Writing the flood

I hate writing workshops. I don't mind critiques, but I hate sitting in a room with people as they make those comments, good or bad. "Is that what my writing is?" I think, and feel stunted, helpless. I've mostly avoided workshops, though for awhile I help organize a queer femme writers group, which I adored.

I'm doing a housesitting writing retreat to finish my novel. I worry that my book's too long, but mostly I'm happy with it. To round out my retreat, I went to a workshop led by Jen Cross yesterday called Writing The Flood. Cross uses the Amherst Writers and Artists method, so there's no negative feedback and everything is treated like fiction, which helps. I still felt shy but I was glad I went. It got me thinking about what I want to do as my next steps as I finish this novel.

I want to blog once a week. I want to get this book published and start another one. I want to get some short stories out in the world. I want to keep my day job under control enough that I can do this. I should be finished with grad school in May, though I've got to work in the here and now.