I’m spending this week as the writer-in-resident at the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop. Here I am, molding 16 impressionable minds, bwah-ha-ha…
Actually, I’m working hard and lacking sleep, which is why this is going to be short. This feels just about full circle for me, since I attended Odyssey as a student eleven years ago. This illustrates just how much has happened and how much my situation has changed since then. In 1998, I came to the workshop because I was in a rut, my writing wasn’t getting any better, and I needed a kick in the pants. Now, I’ve had six novels and around 40 short stories published, and I’m writing full time. I suppose that gives me some authority to talk about writing. (Because I often do, at length and with very strong opinions.) But sometimes, I feel like I’m still learning, I’m still new to this, I’m still finding my way around. I don’t have any business teaching writing for a week!
But one thing I can do is tell the students here, “I’ve been where you’re at right now, I went through what you’re going through now, and here’s what my path looked like.” And it really does help. At least, it helped me back then decide I wasn’t completely crazy. It’s just a crazy path.
My schedule for the five days I’m here:
9 – 10:25: I lecture on various topics. Actually, I turn it into discussions, with activities and examples, to make sure people are getting answers to the questions they have. If folks are interested, I can post my lecture topics.
10: 30 – 1: We critique stories as a group, 2-3 stories a day.
2 – 5: I meet with students individually. So far, they’ve been asking specific questions about how I got published, what it’s like being a writer, and what advice I have for them, just starting out.
Evenings: I critique stories for the next day.
As you can see, it’s a pretty full schedule. I’m going to be pretty toasted after a week of this. But these students are on their fifth week of this. I’m amazed they can stay awake! But really, they’re all so excited. Eager as puppies. It’s fun to see it from the other side of the desk.
