Publishing « Robin Writes

A very strange combination of things has brought me to my current state of mind: Pixar’s Monsters University and the fact that I’m taking the GRE in less than a week.

I couldn’t tell you want GRE stands for, but I will tell you that this test is going to decide my future. For those of you who don’t know, taking the GRE decides if you’ll be going to grad school, or at least your grad school of choice. Now I know I can always take it again if I totally fail, but preparing for this test has given me the time to think about my future (when I should be studying, of course).

How does Pixar’s latest film tie into this all? The film follows Mike who wanted to be a Scarer his entire life. He looked forward to going to college just so he could study his dream job and be successful in his field. But after a series of events, he ends up having to leave the university and ultimately leave his dream behind. But over time, he becomes a Scarer without that college education and loves what he does.

Personally, I think the film promotes the idea that you don’t need a college education to succeed in life. Mike was so determined to succeed, and he did, but not in the way he originally planned. The film got me thinking about my own future and going to grad school.

For the past year, grad school has been my dream after college. I’ll finish my undergrad at SEMO and then move on to get my Master in Fine Arts at NYU. My thesis would be about fan fiction and I would have the ideal life of any writer living in the quarters of Greenwich Village.

But like Mike, I know that I can still succeed in the writing and publishing world without a grad school education. But when I was asked the other day why I wanted to get my MFA, my response was simple: I want to become a better writer. I wanted to go to grad school to give myself even more time to perfect my art. I feel that four creative writing courses during my undergrad weren’t enough to get on the level where I want to be. I want two years of schooling dedicate to my writing so I can become a master. I don’t care about the title of having an MFA or being able to brag about going to grad school. I simply care about the process of becoming a better writer.

Like Mike, I have this perfect dream in mind of who I want to be in ten years from now. But even if my dreams don’t go as planned and I end up not going to grad school, I know I can still get to where I want to be; just the path there will be a little different. So thank you Pixar for putting my own life into perspective.

Now, I believe I have some studying to get to.

No, not the movie – the occasion! And, yes, it’s a perfect day to reflect on our country and where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re going. And yes, of course I’m going to mention my books, ‘cause it’s MY blog!

To begin our brief history lesson: our country was founded on the principles of freedom and representation. I contend that while we still have some of the former, we experience very little of the latter.

We originally left England – nice euphemism for the Revolutionary War, yes? – because our rights had been cut, taxed, and we had no representation in Parliament. So we changed things, and grew, and improved.

Then something happened.

Our rights, our freedom, began to be severely curtailed by laws, ordinances, and regulations. Now, every civilization needs rules, points of order, and even the ubiquitously named “rules of law.” Ha. But soon everything was being taxed, regulated, and ruled upon.

For example – and this could get very long indeed, but it won’t: when we had our cleaning business, we were supposed to charge customers a “use tax.” What did this cover? The cost of cleaning supplies that were washed down the drains. True story. Let’s say we used, oh, a quarter cup of toilet bowl cleaner. First, we had to figure out the cost of the bottle, how many quarter cups were in that bottle, divide out the cost of the quarter cup, and then list it as an itemized tax on the customer’s bill.

What moron came up with that?

Whenever anyone has any kind of grievance, a new law is laid down. Don’t even get me started on the so-called “public safety” laws. And representation? Many, or most, of our representatives have law school educations. Not going to pick on lawyers (Bill, don’t read this part!), but there’s a local ad here on TV, late night of course, where this attorney is telling people that, if they are in an accident, call her – because YOU HAVE RIGHTS! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET COMPENSATION FROM THE ACCIDENT!

No wonder we’re in so much trouble. Sheesh. It makes me cringe just to write about that commercial.

No, folks, you have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Well, unless you’re a baby in the womb. Sorry, had to throw that in. Liberty? I’ll let Webster be the arbiter here:

1: the quality or state of being free:

a : the power to do as one pleases

b : freedom from physical restraint

c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic control

d : the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges

e : the power of choice

And before anyone makes reference to the baby comment and the last part of Webster’s definition, let me remind you that a baby should have a choice too. End of soapbox.

So, do we have liberty? Within reasonable boundaries? This is a tough one, and hard to argue. We can mostly do as we please: we can sleep late, eat whatever we want (unless you live in NYC, sorry), work or not, go anywhere we want, etc., etc. Most of us aren’t physically restrained, unless we’re in prison and then, well, there’s that whole choice thing. You chose to break the law.

“Arbitrary or despotic control.” There’s a zinger! Let the comments begin!

“Positive enjoyment… ” Frankly, I think Webster’s lost his marbles – as opposed to what, negative enjoyment? But it continues with “social, political, or economic rights and privileges.” Yes to this – these should be available to all.

The pursuit of happiness – again, not to be confused with yet another Will Smith movie – is exactly that. The PURSUIT OF. Doesn’t mean you’re entitled to be happy. I hope you are, but there are no guarantees. Are we still allowed to pursue happiness? Well, yes, as long as we follow the laws, and we already covered the fact that are just plain ridiculous.

Think what America could accomplish if 1) our lawmakers actually knew what was on the books, and 2) they got rid of some of the BS. Wow!

This is getting quite long, but one more thing: where are we going in this great country of ours? I’ll leave you to answer that question, but I’ll tell you that my books are inspired by what I’ve seen, what I’ve researched, and what I know. And yes, it’s fiction. Or is it prediction?