Hello from Monday night....

Here's a quick entry to keep up on things!

Today was our new teacher for fiction class, Melissa Pritchard. Although it was a bit hard at first to let go of our attachment to Bret, I think she will be great in a totally different way. She is all about writing as an art and she brings in other arts into her study and preparations for writing. She is a bit new agey--which, I actually kind of like! She says she writes all of her drafts in these big art notebooks--the blank, big sketch pads you can get at art stores. That way, she lets herself write and draw if she needs to or bring in any other thing that comes up. I think this would be a great technique for me to try. Even seeing her big art notebook as she was reading from it totally opened up my view on what writing can be--it makes me think of it as a craft. Gets me thinking outside the lines on the page. It also might enhance the ability to see the story as it unfolds visually--to see it spatially on the big page--I can see myself using a notebook like that to sketch out scenes in relation to each other--like a storyboard of sorts. She also talked about thinking in threes--how that's a good number for characters. events--any number of things. One hint she gave that I really liked was the idea that you should simplify on the surface and then go deep. That means--fewer characters, perhaps, but more depth to the few you have.
Also--another great idea: When writing the story and figuring out how events or scenes are going to go, you can list possible events that might happen to a character on a continuum from outrageous, life changing events to mundane, hum-drum actions. And then, as the writer, try them out in the scenes. It helps you make decisions and see what is available to you.
One other great quote that came up in class today, in relation to some things classmates were saying about committing to writing and the risks you have to take to do so, is "Leap, and the net will find you." I love that! It applies in so many ways--not just to writing. But, I think when it comes to writing or committing yourself to this work, there is a certain leap that one makes or needs to make. And it is scary. Whether it be the leap into the story when you sit down to write. Or, whether it be a leap into the writer's life where you decide to put writing first or at least take a step toward making it more serious or a bigger part of your life. All leaps. Big and small.
So, she will be very valuable in teaching us.

Well, off to bed. Tuesdays are busy days here.
Went back to the little tea place that is becoming a favorite. Tried out funky new one today--a cold tea that when poured into the pint glass they serve it in comes out looking like beer. This, of course, would be a great hit in Prague! But, it tastes really sweet, and is quite refreshing. Downed two of these tonight at the little tea shop!

And, of course, had a great red beer earlier in the day at lunch--Herold beer or something like that. Divine.

more later!