Reflections

1. What are your plans as a writer (how do you expect to use writing in your future)?
-I'm not really sure what else I will do. I never considered myself a writer, but I did enjoy the writing I did in this class. I might still want to revise my 3rd essay and I do have an idea for another essay that I'd like to write if I ever have time to do something like that.

2. Describe any changes in your writing style
-This is the first non-fiction that I have written, and therefore, it's hard for me to say how/if i changed my writing style.

3. Describe any changes in your writing process
-The only change I've made is that with these essays I had to go back and look over my work again to refine it. I usually just write, revise while typing, and don't look at it again.

4. Describe any changes in your attitude toward/interest in/understanding of writing in general, and CNF in particular.
-I didn't know much of anything about CNF before. I enjoy writing it, and I'd like to do some more. This class gave me a renewed interest in writing.

5. What have you learned about yourself as a writer?
-I am more of a writer than I ever considered myself to be.

6. What features of your writing do you feel are most important for you to work on?
-I think I need to spend more time going back to my writing and reflecting and reworking things. I have a tendency to write something and then just leave it as it, editing and revising as I type it up. That's probably the most important at this point. Then I would probably work on my writing syle to make it more creative.

Publication Venue info

Essay: Say Cheese and Fake It

Publication: Prick of the Spindle (www.prickofthespindle.com)

Subject Matter: Variety of topics. Doesn’t seem to have any particular preferences or associations.

Voice: Reflective, personal narrative

Form and Artistry: segmented, narration, some literary elements, illustration, some include dialogue, combination of story and reflection

Length: no length requirement. Variation in lengths of published essays. In a sampling of the creative nonfiction essays published, I found between 400-3500 word essays, with the majority falling in the 1000-2000 word range.

Audience: Anyone interested in reading both new and more well established authors. This is a very general journal with works that can appeal to a broad audience.

Purpose: “It is the goal of the journal both to recognize new talent and to include those who have one or more feet planted in the writing community; we are simply looking for well-written, interesting pieces which embrace the fabric of diverse voices who have something to say, say it well, and say it originally.”

To Submit: Email pseditor@prickofthespindle.com. Email should indicate the category of work being sent in the subject line of the email, followed by your last name (creative non-fiction submission: Mitchell). Entries should be included as text in the body of the email (no attachments unless advance permission is granted), along with a brief bio. Text must be no smaller than 12 point, and submissions should be formatted to read title first, name, then body. Electronic submissions are encouraged, but postal correspondences can be sent (with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or email address for reply on submissions) to:

Prick of the Spindle

P.O. Box 4087

Fort Polk, LA 71459-1087

Reading Dates: submissions are accepted year-round. Editors are currently reading nonfiction, drama and reviews for Vol. 2.4 (December 23, 2008 issue) and poetry, short stories, novellas and flash fiction for Vol. 3.1

Pay: none

Other Info: Simultaneous submissions are acceptable as long as you notify Prick of the Spindle immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. You can submit up to five pieces per category (Prick of the Spindle also accepts: poetry, fiction, drama, interviews and reporter-ly articles. They do not publish children’s or young adult fiction, and generally stay away from genre fiction although they might if it is especially well written with a particularly contemporary flavor). Upon acceptance, Prick of the Spindle acquires first (electronic) serial publication rights, after which the copyright reverts to the author. When you submit, you do so with the understanding that your work will be archived on the site. If you have been published within our virtual pages, we ask that you wait a year before submitting again. However, if you submit and your work is rejected, you may continue submitting once per (quarterly) reading period.

Publication Venue

I think I'm going to use Prick of the Spindle for my presentation, just so you guys know... Let me know if any of you (Jenna, Edgar, Matt, Jennifer, Dan) were going to use that one.

Thanks