Hi there,

In keeping with tradition, here is the why these course requests for the fall term:

Novel writing is going well, and the thing has finally set itself up—structure and all. My course choices reflect the most pressing needs for writing this novel, and so:

Seminar=

Binnie Kirshenbaum’s seminar on “The word, the sentence, and the paragraph” is exactly what I need after last semester’s fruitful adventures with BK (in Comma Sutra). I am working with different chapter styles for this novel that spans the late 1800s to the present day,. Having Binnie’s mentorship on how to condense time (via a myriad of options), for instance, would be an immense help. (Likewise, her eye and ear for voices and details)

**That is the sole seminar on my ‘please’ list.

Lecture = Cohen’s lecture on story.

I’ve not yet taken a lecture, so I am due for one. Based on his talk last semester (or perhaps in late fall), I sense whatever he teaches will be immensely helpful.

Special Project =

I’ve also not taken a special project yet, but I have had a ‘thing’ building ever since I took Torres’ masterclass last semester. (Sample here: www.atelier.love/torres ). I’ll be adding in a memoir and visual poetics component to this, too.

I’ve no way to tell if my application will be successful—and Jamison’s NF seminar on archives is my backup option…which I know is also tricky since it’s a 2nd seminar and one outside of my concentration—but in the case that my Special Project application is a success, beside the workshop (with Furst on Thursdays) the rest of the courses (seminar + lecture + special project) would fill out a complete schedule.

I know, I know, that there are a lot of students to please, and I am tremendously thankful for all of the course assignments gifts sent my way so far. Please feel free to reach out with any questions (or concerns?): mb4993@columbia.edu

Kindly,

Mădălina