John Hattaway » school

Blogging on Copyright

smokingpen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:11:12 +0000

For those reaching this post first, I am a graduate student at Fairfield University in the Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing program and as a part of that program we are having seminars and panels on specific aspects of publishing and law regarding publishing as well as editors, publishers, and etc.

Joe is one of the MFA students. He is telling us about copyright law since he is also a lawyer and some experience in property rights law. Currently, he is telling us about the different kinds of intellectual property.

Five types of IP (intellectual property): ideas, products, processes, expressions, and names.

These are manifested as: know how, developments, inventions, works of authorship, music and sounds, discoveries, and celebrity.

He says that everything he is presenting to us today is protected by copyright.

Protected property is any tangible medium of expression.

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Copyright is a form of protection provided by law to authors of “original works of authorship,” from the time the work subsists in fixed form.

He is talking about different applications of this and is specifically talking about Gone With the Wind and derivatives of the name.

There is a list of kinds of things that are protected. And now we are learning what is NOT copyrighted. Specifically, ideas. Ideas are hard to protect. Naturally, you want to place the idea on a piece of paper so the idea of the expression is put down on paper. The ideas for plots are not protected, but a specific plot is protected.

Having an idea is not the capture of its entirety or its essence. If you want to talk about your “idea” and someone has the potential for taking the idea and using it, you want to have some kind of a contract with the other person so they don’t steal or make a profit off of your idea. This is often called a confidentiality agreement – which is used frequently in business.

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Two divisions of law: pubic law and private law. Pubic law is designed to be protected by the government. Private law is contracts, non-disclosure, and etc. that is covered under private law.

Not protected words and slogans, but trademarks are and as a result trademarks can cover words and slogans.

Trademark law is more a matter of public law than private law. Governed by trademark statutes in Washington D.C. and most people use the federal method of filing trademarks.

Things having utility are not copyrightable, but that is what patent laws cover.

Q) What if someone takes something that simply has a copyright notice that someone else takes?

A) You still own it. Now you have to show history of ownership before you can take it to court.

Copyrights are protected regardless of submission to copyright office.

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Q) Can’t I just mail it to myself?

A) Yes. But it doesn’t work in trial. There is a lot of stuff that has to happen (discovery) prior to going to court.

Q) Can I send my manuscript through email?

A) Yes. That is sufficient because it allows for an electronic record WITH a date and time stamp that is more reliable than using the regular mail.

Q) What about the date a file was created?

A) Depends. Not the only thing that will prove the case.

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Keep everything. Drafts. Paper copies. Etc. as a history of revisions and ownership.

Q) If you have a manuscript or proposal and submitting to agents is putting a copyright notice on the bottom sufficient?

A) Yes. We will get to that more. Also, add it to your header so that when you work on the manuscript it is always there.

United States now a signatory of the world copyright law and something copyrighted here is acknowledged around the world.

You can register copyright and it makes all the sense in the world to register it. The reason you want to do that is by registering you now get access to the courts. The question becomes one of enforcement. You don’t have to register early to register later on and get the same access. Registration is necessary for jurisdiction to open up the federal courts.

File prior to three months AFTER it is published allows someone to sue for more money. If you wait until after three months you can only sue for what you actually lost.

Q) Don’t publishers normally register copyright for you?

A) Hopefully.

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He is talking about the lengths of time copyright lasts since 1978. Long periods of time, JSYK.

Q) What about multiple copyrights in a book?

A) Those cover revisions. Doesn’t change the end date for the original copyright.

Q) Does a new copyright exist from publication?

A) No. It’s recognized creation.

Q) Do you have to prove when it was created?

A) Only in an infringement lawsuit.

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Registration can be done in several ways. Prefered method is going online and registering electronically. Two copies and a fee depending on format of submission with paper submissions costing more.

TX = text form of copyright.

VA = visual arts form of copyright.

Q) What about changes to a work after several years on something already copyrighted?

A) Copyright both forms.

You can register both TX and VA for anything you write.

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Fair Use

Allows public to use other work. This means we have to allow other people use our work as well. The law takes into consideration, “What is the use this work is being put?” e.g. the more you take, the less money can be made from that work.

Commercial interest is key to fair use. Am I making money or not? as well as amount, substance, and portionality of work being used.

What does copyright not protect?

Quotations, excerpts, use or parody, copy by a teacher or student, etc.

All government publications are not copyrighted – typically.

Works not fixed in a tangible form.

A massive list of things that are uncopyrightable.

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Works made for hire

Work created for someone else where work is owned by the corporation or business paying you to do the work :: work made for hire.

Contributions to a collective work, a part of a motion picture or other audio visual work, translation, suplimentary work, instructional texts, tests, answers, and etc.

There is an angle to who owns what under work for hire. His example is a lawyer being paid to be lawyer who creates software. Software is still owned by lawyer not company.

This gets into contract law.

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Transfer of Copyright

Assignment is the transfer of the copyright. Don’t sign an assignment of copyright. Tear it up.

Q) Have you copyrighted the powerpoint presentation?

A) Yes.

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The bulk of the material is done. Not too interesting, but definitely good info.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

Live Blogging :: The Informal Publishing Panel

smokingpen — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:30:17 +0000

So, again, I am at the Fairfield University’s Master’s of Fine Art in Writing residency for Summer 2009, my first residency, and am currently sitting in the Publishing Panel, an informal panel of teachers/authors who have published and will be talking about their experience. I am going to try to make this a live blog, thoughts, the essence of what is said, etc. Today I will probably use first names to identify people and hope to put that together, later in the week, with who they are and what they’ve written. So, give me a few minutes and if (for some strange reason) you are reading this and want to keep up with me, refresh . . . I will probably have more to say.

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Michael is telling we are going to get started. Currently, Michael and Kim are the only ones at the table. He just announced that Da and Roya (sp) may show up as well. He is specifically talking about prose books and that we will need an agent for large houses. I’ve read this before and this makes sense given that agents make relationships with pubishing houses. Michael talks about falling into an agent rather than looking for one. He’s had his agent for 28 years.

Ways to get an agent: lists of agents – Michael is talking about a friend who is sending out query letters, Michael’s agent is not interested in unsolicited work; ask mentor’s about their agents – he is now talking about another friend, use connections, look at the acknowledgments page of the book because authors always thank agents, write to agents of similar books, agents want to see chunk of memoir, for fiction they want to see the work. Say something interesting when sending a query letter – e.g. sell yourself.

There are also smaller presses for more literate works that deal more with regional presses who would be more interested in your work and publish both fiction and non-fiction work that will publish you. One example, Colin Sergeant, and finally got his novel published through a small press.

Stories, essays, single poems, don’t need an agent, send them to lit magazines. Wrapping up about writers doing other things than we are doing at this seminar or in this program. He is listing different magazines and publications that accept writers for specialties, and different publications. Reiterated, talk to the instructors about where to send it for consideration.

1. We need to be sending out work now.

2. Simultaneous submissions – Michael believes in them and points out that some editors and agents don’t like them, but shares his experience about getting published. Playing fair, if it sells remove it from other places.

(Roya and Da have now arrived.)

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The baton was handed to Da and now Kim is being asked to speak. Kim and Stephanie are both here too.

Don’t send two or three things out at once, send fifty. She is sharing her experience with that and when she started out in the business. Simultaneous submissions are a good thing because it gets your work out there and recognized. Look at contests. Look at individual literary magazines. If you have a book you need to have some publications in order to get published. They want you to have lists to get to different rungs in competitions. She is sharing her experience with competitions and building a wonderful list for yourself.

Do send to a lot of places, many will not work out. Sit down with your instructor and find out where to send them to. What magazines exist for submission. Specifically ask to help tailor the list for your individual work. Follow up every contact you ever have.

If you are thinking you might like something in the moment, say, “Yes.” Do readings and no reading is too small. Do whatever comes your way. She is sharing her experience in preschools, high schools, rest homes, and etc. Look for other venues. Nothing is too small. Be there. Be professional. Don’t be shy and don’t undersell yourself. When something comes back, send it back out because this is a business based on failure so you can have really wonderful things to build upon. Don’t get caught up on one rejection. She is sharing an experience about writing a story for a competition she didn’t win and a story she ended up sending to someone else and getting it published.

Don’t get caught up in one rejection and always build your work.

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Da is now speaking.

All writer’s are different and this should be recognized. Da is a Chinese-American writer and publishers make niche’s and needs them in order to publish and sell. He just shared a funny comment based on the skits last night (ballet dancer with tights). He says to mention what you are because people love labels. If you don’t share what you are you don’t stand out and as a result you are colorless. Set yourself apart from everyone. There is some joking happening between the panel members.

He is pointing at Roya and mentions she is Iranian and that makes her a distinct writing. He says he is a slosh of Chinese soy sauce.

Trace ancestry and make them a part of your labels because publishers think like that.

Get yourself very, very informed. Read anything about the industry because it is important to know where to send your stuff and who would be interested in it. He is sharing an analogy (brick layer) and says you need to go with the best. The more informed you are the more fluid and successful your sales in writing.

He says this is the reason he went from memoir’s to writing novels and young adult books. He talks about his dedication to writing as his reason to switch.

Keep up on trends. Paranormal is hot. Write what you love especially if you love paranormal. Vampires will get you published.

Personal contact is very important. Meet who you can, be sincere, and be nice. Personal contact will open doors.

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Michael talks about moving on so we can ask questions.

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Stephanie just made a joke.

She is talking about her publishing experience and talking about Blackbird ten years ago. She is talking about how long it took to write the book and her motiviations to write which included her husband and being a mother AND A writer. She used her reporting skills to devote energy to the creative process.

She just referenced Virginia Woolf and her thinking to be a great woman you need your own money.

Don’t analyze why you create.

Selling and advertising is an analytical act.

She wrote several drafts of Blackbird and no one thought she would. She was done writing. Started doing research on all the memoirs on the market. She wrote synopsises on anything like hers and then told people none were like hers and hers was better. She is listing the kinds of memoirs available at the time. Sylvia Plath – a girl interrupted. She made a marketing package and submitted to any agent she could and received 30 rejections.

She got a rejection that said, “No one cares about your life.”

Eventually called everyone she knew in publishing. Sat on the phone and started dialing, fishing for help in getting published. She cared about the people, talked to them about their families. She found three people who would look at her book. Found an assistant at Simon and Schuster who loved it. Sent gifts. Thanked people for their time. Found out the International Women’s Writing Guild (iwwg.com) and went to New York to set up meetings.

When she got to the luncheon, passed out her packet, no one agreed to represent her, said she should have a deal by the end of the week, went to Simon and Schuster, talked to people that loved her book, mentioned it was on the desk of some editors, and left New York with a book deal and then found an agent that had rejected her book.

She would not take, “No,” for an answer. She was obsessed with publishing. There is a certain level of agression, committment, and craft and if you can do that you will get published.

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Roya

How many people like Tracey Kidder? How many people know Tracey Kidder?

He is coming out with a new book. He is also the op-ed editor of the New York Times and this is good because every book editor that hasn’t reviewed your book is bound to pick it up and will read it and review it. Radio stations will cover that particular story throughout the day will need someone to call.

Placing pieces in whatever media is out there will start a ball game that will be out of your control and will start a chemical experimentation that will be beyond your means to control.

The beauty of publication will be a series of events you can’t even imagine and possibilities will come your way.

Tracey Kidder is a fantastic writer and still has to develop pieces to send and place in different places in order to get a book sold.

Writing a book is only half the game; promoting and making the book known is the other half of the game.

Know the landscape of the media extremely well.

Analyze and understand every single place your work can appear.

What do you want to write? An essay?

When you develop mastery of the big story as Michael has about some book on espionage in Russia in the 1950’s. This makes him an expert, in a way, to write an essay about the subject. Instead of thinking about it as possibilities, it is better to understand the landscape and where you can get published.

She is sharing her experience producing radio essays for NPR.

Lives in New York Times and wrote an op-ed for the New York Times. After the first book she started writing them and sold more copies of her book.

Be pliable, be flexible. Know the sources that are out there.

Huffington Post posted an op-ed of hers on the front page of their website. She really liked that.

Publisher are looking for new material all of the time.

Bloggers wise up to you when you get major websites and etc. This starts a ball rolling as well.

First thing to do is know the landscape.

Second, envision yourself in one of these outlets.

Third, don’t need contacts. There are people who read the submissions and are interested. A small underling read her work, liked her, flexed muscles, and presented it to the editors to get published. You don’t need contacts.

Enter the foray as a plebian that others want to ignore and let the person on the other side “discover you.”

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Questions and Answers

Q) What about the fee for entering a contest.

A) Often keeps the pubication alive. Not a racket.

Q) If you want to get something published and you send it to an online journal, can it also be submitted to a print publication?

A) Someone else is going to talk about that. There are copyright laws. People are unsure of internet rules and copyright. Mentions April Muse. Once its a publication its a publication. You want the best possible. You can’t unless they are asking for a reprint because people want first print. They mention First North American Serial Rights.

Ranking journals. A pyramid. He is listing different publications and how they fit into the pyramid from top down. One author had a plan to start at the bottom and work up. He says start at the top and work down.

Online has changed so rapidly and many people read your material. Google becomes a factor. Some online journals allow you to get your name out there.

Roya, a journal may look at a previous work of yours and may ask you to make changes based on previous publications.

Q) Do you use Twitter or other online aggregators?

A) Does not use it for marketing, but tweets. It is only excellent for media to get interested. This brings journalists your way who want to talk to you.

Q) Simultaneous submissions. What about places that say don’t send? Do you take that chance?

A) Michael is sharing a story about doing this. He said earlier that he believed in simultaneous submissions. Don’t do it with really big magazines. However, for smaller presses, simultaneous is something you can do. He is talking about failed submissions, John Milton, sent back a story that allegedly disapeared. He is the owner and he controls who gets to read them. Adhere to some rules like removing it from editors who are considering it.

This goes for publishing as well. Agents don’t like simultaneous submissions. Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book by Susan Page.

Q) Can you pull off simultaneous submissions because well published and well respected.

A) No. Suggested changing name and image to see if they could get more publications. Michael is poking fun at Da. Talked about changing name to try for different success.

You may not sell a book because the previous book may not have earned out (got royalty payments back) this may be a reason to change your name. However, publishers do look at names – Michael is sharing a story about that.

Q) Can you protect copyright before sending.

A) Write C and put a circle around it. Then you’re protected. Someone else is coming to talk more about copyright.

Q) If you are sending a short story to a magazine, do you send a SASE or just envelope?

A) Yes or tell them to recycle and a business envelope for any return postage.

Q) Do publishers make comments?

A) If people want to send you comments they would be sure to do that anyway. Most of the time you will just get your rejection letter.

I think things are done now. Good panel. Would be nice if it was longer and more structures.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

Currently Sitting in an Editor’s Panel

smokingpen — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:29:20 +0000

Today has been great. It always starts with breakfast at 7:45 a.m. which, I think, suggests that we aren’t very sensitive to the whole stereotypical writer working until the wee hours of the morning lifestyle, followed by our writer’s workshops. I will write more about those later.

In case you are unaware of what I am doing, I am currently at my first 10 day residency at Fairfield University’s Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing program. Today we have three editors, invited by Michael White, to talk to us about the industry.

At present, we have three editor’s from two different medium sized presses telling us about how they accept books or ideas to produce into books from authors and what goes into the process. Immediately, I am curious about how they think this mirrors the business proposal process where the entrepenuer (sorry Erin) has to do all of the research legwork in order to pitch the idea to the editor and make it as cogent and marketable as possible.

We are learning, at present, about how these editors got their jobs. The first, 25 years in the business, worked her way up the chain starting as an intern and then taking different jobs at different publishing houses and publishing related houses until she landed the position of imprint manager at the publishing house she is working at now.

Also, we just heard that Oprah sells, which is why, for those who are curious, no one (to include Cormack McCarthy) does not say, “No,” when Oprah calls and asks the individual to be on the show.

And now we are hearing about adaptability, the use of as much of your interests and technological background, and etc. to the publisher as you can if you want a job.

They are telling us that everything has moved toward the electronic format for editing and line editing and etc. This includes the Kindle, which is the hot property from Amazon, that everyone wants to read.

As I am listening to the current editor talk about his job I want to point out that the third panel member arrived a few minutes ago and sat down. He was running a little late because the train he was riding on didn’t arrive on time.

Currently, what I am taking away from this is adaptability into the electronic markets is key to success with different publishing houses. He is talking about Twitter and Facebook and Myspace and blogging and how this allows an aggregate links and information out to potential buyers more quickly.

Now we have the third editor from a different publishing house, it sounds like he is the managing editor of the house and is thanking Michael White for inviting him up.

He is telling us that to be interesting we need to ask questions but is going to precede that aspect of the panel with a description of his job and his pubishing house and that the literary novel is the heart and sould of his company. He is telling us that his approach to publishing is as a result of his background as a musician and started the publishing house while he was a full-time musician – he just gave the name of the band. He published a book in 1997 on a whim after making a lot of money in 1996 with his band. He is talking about the independent label he was working with as a musician and realized that he liked independence and as a result he started a publishing company. The first several years of publishing he only published one a year, sometimes two, and didn’t have a background in publishing learning as he went. He tells us he has pretty good taste in literature.

Just said he sold off the printing rights to his first book to a major publisher who has done exceptionally well with the title since acquiring it from his company.

He just said no one reads anymore and I am curious as to how he thinks the market and industry would need to change in order to help influence people to want to read more and if readers like the Kindle will help with that or if the industry needs to move toward a traditional advertising and marketing approach for a typical business.

He’s stated a belief in public engagement which, again, makes me wonder what his approach would be if he could re-imagine the market. One of his projects include the Brooklyn Book Festival and this editor is the chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council and putting together the Brooklyn Book Festival.

“Reverse gentrification of the literary world,” is the motto of his publishing house where he feels that books need to get into the hands of the poor and traditionally illiterate and as a result, his efforts are not to dumb down literature but to help make it available to people who might not find the book naturally.

He is expressing the diversity of his authors and how they affect him – just made a joke about white male authors and how they do move him but not always in the way that Jamaican’s or others might or often do.

Now waiting for the “tell us” portion to come to an end (it feels like it will soon) and questions to happen. We have, probably, about 30 minutes before we all have to disband, so . . . should be interesting to see what questions and answers are produced from this group of MFA students.

Q) The group, as a body, was asked about the Kindle phenomenon.

A) The third editor says we are going to have a digitization of literature and stories will be told but that electronic media is a part of the future and even though we prefer the printed page, the future is digital.

Second editor is saying that iTunes is the forerunner of what will happen in book publishing with the big fear people stealing content, though there are some ways to protect against that. He is talking about the potential for change in the industry.

First editor is talking about the need to drive people to read and that electronic sales and electronic offerings have proven to improve sales of books.

Q) The panel was just asked what they look for in a memoir.

A) Her answer is something that resonates with a universal experience and/or is unusual in a unique way. A blog may be interesting to family and friends but is not, necessarily, a much wider and broader audience.

Q) What do you spend most of your time doing during the day.

A) First editor spends most of her time on problems and does her editing on the weekends. She loves problems free authors. (Note, this same editor said when working for National Geographic she found out anyone will tell you anything if you identify yourself as working with National Geographic.)

Third editor is telling us he seconds first author and ends up spending most of his time on emails and with agents and foreign rights. He is expanding this with a story about a bad author who became attached to him in an unhealthy way (I am reading stalking in his words) he is saying crazy and obsessed. This author took so much time and energy including multiple failed lawsuits and etc. that his publishing house has become rigorous about screening the personalities of the authors signed; but necessary for the size and nature of his publishing house.

He tells us the publishing world, in general, needs to know that all of their authors need to treat people with respect and a single bad author will cause irrepairable damage to the entire office. Apparently, he will turn down an author and novel because the author appears is disrespectful. He illustrates this by using NPR and an author telling off the producer of the show rather than working with them. He just said, to laughter, that a book and an author have to be judged together.

Second editor says email and meetings are what takes up most of his time/day. He doesn’t read as much, but gets things in and out quickly.

Q) Why isn’t poetry being published as much and what makes a publishing house less likely to look at poetry? Why is it less marketable?

A) First editor, you’ve answered your own question – e.g. it’s less marketable. Sharing a story about a large publisher being allowed to publish poetry by the success of fiction. Also Kindle chooses who they will publish and as a result poetry is not a selling item. Bookstores are a lot like Kindle and choose not to sell poetry. Also, interent allows you to market yourself, put poems out, gain a following and prove it, then a publisher is more likely will publish you… publishign is for profit.

Second editor, did put out a poetry book but that the book is completely niche-ey. Specifically, Mets poetry and sells to baseball fans even though it’s not about baseball.

Third editor does publish poetry and they struggle with it and publishing poetry makes his job even more precarious. Says that people don’t know how to read poetry, to include himself, but isn’t adept at poetry and as a result can’t decide what is good or bad and has to get other’s to help him decide what is good or what is bad. Economic outcome of some poetry drains monetary resources. Telling us about a program called, “Why Poetry,” at the Brooklyn Literary Festival. He wants to see poetry as more accessible just like books.

Q) How does a psychologically balanced person approach you with a novel? Essentially, how do you want to be approached about a novel?

A) Third editor, send a querry letter because the staff is very small. His publication isn’t accepting manuscripts – though he is reading querries and will follow up on something that sounds interesting. If you know an author or a friend of the publisher or a friend of an agent who will recommend you, it is easier to get a manuscript in the hands of the publisher and etc. and will rise the manuscript to the top of the pile.

Q) Do you deal with agents?

A) Third editor, yes. But not more than a regular author because he likes to deal with an author directly. (Agents become mediators between publisher and author.)

Q) Are you doing anything with your business model in formats or marketing [to get the books out to new people]?

A) Third editor, does lots of public events like street fairs. Do events in galleries trying to find places that reach people, especially if an author will captivate people. Especially if an author will captivate people. The publishing house does a lot more public events than other publishing houses of the same size and larger. Cover design has changed over time.

Q) Do you review online journals for authors for particular genres, work, etc.?

A) First editor, if she is looking to hire a writer, regionally based, she will call the managing editor of a newspaper and who is reliable and a great writer. Might do the same with a magazine. Go to the editor to find out who works out well. Not a lot of time to go to online journals to find authors. Not much time to trawl (sp).

Third editor, doesn’t read online or print journals because it feels like an issue of time. New employee follows journals. Not proud of the fact that he doesn’t follow online journals.

Q) Can you give an example of a proposal, she was excited about, and how did it get there?

A) Had a proposal she was excited about but didn’t turn out the way she wanted or hoped it would. Is trying to see if the author will make changes to make it more sellable. Talking about a magazine that is a free giveaway and a proposal that came from a reader of the magazine and was intrigued by the proposal which was visual, and found out it was a magazine piece that no one would actually buy and now needs meat or needs to be dropped. It was not agented, though agents, if they get the publisher, can sell a lot easier because they understand the needs of the publishing house. Annoying agents are most likely going to annoy editors as well.

I think that is it and as a result, will be heading off to the afternoon seminar.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

The Cost of Being Away from Home

smokingpen — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:01:55 +0000

Really quick . . .

I spent most of last night awake and (somewhat) wired, as far as someone who lives his life in a perpetual state of sleep deprivation, can be wired; however, after a conversation with Erin from Ender’s Island to where Google told me Wal-Mart was located (and I found a Super Chop-n-Shop or something along that line), I was pretty much awake and trying to will things to happen much quicker and more equitably than they have so far. As such, this is about money, it is about my not being at work, and it is about me being at my MFA residency. The outcome, from last night, I am still a bit wired and waiting to see that money is moving and (a very small part of me) moving in the right direction.

What does this mean? Well, I am a writer in residence in a writer’s training program being trained and the outcome is that I am not at home, I can’t comfort my wife, and I can’t make different businesses or whatnot’s move any faster than they are going to. By the end of the week (when I drive home for about a day) we will be fine, but at the moment, we are currently hurting under the thought that all of our bills will come due today and we will be in trouble for about 72 hours.

With that said, Ender’s Island is a beautiful, the rain that started sometime after midnight (because I went to bed around midnight and it wasn’t raining then) is soothing, and I get to use my umbrella – which is always a plus, and I am having a good itme. On top of which, I am also a bit *something or other* about my family’s situation.

Tomorrow it will be VERY different. Today, the worry and frustration is transfered to me.

Oh, and hold on for more pictures of where I am at later in the day (I hope).

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

One Last Thing Before Bed

smokingpen — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:38:07 +0000

As already stated, I am at Ender’s Island off of Mystic, CT for about ten days. I will make a trip home at the end of this week for around twenty hours to spend time with Erin and CAMPER, but for the most part my life is encompassed by that of the MFA-Writing writer.

Today was a good day. One of the first things I did, once I kind of head my head about me, was to wander around taking pictures of some of the buildings. Honestly, this is more for Erin than anyone else as she loves retreats and retreat centers and I am on a retreat (residency really) at a retreat center. My first full day experience, other than taking pictures, was a lot of, what felt like, activity from a workshop class where we discussed a first chapter from a novel to a seminar on finding the premise in fiction to lunch and breakfast and dinner and then a reading by three of the faculty members, all of whom are published authors, and two of whom moved me in a way I can’t really explain – and it’s not the kind of movement where the need to write comes into play, but it did include me going and purchasing a book by one of the faculty members, Da Chen, and then asking him to sign it. Since those pictures are on my phone and this is made considerably easier (posting) when I transfer pictures to my computer and then from the computer to this website, that will have to wait for some free time tomorrow or later in the week. Regardless, I did take some pictures of Da’s signing books and I have to say this is the coolest book signing I’ve ever witnessed.

Regardless, today was a good day. It was fun. Filled with people and conversation and good food. I am, as is true to who I am, kind of aloof to a lot of things more as a result of this weird terror inside of me that screams, “NO!!!” very loudly when it’s time to meet new people, but still desiring to get to know some of these people as these are the men and women with whom I will be making this graduate journey for the next couple of years.

Now, school, I am sure, is fun and me updating my blog is also (at least of late) kind of a unique thing, however, I am closing this entry down after only a few hundred words because I am tired and because I need to sleep. However, I am having a good time, enjoying where I am at and what I am doing, and really do expect that by this time in 2011 I will be a graduate and ready to really publish something – even though I still harbor plans to do that between now and then anyway.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

The First Full Day on Ender’s Island

smokingpen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:57:24 +0000

Well, and I hope to make some more time later to write more, but today has been a rather good and successful day on Ender’s Island. With that said, this is a Catholic Franciscan retreat center named after St. Edmund. With that said, there are a few chapels on the grounds and I will attempt to take some pictures, but as one example of the iconography of the place, the saint of whom the retreat center is named, also blesses the place with one of his arms. As a Saint, his body actually helps to sanctify or bless this chapel.

Here are some pictures from the chapel. I have to admit that attending the Fairfield University’s MFA-Writing program is really allowing me to see and experience new things.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

Ender’s Island and Fairfield University

smokingpen — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:47:28 +0000

I have now started (I think it’s safe to say that) my Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing program as I am sitting in my room on Ender’s Island in the residence hall and have walked around the not very large island, used the bathroom, noted the pipes running across the top of the bridge coming to the island, and spoken to the staff as well as the faculty about the excitement over this semester. For those interested, this MFA-Writing program is brand new for Fairfield University. Erin suggested it to me after seeing something about it, I looked into the first semester (which I believe I would’ve been accepted for had I tried) and ended up waiting for the second semester to allow my student status shift from Undergraduate to Graduate for financial aid purposes. More, I needed some time away from classwork, school reading, and formal education before leaping back into the pit-slash-fire. To wit, I was also (and am still) looking for a full-time job that allows me to take time off for this, would allow Erin and I to assume a larger portion of the financial obligation OR pay off other student debt (while incurring this) and be comfortable and prepared in a new position for the foreseeable future.

As a result, life needed to get started up again before I started down this road.

With all of that said, I think I am a little anxious over the start of this program and wondering what it will feel like at the end of the residency? I guess time will tell if I make fast friends or this is something I do for four semesters before moving on to teaching and/or whatever else comes next. Right this moment, I am a little over-interested in what is happening around me.

Oh, and if I remember, and if I can force myself to do it, I will try to add pictures to a blog post so people can see where I am at and what I am doing.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

for a variety of reasons

smokingpen — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:55:23 +0000

For a variety of reasons I can’t seem to sit down, long enough, at a computer and write out a blog entry. None of the reasons are due to lack of interest in the blog or, for that matter, lack of things to say. The world is an interesting place filled with opinions and people and events that all seem to coalesce and transpire into a mixing pot of things to say, things to think about, and things to update the blog about. As such, one of those items is a list of personal goals I’ve set for myrself, one of which is (though possibly not for much longer) to update the blog five times a week. Right now, I think updating once a week, and probably on Sunday’s, may be the best that can be expected of me.

I wouldn’t bet anything significant on or against my updating once a week. Heck, if you were a betting person and looking for new things to bet against, I (probably) wouldn’t use my blog or website as that item for two reasons. First, I am as likely as not (e.g. sixes) to update reqularly; and second, I am as likely as not (again, sixes) to not update for a very long time. In either case, I actually like my website, I like having my domain, I like updating it, and I like updating whoever in the world wants to come and see what I am doing with what I am doing. As such . . .

I go to my residency starting next Sunday. I’ve been reading sample work from my cohorts and am pretty excited to be in this MFA-Writing program. I am even more excited about the writing that I am producing not so much in anticipation of the program, but rather in anticipation of being in a place in my life where a) I have things to say, b) I am capable of saying them, and c) they come out interesting and compelling and in fiction form. None of this means I don’t enjoy reading and writing non-fiction and essays and whatnots. It does mean that the goal I set for myself a long time ago is still there.

Also, I am still taking calls from a state agency about issues related to money and rights. This does deal with child support cases and as a result, I understand now the intricacies that exist within that realm. AND, I have no desire to really talk about it. This is probably one of my problems about updating, I want to write about things and don’t want my blog to become known for child support related questions and answers. I care too much about the writing for that.

For those that are curious, I am still looking for a job that is more compatible with my background and education and my future education (e.g. I am getting a Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing and would like to start work either as a professor or in publishing) and as a result continue to apply for jobs when they come available. With all of that said, I am still interested in a job in academia or a job dealing with government contractors. And, I still note that the economy is in the toilet. I’ve a new idea I should explore in relationship to that – no hints from me about what the idea is – but haven’t really delved into anything in that area that could be considered research. I’m poor.

Anyway, life continues. Erin is about to take the GRE. We are excited about that. CAMPER is growing like a weed and for those that know the website you can see pretty regular updates from Erin there. As well as at Erin’s website. Beyond that, we continue to live with family and continue to try and figure out what comes next.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

The Long Something

smokingpen — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:01:09 +0000

I think I often have great plans to do big things. I think some of those big things include my blog and making it more popular and more accessible. Point, I started at the earliest posts editing them so that the links all went somewhere, images were either updated or deleted, and they cross-referenced older posts. I worked on that for a few days, got about fifty or so posts in, realized I had something like 1000 to go through, and thought to myself, “Someday I will have enough money I can pay someone to do that.” Truth told, I still harbor that plan and I don’t think I will ever actually get around to doing anything with it.

Erin and I were speaking the other day, as we do every day, about stuff when she pointed out something I’d been thinking about for a couple of weeks. I have two things in my life that I am more likely than not to spend money one – heck, if I am having a bad time for long enough and sooner or later I am going to spend money on one or the other or both – the first are books and the second is software. Now, I am not a software person in the sense that I will buy games galore; however, I am a software person where I will purchase and use something for writing or organization or project management and see how it works and then draw up plans on how I might make changes and then wish or dream those beautiful dreams about how, when I have enough disposable income (or an investor) I will change the face of the internet and off-line computing with my ideas. Heck, not too long ago I came up with the next billion dollar idea that will (probably) never see the light of day from me because . . . well, my reasons are my own.

As for books, before Erin (b.E.), I think between 1/4 and 1/2 of my income went to the acquisition of books. I spent a lot of money at Borders and Amazon.com that it justified and probably (without spending more money) could inherently justify having Amazon Prime for some years. Fortunately, I still spend money at Amazon.com and, when time and our finances permit, I can spend some money at Borders as well. Most often, though, Borders comes in the form of gift cards and Amazon.com comes in the form of gift certificates and school money so that I can expand my collection of, and knowledge on, books about writing and etc. However, in the days of b.E. I spent a considerable amount of money that would lead one to believe I have a considerable number of books – and yes, I have some; but at the same time I also cull the books I buy, selling some online, taking others to used bookstores and selling them there, and still others I give away to people I think will like (and cherish) them more than me.

The outcome to all of this is another one of those grand plans: I would love to have a house with a room that is a couple or three stories tall, with a special observation area at the very top, with books from floor to ceiling and round cast iron stair cases and my desk in the very middle of the room. With windows that could darken at the touch of a button, a large flat screen television for movies or television, and a place where I can retreat to be alone or spend time with people who are invited into my private sanctuary (like Erin or CAMPER or close friends and some family), but more a place that is dedicated to books and my writing and ideas and dreams and adventure and imagination in a way that no other room or place can exist for me because those places really don’t exist.

One result in all of this is a notion of: SOMEDAY; and a notion of: WHAT IF? in both cases, I enjoy the fantasy, and in both cases I realize that it is just fantasy and that I get to continue to work and develop and hope that someday Erin and CAMPER and I will find ourselves in a slightly better position where, maybe – just maybe, our lives will allow us to explore some of the dreams I have for our future.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly

Searching for a State of Equilibrium

smokingpen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:07:48 +0000

I’ve found that some of the things I want to be doing compared to many of the things I need to be doing have kept me out of a state of equilibrium for some time. Months. I like the idea of writing blog entries and have noted that the number of hits I receive a month is directly proportional to the number of posts I publish. On top of which, my search rankings are lower when I don’t update as frequently. I would imagine, when I get to a state of popularity from publishing or some such that the direct outcome will be a lot of people intentionally searching for me and clicking through my website which will result in the ability to be lazier and still have traffic; however, at the moment, if I want traffic I have to do what is required to get that traffic.

Since I am not doing what is necessary I am writing about the why not.

In this case I find I have several things that sit, in some stage or another, on my metaphorical plate (I actually dislike the analogy). I have family, professional, educational, and obligations to self that all require a piece of my time. My family, and by that I am defining family as Erin and CAMPER, require individual attention and time. I cannot just assume that by spending time with CAMPER while Erin is in proximity that I have sufficiently spent time with her. As a result, I find myself making time for both my wife and child and making sure I spend time with them.

Along with family resposibilities I have work responsibilities. To some extent these overlap in that I am the provider and have to work to make money so that we can afford to pay bills and buy food. Previously to my current job I was working at Wal-Mart (formerly “this place“) on the graveyard shift. Because of that, I slept during the day, didn’t really care to be awake on the weekends though I chose to alter my sleeping habits to, again, spend time with my family. As a result of not being awake when Erin and CAMPER were, I looked for and found another position where I work during the day and can now sleep at night. This is better but at the same time I have to give away some of my day to a commute that equals about three hours of time. I am in a better position than I was with Wal-Mart, but still searching for a state of equilibrium.

Along with family and work I have responsibilities to my degree – specifically a Master’s of Fine Arts in Writing. This program requires me to spend quite a few hours a day writing and reading and revising and writing and revising and reading and etc. and etc. with the outcome. Granted, everything gets to be set aside in about twenty-five days for ten days where I will be nicely sequestered on an island at a Franciscan Retreat Center talking about writing. After the retreat and residency I will have to find time (that may not exist) to write and read and revise and make sure that my novel actually does get written and revised and made ready for publication.

Finally, I have responsibilities to myself. I think this is the least defined as I want to spend time with Erin and CAMPER and I want to go to school and I need to (and to some extent want to) go to work. Along with all of that I need to start taking care of my body so that my IBS doesn’t get worse. The doctor think Yoga and meditation will help and Erin is currently looking for a Yoga class on a Saturday that I can start attend and that we can afford.

The outcome to all of this is not that I don’t realize what is needed or wanted or necessary, but that I haven’t found the magic combination of time and management and energy that will allow me to find the state of equilibrium that will also allow me to spend a few minutes (or more) updating the blog and making sure I expand my readership rather than have people who get here from Erin’s website or by spending some time searching for something like Assateague Island or Roommate Etiquette or the White Screen of Death on my Macbook.

John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West

Real Heroes Fly