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Post A Note > Writing Talk > Course Assignments; Breaking Into Print > Waiting for feedback
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Josh Covington
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« on: July 27, 2010, 08:08:35 AM »
I sent in assignment 5 some time ago and, as I wait for my instructor to send it back, I've been noticing something:

Does anyone else have trouble writing while waiting for an assignment to come back?  I don't mean assignment 6, but any other writing.  It's like my brain goes on hold.  I can generate rough story ideas, but I can't seem to get anything really productive written while waiting (for example: one story I've been working on - it has taken me almost 3 hours of writing to generate 1000 words and I know exactly what I want to do with the story - just can't get moving)

If so, how do you combat it?
(I have the same problem with submissions - once I have a few out, my submitting goes on hold until I hear back from editors)
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Nanlisa
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« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2010, 08:24:27 AM »
Hi Josh.

I just sent Assignment 5 to my instructor, Anne Grant, on July 1, and I haven't gotten a response yet. Because this is a two-part assignment, I am not starting Assignment 6 until I hear back her. I want to see what she has to say first before I start writing it. (It's about my experiences with Weight Watchers.)

It's just natural that you don't know what you're going to write about when you first start an assignment, and that's OK. But then you finally decide what you're going to write about.

What is your assignment about? Who's your instructor?
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Josh Covington
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« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2010, 08:53:35 AM »
Its a short fiction piece set in late 19th century Russia.  In a nutshell, its about a corrupt and debauched old priest getting his comeuppance for murdering his wife many years before.  There are supernatural undertones, but it could all just as easily be superstition and his cloudy mind.  The story doesn't spend much time reflecting on that.

My instructor is Venita Helton.  She's been great to work with and she has really helped me with my story endings.  The world view tends to be bleak in my writing and she's helped me see where and how to plant that bit of hope that keeps readers, well, reading.
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ajcap
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« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2010, 08:56:45 AM »
Your post is uncanny, Josh. I had the EXACT same thoughts this morning. I sent a submission to a flash ezine 27 days ago and I haven't been able to string a sentence together since.

The nice people at LR want to know what's wrong. I'm sure my instructor thinks I've joined a cult. My new date for assignment 10 is Aug. 13 and all I can think about is "Will EDF like my story?"!

I know the smart thing to do is work through it but I need verification. Which, come to think of it, is silly. If I sent in assignment #10 my instructor would give me whatever verification I needed as well as good advice on how to improve. I think I'll dig out an old story and work on it...
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Cheers, Amanda

If you don't have the confidence that underlies patience, then trim back on the magnitude of your ambition...
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lizbeth
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« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2010, 12:16:12 PM »
I find actually that once I submit something I just move on to my next project. Same when I was doing the courses at LR.  Right now I am only submitting a couple of stories since I am concentrating on my novel...
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MaryR
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« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2010, 01:05:00 AM »
Good  for you, Liz! And you all, that 'waiting for the postman' is a show stopper when you're  breaking in!   That postman can take a long time and your production stops.  Instead, decide...'well if they didn't like this one, BOY will I show 'em' and put that energy into the next story or query.  You have a lot of energy built up as you wait, but it tends to become negative unless you channel it into a new project.  A little anger helps.  (BOY will I show you....)  :-)

Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor
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David
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« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2010, 07:17:42 PM »
Mary, did you REALLY make that post after 1:00 am ? that is what the time stamp says.

Working at 1 am is something I could never do!  Shocked
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MaryR
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« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2010, 01:27:30 AM »
LOL, David. I try not to work at 1 AM either!  Actually, the server where this site is hosted is in eastern time, so it was after 10 PM my time.  I'm posting this at 10:26 my time, so you can see what the time stamp says. I usually do the post a note after I get done working for the day.  Late enough without being 1 AM considering I'm up before 6:30.

Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor
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CindyT
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« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2010, 07:28:48 PM »
Josh - I'm not as far a long as you (just sent in #3), but I've been at it long enough to see a pattern, too. I put SO much energy into each piece that once it's sent off, I'm brain-dead. I take a few days off, then start thinking about what I'm going to do about the next assignment. My break in between is getting smaller and smaller, though. I'm finding that if I'm not writing SOMETHING, I go nuts. Which is why I'm writing this!!
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Nanlisa
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« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2010, 07:02:32 PM »
I contacted Student Services yesterday about the status of Assignment 5. They said that my instructor, Anne Grant, is experiencing a delay, but my lesson will be returned soon.

I will not start Assignment 6 until I hear back from her.
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MaryR
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« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2010, 10:38:40 PM »
Good for you, Cindy!  Writing because you can't NOT write is the hallmark of a Writer!   :-)

Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor
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Tess
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« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2010, 04:06:08 PM »
I just sent in Assignment 2 (call me a rookie, it's ok!) and have since gone back with a fresh mind and discovered some previously skipped edits, such as using ALL CAPS instead italics for emphasis and one spot where a word was missing but my mind kept reading the sentence as if the word was there. 

so now what?  at this stage of the game do i just chalk it up to learning experience?  note to self and all that???  i didn't change the content or rewrite anything, just some housekeeping.  i'm sure these will be addressed when my instructor sends her feedback. 
« Last Edit: August 04, 2010, 04:20:19 PM by Tess » Logged
lizbeth
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« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2010, 09:28:12 PM »
Tess, don't worry about it.  Everyone makes mistakes and your instructor will give you plenty of good feedback-that's why you're taking the course, right?  Smiley
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MaryR
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« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2010, 12:44:46 AM »
Oh, and you always find the typo you missed, right after you mailed or emailed the submission to that Big Circulation Market.  You know what?  Editors and instructors know that happens and if it's hot a chronic craft issue, just a typo, no big deal!

Mary Rosenblum LR Web Editor
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Tess
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« Reply #14 on: August 05, 2010, 09:48:32 AM »
thanks for the input!  in my day job i'm a grants coordinator for our group and it's my job to put together the grant submission (i don't write the science!!!) and check it carefully for editing, formatting, etc. prior to sending it off to the NIH or other sponsor.   in that role i'm really the second set of eyes......so i found it rather irksome that some errors slipped by me with my own product!!!  i guess that's my chronic incomplete with perfectionist tendencies showing!   Tongue
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