- At this point, I'm thrilled if my parents tell me that a part of it is "good."
- At this point, I'm not emotionally attached to my essays (which is really good.)
- I've edited several of my friends' essays and learn more about my own writing in the process.
- Always use active verbs.
- Always put the focus on YOU and not the college/hero/school/toy in question.
- Don't be trite.
- Write like you talk to grown-ups and you'll be fine.
- It's a little unnerving to write an essay that may be worth more than $50,000 for merit scholarships.
- If I edited my freelance stuff as intensely as these college essays, I'd be the Writer of the Year. They don't even have that award but I'd win it.
- You learn a lot.
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Of Cabbages, Colleges and Kings
I'm finally home! I've been out of town for two weeks, having a wonderful time with friends and family as well an eleven hundred mile trip scouting out the nation's best colleges, but I am so happy to be home. In my house. Where I live.
Once I get my photos developed I will show you how I debased the John Harvard statue and in other ways left an indelible, angry mark on Harvard's campus (did I mention I'm a little anti-Harvard?) It's pretty hilarious.
A bad thing about my super college quest is that I'm 2000 words behind in my word count. I've never gotten that far off track, so will have to be planning and writing my butt off this weekend. I also have a review due on Monday and two more books to read after that... yikes! And summer homework!
Tomorrow, look for a WORD on planning for writing time during the school year and the announcement of our next bookshelf interviewee. Next week promises to have more, longer posts, as I will hopefully remain at the same address for more than two seconds.
Library Sparks published my article, Going Green with Ida B, in their web resources section. They do such a beautiful job with layout. Find out about this amazing book at http://www.highsmith.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Production/LSP/pages/2008_pdfs/lsp_aug08_ker_going_green_with_ida_b.pdf.
Once I get my photos developed I will show you how I debased the John Harvard statue and in other ways left an indelible, angry mark on Harvard's campus (did I mention I'm a little anti-Harvard?) It's pretty hilarious.
A bad thing about my super college quest is that I'm 2000 words behind in my word count. I've never gotten that far off track, so will have to be planning and writing my butt off this weekend. I also have a review due on Monday and two more books to read after that... yikes! And summer homework!
Tomorrow, look for a WORD on planning for writing time during the school year and the announcement of our next bookshelf interviewee. Next week promises to have more, longer posts, as I will hopefully remain at the same address for more than two seconds.
Library Sparks published my article, Going Green with Ida B, in their web resources section. They do such a beautiful job with layout. Find out about this amazing book at http://www.highsmith.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Production/LSP/pages/2008_pdfs/lsp_aug08_ker_going_green_with_ida_b.pdf.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Princeton for Writers
If You Want to Write... is postponed till after I finish my uber-important summer work project (women in politics, my love, my life!)
I visited Princeton this week as part of our college hunting and just wanted to blurb a little for the sake of future college attendees. Princeton, according to its alum Jennifer Weiner, has the best creative writing undergrad program in America. Having visited, I agree. Joyce Carol Oates and Toni Morrison are among the incredibly prestigious, incredibly involved faculty. They still serve as mentors for senior theses (see below.)
A special facet of the Princeton experience is the senior thesis. It's an 80-120 page research project that serves as a large portion of your grade... in other words, it's what you live for senior year. Even if you're not a writer, you can turn your thesis into a novel and incorporate different aspects of your major (literature, history, even science) into it with appropriate faculty sponsorship.
I'm very wired into the whole Ivy League perfectionism debate, and that's at the center of my current book. However, if you have good grades and like to work, consider applying to Princeton to write. The kind of instruction you would get there is priceless.*
*Well, it does cost ~$49,000 to attend, but you can't buy Joyce Carol Oakes or Toni Morrison and take them home with you. If you can, email me and we'll negotiate.
I visited Princeton this week as part of our college hunting and just wanted to blurb a little for the sake of future college attendees. Princeton, according to its alum Jennifer Weiner, has the best creative writing undergrad program in America. Having visited, I agree. Joyce Carol Oates and Toni Morrison are among the incredibly prestigious, incredibly involved faculty. They still serve as mentors for senior theses (see below.)
A special facet of the Princeton experience is the senior thesis. It's an 80-120 page research project that serves as a large portion of your grade... in other words, it's what you live for senior year. Even if you're not a writer, you can turn your thesis into a novel and incorporate different aspects of your major (literature, history, even science) into it with appropriate faculty sponsorship.
I'm very wired into the whole Ivy League perfectionism debate, and that's at the center of my current book. However, if you have good grades and like to work, consider applying to Princeton to write. The kind of instruction you would get there is priceless.*
*Well, it does cost ~$49,000 to attend, but you can't buy Joyce Carol Oakes or Toni Morrison and take them home with you. If you can, email me and we'll negotiate.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tips for Using English Professors, Part Two
Allow them to talk about what they want. If they go off on a five-minute tangent about creative writing minors when you're only interest in journalism, allow the ramble and take notes. If they're passionate about a subject or involved in an issue, this is important! The professor I spoke with emphasized the amount of work that goes with internships and community service projects.
But be assertive. Regardless of whether you're buddy-buddy with the professor, make sure to ask all the questions you really need to know (except for offensive ones like Are you a good writer?) This is a one time slot, so ask away!
Sit in on a class. I sat in on a writing class taught by the same professor. I wasn't impressed by the students but the prof's exposition of cliches and structural tension was fantastic! This is the best way to understand a particular college's English program.
A word about the English major... As I've blogged about before, I have a writing class phobia. I'm always scared I'll get a teacher who is horrible, who wants to corrupt my artistic principles, etc. If you're not planning on an English degree but love to write, still check out the writing scene. It may help you understand where you want your collegiate academics to go.
But be assertive. Regardless of whether you're buddy-buddy with the professor, make sure to ask all the questions you really need to know (except for offensive ones like Are you a good writer?) This is a one time slot, so ask away!
Sit in on a class. I sat in on a writing class taught by the same professor. I wasn't impressed by the students but the prof's exposition of cliches and structural tension was fantastic! This is the best way to understand a particular college's English program.
A word about the English major... As I've blogged about before, I have a writing class phobia. I'm always scared I'll get a teacher who is horrible, who wants to corrupt my artistic principles, etc. If you're not planning on an English degree but love to write, still check out the writing scene. It may help you understand where you want your collegiate academics to go.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tips for Using English Professors
I'm on a mini-whirlwind College Tour- if I don't get changed in a few minutes, Princeton will see me in Soffes and a t-shirt- but I spoke with an English professor at another Ivy Leaguer this week and thought I'd share some tips on what to ask and how to ask it, as you discern which English program will help you become a better writer.
If you're a younger WriTeen, don't blow all this stuff off! Take time to learn about prospective colleges' English departments and what they can offer you. It'll save time so you're not cramming your junior/senior year.
Write up questions in advance. Know what you need to ask. Sometimes you get flustered by your professor, blank out or simply get distracted. It helps to have a list of questions running through your head, so nobody's time is wasted.
Understand why you're there. Admissions officers are interested in you, but professors have a busy schedule and are not there to ask lovely questions about yourself. You're here to get some insider info! Don't be disappointed if they don't ask about your personal writing.
Always ask about mentorships/internships. These kinds of resources will help make you a better writer and/or help you get a job in publishing after college. Ask whether the college facilitates the internship search or whether students find their own, and if you don't know, ask about publishing companies or magazines in the outside area.
There's more, but Princeton really will see me in a t-shirt and Soffes unless I dash.
If you're a younger WriTeen, don't blow all this stuff off! Take time to learn about prospective colleges' English departments and what they can offer you. It'll save time so you're not cramming your junior/senior year.
Write up questions in advance. Know what you need to ask. Sometimes you get flustered by your professor, blank out or simply get distracted. It helps to have a list of questions running through your head, so nobody's time is wasted.
Understand why you're there. Admissions officers are interested in you, but professors have a busy schedule and are not there to ask lovely questions about yourself. You're here to get some insider info! Don't be disappointed if they don't ask about your personal writing.
Always ask about mentorships/internships. These kinds of resources will help make you a better writer and/or help you get a job in publishing after college. Ask whether the college facilitates the internship search or whether students find their own, and if you don't know, ask about publishing companies or magazines in the outside area.
There's more, but Princeton really will see me in a t-shirt and Soffes unless I dash.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Curious Incident of the Common Application
... Notes from the Battlefront ...
Surviving a college interview takes a good pair of flats (men have already won half the battle) and asking yourself, "What's the worst that could happen?" I was wearing my favorite pair of shoes (Antonio Melani heels, beautiful but deadly) but I did ask myself The Big Question and the answer was... "Spill Chocolate Jello All Over Yourself." Seeing as there is no Chocolate Jello in the interviewer's office, and seeing as I would make a joke out of it if it did materialize and spill, I figured I was fine. I was, and it was great.
Make a big deal out of your writing. Plant orange cones and scruffy construction workers around it. Most interviewers don't have a background in writing, so when you say "published" they say "awesome!!!" Mention that you plan on being involved in literary magazines on campus. Bring your writing resume if it is appropriate.
Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is beyond belief. I read it in 1-2 hours. Fabulous. Moving. Heartbreaking. Wow. The last passage especially. Gee. My goodness.
The Common Application (http://www.commonapp.org/) makes me feel like I'm filing for Medicare instead of applying to college, but it will save me countless hours of time needed for The Writing. Have you noticed that cool people capitalize Important Things? Nathan Bransford's capitalizing Imprint of the Future; Francesca over at http://www.manolobig.com/ has perfected The Art of The Capitalization.
Talk about pizazz.
Regular programming scheduled for tomorrow. Probably a deep, meaningful post on either spelling errors or developing writing style. The Common Applicant is tired and needs to recover from genius works and great college interviews.
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