Can you hear it? The sound of keys tapping crazily, people writing, posting, scrambling, (no pushing and shoving) all trying to get into the Free Writing course that I’ve decided to mentor once again this session. I had put it off last session to take a break from the insanity, but with it now in full swing since last Tuesday, I realized, the insanity has begun again.
I only say insanity, because have you ever seen over 500 writers all trying to get into one hallway, looking around for rooms, names and lessons all that will carry them on the journey of writing that they’ve decided to embark on?
They’ll come in, demanding to be given a lesson, tired of looking around at all the links, they’ll want to begin like yesterday on this writing journey. Some will not like the fact that they need to adhere to rules, post links of their websites and be out the door. We have over six hundred registered and I’m always amazed how so many people begin the journey but few stay the course to see the journey through.
As volunteer mentors, we take quite a battering. As students get frustrated, sling harsh brutal words at you, slit your throat while you’re off helping someone else, these people need to realize that we are humans behind the screen, who have taken many hours out of our lives to guide you, the new writer on a path that just may lead you to the published world.
Even if you don’t get published; as one person has asked us NOT to publish his/her writing in our EZine. Can you imagine that? Someone hails your work as good enough to be publishable and because you’re not getting MONEY, you say you will decline having your work published? And I’m telling you, they put up a good argument as to why they DON’T want their work published. I just hope that seven years down the line as they are still struggling to get something published, has forced them into giving up writing entirely, that they remember that the one score on their resume where it says PUBLISHED, is missing.
You still are being taught the basics in writing. Some really good lessons on Dialogue, Characterization, and quite a few other tricks of the trade. All of which you will carry with you on the leg of your writing journey, where you feel as if you’re in the least, a competent writer.
As you sail off on this writing journey, respect the ones who are there giving of their time to see you through this leg of your writing career. We’re here to assist, it is your job to learn, not butt heads with one another because guess what, every market that you submit to, will have guidelines and rules.
Enjoy the path that you’ve chosen. You’ve chosen wisely. Stay the course my new friends.
6 comments:
You make a good point that the volunteer mentors are humans; so, too, are the students. I know friendships develop but even so, from time to time, it might be good to remind everyone that behind all the words brought forth there are 500-600 REAL PEOPLE. Is it possible a look up from their own keyboards to actually see the real people, not just their own goals, would be helpful in alleviating the battering and harsh brutal word slinging?
Just thinking~
M. Sue
You know Sue, you've been there. I think it is just the excitement and anticipation of the "I'm going to be a writer."
I don't think they realize it takes a lot of work in pulling it all off. Close to 600 registered students and nearly 500 showed up, so yeah I just think we all need to realize, we're humans. :)
But WHEW! What a first day!
It was certainly a full day! LOL
Good post! :D
You were out working!!! :P
Indeed it was, a very full day!
I remembered mt F2K, it was the time when I was first introduced to WVU, it was time of wonderful excitement..but now that I look back I see that I couldn't finish the last week of F2k, but whatever I did do was fun! If you ask me, I didnt have any problem with the rules.And I also remember how excited I was to find a 'free' course to learn writing! We all are humans, with passions, feelings and our own set of problems, when so many come together, its obvious there will be some trouble! But all of the mentors at F2K really do a great job, maybe someday I will help like I was helped...
I've been a mentor about five or six years, and the first week is always the craziest.
The students settle in, they acknowledge the rules and they write their hearts out.
That's what it's all about, writing. :)
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