Thursday, February 16, 2012

Dreams Unfolding

Last night was the beginning of a new class -- folks ready to offer up their dreams for critique. It's not an easy thing to do -- especially the first time -- kind of like putting your child in a beauty/talent contest and having to hear everyone's honest opinion.
Fortunately, it's easier to improve your novel than it is to turn your homely, awkward, tone-deaf child into a singing, dancing beauty. 

And it sounds like we're going to have lots of interesting material to work with -- fantasy, mystery, historical -- and not a vampire or a zombie in the lot -- at least, from what was said. 
Several of these folks have complete novels and are just in the tweaking-before-sending-out stage -- others have characters and ideas in search of form.  

I'm excited -- I love watching dreams unfold! 
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13 comments:

Ms. A said...

Both the flower and the bird, look like they are bowing their head in prayer and those stems (?) look like they have been decorated with white Christmas lights.

Martin said...

Well, I'm sure if anyone can steer a budding writer in the right direction, you can, Vicki.

Brian Miller said...

very cool...that def is a fun process...well painful at times...but great to see those dreams come true for sure....

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I remember my first critique class/session. I felt like a scared doe with the headlights aimed in my direction.

Thank goodness everyone was so nice and my fears quickly vanished. As Martin said, if anyone can steer a budding writer in the right direction, it's you.
Sam

Jean Baardsen said...

I love the bird! Is it some kind of woodpecker?

Avril said...

Yes, great to see dreams emerging, sometimes changing but also being realised. I too run a small novel group for writers at varying stages with their novels. I love doing it and love watching writers grow, achieve their goals and give each other such amazing support. I find it really inspires my work too

Brenda said...

I'm jealous of those lucky folks in the class!! I need to email Tommy and put my request in for another "beginner" class.

You know the other day when you posted the photos of the cedar waxwings? I commented that I love those birds but had not seen them since I was in high school. Well, it's so ironic - I had an entire flock of them descend on my back yard two days ago!! They showed up with a flock of robins. It was amazing. I got some photos, but even the decent ones don't do that bird justice. They are so stunningly beautiful!

Suz said...

love those photos

Deanna said...

I can only imagine how brave one must be to put themselves out there like that. I don't believe I could do it! How exciting for you to be able to help see those dreams unfold.

Such pretty pictures...

Vicki Lane said...

The bird is a Red-Bellied Woodpecker -- the picture was taken through a rather dirty window. And that our first daffodil.

The weed stems Ms. A mentioned have tiny bits of fluff on them (seeds, I guess) and the last rays of the afternoon sun were lighting them up.

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

Love the photos... And lovin' this post...

JJRod'z

Vagabonde said...

I was reading the blog Margaret and Helen for a long time – without commenting, but have not been there for a while as I can’t keep up with all the blogs I read.
I really like your picture of the woodpecker. We have a couple coming to our bird feeder but I can never take their picture as they fly away before I can get my camera.
I was telling you about the books I am reading on the US expatriates in Paris in the 1920s. I am almost finished reading “Memoirs of Montparnasse” by John Glassco (Canadian) and enjoying it a lot. In it he talks about meeting Morley Callaghan in Paris. I already read “That Summer in Paris” by Morley Callaghan and John Glassco gave a different impression on that author. Then John Glassco meets Robert McAlmon and says that McAlmon is finishing writing his book “Being Geniuses Together – 1920-1930” and I jumped – as it was the very book by my bed that I had to read next – all this is a lot of fun.

Vicki Lane said...

Sounds like some good reading, Vagabonde!