Large and Crazy Things at Work

[grubbytap]

I've gotten into Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, AKA Ani's Wee Artsy Top Choice School. So, remaining obstacles:

1. Parents.

2. Money.

3. Doubts. As in, Really Importante Doubts. I mean. Yes, I want to be a writer now. But I don't want to be disowned by my parents, and moreover I don't want to be a Starving Artist all my life. I'd quite like to be successful, actually. And I know I could be anything I want from here--I'm good enough at math and smart enough in general to be, say, a chemist, or a lawyer, or an engineer. My grades right now are great. But I don't want to be any of those things, and I don't wanna wait till I'm in my forties to get published. I want to learn how to do it well, and then do it well as soon as possible. If I go to Pratt, they will teach me how to become a writer. But if procrastination and laziness defeat me, well, I'm done for. And that, Hamlet, is the question.

But come on. It's Brooklyn. And if I go, I can call it Prat's Institute for fun. Teeheehee.

....

Heehee.

Also, tomorrow is my 18th birthday.

Yes. I am coming of age.

Comments

[dru-plus-spike.livejournal.com]

I think I care about this so much because I don't want to see you make the same mistakes as me.
It's true, college is expensive and it sucks having student loans, but they are your friend--once you consolidate them, the rates are fixed and the payment terms are reasonable. This is definitely something worth spending on. Also, there are loads of scholarships and grants out there. It's a pain in the ass getting them, but I recomend applying for loads of small scholarships or grants. There's less competition plus more of a chance of winning.
When you're in school, definitely get an internship. I was too depressed/busy working to intern but they're an excellent way to make contacts. Also, try to get a book-related job. One of my best friends, glorifficus worked at Barnes and Noble through college. He found out that the store would be hosting Marjane Satrapi for a reading of her latest graphic novel, Chicken and Plums, and asked permission to interview her. He managed to interview her and his writing just kind of spiraled from there--he interviewed Allison Bechdel who wrote the graphic novel Fun Home and Clifford Chase, the guy who wrote Winkie. They got published on Bookslut and now he has a column there.
You're a good writer and I think you could really grow here. Just remember, you have to do what's right for you. You have to live with your own decisions.

[grubby-tap.livejournal.com]

It's taken me a while to respond to this because I'm still in a total muddle.

The thing with art--and most professions--is it seems that you really need to study them professionally and full-time in order to break into the industry. You need teaching and equipment and lots of time. But I think writing is different in that most writers nowadays have to start out writing in their spare time, between day jobs. Back in the Renaissance and stuff you'd have patrons, but now you need an agent and stuff like that, I hear.

So if I must have a day job that isn't writing, then maybe my parents are right and I should study physics and math and stuff in college so I'll have a good salary while I'm at it.

But then I'll have no way of improving my writing or even knowing if it's improved, and maybe I'll never finish, let alone publish, a book.

Your friend sounds very lucky, though. It's just hard to depend on luck. Sighhhh. Well. I don't have to decide till May, and I can always transfer, I suppose. Thanks for such a thoughtful response, and I did take your advice--I've applied to 3 separate scholarships since I wrote this entry. (I had to submit a poem for one and a sci-fi/horror story for another. Very nearly right up my alley, I guess :P )