In Short, Don’t Be Afraid
Posted by David Duhr in 
“And in short, I was afraid” goes Line 86 of T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” What Prufrock is skeered of here is capital-D Death, “the eternal Footman,” who is holding the timid gentleman’s coat while LOLing. I’m with you, J.A.P.: if I felt a tug on my windbreaker and saw that the trickster was the smirking Grim Reaper hisself, I’d be plenty afraid too.
Having our work critiqued in a workshop setting fills most (if not all) of us with a kind of uncomfortable, creeping dread, or even outright terror. But when compared to the horror of having Death nipping at your heels, how much harm can truly come from a little constructive criticism of your writing?
“In short” Prufrock was afraid of Death (and a whole mess o’ other things), but in In Short, our three-hour fiction boot camp at the hella cool O. Henry House in downtown Austin, I think he would’ve done just fine. And I think you will, too.
Registration is now open for our six 2014 In Short workshops (all Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: February 8, April 12, June 14, August 9, October 18, December 13).
At another post we’re collecting your 2014 writing/reading resolutions. If one of yours is to take the plunge and have your work critiqued in a workshop setting this year, here’s your chance. These seats fill quickly, so giddyup–especially if you want to join the Feb. 8th session. After that you’ll have all the time in the world to put on your white flannel trousers and walk upon the beach.
Registration update: only a few seats left for the February In Short. Snag your seat today!