Getting an editor position at USC Scribe/Resources for Serious Aspiring Writers?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>EDITED NOTE: I prattle on by myself for a very long white. It's a kind of writer-style navel-gazing. Feel free to scroll down to the very bottom of this impromptu novel for my actual questions. Thank you for your patience and your help, honestly.</p>

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<p>I'm a transfer student accepted for next year (current community college freshman- long story, life story), but will be at USC for four years because my parents have offered to bankroll me for that long; (my businessperson dad wants me to stay as long as possible to "make connections", and I'm not about to turn down extra free classes and tuition). I plan on double majoring in Economics and English (with a deep love and reverence for both subjects, especially English) and need the four years for that anyways...</p>

<p>Anyways, I have recently begun working on a novel and have a lot done. I want it to be finished by the time I am done with undergrad, as a kind of crowning personal achievement for my undergrad education, with the want to eventually be published and an actual belief that I can do it (I fancy myself a pretty alright writer, and have created some compelling characters and a narrative structure that I know has not been done before: I'm studying appearance/reality, the nature of fantasy/reality/imagination, producing it as an argument against the philosophy of nihilism, mapping out how I think the human mind and creative process might work within the actual narrative structure, showing the inextricability of the individual psyche from the culture and history it has developed in, and meditating on the corruptibility of the new media and cult of materialism, as well as what I view as a slowly the corrupting American dream). My influences are Joyce, Lawrence, Fitzgerald, Morrison, Camus, Beckett, the life and style of Bret Easton Ellis (though I actually want to explore WHY our culture is messed up- not just narrate that obvious "Duh"). I also love the social sciences, reading about feminism, psychoanalysis, and practically applicable life philosophies especially absurdism, and lots of other people whom serve as my inspirations (Muhammed Yunus- founder of microfinance, look him up). I could go on, but I'll stop... It's going to be a long book: seven interconnected stories. I'm done with story 1, and am currently working on story 2, although I have the full book plot and character sketches and many pivotal points' roughly sketched already. Its basically all I work on this summer besides a marketing internship at a medical device company, another marketing consulting gig, and a bit of traveling. Its also what I plan to dedicate most of my free time in college to. I have friends but they don't really do much besides partying or otherwise floating on with no direction or map or destination in mind, so I just work on this instead. I just don't want to do things that don't serve a larger purpose, most of the time (though I will admit that I have also relaxed a lot).</p>

<p>Sorry, I'm prone to being grandiose/excited and verbose.</p>

<p>Anyways, I wanted to meet people who have creative passions and talents and may also be interested in the arts. I especially wanted to meet anyone who loves writing. As such, I was wondering about how one becomes an editor for Scribe (USC's Lit Mag). I could not find instructions on their website. I'm not really interested in being on the newspaper as I do not plan to be a career writer. I actually plan to go to business school eventually with a focus on marketing 3-5 years after undergrad; and to eventually publish this novel while I see firsthand the media/marketing/business/upper-class machine from the inside, for some time while writing on the side. Then I plan to quit after a suitable amount of money, data, and inspiration has been collected (in ascending importance with inspiration/experience being chief), so that I can retire and write full-time about what I see, hopefully by 35 or 40. Are there any clubs or groups or writing workshops for kids who want to work together and edit each other's works? I am aware that there is a fiction writing class, but I have mapped out my classes for the next four years already, and want to take fiction writing my last three semesters at USC (intro/intermediate/advanced). I believe this is the best way to go because the more literature I read before I start seriously editing my book with professor help, the more of a reference/knowledge well I can draw out of while composing. Literature itself is one long, self-referential conversation: there's really only one story. And that's why I want to read all of them before I "spend" my fiction writing units in a sense.</p>

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<p>Summary:
What can I do to be an editor on Scribe?
What can I do to meet other aspiring and serious fiction writers?</p>

<p>Is there anything I can do to find a mentor in one of USC's fine Literature or Creative Writing professors?</p>

<p>How hard is it to take 20 units a semester? I know USC allows students with high GPAs after their first semester to do so, and although I will need to get above a 3.75GPA to qualify my first semester there, I do not doubt that my GPA will be that high by my second USC semester.</p>

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<p>Becoming an editor: [Scribe</a> is Hiring!](<a href=“http://scribe.usc.edu/scribe-is-hiring/]Scribe”>Scribe is Hiring!)</p>

<p>Taking 20 units depends on the actual classes, class time and workload varies too greatly to make an assumption. The list of requirements is more than just obtaining a 3.75, read all of them here first: [USC</a> Academic Achievement Award | Undergraduate Education](<a href=“http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award.html]USC”>http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award.html)</p>

3

<p>I’ve been taking 20 units for the last four semesters so I feel somewhat qualified to answer your question, <em>hem hem</em> (as Umbridge would say):</p>

<p>The difficulty of 20 units depends on 1) Spread; 2) Subject/class; 3) Your other commitments.</p>

<p>1) Spread: Basically, how you’re spreading the units out/how many classes you’re taking. I took eight 2-units and one 4-unit last semester, for a total of nine classes; I died. This semester, I’ve been taking 20 units, but just six classes: four 4-units and two 2-units. So. Much. Better. And frankly, I don’t see the workload difference between 4-unit and 2-unit classes in most cases - depends on subject I think (CTIN, CTAN, CTPR, and MUIN? Have not noticed any difference).</p>

<p>2) Subject/class: 20 units with mostly classes you do not enjoy? Misery. 20 units with mostly classes you enjoy? Far more bearable. Keep in mind the 4-unit v 2-unit note above. And hile your confidence regarding a second semester 3.75 is admirable, I feel like a significant portion of your grade lies in what professor and TA you end up with - basically, grades are never 100% in your control. Also, remember that even if a course sounds interesting/is about something you’re interested in, it’s the professor that’ll make or break the class experience; RateMyProfessors is your friend. </p>

<p>3) Your other commitments/time management abilities: I haven’t really done extracurrics. Any extracurrics I was part of ended up falling apart. Tis what can happen. For a couple of semesters, I took incredible pride in filling up my iCal with blocks, meticulously scheduling out my time, but… that’s no way to live. I got burnt out. Even though I’m more chillaxed with my time these days, I still die around midterm and finals seasons, I’ve had my share of breakdowns. I’m not necessarily saying you will, but being constant go-go-go gets tiring. This is also where Lencias’s 90/10 Rule comes in: have your ‘marbles’ together 90% of the time, then people (your professors) will understand when you don’t 10% of the time - I’m a good student (or so I’ve heard?), actively engaging and on good terms with all my professors, and I know that if worst comes to worst, I can, fingers crossed, humbly ask for an extension and reasonably hope they’ll say yes. But the ideal is to hold off on cashing in that 10% because you never know when you’ll need it. </p>

<p>Bonus) In terms of finding people who like to write/fiction - You sound like you’d get along well with Cinema folk :)</p>

4

<p>1) Wow, nine classes is absolutely insane! How did you survive? What are your majors, and inspired you to take on so many classes? I think that if I were to take 20 units, I would take 5 4-unit classes, just so I could keep my classes more mentally straight for finals.</p>

<p>2) I bought RateMyProfessors a friendship bracelet last semester, and found out he felt the same way about me. I know that’s true, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.</p>

<p>3) That sounds really stressful. Do you regret not having time for extracurricular with the large course load? I wanted to join the ski team for sure, see if I could join LACI, and then edit Scribe and work on my own writing. Would a 5 hour community service commitment, skiing trips in the winter, and personal writing be impossible with 20 unit classes?</p>

<p>Bonus) I hope so! Haha. One of my best friends mentioned that, so I’ve been working through Sight and Sound’s top movies, and a book of 100 of Roger Ebert’s. I still feel only mildly literate that way, but hope it’ll get better. Sadly, that friend didn’t get into SC for film, and is at Tisch instead. But I will definitely be creeping around the film school :)</p>

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<p>I also have another question:
If I take 20 units a semester, if I hypothetically kept my grades up:
Would I be allowed to take classes in other majors with the extra units? Or would I be restricted to the English and economics departments? I was hoping to take Philosophy in Literature and Existentialism, and also a course in Buddhism while at SC, but the former two are in the phil department and the latter is in religion.</p>

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<p>Assuming you can obtain the GPA, the goal is to allow you " to complete multiple undergraduate degree objectives" so they want you to take classes towards your additional major/minor or on the list of special classes. </p>

<p>The application states:

</p>

<p>That being said, they also require you to list the classes and it also states:

</p>

<p>So if you decide to take a class that is not towards a requirement or special case, I would assume your application will likely get rejected and you will be forced to pay for the extra units out of pocket (Current rate is $1,473/unit). The goal is not for you to explore options but rather for exceptional students to complete them in a timely manner.</p>

6

<p>Okay, I’m just a little confused:</p>

<p>I plan on being at USC for four years, and I’ve mapped out absolutely all of my classes for English and economics. I can finish both degree needs in four years taking 16 units a semester.</p>

<p>However, if my GPA made me eligible, would I be able to take more English and economics classes even if I could technically finish in 4 years? My parents mentioned that they would pay for four years (though I have been accepted for next year and just finished my 1st year at a community college). Perhaps when I sign up for classes I should just not mention that I plan to be at USC for four years anyways? I actually want to stay the extra year because my parents are offering and I love school… I just want to take even more classes than I could fit in 8 semesters at 16 units each term, especially because my major objectives don’t overlap at all and leave little room to explore other interests, or even English/econ more in depth (for example, I want to do an honors thesis in English but cannot due so also needing to fill econ objectives and gen eds, along with taking all the other English classes I want need). I just want to take as many classes as possible, especially in English, but without having to strain my parents. If English is one of my double majors, can I use that program to take more English courses even after my requirements are filled without an extra charge?</p>

<p>$1473/unit seems a little much</p>

7

<p>Fulfilling an honors thesis may be a valid exception if you explain to them that you need extra units to do it and they may approve that. However, if you are just doing it to take extra classes and not to fulfill any particular requirements, they would probably see that as unnecessary and reject your request. I am just stating my objective opinion from what I’ve heard and read about the program. Once again, I do not work for USC and I do not make the decision. Your best bet is to FIRST qualify then read the FAQ ([USC</a> Academic Achievement Award - FAQ | Undergraduate Education](<a href=“http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award_faq.html]USC”>http://undergrad.usc.edu/renaissance/achievement_award_faq.html)) then direct your questions to

.</p>

<p>$1473 is slightly higher than flat rate… $21,861/18 units = $1214.50 or $21,861/16 units = $1366.31</p>

8

<p>OP, it is very hard to keep up a schedule of 20 units at USC. Why would you even contemplate it seriously at this stage–before you’ve attended? If your parents are happy to pay for 4 years, and it seems you have many transferable credits as it is, relax. Take it easy. In 4 years you will have room to take a few classes outside your 2 majors. But the real point is–you need to focus on those majors. Presumably, they are the areas you are most passionate about. How about devoting yourself to them? And to do the ECs you hope to, including writing a novel, takes a lot of time and commitment. Doing a few things fully and in depth is preferable to doing too many things. There is a lot of time in your life to get additional education if you wish. </p>

<p>If you should be able to attain this high GPA, and if you find it’s a stroll in the park to take 6-8 courses/semester, and if you are feeling bored and unfulfilled by all your work, reading, ECs, friendships, cultural opportunities, internships… well, then you might be in a position to consider 20 units a semester.</p>