Leslie What gave her first evening class last night on Writing the Supernatural Story. She told us all about the importance of atmosphere and setting, and how a supernatural story should surpass the reader's expectations. She read a short story from Allison Lurie's collection, Women and Ghosts, then gave us an exercise sheet where we had to think up a protagonist, the protag's neighbor/sidekick, a life problem, and supernatural scenario. We then had to describe the setting, write the meet cute scene between the protag and sidekick, write the scene where danger is heightened, and brainstorm five possible titles. I resurrected Oleander Maran, a character I've had in my head for over five years now, and dropped in her best friend Mary, and her recently deceased husband Richard, who doesn't seem to want to leave. I got a great story idea for the three of them, tentatively called "China Life." It won't be the next story I turn in, but probably the one after that. (I just realized that I say this a lot.)

After the class, Liz went up and down the halls asking who wanted to go to The Blue Note for a little while, and since I had the urge to get out of the dorm, I went. I took the laptop and got about 1000 words written on my new story, "One". I thought it was going to be more surreal like Ray Vukcevich, but it has turned into a bizarre identity-theft story in the style of Jonathan Carroll. Though the ending is still a little surreal, so I guess I'm using both styles. Hopefully, I'll get it done tonight so I can talk about it with Leslie in our conference Thursday afternoon.

I was happy to see an email from my friend Coryanna in my inbox yesterday afternoon. I met her in North Carolina last year at a party and instantly fell head over heels for her. She inspired my poem "Going Home," of which an excerpt is available on my website. But for whatever reason, it just didn't work out. She moved back to Michigan before Christmas, I assume because she missed her family in Ann Arbor, though she never really told me the reason. We still write back and forth to each other occasionally, and are still friends. She told me to look her up when I got to Michigan for the workshop, and hopefully we'll be getting together soon. It'll be good to see her again.

I just got back from doing laundry and reading all the stories for tomorrow. Some of them I'll have to read again and critique, since I couldn't get a real good impression the first time. Leslie is doing another session at 8:00 tonight, a general Q&A on the markets and submission processes and other stuff. After the class, more critiquing and writing in my room. I have the feeling tonight will be a late night. Suffering for my art and all that.