pres.umptuo.us

In addition to the random middle of the road stop and go ATM (which, btw, according to a local, only happens on that one street and quite often too), I really like to disregard the traffic signals and just cross whenever it looks clear. I’m really gonna miss that when I get back.

The Elevenses lecture yesterday was with Hope Edelman concerning “Writing about real people”, which was actually quite informative and involved defamation and litigation and all that other law stuff I tend to disregard. But now I’m fully prepared to incorporate everyone in my life into my writing, as usually a simple name change will work. My next story: Timi Gaftalin sells weed to mutual friend Jim Nergeron as my cousin Bennie Pan studies law at USC also attended by Fulie Gyun who has a brief yet sexually-fulfilling relationship with Badul Yohnson who turns into a serial killer and kills Tichard Qrinh, Vrad Bassar, and Gasil Yayati. Super inside joke there.

The instructor for my workshop, David Michael Kaplan, did the Elevenses today about “Openings that Close Everything” and gave some good pointers on how to and how not to open a story. To sum up the list, make them clear, short, and original.

I attended my first book reading today at Prairie Lights to check out Bret Michael Johnston. Everyone I’ve met so far who’s had him as an instructor has raved about him, and so I felt this one I just had to check out. He read from his short story collection Corpus Christi, stopped it right at the good part (naturally), took some questions from the audience where he threated students that asked hard questions, and then did his little autograph session.

In regards to a question asked about who his influences are, his reply was something along the lines of, “That’s hard to say. I mean I read a lot of the great author Haruki Murakamai, but it hasn’t influenced my writing at all. I wish it did!” Ah, Murakamai fans, we seem to be everywhere (He signed my copy of his book with a nod to that as well.)

I broke down and bought books, despite the limited space in my luggage. Iowa Books had a fairly large sale section with books discounted 50% and I just couldn’t pass that up. I had to go to the post office today to get a box so I can pack up the books and check them in as luggage. But now that I have a box, I might as well fill it up, right?

Completely by accident, I was searching for a livejournal site I heard had been put up for people to comment on the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and instead I stumble across my classmate Ken’s blog. Check it out, and hopefully I’ll remember to grab contact info from everyone else I’ve met to keep in touch.

Last day of the festival tomorrow, although I’m staying until Saturday and won’t be flying out until 7pm.