Here is the view I have during this MFA residency, when I find time to write. This is the lagoon out back of Captain Whidbey Inn. Every morning, the eagles chatter in the treetops as I hunker down to my pages. I’ve written a little bit on my thesis, but spent more time on my Saturday night reading, something we students are required to do once each ten-day session.
I’m in the Captain Whidbey Inn, editing the “final” print out, still finding changes to make. “Why does it take so long?” I complain to my laptop, and Stefon, who is sitting nearby.
“Your thesis?”
“Yeah, that, and also revising what I have to read on Saturday.”
“How many times have you read now?”
“I’ve been around for four residencies, so it’ll be my fifth.”
“It should be no problem then.”
“It’s not, except for the revising my reading to where I’m happy with it. I edit and revise and edit and revise.”
“Yeah,” Stefon says. “It should be called an MFA in Creative Rewriting.”
I’m close — my thesis first draft should be written by March. Time to reduce, rethink, and revise.