My son got accepted to Michigan State! It was his first choice, and we are beyond excited. I will be moving this summer. Although I don't hate this area of Florida, there is nothing keeping me here. I have no job ties (beyond subbing which I can easily do up there), friends or family in this area.
I left Michigan in 1998, but most of my family and a lot of friends are there. I look forward to strengthening those bonds. We will live within 25 miles of MSU, so I will be about a 100 miles from my family. Sure beats 1000+. Besides, I think the area I grew up in has gone downhill, so I prefer to live further north.
Now we just have to see what scholarships he gets. From what I read, it looks like at the least he will qualify for $8000 per year. We realize freshman year will cost more with out-of-state tuition, but he will be in-state by sophomore year. I told him to take 12 credits to save some money. He has AP classes, so if he passes all those tests he is ahead on credits anyhow.
I still think his dad may be eligible for getting him some money from the GI bill, but he says no. However, I would bet money he never looked into it. If he qualifies, he would also be automatically considered in-state so I need to push this hard.
On a side note, I am participating in NaNoWriMo, but I didn't get too far yesterday. I did just over 400 words. I love my idea, but I am having trouble putting it into words.
Michigan State Bound!
November 2nd, 2016 at 05:25 pm
November 2nd, 2016 at 05:55 pm 1478109304
If you haven't done so already, I'd plot out a scene-by-scene synopsis ASAP. The only times I've completed NaNoWriMo were when I had that. When you're in the midst of it, trying to figure out what happens in the next scene is too stressful. Plus it forces you to make your ideas concrete; that was always my problem which is why I could never put them into words.
The first year I won, I didn't do my outline until the second day. It was still enough time to catch up and finish the novel a day early (Nov 29)!
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I also like to write and have been published, but in non-fiction, academic journals and such. If I am having trouble getting my idea out, I get out a piece of paper and pencil and just start writing anything that comes into my head. I don't worry too much about punctuation or grammar. I am just getting the ideas out. Like I said, I don't stop writing until the ideas stop.
Another strategy I have is to get out a large piece of paper, like poster board or drawing paper, and a pencil. The quality of paper does not matter, so you could be earth friendly and use a grocery bag. LOL I make a mind map of the idea I am writing about and show how all the various parts relate to one another. It hslps me a lot to organize it all visually so that I can write about it more easily.
November 12th, 2016 at 05:48 am 1478929715