Lit. major (Was: Carol's thread ...)

[justcarol67]

> Hi! Kim here. Is this a private conversation or can anyone join 
> in...? ;-)  This was an interesting thread and instead of just 
> lurking, I thought I'd add my two cents in case anyone was still 
> listening...
> 
Carol responds:
I don't know who named this thread after me, but it isn't a private
conversation and anyone is welcome to join. I've retitled the thread
to fit the topic.

> Carol wrote earlier:
> >A Marketing major with a Lit minor might not be bad--one for the job 
> opportunities and the other for cultural and intellectual 
> enrichment. . . . "<
> 
> Luna replied:
> >Yes, excellent idea ... Marketing major with a Lit minor.  I just 
> did it all wrong when I went to school ... I let life interfere 
> rather than staying focused on finishing my education. <snip>  I 
> wonder if I could get my Masters in Lit?  Hhhmmmmmm ... I could get 
> serious about that!  I love to write, but think I'm lousy at it, so 
> further education would definitely be in order  :) <
> 
> Carol replied:
> >I think you need at least a minor in English to get into a masters 
> lit program. But if your interest is in creative writing, you *might* 
> get into a masters program by submitting a piece of creative writing 
> that the faculty member in charge considered promising, but that's a 
> long shot. A better bet might be an adult education program in 
> creative writing--a lot more fun, a lot less pressure, and a whole 
> lot cheaper.  Just a thought, as Steve says.<
> 
> Kim's 2 (or maybe it's 22) cents:
> After reading Luna's replies and already knowing Carol's posts from 
> the HP canon discussion list, I'd venture to say that, college
degree or not, writers show themselves, whether they realize it or
not! As a 
> reader, poster, and sometimes "critic" on the HP list, I'd say Luna 
> already knows how to put sentences together pretty well.

Carol responds:

Yes, she does, but that's not what a creative writing program or a
masters lit. program is about. The one teaches you specific techniques
for writing fiction or poetry; the other focuses on literary criticism
(analyzing literary works--modern or classic--that have already been
written). Both types of programs *assume* that the student already
knows how to put sentences (and paragraphs) together effectively.


Kim wrote:
<snip> So even if 
> you decide to go back to school for a degree in literature, if you 
> already love the idea of becoming a writer, whatever kind of writer 
> you may become, by all means, go for it now, whenever you find the 
> time.  That's what I do, anyway.  It's a great creative outlet if 
> nothing else, and you never know where creative outlets can lead...  
> Besides, just think of JKR's website or read about her or other 
> writers' habits -- you could try something like keeping a little 
> notepad and pen in your pocket whenever you can.  If you see 
> something that catches your fancy, if an interesting idea comes to 
> mind, jot it down.  Come back to it later, read it again, add a 
> little here and there, etc.  Pull out your pocket Roget's thesaurus 
> to look up different words, pull out your pocket dictionary to look 
> up meanings, whatever it takes.  Don't expect too much right away -- 
> it's a little bit like planting a seed -- you wouldn't expect it to 
> grow into a tree right away, would you.  Your creativity is like a 
> seed.
> 
Carol responds:
Sure, anyone can write fanfic, or a novel, for that matter, but not
just anyone can get published. A creative writing course taught by a
published writer would help you learn what works and what doesn't.
You'd get feedback not only from the teacher but from your fellow
students. Writers groups also provide feedback, and there are lots of
online discussion groups as well.

> Also you might want to consider some of the *great* writers of all 
> times.  Abraham Lincoln, for example (no, I'm not kidding).  He
never even went to college!  If you can find the Gettysburg Address
online, you might want to read it as an example of beautiful writing
(and it's short too).  Maybe not perfect, but very beautiful, IMO. 
You might look upon Old Abe as an inspiration. 

Carol responds:
"Old Abe" was an autodidact who read the classics and picked up
certain rhetorical devices, for example parallel structure ("of the
people, by the people, for the people"), that he was able to apply in
his own writing. Not everyone has an ear for rhythm and alliteration.
And to my knowledge, he didn't write fiction, which has different
conventions altogether.


> 
> Of course there are practical aspects to almost any pursuit, so
going for a degree isn't a bad idea at all, and Carol's suggestion to try 
> adult ed. classes is a good one.  You can learn a lot in them.  But 
> til you do, why not use the intervening time to "practice"?   My 
> guess is that Carol already had a natural talent for writing even 
> before she went to university and got her degrees.

Carol responds:
Thank you! I did get A's in all my English classes and secretly wrote
novels, which I kept under my pillow, when I was supposedly doing my
math homework. But, um, we won't talk about that, as they're not
exactly publishable!

  If Luna hasn't 
> been on the HP canon list and read Carol's posts there yet, she's 
> missing something (and hey, I'm not buttering anyone up -- this post 
> is essentially anonymous -- I've got nothing to gain or lose). <snip>

Carol responds:
Again, thank you! BTW, I've been away for four days and am trying to
get caught up here. I don't suppose I'll ever get caught up on the
main list.

Carol, who should be editing a novel manuscript but has three weeks
till her deadline