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Writing and Art

Well, I only managed two weeks of attending a fiction writing class before my back gave out, and I had to drop out while I see a chiropracter (and in November an orthopedist) to sort it out again. I'm not as disappointed as if I'd been one of the real students attending as a fully paid up member of the grad program, but I am pretty disappointed, nevertheless. But the fact is, I have been unable to sit for more than an hour at a time without being in some discomfort, so it would be impossible for me to sit on a plastic chair for the four hours that the fiction writing classes take. And I fully approve of the Columbia College Fiction Writing Department attendance policy, too, by which four absences means an automatic fail -- and again, I wasn't doing this to receive a grade, but I already missed two, and would have to miss at least two more because of out of town commitments, so if for no other reason it's only fair to the other students that I withdraw, and not be an annoying person who just drops in when he feels like it.



I am taking full part in the Klein Artist Works, though, an online art career seminar hosted by Chicago art wizard Paul Klein. It's more directly relevant to my main creative activity, of course. There are several physical meetings, too, one of which was held today at the Carrie Secrist Gallery in Chicago. I'm still not sure what the outcome of this 12 week course will be, but there shouldn't be any interference from my back to prevent me from finding out, and perhaps writing about it here.

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