California Vacation

Well, 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.

The Goat Herder

So, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cheers.

Two New Publications

It'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.

January

Oh, 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.

Need to be tech savvy

Dear non-followers,
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 movieThe Fantastic Mr. Fox.. It's great.

Upcoming Classes

I 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.

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.

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. CULATER

Did 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.

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.

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!
Check out writingsalons.com

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.

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.

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.

I'm trying to get to bed at a decent hour.