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ericweinstein
Eric Weinstein

Dec 16, 2009, 2:09 PM

Post #1051 of 1172 (4919 views)
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Re: [katelauren] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

By the way, for anyone applying to Cornell: I got a nice e-mail letting me know that I'll be apprised of any missing materials in mid-January and that the admissions committee expects to make final decisions in late February or early March. Decisions will be communicated "via e-mail or by telephone." If I remember correctly, TSE lists Cornell's decisions as often coming in late February, so I think any day after Valentine's Day is fair game.

Hans Landa: You'll be shot for this!
Aldo Raine: Nah, I don't think so. More like chewed out. I've been chewed out before.

WanderingTree

Dec 16, 2009, 2:57 PM

Post #1052 of 1172 (4907 views)
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Re: [ericweinstein] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just in time to break hearts ; - )

Zuleika Dobson

Dec 17, 2009, 2:57 AM

Post #1053 of 1172 (4849 views)
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Re: [orthetiger] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is what I did after my company collapsed last year--shipped off to the Riviera and stayed for several months. Undoubtedly the most helpful thing ever for writing a novel. Went to five other countries after but didn't 'steep' in any culture long enough to write about it/ get inspired. And was sorely disappointed in Turkey.

"Every spectator is a coward or a traitor."

HarveyK

Dec 17, 2009, 10:32 AM

Post #1054 of 1172 (4818 views)
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Re: [Zuleika Dobson] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow, the French Riviera, not the Redneck Riviera on the Gulf Coast? For several months! You must be one of those rich wannabe writers in NYC. Now I see why you're snooping around Columbia and NYU.

WanderingTree

Dec 17, 2009, 11:17 AM

Post #1055 of 1172 (4802 views)
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Re: [Zuleika Dobson] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

It's often difficult to write about the here and now esp. if you're still soaking in another environment and culture. A lot of writers have said that they just can't write about their current environment or situation. I never really understood this until I tried to write stories while abroad. There's definitely something to be said about distancing yourself.

Zuleika Dobson

Dec 17, 2009, 11:40 AM

Post #1056 of 1172 (4788 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

a) I was responding to orthetiger's post about traveling
b) --Edited by motet--
c) ...And not helpful
d) I wish I were a rich 'wannabe writer' in NYC. Whatever that means.

"Every spectator is a coward or a traitor."

(This post was edited by motet on Dec 22, 2009, 12:34 PM)

HarveyK

Dec 17, 2009, 12:05 PM

Post #1057 of 1172 (4767 views)
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Re: [Zuleika Dobson] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

a) I was talking to myself.
b) Sorry for being not "helpful",
c) ...---Edited by Motet---,
c) ---Edited by Motet---.

(This post was edited by motet on Dec 22, 2009, 12:35 PM)

Zuleika Dobson

Dec 17, 2009, 1:21 PM

Post #1058 of 1172 (4733 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Meh. In response to your obnoxious original comment: yes, French--as opposed to Italian. Even if it was pretentious (who cares, but thanks for creating a post merely to point this out), you apparently think there's an inverse relation between writing ability and economic means.

You're probably someone who gets impressed when a guy in a thrift store t-shirt says he's from West Virginia and not really a waiter but a writer--he's just waiting for the day when an agent discovers his novel.

None of these apply to me: high salary, independent wealth, living in New York, originating from New York. But I can't stand when people assume writers must be poor and depraved to be decent.

"Every spectator is a coward or a traitor."

babiak
Wendy Babiak

Dec 17, 2009, 1:42 PM

Post #1059 of 1172 (4726 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sorry, but you can't say you were talking to yourself when

(1) you posted it on an internet forum, and
(2) you used the second person.

I, too, thought it was obnoxious, and I am neither independently wealthy, nor can I afford to travel, nor am I in or from NYC.

The decent thing to do would be to apologize and then drop it.

�The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.�
-- Rachel Carson

Conspiracy of Leaves (Plain View Press)
What I Meant to Say

HarveyK

Dec 17, 2009, 2:19 PM

Post #1060 of 1172 (4701 views)
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Re: [Zuleika Dobson] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Nah, I just have a knee-jerk reaction whenever I see hip MFA wannabes trying so hard to impress people. I've seen plenty of groupies and fanboys in and around MFA programs. Sorry if I hit a nerve there.

babiak
Wendy Babiak

Dec 17, 2009, 2:27 PM

Post #1061 of 1172 (4692 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

"Nah, I just have a knee-jerk reaction whenever I see hip MFA wannabes trying so hard to impress people. I've seen plenty of groupies and fanboys in and around MFA programs. Sorry if I hit a nerve there."

Maybe the key word here is "-jerk."

"Wannabes" is clearly a pejorative word. Is that tone really necessary? Wouldn't "aspirant" be more appropriate in civil conversation? We're all writers here. I don't see the necessity for that sort of attitude. And I'm not sure it's really acceptable. I certainly wouldn't want to have you in a class, if that's how you behave in real life.

HarveyK

Dec 17, 2009, 2:33 PM

Post #1062 of 1172 (4687 views)
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Re: [babiak] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Boobiack, let's drop it like you said. I apologized!

babiak
Wendy Babiak

Dec 17, 2009, 3:25 PM

Post #1063 of 1172 (4660 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Boobiak? Now that's just insulting. Or insulting AND sexist? Would you like to be reported? Your alleged apology falls far short. I don't know where or how you were raised, or where you've been wallowing on the internet, but at this forum we try to be nice to each other. I suggest you apologize to the both of us, or at least stop digging your hole deeper.

HarveyK

Dec 17, 2009, 3:36 PM

Post #1064 of 1172 (4653 views)
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Re: [babiak] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

babiak, just a typo, OK. Relax!

kbritten

Dec 17, 2009, 4:03 PM

Post #1065 of 1172 (4638 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Man, this Harvey guy's kind of crazy...

aiyamei

Dec 17, 2009, 4:09 PM

Post #1066 of 1172 (4634 views)
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Re: [babiak] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

About this Harvey I say what I always say about trolls -- they are punished enough just by having to exist as themselves in this world. They eventually live alone.

kbritten

Dec 17, 2009, 4:21 PM

Post #1067 of 1172 (4623 views)
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Re: [aiyamei] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Not alone, aiyamei, they do have their mother to mooch off.

babiak
Wendy Babiak

Dec 17, 2009, 6:41 PM

Post #1068 of 1172 (4591 views)
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Re: [aiyamei] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm sure you're right, Ida. Though being the humanist I am, I try to give people a chance to redeem themselves. Every once in a while, and I mean rarely, I'm not disappointed.

(And if he really is nothing but a troll, he can keep it up and get himself banned and miss out on the the opportunity to grow not only as a person, but as a writer.)

HarveyK

Dec 17, 2009, 7:02 PM

Post #1069 of 1172 (4582 views)
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Re: [kbritten] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

------------------------------Deleted by Motet----------------------------

(This post was edited by motet on Dec 18, 2009, 1:17 PM)

edamame40
Ray O

Dec 17, 2009, 7:15 PM

Post #1070 of 1172 (4563 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

So yeah, I was kind of hoping to hear from people applying to MFA programs, what with deadlines passing and coming up and so on...anyone have anything to say other than squabbling?

HarveyK

Dec 17, 2009, 7:28 PM

Post #1071 of 1172 (4552 views)
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Re: [aiyamei] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

About this Harvey I say what I always say about trolls -- they are punished enough just by having to exist as themselves in this world. They eventually live alone.

I have no idea why you hang around here when you have nothing to say about the MFA experience and seem to have no intention to apply to MFA programs. Haven't you already given a plug for your book deal, which we are tired of hearing? Please get lost if you don't have anything to say other than character assassination.

kbritten

Dec 17, 2009, 7:54 PM

Post #1072 of 1172 (4535 views)
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Re: [HarveyK] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Mother's basement! Just kidding... funny reaction from Mr. Dent there though.

I do have a question that I posted on the MFA blog site, but thought I'd go ahead and double post here. How long do you wait to call a program about not receiving your SASE back? I mailed my Florida sample on the 4th and live two hours from Gainesville, but have not received anything from them. I sent apps to Bama and Iowa two weeks after Florida's and got their SASE a few days ago. Should I call, or will that be annoying to them?

jamie_mu

Dec 17, 2009, 8:25 PM

Post #1073 of 1172 (4507 views)
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Re: [kbritten] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

kbritten, I would wait about a month. If you don't get your SASE back around the fourth of Jan, after the holiday crunch on the mail system, I would email the department secretary. They may not have even started opening the packets yet depending on when the application is due.

One weird story regarding a SASE: I used one in my Iowa app instead of a post card, and received back not a notification that they had received my app but my entire writing sample. I don't know what that means, just sharing my MFA experience, as requested a few posts up.

orthetiger

Dec 17, 2009, 9:22 PM

Post #1074 of 1172 (4480 views)
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Re: [jamie_mu] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ahhh, what happened here?

I quite resent the fact that it has been suggested that you must be wealthy (not to mention a bad writer) to travel for long periods of time. If you watch what you spend your money on and budget well, almost anybody can afford to travel. It's all about priorities, and I've always made seeing the world one of mine.

I don't think that spending time in France, or NYC, or having heaps of money, has any relationship to a person's writing abilities, anyway.

Zuleika Dobson

Dec 17, 2009, 10:16 PM

Post #1075 of 1172 (4463 views)
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Re: [orthetiger] High Anxiety [In reply to]	Can't Post

Agreed. It's inaccurate and insulting. I don't really know what happened here, but I'm not going to harp on a personal attack grounded in ignorance and rashness. I have other things to worry about, such as my MFA apps.

It comes down to personal and cultural priority, I guess. I remember during my travels I met numerous young Australians/ New Zealanders/ South Africans who were spending a year in Europe, Africa, and Asia. For whatever reason, perhaps due to being geographically isolated, those countries treat it as part of the standard education, as do I. If traveling is a personal priority, you will do whatever you have to in order to afford it. We're not talking about Marquesses on the Grand Tour here.

And I actually think many people that travel more might write better. They have a broader array of ideas and personal experiences to draw from as well as a greater consciousness of the world.

"Every spectator is a coward or a traitor."

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