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When Do I Count?

Tiffany Renee Harmon

In this internet age, anyone can be anything. Are you a writer if you have a blog? Are you a photographer if you have an Instagram? Are you a visual artist if you have on online gallery of your paintings? When do you count as an artist and when are you just a hobbyist?

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These are some questions that I’ve been pondering a lot. I think they’ve arisen for two reasons: 1. I’ve been thinking a lot about my identity as a writer because of being in a writing MFA program. 2. I’ve found myself comparing myself to others recently. I keep wondering if I’m more of a writer than someone else because my workshop story is getting better reviews or because I’ve had a few things published or because a certain number of people read my blog posts.

Ultimately, I’ve come to a few conclusions, but it really boils down to: Why do I care? I think that the fact that these are the questions that have been bothering me are just shedding light on the fact that I’m still really insecure in a lot of ways. I don’t have a novel published, but even when I do, I know there are tons of other authors who have had multiple novels published or have had wider critical acclaim. There will always be someone who is considered better or more successful.

I think the key to succeeding for me is to find a place within myself where I can just focus on creating what I want to create. I don’t want to be jealous of other authors – I want to celebrate them and their work (because I love books and I love reading!) So, I don’t need to be so worried about labels. Do I count as a writer? Sure, probably, maybe. Really, the label doesn’t matter and I’m sure everyone has a different definition of success for writers. So, I’m just going to try to rid myself of these questions by focusing on my writing instead of worrying about the general perception of me as a writer.

Book Review

Reading Different Genres

Tiffany Renee Harmon

I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t read just one genre. Sometimes when I’m talking about books with people, they seem surprised that I like to read several different genres. I know that most people gravitate towards one or two, but I just find that I read different genres for different reasons. I’m curious if others feel the same way or if they just want the one genre that brings them the most comfort. But, for me, this is why I like to read what I read:

Mystery – If I had to pick just one genre, I’m sure I would pick mystery. I love dark, gritty mysteries as well as cozies. There’s just something about trying to follow clues and discovering who committed the crime that excites me. I gravitate towards mysteries pretty much all the time, but I typically just read the light cozies when I’m feeling overwhelmed with life.

Fantasy – For me, fantasy is the ultimate in escapism. I love exploring these different worlds and going on quests with the characters. I’ll admit that I really have to be in the mood for mystery, but when I am, I’m all in. I read fantasies when I just want to experience a different type of world and when I’m looking for escapism.

Horror – I do love horror. There’s something about the heart-racing dread that makes my adrenaline pump. In my own life, I’m a very safe person. I’m pretty much a homebody, but there’s something really intriguing to me about reading horror. It’s like it’s the safest way for me to experience danger without actually risking ever being in danger. I can have my adrenaline on the couch the way I like it instead of climbing a snowy mountain or something.

Historical – I like history, but I never liked history classes. They can just be so dry, but I do like learning about different historical periods. I’ve found that reading historical fiction helps me to stay focused when I’m learning about fiction. Sure, I sometimes have to do some fact-checking, but I’ve found that historical fiction is really quite delightful.

Literary – Character-driven fiction can often reveal interesting truths about the human condition. I do prefer literary fiction that has a strong domestic element – themes such as parenthood, family, friendship, etc. I also prefer books that explore the psychological element of humanity. I feel like I’ve learned a lot about how to be a person through reading literary fiction.

So, what are you favorite genres to read? Do you read many genres or do you have just one favorite? Feel free to continue the discussion in the comments section.

Personal

New School Quarter!

Tiffany Renee Harmon

This week, I am starting a new quarter of my MFA program at Lindenwood University. I’ve really enjoyed my experience at the school so far, and I’m excited to start another quarter. It’s hard to believe that after this quarter, I’ll be half finished with the program!

I definitely feel like I’ve already grown a lot as a writer, and I’ve had so many great ideas for large products emerge from my work in the MFA courses. Sometimes, I worry that I have too many ideas! I just need to sit down and write something. I have been writing every day and things are coming along slowly but surely. I have fully outlined four large projects and I’ve started writing two of them. My biggest pitfall when writing is that I want to stop and edit each sentence after I’ve written it, and that leads to me getting frustrated and going nowhere. I want to just write the full drafts this time and the edit afterwards, but what if I spend months writing crap?

I wonder if accomplished writers have these same anxieties and hurdles to overcome or if they just create formulas and patterns that work for them. I hope I find out someday.

Personal

New Year, New Opportunities!

Tiffany Renee Harmon

It is 2017! I think that this past year felt like it went by so much faster than previous years. It seemed like 2016 was the year of reflection for me. I spent so much time thinking about what I wanted to do and what I wanted to be. I want 2017 to be a year of action instead!

I’m hoping that 2017 can be my most productive year yet. I have a few goals that I want to share with you (so I can feel somewhat accountable):

  1. I am going to write every single day! To be a successful writer, there are no shortcuts. It takes persistence and practice.
  2. I am going to continue blogging 6 times a week (3 times here and 3 times on my lifestyle blog Cincy Couture).
  3. I am going to complete a novel manuscript and have it ready for an agent or a publisher by the end of the year. I feel like I spend so much time planning and outlining future projects – but this year, I want to actually complete something.
  4. I am going to read at least 200 books. I want to make sure that I’m reviewing and sharing great works with you, and to do that, I need to continue reading a lot. I’m going to try to also read a better variety of things in 2017, since I feel like I read predominantly cozy mysteries in 2016.

I know that these are pretty big goals, but I also think they are attainable with enough hard work. I’ll try to check in throughout the year to mark any progress I’m making on these goals.

So, what about you? What are your goals for 2017? Feel free to leave them in the comments section, even if they’re not related to reading or writing.

And to anyone who’s reading this, I hope you have a really wonderful 2017!

Book Review

Why do YOU Read?

Tiffany Renee Harmon

As a creative writing MFA student, I feel like I hear a lot of people tell me why they read. I’ve always been fascinated with this because I sometimes feel like an outsider when this question comes up. I love exploring the human condition and learning something new, but really the main reason that I read is pure escapism!

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Credit: Creative Commons 

Academic crowds don’t seem to value escapism very much, and I’ve been told several times that this is a very shallow reason. But it’s still my honest reason. I read so that I can have a break from my life. I have a great life, and I know I should appreciate it more, but I also have a lot of anxiety and occasional depression. Books help me leave this behind, at least temporarily. If that’s shallow, then I guess I should just embrace being shallow.

I bring this up because I’m curious if it will get a response – why do you read? Are you part of academic circles or commercial circles or both? Are there specific genres you always read or do you read a variety of things?

My life at the library is a lot different than my life in academia. I work in a public library, and I see all sorts of people – those who love literary fiction or academic subjects, those who only read for escapism, and those who really prefer not to read at all and would rather get DVDs. I think that all of these things are okay – I don’t like passing judgement regarding how people are entertained or spend their free time. But I’m still curious – why do you read?

Industry News

Where to Submit Your Writing?

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Becoming a successful writer is hard work (I assume, since I’m not yet a successful writer). Still, you will never get published if you don’t put yourself out there and submit your stories, essays, poems, etc. Once you’ve written something you’re proud of – what next? Where do you go? I have found one resource that helps me with these questions – Duotrope.

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Credit: Duotrope.com

Duotrope is a website that helps connects writers with publishers. It mostly deals with places to submit shorter works like individual poems, short stories, or essays, but there are a few publishers listed that take unsolicited larger works for consideration as well such as novels and poetry or short story collections.

There is a $50 annual fee to use Duotrope, but I think it’s worth it. If you’re not so sure, consider giving their free trial option a try and check it out for yourself. Duotrope allows you to search for the perfect home for your writing. You can put in your genre and the length of your work, and it will give you places that are looking for that. You can even limit it by how much you want for your product: no payment, token payment, semi-pro payment, or professional payment. They are constantly adding new publishers or contests for you to consider. This website has helped me cut down on my googling considerably by bringing the publishers to me.

I have wanted to be a writer since I was six, but I still feel like I’m still at the beginning of my journey as a writer. I’m taking baby steps and still trying to find my voice, but I’m going to get there! And you can too! I’m glad that I’ve found Duotrope to help me along the way, and I just wanted to share it with you in case it helps you too.

Book Review

A Picture’s Worth 1000 Words

Tiffany Renee Harmon

My day job is in a library, and I do try to keep up with lots of different types of books, including children’s books. I have recently rediscovered the joy of picture books while preparing for one of my outreach programs at a daycare center for developmentally disabled adults. If you have a child or someone in your life who loves picture books, here are five of the best ones I’ve read recently:

1. Otter Goes to School by Sam Garton

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2. Secret Agent Splat! by Rob Scotton

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3. Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea by Marcus Pfister

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4. Naughty Mabel Sees it All by Nathan Lane

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5. Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon

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These books all have amazing, eye-catching illustrations and fun stories. But best of all, they are great books to read aloud. Check them out from your local library!

 

Industry News

New University of Cincinnati Press

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Academic publishing is a really big part of the publishing industry, and I was excited to discover that my alma mater The University of Cincinnati has finally launched their own university press. The University of Cincinnati released an official press release!

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Credit: The University of Cincinnati

I’ve always been proud of going to UC and of my hometown of Cincinnati, but I was especially impressed by this new publishing platform’s goal to focus on “social justice and community engagement.” I think that this is an important step towards bridging the gap between academic writing and the rest of the world. I love when lines blur, and that will be exemplified here. Cincinnati has had a lot of social concerns in the past and the present. I think it is amazing that the University of Cincinnati continues to take an active role in creating and maintaining community connections and making a difference in the lives of all the diverse people in the greater Cincinnati area.

We don’t know much yet about the forthcoming publishing products of the University of Cincinnati Press, but I’m very excited to see what comes next. I do know, based on the press release, that they will be publishing in both physical and digital formats, which is wonderful since digital formats can often have a larger reach these days. Hopefully, good things will come of this!

Update

Benefits of the MFA

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Well, I’m back. I’ve been silent online for quite a while for a variety of reasons. First, until recently, I haven’t felt like myself. I’ve been a bit too sad to want to share much of myself with the rest of the world. But I feel like I’ve grown a lot during my online absence – I’ve learned I’m a lot more resilient than I thought, and that bodes well for me since the writing life is one filled with roadblocks and rejection.

Another reason for my lack of blogging is a happier one – I’ve been working on a Master’s of Fine Arts in writing from Lindenwood University. Whether or not MFA programs are beneficial to writers is a contentiously debated topic in the publishing world. For a long time, I didn’t know if it was the right path for me, but I definitely don’t regret it now that I’m involved.

One of the best aspects of the MFA program, in my experience, is the rigorous amount of writing that is expected. I literally HAVE to write even when I don’t feel like writing. And since my motivation was really low until recently, this has been a great thing for me. It’s teaching me discipline and reminding me that I don’t have to wait for inspiration in order to be creative.

Another beneficial aspect of the program is the fact that I’m getting constant feedback on my writing. My professors and peers have pointed out flaws in my writing that I couldn’t see when self-editing. It’s impossible to be objective when looking at your own writing, so it is invaluable to have an impartial set of eyes give you feedback. Sure, I haven’t agreed with all of the feedback because fiction is so subjective, but so much of it has been amazingly helpful. In the six months I’ve been in the program, I feel  like I’ve grown so much as a writer, and I hope to continue growing.

A lot of people criticize MFA programs because they believe it encourages formulaic writing. I can’t speak about other programs, but that absolutely hasn’t been the case during my program experience at Lindenwood. I’ve been encouraged to write whatever I want – in whatever genre I want. I’ve read very literary stories and stories from every genre from romance to YA to horror to absurdist science fiction to epic fantasy to mysteries. My classmates have strong, distinct voices and styles and this has been encouraged.

Other people criticize MFA programs because they are expensive ways to get feedback. This is true to an extent, but an MFA is also a terminal degree that enables one to  teach writing on a college level. So, the degree is not without its practical value for some. Still, for those who don’t desire to teach, an MFA program can still provide quality feedback. Sure, there are lots of free groups filled with amateurs and hobbyists that may even feature one or two professionals who may be willing to meet with you and give you feedback. I’ve been to some of these groups, and they are great for networking and moral support, but I didn’t find the feedback to be as intense or as insightful as I needed. With the MFA program, I’m growing exponentially faster than I think I would be in a casual writing group. So, I think the expense is worth it. This is an investment in myself, and I think it’s a risk that will pay off in the end.

Anyway, enough of my soapbox. There are lots of good arguments for and against MFA programs. I feel like this was the right decision for myself and I’m excited to share my experiences, but I’m sure there are lots of great writers who don’t need or want an MFA. Every writer’s journey is different, but I’m glad that this program is helping my goals feel a little bit closer.