Inspired by DIY MFA and The Portable MFA in Creative Writing, I decided to create my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months over the years spread out over multiple blog posts. I'd love to take an MFA in Copywriting and Social Media. If such a thing existed, do they exist? I've never heard of any. I've heard of Master's Degrees in Popular Culture, but that's not the same.
What's an MFA, and why this experiment? An MFA in Creative Writing focuses on the art and practice of writing for those interested in publishing their own original works or in pursuing a teaching career. The purpose of this experiment is to see if I want to change careers from copywriting into teaching on the high school or college level and if I want to go after an actual MFA. So come along for the ride, here we go, no seatbelts to fasten here, hang on!
January 2012
My last month as a copywriter for Windmill Hill Consulting. I have loved working with this incredible boutique marketing agency. I wish I had the courage to move to St. Louis by myself to continue working with them, but the Seacoast feels like home. Hence, sadly, I resume full-time freelance life.
April 2012
I moved! I lived in my cozy yet sunny little basement studio apartment for three years, without a bathtub, two miles from downtown Portsmouth, NH. Now I live in a 900 square foot one-bedroom apartment half a mile from Market Square in downtown Portsmouth, NH.
I saw Alice Hoffman speak at RiverRun Bookstore. Her novel DoveKeepers had just come out in paperback, And I signed up for all of the Seacoast Road Race Series. I was looking forward to earning jacket number two.
May 2012
I saw my friend, Tim Horvath, read from his recently published collection of Short Stories "Understories" at River Run Bookstore. A bunch of us went for drinks after, at the Coat of Arms British Pub, it was a great night, and it was nice to catch up with Hannah Larabee, Tim Horvath, W.B., and Tammi Truax.
June 2012
I saw Joan Didion speak at the Portsmouth Music Hall. Her most recent work, Blue Nights, was the reason for the tour. She was wonderful. She was on the main stage and was interviewed by Terry Gross. When asked what the difference between 'Year of Magical Thinking' and 'Blue Nights' was" Didion answered, "In the Year of Magical Thinking, the character experiences something, comes out of it, and survives it, whereas in Blue Nights, the character experiences something, comes out of it. You don't know if she will survive it. Her daughter's death had a profound effect on her, and her honesty and rawness could be felt by the audience in a way like nothing I'd ever felt before.
August 2012
I saw Joshua Cohen read from his collection of short stories entitled "4 NEW MESSAGES" at River Run Bookstore. And then I went out for drinks at the Coat of Arms British Pub afterward with Tim Horvath, Joshua Cohen, Kevin Blahut, and a few folks whom I didn't get to speak with or their names.
September 2012
I was invited to join the Board of the Seacoast Writers Association.
November 2012
Amanda Chatel, a brilliant writer, and friend who divides her time between New Hampshire, Paris, and New York, paid us a visit.
The Board of the Seacoast Writers' Association decided to dissolve.
I attended the World of Poetry Beat Night Gala at the Pressroom.
December 2012
I founded the Portsmouth Writers' Salon, which will hold its first meeting on January 13, 2013, at Portsmouth Book and Bar.
About this Blog
Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart.
This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months.
Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: tamarajcollins.com
To learn more about Portsmouth Writers' Salon, please visit http://portsmouthwriterssalon.blogspot.com/
