Good day today writing (although it was class-related rather than novel-related). Knocked out 2320 words for a short story entitled You Never Know. It's a loose reinterpretation of an incident that happened to me when I was a substitute teacher between leaving college and joining the Army. Yes, they had schools back then, we just had to clean up the dinosaur droppings in the parking lot.

I think it turned out pretty well, but we'll see when I get my grade cards later this month. I'd post it, but I'm not certain if I should post something that long on LJ or if there is a better way to do it. Maybe, if there's any interest at all, I could e-mail it to those who'd like to see it and the rest of you wouldn't have to suffer with it.

Still, knocking out 2300+ words tonight feels pretty darn good, even if it is for school.

Also, I heard back from the University of Maryland today. They don't offer a PhD program in Creative Writing, just an MFA (although they do have PhD programs in English). The point of contact said I could either talk to her on the phone about the program or make an appointment to go down to College Park and visit with her. I think I may take advantage and do both, (initial meeting on the phone and then follow up with a visit).

I know, even if she thinks I have a chance, it's too late to get accepted into the program this fall. Maybe I'll be able to start spring 07, we'll just have to see. Yeah, I know, it'll probably cut even further into my available writing time to be doing graduate work, but it certainly would be a good move career-wise with my day job. And, since they're helping pay for college, I might as well take advantage of it.

Still a bit nervous though. It's one thing to "excel" at a JuCo, it's quite another to excel in Grad School at a major university. Just hoping the time here at Howard Community College has knocked some of the rust off.