Comments for Prose & ISOs http://blog.karenjoslin.net Karen Joslin's blog about photography, writing, and occasionally life... itself! Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:48:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by Cliff Garstang http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Cliff Garstang Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:48:33 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-32 Sue makes some good points and I can see how it might be difficult for a first-timer to meet people. (The first time I went I had a roommate, but I think all rooms are singles now.) I hope Sue made some of these points in evaluations, because I could imagine it not being terribly difficult to arrange some kind of dorm get together -- maybe an open mike reading, or something of that nature -- so that the people in that dorm can say hello. (The "official" open mikes happen later, usually.) It might be too hard for a participant to organize, but with the help of staff I think it could happen. (And I KNOW, having made some suggestions myself in the past, that they'll appreciate thoughtful ideas like this.) Sue makes some good points and I can see how it might be difficult for a first-timer to meet people. (The first time I went I had a roommate, but I think all rooms are singles now.) I hope Sue made some of these points in evaluations, because I could imagine it not being terribly difficult to arrange some kind of dorm get together — maybe an open mike reading, or something of that nature — so that the people in that dorm can say hello. (The “official” open mikes happen later, usually.) It might be too hard for a participant to organize, but with the help of staff I think it could happen. (And I KNOW, having made some suggestions myself in the past, that they’ll appreciate thoughtful ideas like this.)

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by karenjoslin http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-31 karenjoslin Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:01:04 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-31 Thanks for telling about your experience at Sewanee, Sue. For people who may feel similarly as you, is there any way for participants to organize their own informal gatherings if they want to? (Like a bulletin board in a central location where you could post a flyer for anyone in your housing unit to meet their "neighbors" in a dorm lounge, particular room, etc.?) Thanks for telling about your experience at Sewanee, Sue. For people who may feel similarly as you, is there any way for participants to organize their own informal gatherings if they want to? (Like a bulletin board in a central location where you could post a flyer for anyone in your housing unit to meet their “neighbors” in a dorm lounge, particular room, etc.?)

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by Sue http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Sue Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:18:40 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-30 I went last year and have a few comments. It wasn't what I expected at all. I thought I'd have a roommate and other participants would be nearby and we'd all get to know each other, but I was really lonely the whole time. I met others who felt the same and were exhausted by "the same six questions" from everybody they met (where are you from, what do you write, etc.). I had no roommate/suitemate and others were about as nearby as they'd have been in a highrise apartment house. Also, my first workshop didn't take place until the 3rd day after I arrived and that was a LONG time to not officially "know" anybody. I'm not a teetotaller by any stretch but it seemed to me that the biggest drinkers were having the best time. There were things I liked about it, but if I had to do it again I would definitely BRING A FRIEND. It would have made all the difference in the world to not have to walk into every meal, every reading, alone. And my advice to Sewanee would be to organize some activities to bring people together--something other than cocktail parties. After reading this you may discount me as a terribly shy person, but that's not especially the case. I would agree that I'm an introvert, but so are MANY writers. I think a lot of us were lost in that crowd. Oh, also I would say YES, bring your laptop, or at least go over to the library and google the names of the people you're meeting. Practically nobody brought up any of their career info in conversation (probably b/c you had no way of knowing the resume of the person you were talking to). When I got home and googled them I was surprised. Some were very accomplished, some not even published at all. But it would have been good to know while I was there, and would have certainly given me more conversation-starters. Finally if there is only one person on the faculty that you REALLY REALLY want to have your one-on-one with, I'd go ahead and put that person's name down 3 times.What can it hurt--either you'll get him/her or you won't, and at least you've stated your desire as emphatically as possible. I went last year and have a few comments. It wasn’t what I expected at all. I thought I’d have a roommate and other participants would be nearby and we’d all get to know each other, but I was really lonely the whole time. I met others who felt the same and were exhausted by “the same six questions” from everybody they met (where are you from, what do you write, etc.). I had no roommate/suitemate and others were about as nearby as they’d have been in a highrise apartment house.
Also, my first workshop didn’t take place until the 3rd day after I arrived and that was a LONG time to not officially “know” anybody. I’m not a teetotaller by any stretch but it seemed to me that the biggest drinkers were having the best time.

There were things I liked about it, but if I had to do it again I would definitely BRING A FRIEND. It would have made all the difference in the world to not have to walk into every meal, every reading, alone.
And my advice to Sewanee would be to organize some activities to bring people together–something other than cocktail parties. After reading this you may discount me as a terribly shy person, but that’s not especially the case. I would agree that I’m an introvert, but so are MANY writers. I think a lot of us were lost in that crowd.

Oh, also I would say YES, bring your laptop, or at least go over to the library and google the names of the people you’re meeting. Practically nobody brought up any of their career info in conversation (probably b/c you had no way of knowing the resume of the person you were talking to). When I got home and googled them I was surprised. Some were very accomplished, some not even published at all. But it would have been good to know while I was there, and would have certainly given me more conversation-starters.

Finally if there is only one person on the faculty that you REALLY REALLY want to have your one-on-one with, I’d go ahead and put that person’s name down 3 times.What can it hurt–either you’ll get him/her or you won’t, and at least you’ve stated your desire as emphatically as possible.

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by karenjoslin http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-19 karenjoslin Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:29:05 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-19 Excellent. Go for it, Brad! Excellent. Go for it, Brad!

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by brad fairchild http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-17 brad fairchild Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:19:25 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-17 Karen--- thanks for this great interview! I really loved it and feel inspired to apply to a conference somewhere. brad Karen— thanks for this great interview! I really loved it and feel inspired to apply to a conference somewhere.

brad

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by karenjoslin http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-16 karenjoslin Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:57:15 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-16 You're welcome, Clifford. And thanks! You’re welcome, Clifford. And thanks!

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by Clifford Garstang http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Clifford Garstang Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:35:03 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-14 I've been 3 times, and this is a good summary of the place. (My first time I worked with Dick Bausch, and Jill McCorkle was the "junior" faculty member of the team.) Nice interview. Thanks for letting me know about it. I’ve been 3 times, and this is a good summary of the place. (My first time I worked with Dick Bausch, and Jill McCorkle was the “junior” faculty member of the team.) Nice interview. Thanks for letting me know about it.

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by karenjoslin http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-13 karenjoslin Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:06:41 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-13 I'm glad you liked it, and I hope it will be helpful for you if you ever apply to Sewanee. I’m glad you liked it, and I hope it will be helpful for you if you ever apply to Sewanee.

]]> Comment on Kymberly Keaton on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference by Miss Daisy Mae http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/08/19/kymberly-keaton-on-the-sewanee-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Miss Daisy Mae Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:19:40 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=115#comment-12 Thanks, I really enjoyed reading your interview. It explained what really goes on. Thanks, I really enjoyed reading your interview.
It explained what really goes on.

]]> Comment on Creating a Custom Border for PhotoShelter Sites by flash-player http://blog.karenjoslin.net/2009/07/02/creating-a-custom-border-for-photoshelter-sites/comment-page-1/#comment-9 flash-player Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:01:04 +0000 http://karenjoslin.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-9 Nice! Nice!

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