Less of a Break than a Pause
The end of the semester is fast approaching. I can tell because I have to handle prep work for the current week’s classes in addition to starting work on three final projects and an oral exam. I still think it’s kind of funny to expect writers to take an oral exam, but I guess we all have to talk sometime.
I’ve been looking forward to the upcoming winter break. My fun reading pile is calling to me, and I want to have enough time to write some fiction without feeling like I’m taking away from important class time for this semester. Then there’s the whole thesis thing.
Next semester I begin work on my thesis: a book-length work of fiction, of publishable quality. It can be a novel or a collection of short stories. While I find temptations in both, I am more interested in writing novels than short stories, so I lean towards making it a novel. So, now I have a few options in front of me:
Option A: I can take a completed manuscript I’ve already written and re-write it. I have one of those on my hard drive. There’s a good story in it, and I know enough about writing now that I think I can pull that good story out of the . . . well, out of its current state, which I find less than ideal.
Option B: I have a newly begun novel, loosely outlined, with about three chapters written. I could take that, finish it, and polish it until it gleams.
Option C: I could begin an entirely new project from scratch.
Now Option A is not necessarily available. I would have to check with my thesis advisor, to find out if a complete rewrite – because that’s about what it needs – of an unpublished manuscript would be acceptable. I suspect it would though, because of the amount of work involved.
Still, I’ve decided to go with Option C. This is the choice of a madman. I freely acknowledge that. I hope to finish the thesis in two semesters. The sane choice would be to complete something that’s already partially developed, something that would demand less work, less risk.
I even love the stories in Options A and B. Both are novels I will be writing (rewriting in one case) and trying to publish. Still, I’m going with Option C. I came here to risk. I came here to work. I came here to push myself to become the best writer I can.
Besides, I’m only going to get one chance to write a novel with an experienced, published writer – who happens to be a hell of a teacher – keeping an eye on my progress and advising me when I need it. Why waste a chance like this on a comfortable project?
Anyway, my choice does emphasize the difference between winter break and summer break. The summer break was close to three months. The winter break this year is about three weeks. Well, three weeks should still be time to rest and relax, read a couple of those fun books, right?
Nope. I have to have two or three completed pieces by the residency for my fiction workshop. Since I’m starting my thesis, the smart thing to do is make those submissions part of my thesis. Which means between now and then I must figure out what my thesis will be and start writing.
Given that I still have projects due this semester, those three weeks are shrinking.
Oh, and I’ll be taking a directed readings class in the short form next semester. I’m sure there’ll be reading to do over the break too.
I’m not complaining though. I love what I’m doing and I’m excited by the challenge. I’ll just look at my fun reading pile and sigh once in a while. Maybe I can sneak one of them in. . . .
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By the way, sorry about not posting last week. I did mean to take that week off, but I intended to post to that effect and didn’t.
