Thursday, July 1st, 1999

We're almost through with week three. Can you believe it? On one level, it feels like we've been here forever. On another, it feels like we've just arrived. None of us knows what the date is. When I asked some folks at breakfast, they all looked at me blankly until someone said, "Well, it's our fourth class with Judith, so it must be Thursday!"

That must be why I keep mistyping the date entries in my journal the first time. Most of us have no idea what is going on in the outside world, or even if the outside world is still there. If any of you want to send cards or care packages to your loved ones at Clarion, now is the time. Remind us that there is a world outside of the workshop. Please.

I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who has written, and to apologize for being unable to write you back. I was touched and surprised by how many e-mails I have received from people I don't even know. It's been especially fun hearing from all you Clarion alumni out there. Your letters and e-mails are keeping me sane.

My Humor Story Gets Critiqued

My humor story got shredded. Half the people thought that it was funny but lame. The other half just thought it was lame. Damn.

Still, I'm glad that I took a risk and experimented with farce, which is something that I have never written before. The danger of a workshop like Clarion is that there is a temptation to write only to your strengths. I know that if I do more Asian mythology stories, the group will like them. But there is so much more out there that I have not tried, and where else will I get a chance to get feedback on my experiments like this?

Hmm