I'm finally recovering from my residency hangover and it's just now hitting me how much I miss my MFA family. Twice a year we get to reunite and indulge in this thing we all do; we write. We're all writers and it doesn't matter if we write non-fiction or fiction (some people, like me, write YA fiction!) because we have this one thing in common.
Looking back on the winter residency, there was a palpable difference this time around. I was no longer a "newbie" and was greeted by smiles, hugs, and book suggestions. I reunited with my ink sister and met some amazing new people and it was great! I guess it still astounds and surprises me that I get to be around so many talented people. Between the faculty and students there is just so much talent, imagination, and creativity swirling around in that fresh mountain air and I definitely got bit once or twice by the Mountain Muse. I've come back refreshed and ready to tackle the beginning of my book AGAIN. And I'm hoping this time it will finally feel right. I get to work with Jo Knowles as a mentor this semester and I know with her help that my manuscript is headed in the right direction. Returning home is somewhat strange. Nothing's changed here but I feel like a different person. And I guess that's a good thing. I don't think the me that started this book five years ago would be able to tackle the things that need tinkering this semester.
I can't say I won't miss waking up to blue skies, mountains, and this beautiful hotel every morning, but I'm glad to be home. While away, I wrote a few haikus, a few pieces of flash fiction, created a new poem to set up the start of my book, and finally figured out one of the main fantasy elements that's important in all five books. And now I can put it all in place.
I couldn't be any happier with the progress I've already made. But I also couldn't be more disappointed to leave my SNHU family behind. We'll keep in touch and count down the months until we can reunite once again because we all crave the understanding and love that we find within the bubble at the Mountain View Grand Resort. I know it's what keeps us writing until that day comes again. So until then, that's what I'm going to do. I'm just going to keep writing!
xoxo
K.K.