This week marked the halfway point of senior project. Although I’m happy with what I’ve created so far, I also feel that my progress has been slow. I didn’t anticipate how the more regularly I began to write, the more I’d feel my writing is lacking. This realization is a little discouraging, but at the same time I’ve grown more aware of what I need to work on. I think that my writing is improving slightly day by day, especially my pacing skills.

A significant portion of this week’s twenty five hours went towards consuming short stories, whether through reading or listening. I’ve read Selected Stories by Alice Munro and First Snow on Fuji by Yasunari Kawabata, both collections of short stories that have taught me a lot on how to write. By reading each story carefully and trying to understand how they captivate, I’ve reached an understanding that (at least for me) simple language is often the best at conveying beautiful ideas. I’m trying to take this approach to my own writing. Another helpful resource has been the New Yorker Fiction podcast, which consists of an author reading aloud one of their favorite short stories, then talking it through with an editor. These discussions have proved to be useful because they provide insight into the minds of writers as they examine others’ work.

I initially aimed for seven short stories, but this goal is becoming less and less attainable. I’ve since moved it to five completed stories, which feels more manageable. I’m learning that, in the process of writing, a lot of time is spent revising and rethinking ideas. In my original schedule, I didn’t account for this period and believed that I’d be able to sit and finish a story within a week. It’s been helpful to move between stories when I feel stuck, as I can take on a different mindset. There also might be a change of plans for my community service—there may be an opportunity to paint a mural along with other students in the lower school.

At the midpoint of my project, what concerns me the most is my speed. I need to begin to work on the art component, but it’s difficult to come up with ideas before finishing the first drafts. James has suggested that I make sketches alongside my first drafts, which I’ll begin to do starting this week. It’s also a challenge to pick a single image to represent each story; it has to be impactful because it will be placed next to the first page and guide the reader’s understanding of the piece. Overall, I have a long way to go. I’ll need put in extra hours in the coming weeks in order to keep up with my schedule. Hopefully by the end of this week I’ll have completed the drafts for one or two of the stories. Although this is an ambitious project, I don’t regret choosing it. It’s been a rewarding experience, but also a lesson on how difficult creative endeavors can be.