What happened to the last couple of months? Sadly, not a lot in terms of writing. After the Masters finished, I threw myself back into old hobbies as well as working longer hours. Plans to continue the EMA project for NaNoWriMo came to nothing. I’ve read a couple of novels—The Children Act and Only Child—but most of my reading has been non-fiction.
This shows the value of the Masters as a motivating force. You have to write, you have to edit and you have to study. Everything else, even things you really enjoy, has to take a back seat. Once that pressure is off it’s up to you to set your own targets and deadlines—to create your own meaning.
A couple of people that I know of have forged ahead. One had been long-listed for a literary prize. Another has seen her short story published in an anthology. The rest seem to be in the same boat as me—on a break that never ends. I’d be interested to hear from other people how it’s going.
Tomorrow is Results Day. Some of us have been counting down in the Facebook group. Maybe it’s the impending result that’s blocking me. After all, it’s hard to be enthusiastic about a novel if you fear an examiner is going to pull it to pieces. Knowing that it’s going to be graded makes you see it through somebody else’s eyes, and it’s… embarrassing. I’m hoping that once the result is out, if it isn’t too disappointing, I’ll find my stride again.
In the meantime, I wish everyone on the course the best of luck. Remember, the grade you get is just the subjective opinion of two people. If you love writing, write for yourself!
Masters Degree Creative Writing: A Journal 