MFA

It’s been FOREVER and my blog needs some serious dustbusting. The lag in posts couldn’t be helped, I was busy getting my MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, which could also be called the greatest experience of my life. So, for the last two years all reading had to meet bibliography requirements (suck it, 50 Shades of Grey) and all writing was focused on the critical and creative theses (sorry, blog!)   Graduation was January 19, 2013. I came away with my diploma and a finished manuscript. The last two months have been spent revising and polishing that manuscript … Continue reading →

Why an MFA program… why now?  It’s true, I’m not the typical candidate. But then I’ve never been the typical anything. I started writing for children’s television in animation and at that time, there were less than 5 women animation writers. It was the boys’ club stronghold in TV. This is probably because most (not all) but most animation writers were card-carrying geeks. They were conversant in comic books from day one… they were cartoon-o-philes… they were gag-specialists. And listen, I mean no disrespect. They were GOOD. I was just someone who wanted to write. I don’t know why they … Continue reading →

There is a saying among sales people — A.B.C. or always be closing. Survival in an MFA program equates to A.B.R or always be reading. Currently, my survival is three books going at once. An audiobook, Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater which I listen to while working out. The good news is that guarantees 5 or 6 workouts because I don’t spend that much time in the car. Then I always have a book that I’m reading on my Kindle — these days I’m checking them out from the library which is so easy and useful. Currently it’s The Truth About Forever by Sarah … Continue reading →

Litotes is a figure of speech in which the description of something is achieved by negating its opposite. Ever wonder what the opposite of hyperbole is? Me neither! I was always too easily distracted by, well, the hyperbole. But, as long as we’re here, let’s, go ahead and put a finer point on it. Litotes, the opposite of hyperbole, occurs by negating the opposite of its meaning. If hyperbole is overstating something by a ton (heh!) then litotes shine by tarnishing the opposite. (I know, the ‘S’ is confusing, but it belongs there, and not in a plural way) Example: the comment “not bad” … Continue reading →

Portmanteau: a blend of two or more words into one word which combines both the sounds and the meaning of both words. I know Wikipedia is scorned as an academic source, but in this case, it’s completely appropriate to cite them for the figure of speech known as portmanteau. This is because wikipedia IS a portmanteau. (Wiki + encyclopedia.)  Get it?! For something with such an obscure name (I never heard of portmanteau before, have you?) this little literary, multi-faceted blege (blade + edge) on the writer’s Swiss Army Knife of tropes, is quite a handy tool. If you think about … Continue reading →