More than mere words...

One of my greatest desires is to be able to write in such a way that it is more than mere words that flow from the page, but also joy and laughter, sorrow and heartache. I want to move people to fits of giggles, to action, to tears. I want the write something that stands out, that people will remember, not so that they will remember me, but will remember the story and what it meant to them and they will carry it with them. In my life, I have read probably four or five books that did this for me. I have seen two or three movies like this, and probably two episodes of television that have touched me so much, so deeply that their meaning cannot be forgotten. And yet this is what I want to create-- something so rare that not even the most accomplished writers do it all of the time. And yet, to me, to do anything else would be a failure. And so instead, I do nothing.

It is time to stop doing nothing. The deadline for applications for admission to the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing at Vanderbilt University is January 15, 2009. I now have less than five months to complete my packet. This morning I tried to create a timeline for myself to get everything done.
Here's what I need:
1) My writing sample. Not just any writing sample, but it will need to be the best thing I've ever written. 25 pages of fiction--- part of a novel or a short story. The goal is to complete the first draft by Oct. 15 and the final draft by December 15.
2) College transcript. I need to head down to UNR and order this by Nov. 15
3) Statement of purpose. Yeah, not quite sure about this one. I can't really include the above in my statement of purpose because it's not really realistic...
4) Three letters of recommendation. Hmmm-- Also not sure about this one. Need to find out who are acceptable people to obtain letters from since I have absolutely no contact with any of my college professors, most of whom have disappeared from the University (or at least those who would have written letters for me.) At any rate, I will ask the people by Oct. 1 and request to have the letters back by Dec. 1.
5) GRE scores. This one is relatively simple since I'm still w/in the 5 year window. After that I would have to take the test again. So I'll just have to order the results online and shell out the twenty bucks to have them sent to another school since Vanderbilt was not even one of my considerations three and a half years ago when I originally took the test.
6) Lots and lots of prayer. Okay, so this is not actually part of the application packet, but really, this is what it's going to take for me to complete this, for me to remain obedient and actually follow through and finish something that I start. I don't usually struggle with follow through in other areas of my life, but in my writing it is a HUGE issue.

Good night and good luck.