Author María J. Estrada
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Un Blog de Writing Musings

My Writing Goals Today Are Actually About Teaching

10/6/2018

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I spent a good chunk of the morning going over the previous chapter I wrote in The Harvest.  The novel draft is at 311 pages now, and I am still crafting the ending.  I mean it's there, upstairs, in my cabeza, but I also love the direction the plot is taking based on the interactions with the characters.  I am not married to that ending by any means.  Como les digo, today, I added cybernetics to the plot in a way I hadn't planned on, but Ashely's antagonist, was not strong enough.  So check that scene out.

This afternoon, my writing goals are stretching me to write down specific strategies for my students in my creative writing class, students who want a little more structure in the exercises they do.  Yes, we have been writing in class with direct aims, and I keep telling them to trust the writing process, and to write regularly, but they need more.  I am going to spend the afternoon working on my class plans and reading over the stories, so they can analyze them with more writing purpose.  However, I don't want to inhibit their creative writing at all or tell them how to read; I just want them to have a good grab bag they can reach into and produce work.  They should determine what to put in there, and be confident.

They will discover what works best for them with each project they write because the process isn't always the same.  Some of them are also extreme mappers, but they don't write.  To my original advise, they should sit down and write. Some of them have to kill the internal editor and resurrect her when the writing is "done".  With time, and trust in the process, they will figure it out. 

On a writer note, you ever get that feeling when your life is singing that you are doing that one thing you love?  Damn, if I'm not feeling it this morning.  I am so happy with how this draft is flowing, imperfect as it is.  This is it for me.  Right here, even if I can only sneak in an hour a day.  

Well, wish me luck on my teaching goals.  I hope you all have a fantastic Sunday!

Write to your heart's content.  #Resist   

1 Comment
Spencer link
13/6/2018 02:12:26 am

Good luck on your teaching goals! :) Hope your week has been great so far!

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    Jesú Estrada
    Pen Name: 
    María J. Estrada
    Chicago, IL

    You follow me everywhere @drmariajestrada, except Twitter.
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    *********************
    MARIA J. ESTRADA is an English college professor of Composition, Literature, and her favorite, Creative Writing. She grew up in the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona in the real Barrio de Los Locos, a barrio comprised of new Mexican immigrants and first-generation Chicanos. Drawing from this setting and experiences, she writes like a loca every minute she can—all while magically balancing her work and family obligations. She lives in Chicago’s south side with her wonderfully supportive husband, two remarkable children, and a menagerie of animals.

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  • Home
  • Mi Biografía
  • My Patreon Page
  • Un Blog de Writing Musings
  • Author Interviews
    • Grayson Bell
    • Eric Allen Yankee
    • Mehreen Ahmed
    • Steve Carr
    • Martin Eastland
    • P.S. Malcolm
    • P.C. Darkcliff
  • The Harvested Draft
  • Books
  • Poetry
  • Useful Bits
  • Contact