I think this week's blog will be relatively short for me. My mind has been really cluttered the past few days and it's got me in a bit of a "writer's block" at least in terms of this project...I'm getting to the point in my semester where I start to feel bogged down by all my classes, readings, and assignments. On top of that my grandmother just got out of the hospital where she'd been since Friday morning after a bad fall, and this coming weekend is my recently deceased grandfather's birthday, both of those events being really hard on my mom and in turn me...
A big part of this project stems from my grandparents' experiences - both spent time in the Internment Camps during WWII and my grandfather also served in the US Army during this time and faced much discrimination and racism from other soldiers for awhile - and the impact of learning about their experiences has had on me. But it's been hard to sit and think and write about them this week, though I've had a lot of sporadic personal journaling trying to clear my mind of all of this stuff...
On a brighter note, I liked meeting with the other thesis class for the department review! It was great to hear about the different experiences everyone has had throughout their time at Mills and some of the things people have liked and disliked along with me. Our peer group meeting also went very well; the free-write prompt Heidi came up with helped me map out a few more scenes for my thesis. I'm also working on adjusting a couple of those according to the 'secret assignment' Elmaz gave me during our meeting on Friday & I like how it's coming along so far.
Well I guess that wraps everything up for tonight - see you all Friday and I look forward to everyone's inspiration presentations!
I know how difficult this time is for you, and I'm glad you're already doing some journaling because I was going to also suggest writing the emotions you feel when you think about your grandparents and their histories. The language you end up using in your writing just based on those feels can really mold your work.
ReplyDeleteThis feeling of the bogged-down-ness I definitely understand, and I hope you can get something done in the midst of it again using those said feels and language.
And if all else fails, do horizontal running.
All of this is so heavy, it's no wonder you're feeling bogged down. But you already have a supportive group of peers who like and dislike things alongside you. We're here for whatever you need, I think, because being a writer isn't just about writing. It's about finding that space in your life and your head where you can write. "Sporadic personal journaling" is always the best thing, in my opinion, and I'm glad that you had some productivity in your peer group. It's really interesting hearing what other people have been up to in their groups and I too look forward to getting together as a class and sharing the artists that have inspired us.
ReplyDeleteyou guys are the bomb, you are full of great wisdom in response to rebecca's dilemma. I love this class already
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Thank you for your awesome words!! It's great to know that I have such supportive people to turn to in this class :)
ReplyDeleteRebecca, the confluence of events - writing into this story, the anniversary, and your grandmother's recent return from hospital - big, making your work perhaps even more timely. And as a result there is a rich emotional world you have access to right now. I'm glad to know you've got a journaling practice that you're mobilizing. If you can, write it all down, every single whisper that you hear. It may not seem it now, but it might be content in waiting. Great work.
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