writers, leaving college and the jazz singer

Sometimes, i wonder just how well I stack up with other writers in the market and I usually join online writing groups like the ones in Myspace, but sometimes the criticism I try to offer comes off as hard and callous. So when another form of online webgroups came up in the National Novel Blogging Month, I nearly jumped at the oppurtunity to write something, but I grew weary of the prospects and pretty much assumed that anything that I wrote could be ten times better than some of the other stuff.

I was right. Can my stuff possibly be this bad. I've been trying to get through some of this insane drivel, but unfortunately it's so difficult to fight through the garbage, I'm sure I missed more than a few nuggets of ingenuity. Obviously, a majority of these writers either haven't been properly trained in writing or don't read. Some of it, I'm sure, is not having a circle of peers to read their stuff and offer up suggestions. In fact that's a complaint I have of my own work. That's why I miss school so much, because it gives a person a chance to interact with peers and discuss works of other authors and your own work.

Granted, most of my stuff is poetry, but there are a few novels/works on the backburner that are started but haven't even begun to take on the life of working into their own as yet. I think the big thing about writing (particularly in my case) is that you have to write everyday, and if you're not writing then you should be reading. I enjoy movies and video games almost too much to just give them up to be a book worm all damn day. But I can definately sense in my own stuff when I haven't been writing on a regular basis. Sometimes the right movie will inspire me, but very rarely does a video game do anything but sap my creative juices. Games are away for me to unplug, which is a bad thing if you're trying to write.

Blogging gives writers the chance to do both I think -- to simultaneously unplug and continue writing. The very act of typing this is a form of expression, but it's not the traditional form I would normally think of when I sit down to write. But it keeps the creative juices flowing and I get to listen to music at the same time. Right now I think my LaunchCast player is on some sort of grunge rock kick, and I haven't the motivation to turn it or actually search for my station to post it here.

On a better note check out this band calledstephanie's id. I got to see them when I went to Knoxville for a weekend, which aparently rare because the group mostly tours the East Coast. But if you're into a jazz/funk fusion their pretty easy on the ears. And the lead singer has that perfect voice that's not too throaty and not too lounge singer-esque. From that page you should be able to find a link to their myspace profile where there is a music player and you can download some of their songs. I highly recommend listening to "Popsicle." I'm hoping I get a chance to review their upcoming full debut release for our newspaper in Champaign, Illinois. But knowing our editors I won't get the chance, so I'll probably just settle for posting the review online.

Reviewing movies and music is something I miss and I used to do it every so often when I was working at the Daily Egyptian. One of the many things I miss about the -college world. A forewarning soon-to-be graduates: You will suffer something of a postpartem depression when you leave school. On one hand, there is a feeling of triumph being out of school and not being diciplined with the strict regimin of a class schedule, but there are the good things that are hard to recreate when you're in the working world.

On a larger note, I get to go home for a day tomorrow. And I also need to take the trash out at my apartment and clean. This place looks pretty bad. although I'm sure it's not the worst that it's looked. Being somewhat of a horder and a newspaper junky, everything that I could possibly need is in the living room. Rampant newspapers must be removed to the nearest trash receptical outside. And I need to go grocery shopping. The milk is over due (it expired on the 14th) and my bread has mold growing on it, plus the refridgerator needs cleaned out anyway.

Possible blog topic for later: Cleaning out the fridge and the inherent implications of problem solving in Iraq, or "What mold grows in Fallujah?"