tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30034134131440768772024-02-08T04:19:40.445-08:00Jamey GennaI am an English teacher and Creative Writing teacher in the East Bay area of San Francisco. I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Masters in Writing. I also teach Fiction writing classes in the East Bay. You can find my writing in many fine literary magazines, both on-line and in print. I like to blog about literary magazines and books I'm reading, and also about the act of writing.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-57399129414483479872016-06-16T20:32:00.000-07:002016-06-16T20:32:02.331-07:00Writing AgainWell, I finally started writing again. I have been working on four or five short stories: all dealing with a woman over 50 who is dealing with dating and being single for the first time in her adult life. Sound like anyone you know? It's an interesting world, I'll have to say that. Once I started writing again, it was like a dam burst and everything came flooding out. That's a tired metaphor, but appropriate. So far, I have a story called "The Lost Belt" or "New Life 1000," "The Things People Say Are Always About Themselves," "Forgiveness Has a Backup Valve," and "The Right Questions," oh and "Once You Let the Camel's Head in the Tent". Hmmmm. I do want to thank Jane Anne Staw for helping me get Unstuck, and Andy Dugas for allowing me to join his groups.
So, I have been out and about the Bay area attending lots of readings and doing a couple myself. Since I've been out of the loop, it seems like the readings scene here has really exploded. There are so many places to go hear people read their work and so many open mics. You could go to one almost every night. Beast Crawl is coming up...more on that later. Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-9100455439352280622013-06-10T18:31:00.000-07:002013-06-10T18:31:34.174-07:00Stories I Heard When I Went HomeHello all, I finally pushed publish on my book <i>Stories I Heard When I Went Home for My Grandmother's Funeral.</i> I was weirdly hesitant. There are some stories (many) stories based on an Iowa childhood, some based on a Montana adulthood, a California.... My hesitancy is all about family members reading my stories and expressing concerns around privacy. There is also some embarrassing sexuality in there. So I have to remember that all stories are fictional when you write them down. No, I really get that. The past is in the past. This is one person's point of view. Liberties were taken in the making of these stories, but it really does become fiction once you write it down.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Stories%20I%20Heard%20When%20I%20Went%20Home%20for%20My%20Grandmother's%20Funeral&sprefix=Stori%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AStories%20I%20Heard%20When%20I%20Went%20Home%20for%20My%20Grandmother's%20Funeral"></a>Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-78279386413721555252012-07-04T08:23:00.000-07:002012-07-04T08:23:11.993-07:00Okay, I went to a short two-night class at Foothills College on Photoshop. The instructor made it painless and fun--Janet Davis. You can see her artwork at janet-davis.com<a href="janet-davis.com"></a>. She used to be a kindergarten teacher so she knew how to reach me.
Personal writing has begun to nudge forward. I finished two rough drafts of two short stories--I'd been working on them, stuck, for six months. I went back to work with Jane Anne Staw, who is a wonderful writing teacher. See her blog at <a href="http://writershomecompanion.com"></a>. She is also the autor of <i>Unstuck</i>, a great resource for those of us who get there and no longer want to be "there." The two stories I'm working on--"Kissing Game" and "For Keeps."
As for writing practice, hard to do when you have a 13 year old and 21 year old interrupting you all the time. Del is talking to me about "heated yoga" at Yoga for the People on Shattuck and Baker in Berkeley. I want to go take hot yoga. I like being hot.
Okay, truly, writing practice--gave up the shed/studio to my husband--cleaned out all my stuff. (Okay I lied, I kept the loft for meditation: ie. Buddha, Ghanesh, candles, Living Sober, and a small mediation bowl and striker.) I can't write out there. All I do is putter and clutter. I am writing at the huge dining room table--got up early to have privacy, which didn't work. Does it sound like I'm complaining? I think it's back to Starbucks in Rodeo. If you see me typing away, leave me alone. Well, say hi, but then walk away after three minutes. Friends know to do this because I've told them this.
Looking for the next story. I want maybe one more for this collection titled--, I'm leaving that blank for now. I've seen too many of my titles show up elsewhere.
Personal items: the cats are still here as are the dogs and the chickens. No new pets, thank God. I'm back.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-1731014534333900172012-01-21T13:37:00.000-08:002012-01-21T13:49:22.826-08:00Floating and WritingI finally took the time to take my free float at the flotation center in Oakland and it was fabulous. I really thought it was going to be a waste of time. One of those experiences you endure for the sake of experience. My daughter gave me a gift certificate to float for Christmas in order to help me with my fibromyalgia. I couldn't imagine how floating in a tank of salt water was going to benefit my pain, except to be relieved from it for maybe an hour, and besides the pain seems to be pretty much under control with gentle medication and lots of sleep. But the experts said that floating was worth four hours of deep sleep. Okay, so I drove down there last night in the rain and on the accident-prone highway. It took me almost an hour and half to get there, usually a 30-45 minute drive and by the time I got there, stress had climbed up into my right shoulder big-time. However, and I don't want to bore you with the process, google it and find out if you're interested, I did find out that floating on magnesium sulfate, salt, and warmed water in a sensory deprivation tank helped me relax and feel utterly blissful. <br /><br />While in there, I began to imagine and remember events, people, rooms, details from my childhood that I hadn't thought about in years. Babysitting for the Barrs while I was in fifth grade, jumping on the trampoline in their basement(I know, what a strange and surreal place to put a trampoline.), -playing with Theresa and Scott in their oil and gas-stained garage. And then later, meeting their estranged father when I was in high school. He was a good-looking, part-Indian, guitar playing,smoking and drinking kind of guy.<br /><br />Today, I can't help but wonder why those images popped into my head at that particular time. There was no connection to the rain outside, the actual float chamber, the artwork in the front part of the Cotton Mills Studio. I'm still not sure, but I do know these memories were recalled with such vividness that they deserve a second look in terms of story. I strongly suggest that you try out a new adventure. Make that writer's date with yourself to do something unexpected. You may surprise yourself.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-16718025738308856762012-01-16T12:03:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:21:38.369-08:00ReJuvenationWell,it is the year 2012 and I look at the date I last posted:May, 2011. I know why that date is significant. Without going into too much detail, I had some pretty bad work issues arise, not of my own making. Those issues took all summer to resolve; then there was the hangover impact from September until about December. I only say this because looking back I can see why I haven't been writing, why I haven't felt like writing. I told myself that not writing was a choice. Friends told me that I should write about the issues (journal. That sounded awful. Who wants to write about conflict, personal or professional, while you are in the middle of it. That said, and however, things have gradually changed. A shift toward the better. So I think New Years falls at just the right time. We need that calendar date to help us look back, to bring an end to what was and find ways to filter out the chaos. Pretty dramatic, I know. <br /><br />So I encourage all of you to go ahead, make those resolutions to start writing again. Go out and visit the lit scene in SF and the bay area. I went to two really solid readings this week and my mind is on fire. I'm not a great reviewer of these things--too many adjectives and adverbs needed, but I will say that the Porchlight Reading Series and East Bay on the Brain are alive and kicking. I ran into several friends and colleagues at the EBOB thing and they asked if Porchlight was still happening. Many had never been. Having fallen off the wagon of hay for six or more months, I tended to think that these events were getting a little passe', tired, a been-there-done-that sort of thing for newer writers to feel the sparkle. But I was so impressed by readers at BBOB, by the quality and engagement of the work, that I had to compliment. I also ran into the editor of The Farallon Review, Tim Foley, an he graciously gave me a copy of issue 3 to read. Wow. I couldn't put it down, way to go Farallon writers. Lewis Buzbee, Ken Rodgers, David Booth--all writers I know, but haven't read in a while. Just terrific. Then I read the piece by Sarah Rose Horowitz called "Flat Daddy" and just fell in love with that sad story. I'm still reading the magazine, so that's where I have to stop. Like I said, I'm not a reviewer. That said, if you are stuck, you can't write, you don't want to journal, go out and watch some other writers read, relax and enjoy your life. Somehow writing finds its way back to you. Hemingway was wrong, writing is not like bleeding. Writing is the healing that comes after a long illness. So dramatic!Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-66951135494519314912011-03-11T19:43:00.000-08:002011-03-11T19:54:11.753-08:00Menopause ResetI don't know what the title of this post is. I only know I haven't blogged for a long time. The problem is that I don't know if anyone reads this, but does that matter? The real issue is that a blog keeps me current, in the current, in touch with others. So what is going on in your writing life? I am teaching a very inexpensive *30 bucks through DZANC on April 9th. I have about 3 or 4 former students/ friends signed up so far. I'd like to get about 8-10 people. It's from 10=2 or whatever on a Saturday at my house. Of course, if you know anything about me, you know you can't be allergic to cats or dogs or acacia when you come out to my place b/c I have 2 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 feral/tamed kittens*age 4 months*. That's just a public service announcement. I also have a large house, yard, garden, deck, and open basement, living room. So if you're thinking about taking the class==take it b/c we are going to write for four hours and have tea/wine and talk about our writing. I'll bring some of my favorite writing exercises for both poetry and esp. fiction, but any of them can be used for nonfiction. <br /><br />Okay, enough about that. I'm loving my creative writing class--RAW Writing at that WRitng SAlon. Fun and I'm getting a lot of personal writing ideas. That's what it's all about. <br /><br />What am I reading? Menopause Reset--a diet book that's good for those of who the pounds are sneaking up on. There's nothing new in this book except that there's always hope. Set new goals and exercise regularly. Check your nightime eating habits. All the stuff we already know. However, the book did get me back on track in terms of looking at my daily exercise. My dog Casey loves it that I'm back to my daily or every other day walks. She gets so excited when she sees I'm wearing my exercise clothes and the rolley tennis shoes. <br /><br />So,this blog is getting too personal. Checking out. Hope you'll let me know if you read this. Over and out. JJJamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com137tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-11232650410567229982010-12-22T20:35:00.001-08:002010-12-22T20:55:24.638-08:00Readings and SuchI've been having a great time over the holidays, catching up with old friends and making new...just like the song says to do, which is why I think we've named two of the kittens Silver and Goldie. The other kitten is a black/calico named Phoebe Bear, after a great great great relative, and b/c her paws are black like a bears. So, you can see what I'm consumed by right now. My daughter Jackey and I caught three "feral" kittens up at the high school, along with their mother (currently named Noelle). They are living in my writing studio so that I can have a reason to turn the heat on and go out there. They're so much fun. Momma cat is a little too wild, but she's well-fed. We're sending them to fix our ferals in January and then, I don't know. Mom will go back in the wild once she gets fixed and the kitties? Anyone want a beautiful gray and white or a gold or a black/calico kitty? <br /><br />As for writing, publishing, and readings: I had a wonderful reading in November at Books and Bookshelves reading for Switchback. That story is near and dear to my heart--"If It Hasn't Already"--a story about those of us living in the suburbs, our children, and how we're dealing with the war. It's a collage story. Still so grateful to Crab Orchard Review for publishing my story "Goat Herder." <br /><br />I went to a wonderful reading last night, seeing an old friend Ken Rodgers read from his new poetry book Passenger Pigeons. I can't wait to dig in. Ken and his wife Betty are producing a documentary about one of the worst battles in the Vietnam War. It's on-line at Bravotheproject.com, if you're interested or want to get a heads up on this soon to be great indie film. Ken talked about interviewing many people from the war and the effects of war on these individuals. I think it's a wonderful and compassionate project--a story that needs telling and retelling.<br /><br />Went to a terrific b-day party at Alia Volz's place and met a lot of writers there. Great party and great to be in the mix. Check out the Portuguese Writer's Reading Series...more on this later. <br /><br />I'm hoping to read friend's and colleague's books over the break and to continue with my little self-publishing gig of an older collection of my short stories. This is for personal reasons only. I'd like to get copies into the hands of friends and family. A student of mine gave me a book about Asberger's Syndrome that I want to dig into and want to read Some Things That Meant the World to Me by Josh Mohr, a fellow teacher from the Writing Salon. <br /><br />I had a great time teaching the Raw Writing class this go-round at the salon and am looking forward to helping people generate writing in the next series of classes (March for my class). I also attended a meditation/solstice/writing retreat at Clara Rosemarda's place in Santa Rosa. It was possibly the best thing I had done for myself in a long time, braving the rain to honor my commitments to my own writing. I encourage you to find Clara on Facebook and take one of her classes. She's amazing and it's worth the commute.<br /><br />And now, I'm finally done X-mas shopping, sort of. My teenager Del went with me this year and picked out most of her own gifts. That was the best shopping trip ever. I get so much anxiety about getting the right gift. I hate being unoriginal or wasting my time with gifts people are going to take back. So, it's time to turn back to writing and reading good books. I appreciate those of you who have time to go on to Goodreads.com and register the books you read. I am still reading that first short story collection of Anthony Doerr's and hoping to read Cutting for Stone--my sister said it was great. Clara Rosemarda said that the new Jonathan Franzen novel Freedom was pretty damn good, so I'm going to download that onto my Nook. I wanted to wait, like friend Andy Dugas said to do, until all the hype died down, but I appreciated Clara's opinion of this bestseller.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-75931992644340830842010-08-17T19:16:00.000-07:002010-08-17T19:34:38.070-07:00Literary Death MatchWell, LDM was a hoot (what an old word, but owls are in right now). I read "Manx" and went over by about 30 seconds. They decided to super-soak me, despite my pathetic attempt for mercy by crying "Pneumonia." I did just recover from whooping cough, but they were unswerving in their desire to soak somebody. I went dressed for it--tank top and jeans. The thing is, I hate, hate, hate people who go over the time limit. I had it timed at 6 minutes and 30 seconds. The problem was, people were laughing. It's a funny story. They read it on Liar's League. Go listen to it. It was 12 minutes on there. I pared it down to the essentials. I think the judge Russell Blackwood just wanted to shoot that watergun. Afterward, Matt Stewart convinced me to take his cap gun (a prop) and shoot Russell when he went into the women's bathroom. I took some convincing, but hey, it felt good. Really good. He got capped four times. Thanks, Matt, for the loan of your weapon and catching it on your cell phone, you-tube. See it here, <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/duderedman#p/a/u/0/iGC8Ux4CdRo<br /><br />Other news, because I really have been sick and probably should not have done the reading at LDM, I asked Jane at the Writing Salon to allow me to cancel my upcoming five week class. I'm so grateful to her for understanding. I have to get ready for the new school year at Hercules High School and it's a hard time to get a class going. I basically do a little more each day. So sorry to the people who had already signed on. I'm hoping to teach a five-week class in the fall that is strictly writing, no revision. Something that I think is sorely needed in the academic world. I see so many stuck writers, people who get jammed up b/c of poor workshop attitudes and too much criticism too soon. <br /><br />If you want a great website to read about writing inhibitions, read Jane Anne Staw's writershomecompanion.com. I'm her biggest fan. She's helped me edit many of my stories and she's a thoughtful, caring mentor. She helped me get "Goat Herder" into shape, which is out now in the beautiful new Crab Orchard Review. I can't wait to find time to sit down and read the whole issue. Thanks to friends who purchased a copy from me. <br /><br />As for recent books, still reading the Pushcart Prizes and the Dzanc's Best of the Web. Almost done with both. It's interesting to compare the type and style of stories in each. A good writing / reading endeavor for those of you who are short story writers. Read both and see what you think is the difference or the same. I think there's quite a bit more flash and surreal work on the internet than in the print mags. By the way, internet magazines can nominate for Pushcarts, but the work still rarely makes it in there. Thanks to Dzanc for giving us the opportunity to see what they think is working on-line.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-69047725588725104182010-08-11T22:11:00.000-07:002010-08-11T22:18:11.150-07:00Friday Night, Liteary Death MatchWell, it's on. I was invited to read at Literary Death Match and I've been thinking I'll be like death warmed over because I'm recuperating from pneumonia. However, I am feeling better today and am ready to throw it down. My colors are orange and turquoise. I was just going to go for red, but my birthday was today and my family had other ideas. I've been practicing all week and I just can't escape "Manx," which is my favorite story to read in public. I have only read it once locally and it was the bomb, so I shortened it and now I think it's even better. I thought about reading "Stealing" or "This Scarred Wish," but "Stealing" would have to be cut down, too and it's a little confusing. Well, what of my writing isn't. And then "This Scarred Wish," which is coming out in OxMAg on-line soon is very sad and quiet and needs a different setting to be appreciated. Because I'm representing the magazine Eleven Eleven from the California College of the Arts, and my story in there is called "Rat Stories" (too too long for LDM), I decided to stay with the animal theme and read about cats. My story out in Crab Orchard Review is called "Goat Herder." Let's see, rats, cats, and goats. I think we have a short story collection going. The theme is how to deal with animals that drive you insane. <br /><br />Hope to see all my friends at LDM on Friday--the Elbow Room, 7:00.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-70700830807801775122010-07-10T21:04:00.000-07:002010-07-10T21:23:11.386-07:00California VacationWell, I'd like to say I'm exaggerating, but I was bit by a flying ant and my daughter was bit by a fire ant, so we decided it was time to stay in a nice hotel. We traveled through Yosemite, saw the biggies--Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan, and Half Dome. We stood at the foot of Bridal Veil Falls. I've never been at the bottom of a waterfall, which is odd. I've been at the top of one in Yellowstone and with my fear of heights, it was a scary and surreal experience. Yosemite is a place that evokes those words: awesome, spectacular....fills you with joy. Then we stayed at the Virginia Creek Settlement--went to see Bodie Ghost Town, one of those touristy places that is not touristy, kind of in-between. Because the homes are locked up and in a state of degradation and disrepair, there is more of a sense of loss and loneliness to the place. The cemetery was probably the most interesting place--lots of youngsters...babies died there, especially in the first few months of life. It was odd to hear the names of original settlers that matched the names of people I grew up with ie. Jamie Cain. Lots of German and Irish names. Then we went to the natural springs up in the hills behind Bridgeport. That was an amazing place--little hot pots that you didn't have to pay to sit in, natural mudbaths and just a beautiful sunset. Ahh. Then, on to Bishop and the Keogh Hot Springs where we stayed in a tent cabin. I have to say despite the 100 degree weather, I enjoyed it there much more than I did up in the Lake Tahoe hotel I stayed in a week or so ago. Maybe this place reminded me of living on the farm in Iowa. I think the minerals in the pool and bath helped my shoulder stop hurting. There was a quaint little rock garden and a retro bathhouse. That's where the bugs were though. Next day, we went to Manzanar. I'm so glad I went. It was 106 that day, so we got the full effect--hot winds, dust, beautiful mountains, the monument--the beautiful Japanese art, the toys the children played with, imagining losing one's home and business and living in this desperate place--not knowing whether one would be allowe to return to one's home. I'd have to say it was more than just an educational experience. Then, of all things, we went into the small town of Bishop and went to see Eclipse again. Saw it at the drive-in before and had to hold my breath to keep from laughing out loud at Jacob with his shirt off. Whew. That was fun. Bishop is a cute, clean little town. Lots of beautiful Indian (and Hispanic) people--Paiutes, I think--saw some more of their history all along the way. I read The Autobiography of Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins quite a few years ago, so this was rewarding to see the countryside and imagine the history, both wonderful and terrible. The gymnasium at Manzanar had information that the local Paiutes had helped construct the camp. Well,that's my vacation so far in a nutshell. We crossed back to the coast via Lake Isabella and the Kern River and are staying at some fancy Best Western on the ocean beach. Lovely not to have to spray down the chiggers for a night.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-10462569774555783592010-06-28T14:33:00.001-07:002010-06-28T14:33:42.754-07:00The Goat HerderSo, another few months have come and gone and I haven’t been on my best behavior in writing on my blog. Why? Because I’ve been busy. First, the Hercules High School Creative Writing class had to get their literary magazine The Dynamite Factory finished. It’s subtitled Aftershock and it’s amazing. Amazingly, it pretty much sold out. We have a few issues left, but those will go fast in the fall. I especially like the cover art by student Alyssa Dulaney. <br />I’ve also been prepping for my Thursday night class at the Writing Salon. We’ll be studying the craft of fiction writing and writing, writing, writing. The elements we study in the class are the tried and true standbys, but every term, I use fresh new stories. To that end, I’ve been reading this year’s O’Henry winners and the new edition of the Pushcarts. I also ordered Dzanc Publishing’s Best of the Web 2010. I really enjoyed their edition last year and look forward to seeing what Dzanc considers the best on-line writing to be. <br />Thanks to Laura Riggs for organizing the Father’s Day reading in Berkeley called Daddy-O. It was packed and, my favorite outdated word to use, awesome. I was impressed by all the readers.<br />Personally exciting news is that Crab Orchard Review accepted a favorite story of mine called “Goat Herder” for publication in their next issue out in late July. I’m honored and hope you’ll read the issue. <br />Mostly, is mostly a word even? Mostly, I haven’t been blogging because I want to find a way to find this blog more meaningful than simply self-promoting, although I make no apologies for self-promoting. How can I get the word out that I teach fiction writing and have a reading coming up or a story coming out unless I use every avenue available. However, I like what my friend and colleague Ken Rodgers is doing with his blog—posting short essays and stories and poems he’s written involving his travels and life (and his fictional life). I also like Meg Pokrass’s blog—she offers up free word banks for writing, especially tuned to flash fiction. Check out the website Fictionaut to see some of the best and most intriguing flash on-line.<br />My main concern is that blogging is a business tool that I’m using to avoid the daily writing…so I will end with that and go back to work on my story that is overdue to a writing friend. <br />Cheers.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-68430239123769473732010-03-21T20:51:00.000-07:002010-03-21T20:55:34.492-07:00Two New PublicationsIt's been a while. I've been busy writing and teaching. Taking a meditation and writing class with Clara Rosemarda to help ease stress and find new subject matter. It's wonderful. Two new stories of mine are out on the web and people have been asking, so let me know if you've read them. Eleven Eleven has a story of mine out called "Rat Stories" and Stone's Throw Magazine has one of my stories called "Always Say Sorry." I'll post connections in the sidebar. Mainly I've been recovering from a couple of bouts with spring flu, but I don't like to talk about illness, which is why I'm going to keep this short. I'm rewatching New Moon from the Twilight series. I know. My eleven year is Team Jacob and has a poster shrine to him in her closet. I'll write more later.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-28769056816576944152010-01-27T15:03:00.000-08:002010-01-27T15:10:39.365-08:00JanuaryOh, I'm so sorry. I haven't been able to blog lately. I was too busy getting a haircut and then growing my hair out. I have a writing class coming up, starting next week. We'll be reading short stories and chapters of novels. Then we'll do lots of writing exercises. I've noticed a lot of stress in my clients lately around getting their work "CRITIQUED!" I want to reassure those of you who are thinking about taking the class--workshop is not a requirement. You don't have to submit. You can come and help others who are a little more sure of themselves with their writing. I think that too much pressure around getting it right is spoiling the desire to write and really needs to be avoided early in the writing process. I like to think of the Writing Salon as a place where people can come and relax and meditate on their writing...a place where you can create new stories or new chapters. We do have a workshop portion, but we are very gentle and kind. I insist that people talk at length about the strengths of the work. It's also a first draft in many instances, so the writing needs to be handled with care. The class starts Thursday, February 4th. We delayed the start of the class so it would get a little larger. Hope to see you aspiring writers there.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-84150035949040354312009-11-29T19:50:00.000-08:002009-11-29T19:55:54.518-08:00Need to be tech savvyDear non-followers, <br />Well, I'm trying to learn, but it aint easy. I'm slow on getting out a blogpost, mostly because I've been busy in the world of facebook and submitting work, and occasionally trying to do some writing. Reading work from the fiction classes I teach at the Writing Salon and now, it's that time of year. I get to read the short stories from my creative writing class at Hercules High School. They have that new kind of creativity. The kind you had when you were a kid. The best kind. Where everything is new. No blocks of any kind. The kind where you weren't afraid to imitate someone's style because you didn't always know that's what you were doing. I did that and still I loved writing. My brother stole my stories from the teacher's desk drawer ten years after I graduated. Wow, a blast from the past. "Today, It Will Happen" and now I see that line in a story and I crack up. Avoid that line if you can. Looking forward to X-mas mostly for the two weeks off afterward. Go see the movie<span style="font-style:italic;"></span>The Fantastic Mr. Fox.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span>. It's great.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-44085056610758423552009-10-12T21:31:00.000-07:002009-10-12T21:39:17.047-07:00Upcoming ClassesI am looking forward to teaching a new group of people in my Fiction class on Thursday night. And so looking forward to having a new class--Fiction Continuation, where people want to focus mainly on workshop and revision. Both classes start this week, and then Saturday night is Litcrawl. Hope everyone has picked out one or two events to go--I'm so glad to be reading for Instant City. This magazine is one that focuses on San Francisco stories. I love it because it catches that side of me that longs to live in the city, be a metropolitan babe. I encourage everyone to pick a couple of the readings on Saturday night and just tour around the Mission. My reading is at 6:00 at Dalva's --oopsy, forgot the name of the bar again. I'll look it up and get back to you via e-mail. <br /><br />I went to two readings this weekend--one featured people who've been published in Pedestal Magazine and the other is what I consider to be my local hot spot--the Valona Poetry reading series. The editor from Pedestal--John Amen--read at both readings. Meg Pokrass had stories that were on fire. I needed some relief from all the serious, headiness that comes with poetry at these things, but I have to say, I was impressed by the caliber of the readers. I picked up a couple of Amen's books and plan to use one or two of them as examples of strong imagery and language. <br /><br />My advice to you for this week if you're a writer, though, is to remember why you do it. I'm reminding myself right now. Cut back on the blogospheres, the facebook frenzy, the duotrope search engine, and just write. CULATERJamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-45178084713811153282009-10-01T22:21:00.000-07:002009-10-01T22:33:07.359-07:00Did I get your name right?My latest story on-line is called "Yeah, But Nobody Hates Their Dad." It's up on You Must Be This Tall To Ride, which is a coming of age stories website. Interesting concept. When I saw their site, I thought, Oh, I have just the story. And I'm glad they thought so, too. If you read it, let me know what you think.<br /><br />Hey, Kerry. Is that your last name? I forget. Because I used to date a guy named Kerry and I've mixed his last name up with yours. The stuff that gets stuck to your brain flaps. <br /><br />Coming up, my fiction writing class at the Writing Salon in Berkeley. It's Thursday nights from 7:00 to 9:30 for nine weeks. It's what fiction classes are like, but I like to mix it up a bit with new stories each time. I'm looking around for a new story to use besides "Hills Like White Elephants" to teach dialogue. We've seen this. We know it's great, but please. HOWEVER, if you haven't read it, it's a must-read! I also have a flash fiction class on October 10th for a couple of hours. One more listed is the Fiction Continuation class once a month for six months. Whew! <br />Check out writingsalons.com <br /><br />Litquake is coming to town and we're all excited. Look it up and see all the scheduled readings. I'll be reading on October 17th at 6:00 for Instant City. Oops, forgot the name of that bar. Hold on for that info. I'll be posting on Facebook. There will also be lots of educational sessions. Just look and see what your preferences are and don't be shy, just go. <br /><br />I want to say read the newest issue of Smokelong Quarterly for your dose of flash fiction. It's the magazine to goto for flash. Or read Elimae. <br /><br />Got several great rejections this week. Spurned. I love that word because it rhymes with burned. And yet, when they say "We were glad to have had the chance to consider it," how can you be hurt.<br /><br />I'm trying to get to bed at a decent hour.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-73188141927455785622009-09-19T21:33:00.000-07:002009-09-19T21:39:13.097-07:00The Mechanics of Falling by Kate BradyWell, I just had to take a break from reading her book and it's pretty amazing. Such a good read--it hurts to read it. Makes me want to be a better writer. Buy it and read it. You'll love it. The Mechanics of Falling by Kate Brady. I think she goes by Catherine Brady on the book, though. I was thinking that the back of the book has it wrong, though. She doesn't need to be compared to any of the greats--she is one. I'm her biggest fan. <br /><br />Sorry I missed out on Sean Beaudoin's book opening in San Francisco. His new book is called Fade to Blue. I've heard it's pretty good. That's next on the list. I love the cover. <br /><br />Litquake's coming up in October. I'll be reading for Instant City--that cute little San Francisco magazine that I'm always promoting in my classes. I'm wondering what to read. Something serious or something irreverant and funny. Well, probably both b/c that's how I roll. A friend of mine--Kerry Norris is reading for Babylon Salon at the same time, shucks. I've never heard her read and want to.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-195363289543007112009-09-13T12:45:00.000-07:002009-09-13T12:58:01.084-07:00On readings and writingWell, it's Sunday, September 13th at 12:45 and I am fussing with the "L" button on my computer that doesn't work. Reading poems by Raymond Carver from the book All of Us. If you are feeling lost and jaded and want to come down to earth--that's the place to go. I went to the literary reading series called Babylon Salon last night where Pam Uschuck read, along with Daniel Alarcon. Quite a diverse mixture of talent. I especially liked the work by alumni from USF--voices emerging from the darkness of the bar scene. It was nice to see familiar faces. Picked up Pam's book of poetry, which is up for a Pulitzer, and I read today in the paper that Daniel Alarcon's work is up for a big literary prize, too. I am sure, after thinking about it for a while, that these writers have been at it, working on their writing for many years and are deserving. It's easy to see the longing in myself and others when I go to these things. I get this feeling--time to put the time in at the chair and journal, by myself. Put the words down on paper. <br /><br />If you're looking for a great website to read, check out Jane Anne Staw's new page on writing: writershomecompanion.com. And it's free! That's what's amazing. She'll get you writing. <br /><br />Finished the O'Henry collection and am getting excited to read Kate Brady's collection The Mechanics of Falling. I want to go hear her read from it and am hoping she has a reading again soon. <br /><br />September is the busiest month in terms of teaching, but teachers have voted to support a strike, so I may have more free time than I want in a couple of weeks. The district wants to take away benefits for our family members. Way to hit below the belt--no negotiation on pay, just no, we're taking that. Tension and anxiety. Class sizes are inflated beyond belief and because we don't have a contract yet, they are going to get away with not paying us for all the extra students in the classes. 69 students in a P.E. class. They might as well dress up in military uniforms and send them off to war.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-61209324781668090272009-08-19T12:44:00.000-07:002009-08-19T12:54:54.284-07:00Back to SchoolI'm such a lazy blogger, but here goes. It's August 19th and tomorrow is back to school for teachers and vote to strike. Ayee. On the writing front: trying to revise an old story about teaching called "Ana from Panama." I think I finally hit the mark. You know when you write a story and you work on it and it's all polished, but you feel like, Oh, I know if I send that out, it's not going to hit. Even though it's a perfectly good story. What is that about? It's because you are hinting at what you wanted to get at with this story, but you didn't dig deep enough. I was on the surface of that situation, but I had to get down to why the narrator was telling the story in the first place. Get at the HEART of it, as I say in my class. I finished reading the O'Henry collection and was glad I picked it up. Some really fine stories in there. We're discussing Junot Diaz's story "Wildwood," which was in the New Yorker last year. Go on-line and read the New Yorker blog. Diaz (Yunior) responds directly to comments on his story. I'm also reading the Best of the Web collection put out by Dzanc. I found some pretty cool stories in there, but I'm also, once again dismayed at the high number of male writers versus female. I know there are plenty of women writers on the web. Maybe it's the particular take/taste of the Dzanc Editors. I hate to be such a feminist, but the numbers don't lie.<br />I will try to go on sooner rather than later and talk about the individual stories from that collection that I like.<br />Steven McDermott is going to (hopefully) have a section of Storyglossia on review of the short story. That should be intellectually interesting. That is about all I read these days. I'm getting ready to reread Angela's Ashes this week and make a project / test for my students' summer reading assignment. Sad sad sad that Frank McCourt is gone.<br />Writing: Work on a story about music and obsession for Storyglossia. Out.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-53605865724621834062009-07-28T16:16:00.001-07:002009-07-28T16:33:39.202-07:00End of July alreadyWhew! This month went by. I'm reading the O'Henry collection and I am so taken with the short story by Paul Theroux called "Twenty-two Stories." For all you flash fiction writers out there--read it. It's really a collection of very short flashes, which is what I like to do when I write. Finished revising two short stories and sent them out. Lots going on in the Bay Area. Went to Adele Mendhelson and Clive Matson's poetry reading at the Berkeley Art Center Saturday night. Wow. One man sang "Old Man River." Another woman sang from the opera "Carmen." The usual open mic people--David Gollub and few others I know from the now defunct open mic at La Mediterraneum. Ah, the good old days. Sent out some flash pieces today--haven't done that in a while. Thanks to Meg Pokrass for her encouragement. Google her--read here. She's great. She's on decomP right now. Go there. Don't watch my youtube video of me reading my piece "Ten Suggestions for How to Write a Story Based on a Dream." Why? Because I suck. I had to go first. The crowd was not warmed up and I was trying to hard, plus I don't like my hair. Here's a piece of flash about my hair. <br /><br />How to Get the Same Exact Hair Color That I Have<br /><br />First go to Target ready to spend ten lousy dollars on a box of hair color. Loreal is the good product. Spend an hour there deciding whether to buy 8G or 9G. Why don't they have an 81/2 G? Go home and wait to color your hair until a half hour before you have to be somewhere important. The box says a half hour. Follow the directions carefully. Shit, you are late. Now you are going to have to live with that orangeyness until tomorrow. The next day--buy the Blonde Highlights Shampoo and Conditioner. Hesitate. Yeah, go ahead. If you want my hair color, follow along exactly. Wash your hair with the shampoo--make sure to leave it on four minutes instead of three. Do the same with the conditioner. Don't look at your hair when you take it out of the towel--that's not quite the color it's going to be. Blowdry it. Now look. Go right to the local drugstore--Walgreens is best because they have a wider selection. Buy that tube of the purple stuff meant to take the "brassiness" out of your hair. Go home and wash with that about eight or nine times...yes, the same day. Wait a week. Give it a rest. Okay, now call the beautician. She will charge you $200 to correct this. Plus a tip. <br />Total Cost for Hair like mine: $250. Yep.<br />Wait, one more. About a week later, go to a different hair dresser and cut it all off. Start over. Write this down and don't forget how to do it because you will do it more than once.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-86961211324665320432009-07-04T10:14:00.000-07:002009-07-04T10:18:47.046-07:00Happy Fourth of JulyUp this morning with barking dogs. And, went on-line for submissions. <span style="font-style: italic;">Natural Bridge</span>, the literary magazine out of the University of Missouri-St. Louis is accepting work and they have a nice page about the submissions process. Look for it. http://www.umsl.edu/~natural/guidelines/panel.html. <br /><br />No plans for this day--I thought it was tomorrow--the fourth I mean. I'm glad. Holidays during the summer annoy me. I don't drink or smoke, so I'm stuck with finding stuff to do. If it gets warm, we'll probably go over to the pool and swim, again.<br /><br />Time to finish the last draft of my Metal Dump story and send it on its way. Same for the Goat Herder story. I'm reading on the 18th in San Francisco at Amnesia. More on this later.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-16542231962028673632009-06-22T21:17:00.000-07:002009-06-22T21:32:43.796-07:00Stuck in the Denver AirportYukkk, we are on the way to Omaha, Nebraska, and we're stuck in the Denver airport. Luckily, we have crossword puzzles to fill our brains up. (Or empty them) I've been revising my metal dump story and reading friends stories. I finished <span style="font-style: italic;">Olive Kitteridge</span> and highly recommend it. I'm going to read the novel <span style="font-style: italic;">Brooklyn</span> by (????Colin Tolbin???) Sorry if I butchered his name. I also have a literary magazine along for the ride--<span style="font-style: italic;">River Oak Review</span>. Okay, so for you short story writers out there, I sent a story to <span style="font-style: italic;">Gargoyle</span>, and the reader sent me a note within two days, suggesting other venues: <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore Review, Post Road, So to Speak, Pedestal Magazine, and Folio. </span>I went on-line and looked at them and it seems like they might like more traditional or regional topics. So I sent him a different story...more trendy, unusual format, and he immediately sent back suggestions for several magazines, some the same, one or two different, but he also commented briefly on the second story. So, that made me happy and nervous. First, I was so heartened by the fact that this editor would take the time to suggest other venues he felt might be more suited to the two stories, and second that he liked the way I had written the second story. I was also nervous b/c I don't like being pegged as a regional writer. I wonder what "regional" means? Anything that deals with a specific part of the country? Stories dealing with cows and pastures and country people? Stories that deal with the Midwest region? Anyway, neither story dealt with country people or cows or pastures. One did take place in the Midwest, but didn't specifically state a place. One was a story about a family; the other a story about rats. Are rats regional? Anyway, the next day...an editor responded to a piece of flash fiction I sent him and he said something about my story opening spaces inside him that he'd forgotten about. (Different story) I needed to hear that. So my story is that you never know what editor your stories will appeal to, but it does help if you've researched a little. It's funny, because I had already sent stories to four of the five magazines on the first editor's list. I'd read sample work of these magazines on-line or I'd picked up a copy somewhere (the USF lit. mag. library, the bookstore, or ordered a sample copy.) I had never sent to <span style="font-style: italic;">Gargoyle</span> before but I liked how they looked and sounded on-line. I think I should order a copy, though. As L. Buzbee used to say to me, "Do your homework." Keep Writing.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-68008585941365692602009-06-07T20:47:00.000-07:002009-06-07T20:51:39.205-07:00Dog speedingOkay, so I'm trying to catch up on publishing, but first we (meaning the creative writing class at the high school where I teach) had to finish creating the lit mag. Then we had a talent show. In between this I am reading work for my night class, which is keeping me in the loop artistically. I'm feeling good, though, because Jackey got a haircut and we bought new shoes and headbands today, so one more week of high school and school's out for the summer. I'm getting ready to read and write and kick back poolside while Jackey swims. (That's at the public swim pool, by the way.)<br /><br />On the reading list? Nothing yet. I'm going to visit a bookstore. I did pick up the lit mag <span style="font-style: italic;">Hunger Mountain</span>. Really liked it. Still too busy to comment. Okay, my dog's speeding--I gotta go talk him out of it.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-44457807182101178542009-05-11T22:16:00.000-07:002009-05-11T22:21:29.006-07:00Olive KitteridgeWell, I got this book because it won the Pulitzer. I thought, with a name like that, it can't be good. But what the heck, I had read her work somewhere before. I know the people who run those prizes can't be all wrong and it <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>a collection of SHORT STORIES! Yeah for the short story! Now I don't want to put it down and I don't want to finish it because it is so good. It is so good, while I am in the car and my husband is talking to me I am yessing him, but I am so annoyed because I don't want to talk about the job or the kids or anything, I just want to see what's going to happen to this family next. It's as enjoyable as any Alice Munro collection and who else? Jumpha Lahiri, Tobias Wolff, Raymond Carver, and my local favorite--Kate Brady. So that's it. Buy it, read it. That's all you're getting out of me.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3003413413144076877.post-21238049826481135052009-05-03T09:59:00.000-07:002009-05-03T10:09:35.544-07:00Pre-Mother's Day ReadingHey--long time--I've been busy. I'm reading at Books, Inc. in Alameda today. May 3rd. At 3:00. It should be interesting. Laura Riggs with Speckled Eggs Studio set it up. She's making Mother's Day cards with our work. I hope there are three adult friends who will show up. The address is 1344 Park Street. I'll be reading a super-short flash and my essay published on 580 Split. <br /><br />Writing: ????Yikes. Dealing with life crisis. Daughter in car accident in L.A. Enough said. She's okay and I'm having post-traumatic stress disorder. <br /><br />Writing. Write--I'm reading the new Georgetown Review where my short story "Words I Like to Use Lately" appears. I really like the stories in it. They are down-to-earth, feel true and real. Not much experimentation going on and I kind of like that. The poetry is accessible. I see Jacob Appel's name everywhere these days. I have to recommend the story "When Will Our Grass Be Ready" by Jackie Thomas-Kennedy that's in it. Just loved it. I think because we all feel the way the main character does...or at least I do...What do I want? So I'm a fan. I feel like the stories in this magazine are also vivid, have memorable imagery and ideas.<br /><br />Talking to a friend last night about getting inspired to write. She said she went to a Leonard Cohen concert and it made her want to go home and put words on paper. I think...get out, see the world, listen to other poets, songrwriters...good idea. I went all over California with my parents and was gung-ho to write when they left (sad, though) and then the car accident threw me for a loop. I'm getting back on that horse this week.Jamey Gennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17876041618281334688noreply@blogger.com3