What I've Been Up To

Graduate school is killing me. Slowly, I've phased out my hobbies; no writing, reading, or blogging since the last semester's inception. All in all, I'm happy with school though. Everything I learn is not only useful, but puts me one step closer to my ultimate goal.

The Waiting Game

I hate waiting. My anxiety starts to build when I have to wait, and if whatever I'm waiting for does not happen soon, I become a quivering, timid, mess.

For those who are like me, or for those who just hate waiting, here are some tips and tricks that will help the time roll on by.

Tip 1: Change the Thought Train 

Okay, I know, it's hard to put a stop to thoughts once they start up, but the best thing to do with anticipatory anxiety is to put a stop to the thoughts causing that anxiety.

Picture a stop sign. A physical barrier. This barrier is meant to stop the rush of thoughts that eat up energy. After picturing the barrier, think about ways to change the thoughts that are causing anxiety. Go from "I don't know what's going to happen" to "I have a plan. I know what I'm doing."

Tip 2: Accept the Anxiety 

Anxieties.com goes into detail about anticipatory anxiety, citing that thoughts get carried away and go crazy. They explain that a way to fight anxiety is to accept it. Change from "I must stay on guard" to "I won't guard myself against anxiety."

Tip 3: Take Stock 

Healthyplace.com created a short list of things to ask when anxiety starts to cause trouble.

What can you sense, right now?
Are the waters really that rough, or are you more afraid of what lies beneath?
Are your thoughts fast or slow?
How’s that breathing thing?

This list of questions keep you grounded in reality so you don;t get swept away into the abyss of anxiety.

There are a lot more things to do physically that can help when waiting. Take a walk, listen to music, talk to someone, read a book, etc. Anything you do productively will be beneficial when waiting.

Before 10 a.m.

Ten things to do before ten a.m.

1. Wake up.

2. Get out of bed.  

3. Drink.

4. Eat.

5. Meditate in some way. 

6. Talk to someone.

7. Get something productive done.  

8. Clean up.

9. Go over your day. 

10. Reflect.

This list may seem overwhelming, but writing down these steps will help get you moving and keep you on track to have a great, happy, productive day. 

New Year, New Books, New You

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Whether a magic filled year full of wonder, or equivalent to an angry Uruk-hai-filled journey across Middle Earth, 2015 is over and 2016 has begun with a bang! Throw that mind controlling ring into the fires along with everything that may have happened in 2015, 'cause 2016 is a new year and a new start!

Although every year people--including myself--make resolutions hell-bent on bettering ourselves, losing weight, giving up soda, etc, it seems that people rarely keep these resolutions.

I know that I never kept my resolutions. Maybe 1 out of every 10, but that's not a great track record. So this year, I made a resolution to keep my resolutions, and make resolutions that I would have a chance of keeping.


I'd like to start by listing my four (or so) New Year's resolutions:

         1. Receive at least 20 rejection letters from publishers in 2016
         2. Get a job!
         3. Focus larger amounts of energy on being positive
         4. Read more books. At least 10. 10 books in 2016. I should make it 16 books              for 2016, but hey, I like to accomplish my resolutions... Which brings me                to my my next point. 

I chose to focus on resolutions that I could actually accomplish. No "finish a whole novel!" or "lose 10 lbs a month!" No. None of that. Those are great goals, but they are so specific, and so big. Bite off small chinks. Want to get published in 2016? Start by saying you want to write something every day, or every other day. Say that you want to submit to 30 publishers, and not just novels! Focus small, and let yourself grow.


I believe that resolutions should focus on bettering yourself. And resolutions should make you happy. They should make you feel good. Accomplished. I'm not trying to preach. Believe me, I have made so many resolutions that I never kept and felt worse for the wear from it.

On a completely bookish note, read a book this year. There are so many out there, and even if that book is a free 50-page novella from the Amazon Kindle store, it is still reading. Books are healing. Read them.

I am excited for 2016. I have already been focused on my goals, and I feel good. I wish the same for everyone. Happy 2016 and best of luck on those pesky resolutions! 

Steve Sherrill Haunts Audience with "Joy, PA" at Center for Literary Arts Reading

Steve Sherrill (Photo credit Jonathan O'Harrow)

The room filled quickly. People buzzed around, feeling the energy of the atmosphere, filling cups with coffee and plates with cookies. They look over brochures, glancing at information about Pulitzer Prize nominated author Steve Sherrill.

Gerry LaFemina, Director of the Center for Literary Arts where the reading is being held and Professor at Frostburg State University opens for Sherrill. LaFemina, who has been hosting readings at the CLA for twelve years, praises the author, and jokes about his quirks: "Steve Sherrill... What to say about a guy with a garage full of 750 antique crutches? Who is a keen ukulele player? Who is a damn fine fiction writer?"

The audience laughs at the joking, and once they quite, LaFemina shifts the mood to a serious feel. He describes Sherrill as "a multi-faceted writer" one who "visits... the haunted, the others of this world."

After allowing his praises to sink into the audience, LaFemina brings Steve Sherrill up to the podium. The audience erupts with applause even as the author waves for them to quiet.

"It is officially known," Sherrill opens, "I would like Gerry LaFemina to introduce me in every room I walk into."

The author chooses to read from his newest and darkest novel, "Joy, PA." He prefaces his selections with short quips about how much of a "goofball" he is, and how his novel made his wife cry "on a regular basis." Right before beginning his reading, Sherrill remarks, "Remember, I'm a nice guy, and it's about love."

The mood slowly drops as Sherrill reads page after page of dark material. After so many pages, he stops, "This makes me tired," he says, looking up from the pages to meet his audience's eyes, "Let's all take a moment to breathe."

The author reads only three short excerpts from the book. He wanted to let the audience her from his three characters, Willy, his Mom, and his Dad,, giving the audience a real dose of what the book would hold for them if they chose to read it in it's entirety.

Kestra Forest, an audience member who stood in line to buy the book after the reading, said that the reading was "really cool, and really dark." She remarked that she believed Sherrill's instance on being a nice guy. "He came to my class [at FSU] earlier. He made a lot of jokes, and answered any question thrown at him."

To end the reading, Sherrill opened up to questions from the audience. He wanted to let people figure him out, and figure out that he really is a nice guy. "This is my writing brain," Sherrill said, "I take sick pride in letting my writing brain do what it needs to do."

Plaster the walls with rejection notes

I submitted my first manuscript, and I cannot wait to receive my rejection letter. 

You heard me correctly. I am more excited to behold the words "Thank you for your submission, but..." than I am to have successfully submitted a manuscript, my first manuscript. 

I met one man, Steve Oberlan, at an Independent Literature Festival in Frostburg, MD, and he said that every time he got a rejection letter regarding a submission, he would hang it up on his bathroom wall. He had so many, that he needed to find a new place to hang his letters within the next year. 

Here's what a rejection means: You were brave enough to submit, your work was read, and you are trying. It's all perspective.

I know one thing and one thing only about trying to get published: It is hard. There are thousands upon thousands of gifted writers out there, all submitting to the same publication houses and journals you are. Some are more experienced writers, and some are less experienced. Every enters on the same playing field, though, and sometimes you just have to get lucky.

I can assure you this: When I receive that first rejection, I'm getting it framed and popping open a bottle of champagne. 

Just turned in the worst essay I have ever written. More on that later. 

In other news, I think life really does begin after coffee. For me, at least. When I wake up, I feel like staying in bed, and then I drink coffee and the world is my oyster! 

This morning, I read the first two acts of Macbeth--a relatively easy feat. Is this Billy Shakes' shortest play or what?--and sent in the worst essay ever. But I don't want to talk about that.  

Here's a funny video to get you through the day. Or you could just drink coffee. That works too. 

  

I relate to those cats. Except I am not afraid of cucumbers. I am afraid of my professors. Especially after that essay. 

Have you ever done the thing where you're being sneaky and then the person you're avoiding spots you, so you freeze in place and stare at the wall, hoping beyond all hopes that you will magically camouflage against whatever surface is behind you? Yeah. That's where I am right now.