can do remarkable things for your creativity.</p>
<p>That won’t help your current situation, but consider trying it next Nov. as a way to stretch your writing, since you’re obviously interested and skilled in the subject.</p>
<p>You become a better writer by writing. That is, just like most other things, it gets better and easier with practice. Others in your class may have had more opportunities to practice. That only means that they are probably better writers than they were. Perhaps they are the best they ever will become. YOU can only get better! </p>
<p>My best advice is to start in the middle. There is usually something that you want to get out – an idea, an image, a phrase that you like or even a criticism of something. You could even write about your struggle to write…! Start there and keep writing to the end. Then, go back and write your beginning. (this advice works well for term papers, too!)</p>