It’s been sort of a terrible week. I spent 3 hours waiting in a scary train station parking lot last night for Brian to navigate the broken down and delayed system back. I have received a quick rejection letter and am feeling downtrodden about it – my 16th this year. There is an army of ants who are attempting to take over my desk at work. Brian has been ill and I’ve been doing my best to take care of him when I’m actually home (which isn’t much). The weather is over 100 degrees and melty.
It’s one of those times where I wonder if running away like I tried when I was five is still possible. But most days I really like my life. The law of large numbers just insures that sometimes all the crap is stacked up in a single week like this.
I have been reading Storyteller by Kate Wilhelm, one of the founding teachers at the Clarion Writer’s Workshop. It’s a lovely book, part writing advice and part memoir, and it’s taught me some stuff already. You know, besides igniting all the regular yearnings to one day attend Clarion into a fervor. I’m going to rewrite the ending to the story that was rejected and see what happens next. I’m also itching to get my hands on some inexpensive used paperbacks so I can start dissecting the authors I love and see if I learn anything. Which I thought I would never voluntarily do.
Friday is my day, though. The Redlands bowl is having its last performance of the season, which means William Tell and fireworks. Totally my thing. Couple that with some kitten cuddles and I’m sure I’ll be feeling much better by the time next week rolls around.
Casey E. Hamilton 