Comments on: Cautiously Expecting: On Creating Life and Fiction at Clarion

By: Jerome Stueart

Jerome Stueart — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:54:55 +0000

Thanks Mishell for this article—I loved the “having something inside you” metaphor. Even for me, that rang true! And that it needs to come out and to be fed…and I’m glad you went to Clarion.

I was class of 2007 with Shweta, and she’s much too modest.

But so many don’t go because of constraints, and you really reminded me (through Shweta) that we’re responsible for the things inside us. Later on, perseverance pays off. Good kids and good writing.

Keep going.

By: Clarion blogs | Liz Argall

Clarion blogs | Liz Argall — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:53:17 +0000

[...] Fantasy Magazine article on pregnantly preparing for Clarion [...]

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:10:50 +0000

This is a lovely metaphor. I myself suffer from a tendency to never feel anything is “done” enough for public scrutiny. “Perfect is the enemy of good.” I think one of the particular values of the Clarion experience is to remove that ability to strive for perfection by creating stringent deadlines. Without the built-in due date of pregnancy I’m sure some of us would want to wait until we could create the perfect child, just like the perfect story. But children and stories can’t wait for that; they should go out into the world.

By: Alanna

Alanna — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:29:01 +0000

In his book “Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell claims, according to his research, it takes about 10,000 hours of practice to achieve master level at something. That takes some serious commitment. Don’t give up now!

By: Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:56:15 +0000

Good luck to you on the baby and on Clarion, and good luck to all of your classmates.

Lots of Clarion attendees tend to be in transition phases in their lives. I’d count pregnancy (or expectant fatherhood) as one of them. I’m sure it would’ve been infinitely harder to find time or the emotional energy for Clarion once you have a little one running around.

This is a good article and has given me something to think about in regards to writing.

I do have to say that Shweta doesn’t give herself or her writing nearly enough credit. Being stubborn and hard-working doesn’t rule out being brilliant as well.

By: Mishell

Mishell — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:41:45 +0000

Yes, the timing of it for me was spectacularly lucky. So spooky in its perfection that it seems fated. I will be at Clarion during weeks 16-22, some of the most painless and pleasant in the entire pregnancy (or so I’m told – this is my first).

I still have fears that I’ll have some terrible complication and have to leave, but my chances are very good. I can’t imagine being at Clarion in 3rd trimester, and with twins? Monica should get a medal for making it 5 weeks.

By: Nykki

Nykki — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:38:46 +0000

Your analogy is beautiful, Mishell. I’m excited to be hearing about how it goes!

By: Oz Whiston

Oz Whiston — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:28:49 +0000

Mishell:

You said someone asked “the management?” At Clarion San Diego? They lost all their continuity when they left MSU, I’m sure. Especially for this kind of detail. It was tough for Monica to suffer in silence. She was pretty far along. She ended up having to leave a week early on doctor’s orders.

Best wishes for your six weeks. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. If you’re in the second trimester, you’ll have oodles of energy to create some great stories.

By: Cat Rambo

Cat Rambo — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:43:04 +0000

Good luck to all of you as well as the other students soon embarking on workshops! I’ll be meeting some of the Clarion Westies tomorrow morning at the sorority house.

By: Tiffani Angus-Bodie

Tiffani Angus-Bodie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:19:04 +0000

Great article, and advice I’ll be taking to heart as one of Mishell’s classmates a short 10 days from now. I especially loved the analogy about some writers staying stuck in the “second trimester,” and I have to say that *that* might be even more tragic than those who never write again after such an intense experience.