So, I’m giving the 90 day novel formula a looksee. Given the positive reviews and the quality of the writing of the text, this looks like a valid structure that I can incorporate into my teaching. I’ve tried quite a few ideas about how to produce a novel on a schedule, and most of them crashed soundlessly on the ears of my students. Worse still, when presented with a living breathing success story, several of those same students managed to tune the fellow out completely, despite the fact that everything he said was a pure gold.
They didn’t see it that way.
I’m fortunate in my life to be in the company of brilliant educators. I spent some time talking with Myrlin Hepworth, and he helped me understand where they are coming from. See, they haven’t faced the trials and tribulations of the publishing world, so they still have the fortune of believing they’re the shit. They can sit back and observe a success story and say, “If he can do it, It is going to be cake for me.”
But it is everything but cake.
I can’t hold their hand and slam their face in the dirt at the same time. I’ve tried telling them about the real writing world, but it isn’t the same as being the proud recipient of a dozen flush letters reminding you that damn near everyone thinks you are telling a story that isn’t worth telling. On the other hand, I can’t let them feel invincible to the point where they blow off a NYT best seller like he’s the guy emptying the trash.
It isn’t everyone in the class who is like this. On the other hand, it is enough of the people that the vibe dictates the environment. It is for that very reason I’ve started bringing in even more guest speakers–former students–to remind the class of why they are there. Maybe I ought to do that for the 4-5 soccer team.
We were blasted this past week. The final score was anywhere between 12-20 to our measly 1 goal. It isn’t the score so much as the fact that hardly anyone on the team showed an interest in playing the game. It is always like this. When I signed up to coach 4-5, I thought I was signing up to teach kids the basics of sports and competition. I did not realize that competition was off the table. This is not the case with all teams. It is a matter of the makeup of the team and the parents as to what you are going to get–and want to get–out of a season. I wish I’d realized that from the get go. I would’ve structured the practices differently, really spending my time focusing on different facets of the players as opposed to working to get them to play together and to kick the ball into the net. It is the same as with the CRW class: Had I been more aware of who and what I was dealing with, I would have gone a different direction.
I guess the message here is, know what you’re dealing with before you get too far down a path to change course.