School is weird

[Dorothy Wood]

My classmates in my writing program are thinking of staging a coup against our new instructor because she's kinda weird and all over the place and they don't think they're learning.

I think I'm learning. She is a difficult person to follow, but she went to Yale and she has a lot of good nuggets in between her long tangents and misunderstanding of people's points of view. She's also kind of misogynistic, in an old school comedy way I guess. A lot of "women are always...", "you know how women are..." blah blah.

It's annoying, I guess, but it just reminds me of art school where you just get your ass handed to you by an old pro, and then left to figure out what you did wrong on your own.

I mean, we're piece of shit newbies who write stupid things that are filled with flaws because we're still learning. And she is treating us that way instead of holding our hands. I think it's a good challenge.

Anyway, I'm not jumping ship, but I am fearing what is about to unfold.
I'm just going to lay low and neutral. Besides, she asked me privately if I was planning on writing professionally because she thinks I have potential. :cool: BOOM! #bragthread


(are hashtags allowed here? are they funny? I don't know anything anymore.)

[TurdBerglar]

i had this teacher that didn't like anybody that wasn't an uber nerd. he taught physics/calc/cad/electrical systems/random engineering courses. shit like that. dude was crazy smart. in his late 50's. had polio or someshit when he was younger. walked all funny. those classes were full of the weirdest most awkward people i have ever met. you couldn't tell if they had mental problems or if there were just super nerds. the teacher loved those weird kids and hated everyone that wasn't like that. he'd do whatever it took to get the normal kids to drop the class or fail them. it got so bad that students started protesting because it became impossible to pass his classes unless you fit the bill of his liking. he had been there for so long that nothing could really be done about it. tenure? so the school had to structure programs around him so you could avoid the classes he taught.

dude was weird.

mr. zagerins. FUCK YOU! creep.

[Randetica]

why do americans go to school till they are like 50?

[MCAadROCKMiKEd7]

Starting online courses, learning in my own home and environment is much more comfortable. Meeting new people at school will distract me, along with situations such as the reason for your thread. People can be carazay!

[M|X|Y]

only bad kids go so summer school!

[Dorothy Wood]

why do americans go to school till they are like 50?

I'm learning a new trade. It's cheaper than grad school, faster, and has more job opportunities.

[Heather_D]

why do americans go to school till they are like 50?

Maybe to defer government subsidized loans forever :D

I dropped out of high school, partly cos my teachers were inept & my guidance counselor was a douche. Never, ever thought I'd go to college, but I did. I have 2 master degrees- Business Admin & Leadership and a grad cert in HR management. Last year, I took stupid on line courses to be a medical billed/medical office person & crap if they haven't started closing hospitals, merging, and laying off people. A lot of good it did, plus I realized I really suck at it. Don't know how I passed.

My manager now wants me to go back to school. I told her I would but it'd be for my PhD. And I can't find any schools nearby that offer one in business. Ah, well. I still have 16 years before I turn 50.

[yeahwho]

I'm learning a new trade. It's cheaper than grad school, faster, and has more job opportunities.

That's awesome. Good for you I hope you get a great job.

I've been telling this to my unemployed friends the past few years and now they're starting to do it. Trade schools are popping up all over the place training specific employee skill sets for various industries that most people gave up on years ago during the tech boom.

If you know how to work and can physically change, understand, repair and operate things without someone guiding your dumbass there is opportunity galore in my industry. My company will even pay interns who are in school, it's never been so wide open.

School is weird, but much less weird than unemployment... unemployment is weird, depressing and painful.

[MCAadROCKMiKEd7]

only bad kids go so summer school!

yeah, thats why i didnt ever go to summer school. ;)

[MCA4ever]

@ Dorothy Wood

While I was in school, in just about every class there were a few that blamed the reason they were not "getting it" on just about everything. They always want everyone else to jump on. As long as "I" was getting what I needed, I'd just let it go in one ear and ... Especially if she sees potential in you, your doing something right! Most teachers have a method to their madness :) don't get me wrong- i think that tenure shit is for the birds in some instances!

Keep on keeping on and good luck. You'll do fine!

I think hashtags are funny too :D

[Dorothy Wood]

Oh, thank you for the vote of confidence!

Things continue to be strange. I really just feel like an outsider, but people seem to respect me in a way. I had a tiny panic attack in front of everyone last class, because I was anticipating giving negative feedback in a critique. It's an odd thing, telling someone that what they made was terrible...so I just started trembling involuntarily, it was embarrassing, but I made it through, delivered my point and was backed up by others. But, now this kid thinks I'm an asshole. So it's very weird, the tension in the room. Next week we're singing, so hopefully things will get a little silly, and less tense.

Anyway, I love hearing what's wrong with my work, I still have no idea what I'm doing so it's really helpful.

[MC Moot]

Came across this solid advice (http://litreactor.com/columns/some-practical-writing-advice-from-douglas-coupland) from Douglas Coupland for you D.W...

[Splashleigh]

^^ This is awesome career/creative advice for lots of fields. (y)

[Dorothy Wood]

Came across this solid advice (http://litreactor.com/columns/some-practical-writing-advice-from-douglas-coupland) from Douglas Coupland for you D.W...

I read this when you posted, but forgot to say thanks. We are learning similar things. It's very intensive training so far, and the best lesson I've learned is to not try so hard and let people help you.

I will say school is getting better and not so weird, most of the weirdos self-selected themselves out of the program. I got accepted to the advanced portion, and now we're writing and preparing to produce a live show. Our teacher is our director, and she rules so far.

The previously mentioned kid I gave a bad crit to is now my marketing partner and we're going to be working together a lot. ha. Funny how things work out.

And, I dug this thread up because I was just watching Rock Center and they had a segment with this guy who wrote a best-selling book, and I recognized him because he was a guest actor who played the lead in one of my sketches. Totally weird.

[MC Moot]

More advice for D.W...

"The Ultimate Guide to Writing Better Than You Normally Do."

By Colin Nissan via McSweeney's Internet Tendencys


WRITE EVERY DAY

Writing is a muscle. Smaller than a hamstring and slightly bigger than a bicep, and it needs to be exercised to get stronger. Think of your words as reps, your paragraphs as sets, your pages as daily workouts. Think of your laptop as a machine like the one at the gym where you open and close your inner thighs in front of everyone, exposing both your insecurities and your genitals. Because that is what writing is all about.

DON’T PROCRASTINATE

Procrastination is an alluring siren taunting you to Google the country where Balki from Perfect Strangers was from, and to arrange sticky notes on your dog in the shape of hilarious dog shorts. A wicked temptress beckoning you to watch your children, and take showers. Well, it’s time to look procrastination in the eye and tell that seafaring wench, “Sorry not today, today I write.”

FIGHT THROUGH WRITER’S BLOCK

The blank white page. El Diablo Blanco. El Pollo Loco. Whatever you choose to call it, staring into the abyss in search of an idea can be terrifying. But ask yourself this; was Picasso intimidated by the blank canvas? Was Mozart intimidated by the blank sheet music? Was Edison intimidated by the blank lightbulb? If you’re still blocked up, ask yourself more questions, like; Why did I quit my job at TJ Maxx to write full-time? Can/should I eat this entire box of Apple Jacks? Is The Price is Right on at 10 or 11?

LEARN FROM THE MASTERS

Mark Twain once said, “Show, don’t tell.” This is an incredibly important lesson for writers to remember; never get such a giant head that you feel entitled to throw around obscure phrases like “Show, don’t tell.” Thanks for nothing, Mr. Cryptic.

FIND YOUR MUSE

Finding a really good muse these days isn’t easy, so plan on going through quite a few before landing on a winner. Beware of muses who promise unrealistic timelines for your projects or who wear wizard clothes. When honing in on a promising new muse, also be on the lookout for other writers attempting to swoop in and muse-block you. Just be patient in your search, because the right muse/human relationship can last a lifetime.

HONE YOUR CRAFT

There are two things more difficult than writing. The first is editing, the second is expert level Sudoku where there’s literally two goddamned squares filled in. While editing is a grueling process, if you really work hard at it, in the end you may find that your piece has fewer words than it did before. Which, is great. Perhaps George Bernard Shaw said it best when upon sending a letter to a close friend, he wrote, “I’m sorry this letter is so long, I didn’t have time to make it shorter.” No quote better illustrates the point that writers are very busy.

ASK FOR FEEDBACK

It’s so easy to hide in your little bubble, typing your little words with your little fingers on your little laptop from the comfort of your tiny chair in your miniature little house. I’m taking this tone to illustrate the importance of developing a thick skin. Remember, the only kind of criticism that doesn’t make you a better writer is dishonest criticism. That, and someone telling you that you have weird shoulders.

READ, READ, READ

It’s no secret that great writers are great readers, and that if you can’t read, your writing will often suffer. Similarly, if you can read but have to move your lips to get through the longer words, you’ll still be a pretty bad writer. Also, if you pronounce “espresso” like “expresso.”

STUDY THE RULES, THEN BREAK THEM

Part of finding your own voice as a writer is finding your own grammar. Don’t spend your career lost in a sea of copycats when you can establish your own set of rules. If everyone’s putting periods at the end of their sentences, put yours in the middle of words. Will it be incredibly difficult to read? Yes it will. Will it set you on the path to becoming a literary pioneer? Tough to say, but you’re kind of out of options at this point.

KEEP IT TOGETHER

A writer’s brain is full of little gifts, like a piñata at a birthday party. It’s also full of demons, like a piñata at a birthday party in a mental hospital. The truth is, it’s demons that keep a tortured writer’s spirit alive, not Tootsie Rolls. Sure they’ll give you a tiny burst of energy, but they won’t do squat for your writing. So treat your demons with the respect they deserve, and with enough prescriptions to keep you wearing pants.


;)

[abbott]

I think this is a great thread and sounds as if things are good.

The teacher is the boss. I say make the boss happy and fuck those who get in the way. You have nothing to loose by siding with the teacher.

The average person in your class will suck and 1-2% will be the ones who take advantage of the education and grow from it. I say fuck the masses as average does suck.