Hey everyone! For this term of MFA, it’s finals week – both my projects are due tonight by midnight. The good news is, I turned the last one in yesterday afternoon. The bad news? Well…my “N” key has given up the ghost and there’s no way to fix it, and I had to order a new ergonomic keyboard. Aaah, well, it’s a little gift to me for making it through 3 terms with good grades (all As so far) and, I’ve learned a lot. I’m very much enjoying the coursework for this MFA. As a matter of fact, this website is a direct result of me taking the MFA course. This term I had a class called “Finding and Reaching an Audience,” and this website and blog, and the accompanying weekly newsletter, is a direct result of that class.
I don’t really have anything writerly planned to talk about today, so I’m just kind of rattling off a few things that’s been going on lately.
Here in the real world, we’ve had a break-through in potty training the 8-month-old beagle pup. I took him outside four times last night after my husband went to bed and for three times, he “went” – with the promise of a treat if he did. I think he’s learning – the fourth time when he went and didn’t go, he didn’t get his treat. That time, which was in between time 2 and 3, I had a treat in my pocket but he didn’t get it. So perhaps…we can hope.
We started watching “The Nevers” on HBOMax and I have to say, I’m hooked. I read someone describe it as “Victorian X-Men, but all girls” and that’s a pretty astute description, but it’s been amazing. I usually wait until a series is finished before I start watching so I can binge all the episodes at once, but I’ve found myself waiting on pins and needles for the next episode of “The Nevers” every week. I think it’s just brilliant, a lot of fun, and TOTALLY worth your time.
Also I started watching “Shadow and Bone” on Netflix. I’m enjoying it, too – the world has far too few good fantasy tv series. I haven’t read the books the series is based on, and I’m kinda wishing I had before watching the series. I’m a little bit lost in what’s going on, but I imagine that’s how everyone who isn’t familiar with the series feels. We’ve watched the first four episodes and we really, really like it. I’m enjoying the “Russian” aesthetic of the show, and the premise is fantastic. Something else I like is the time period it’s set in. I like that it’s not your traditional “medieval fantasy” – we have guns and trains and electric lights and clearly machine-created clothing. It’s kinda beautiful, and a refreshing new take on the genre. I’ve got the books on my “to read” list for sure.
Let’s talk the Snyder Cut. Yeah, y’all know what I’m talking about. I’m firmly in the “restore the Snyder Cut” camp – that cut was SO much better than the confused mess that the original movie was. It’s coherent, hits all its beats perfectly, and tells a fantastic story that would fit exactly into the DCEU. Why wouldn’t you establish that as cannon for your film universe? It doesn’t make sense NOT to…unless you WANT your movie franchise to fail…
A couple of weeks ago the family and I decided that we’d go to the first big (note I didn’t say “major”) comic and toy convention scheduled to happen in our area. The Huntington Comic and Toy Convention will be happening in Huntington, WV on June 5-6, 2021. We’ll be there on both days, and on Saturday we’ll be dressing. It’s my first time doing cosplay at a con, and I’m super excited about it! I’ll be dressed as Luna Lovegood, my husband will be dressing as Captain Jack Sparrow, and my son will be dressed as Captain Malcolm Reynolds. I can’t wait! I got all my costume components in, everything fits, and it looks fantastic! OH! I’m gonna be giving out a little piece of swag to anyone who finds me and comes by to say hello!
I found out this week that one of my classmates is an exceptionally talented bookmaker! She makes both writing and sketch journals to your order, and they are BEAUTIFUL! I’ve already placed an order for one as a gift for someone and I can’t WAIT to get it! If you love a good journal like I do, you’ve GOT to go take a look and get one. They’re gorgeous and 100% worth it! She also has an editing business, so if you’re looking for some help with your writing, she can help there, too! Kjirsten Whitsell at Read Right Editing!
That’s about it for this Sunday. I still have one more week of classes this term – sort of a term wrap up – that should be quick work, and then I get a week of rest before term four starts. In the upcoming term I’ll be taking two classes – “The Publishing Ecosystem” and “Speculative Fiction Writing I.” I’m looking forward to the second, kinda dreading the first. Wish me luck!
Have a great week, everyone! This week’s question – What TV show or move has really impressed you recently? Let me know in the comments! See you next Sunday!
Linley B. Marcum 