I started a new class at our local college tonight. I could feel that nervous energy as I was packing up my notebook, pens and highlighter into my book bag. I was anxious and excited at the same time. Why you might ask? If you’re anyone who knows me I get in moods where I just like to take random classes that “might” interest me. Usually they end up being a ton or work and really not all that interesting.
I was looking through the degree sheets at our community college and actually saw an Associates Degree in Creative Writing. Wow, I couldn’t believe it. I’ve got about three years of school and no actual degree. It’s one of my regrets that I have. I want the stinking piece of paper showing that I completed something…
I just got home from the class and I loved it. It’s kind of cool being around other people who want to write. The class is done like a workshop. We work on our fiction story or one we have in our mind. We print it out and all the other students write comments all over it and basically critique it. I know this is a powerful tool and although it can be tough, it’s needed to grow as a writer. We also have about 30 other writing assignments.
Tonight, he had a girl pull a random book out of her bag, open it up and with her eyes closed just point at a sentence. I think it was a dictionary. This is the sentence:
“The sun is warm, the sky is clear, the waves are dancing fast and bright”.
We have to write a 500-word story with a beginning, middle and end. We will then read them in class next week. I know the purpose is to see how the stories are all so different and I know this will be a fun class. It will also get us a little more comfortable in class with that “whole talking out loud.”
I think my story idea that I will be playing around with throughout the class is the Elvis one I posted about recently. I actually verbalized it out loud and the whole class started laughing, even the teacher. He said, “I like it.” I don’t know if it can be a novel maybe a short story, we’ll just have to see I guess. Time will tell.
The assignment for next week I just keeping seeing the next line being something like – “and all I hear is the theme to the movie “Jaws” blaring in my head.”
Take Care
Sandy
Sandy