New Year's in Naples

Sitting at the window, watching the cold turn to warm in the noonday sun, I am doing what I think everyone else is doing at the end of December, which is, pondering the new year ahead.

In about a week, I will click into the Manuscript Phase of my MFA program.  No more residencies, lectures or classes, and no more deadlines every four weeks.  Instead, I will pursue the independent writing/study phase of the program with the mentor of my own choosing, who graciously agreed to hang in there with me to the bitter end, which may be one year from now, or even two.

To finish my MFA, I need at least one hundred fifty pages of publishable material.  To date, I have one hundred pages of non-publishable, rough material, first and second drafts galore.  There is much to do, so obviously, it's time for me to write, write, write in all earnestness.  No messing around, every day, no excuses.  And I don't mean write on my blog.  I mean, write my manuscript.  It's time to shut down “Sneak Peeks.”

I want to thank friends and family, who have read my blog over their morning coffee, or who have read my blog during their lunch break, or who have read my blog just to tell me they did, and to encourage me.  I've had a blast learning not only more about writing, but also about computers, html and web pages.  And the more I've learned, the more I've known how much more I need to learn.  But that's always the way it is, isn't it?

Thank you and have a Happy New Year!

 

 

From Louise