[Jade]

Hi Gord! Before I really start, I wanted to say that I was in Connecticut at a part where I was literally 21 miles away from Long Island. So close! Cool, right?

But anyways, my post is basically about if you think living/visiting New York would be worth it to explore publishing internships or agency internships in the area. I'm not asking you as an author--though that'd be cool--but instead asking you as someone who lives in New York. Do you think it'd be worth it to check out, at least for that reason? 

Something awesome about living in GA is that a flight from ATL to NY is literally just under $100. Ignoring school, I could go on a little trip up their with my mom at any point, and I could totally check out the schools and publishing houses, even just for fun! It's so nice to know a cool vacation is only $100 bucks away (round trip!)

So, yeah. That's all. How's NY as someone who's lived there for a while? Specifically Long Island, while we're at it! What's it like for an author? Just a little insight would be really awesome, if you wouldn't mind giving any.

Thanks a ton.

(Now, time for the yapping...)

I'm mainly asking because I got this advice recently. Over the weekend, I've been doing a lot of research on what colleges I'd like to apply to, where I want to go, et cetera because I'm working on being an author, right? Now I'm fully aware that I don't need a BA in Creative Writing to become an author, but I just genuinely like writing theory (in specifically speculative or genre fiction) that I would quite enjoy going through a program, I imagine. 

I know that CW isn't a very employable major. I thought it'd be cool if I could double major in Creative Writing and something highly employable, like maybe cyber security, IT, or water treatment. Or doing something that can get me a job at a government agency or something. Normal job, so I have time to write!

After doing a ton of research, because I really don't want an English degree, I've found that my list is somewhat like SFSU, UIowa, UGA, and some others. SFSU is my number one. 

You know, this was supposed to be related to the original topic, but I forgot. But! I did email the directors and heads of the Creative Writing departments at SFSU, UCR, and uiowa! So that'll be cool if I can hear back from them.

But, yeah.

Also, totally unrelated, do you watch Lindsey Puckett's videos on the writing industry? I freaking love them! They're just so nice to watch and sit back with popcorn or something. These! (Click me!)

Yup, that's all for real now. I've been working on my book and I'm in the outlining stage. It's pretty fun. I've ended up doing the method where I outline everything before I start, but that reminds me, I have two questions.

1. Do you outline or write in scenes? If so, any tips for how?
2. How do you write a good scene?

3. How do you get so good at writing present-tense first person?

Thanks!

Hi, Jade,

Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to do some checking around to be able to deal with some of your questions.

If the flight from Atlanta to NYC is reasonable, it's the only thing that is. NYC is the greatest city in the world, but also a VERY expensive place to visit. And to do it to visit publishing houses is a no-no. You would get no meetings.  Yes, they do hire a limited amount of interns. But they don't touch them until they're, at the very least, Juniors. And they only interview them via email application. So the answer is to apply by mail or email to request an interview re: internship -- but I don't know if they would even consider someone with no college experience. Yes, I know. You must be as sick as I was of hearing that good times are ahead, just around the corner, essentially still out of reach!

As far as being an author in NYC, people take us in their stride. Actors and politicians get the same treatment -- we're just part of the scenery. Most authors are not even recognized on the street. People know our work, but not us. But the city itself? There's just no place like it! It vibrates.

Re: college. You're on the right track, I think. I stayed away from creative writing classes -- why mess with something that's working pretty well, right? But I was in a lot of Literature and Modern Novel studies. I don't know if that's right for you. And I don't quite understand your college choices. I applied to USC, UCLA, and NYU because the cities they were located in were writing havens. (I was accepted to all, but chose NYU because it was only an hour's flight to Toronto -- hey, it was going to be my first foray away from Mom and Dad!)

Water treatment?!? I do see your point. One must make a living. Not everyone wants to be a waitress or hairdresser until the first novel sells. Very practical.

Never saw Lindsey Puckett's shows, but I'll check out your "Click me." Yes, take all the advice you can gather, but make sure you set your own standards and write the things you want, not just what someone like Lindsey Puckett says will sell. What works for the gurus may not work for you or me.

Your questions: I ABSOLUTELY outline. That comes under the heading of "Planning is everything!" When I propose a book to one of my publishers, I write an outline that can be as much as 7 or 8 pages, typed single-spaced, with the climax and the ending I'll be writing towards. As for how do I write a good scene? -- if I could guarantee that, I'd be so rich and so prolific that I'd be super-famous! A good scene: first and foremost, YOU have to like it; it has to move your story along; it has to be funny, or scary, or shocking -- you get the picture. All the scenes have to be good scenes.

AM I? Good at writing present-tense first person, that is? I love it, I find it stands out and reads very personably, meaning that it seems to relax the reader and keep him/her interested. I hope. I'm glad you think I'm good at it.

I just read this over. and it reads like everything I was ever told when I was well-known in Canada, which is almost like being nobody special because of the small population. The U.S. was where I needed to be, but  I was 12, and how do I manage that, and ... and hurry up and wait! You're on top of things, and that's good. You just have to let it happen while working to make it happen.

Does any of that make sense? I hope so.                                                                                         -Gord-