There is something wonderful about pulling out an old manuscript to edit/rewrite. It reminds me of who I was at the time of creating the story and, simultaneously, lets me see how far I have come or, conversely, how far I have slipped. Further, the whole process has been enhanced by the fact that I have just finished an MLA in Creative Writing at the Harvard Extension School.
The MLA is a degree I’ve always wanted but allowed years to pass while business and children took priority. Regardless, during quiet early morning hours I finished three novels and one work of creative nonfiction/memoir. The memoir (Small Moments: A Child’s Memories of the Civil Rights Movement) was published and won several awards including the Midwest Book Award. The novels sat on the shelves of my office closet. Somehow, I simply did not have the courage to send them out as I didn’t feel I knew enough about writing. Now, with this degree, I do. Now, at age seventy (and I may have been the oldest woman to graduate) I have the credential and the confidence to edit, rewrite and submit.
Harvard Extension School offers a low residency program for a Master of Literary Arts/Creative Writing. It is worth the effort.