Portfolio; Best of the...Pieces?

[Riel]

For any of you that aren't aware, or didn't just assume, I'm going to be heading off to college for a Creative Writing major. I've got to schedule a visit with the college that I really want to attend-SUNY Binghamton- for two reasons; 1. I want to see the campus before I make a definite decision, though I doubt that I'll care much. 2. My GPA is just slightly under the level that they typically accept (my SAT score was a good 700 points higher, though...) due to my incredible laziness when it comes to school.

Solution? Well, that's where the beauty of the major comes into play. A portfolio will/should help greatly sway their opinion, to kind of 'forget' that couple of points. Not being the most objective critic of my own work, however, that's where I want all of you to just help out a teensy-weensy bit. I don't know the exact number that I should take, but I feel as if this should work:

• 3 poems
• 7 short stories
• 1-2 chapters of Be My Valentine

Now then, making it as easy as possible to get your input...

[Poetry]

[Prose]

[Be My Valentine]

So far as my picks go (and those are all click-able, by the way):

Poetry

i've broken the jar.

vegas.

impermanence.

Prose

asking you to be my sunset

'ambushed' and 'bounce bounce bounce'

the average diy murder

maybe she will.

is everyone here make believe?

wishlist.

Excerpts from Be My Valentine

Chapter One- The Shame of Telling the Truth

Chapter Eight- Snuffing Out the 'X' Factor

Theoretically, the visit will be within one or two weeks. I'll probably be posting/writing a lot more stuff until then, so this can be edited at any time, and whatever your guys' input happens to be, can also be very fluid. If any of you actually decide to help out with this, I want to thank you in advance.

[Enchanted Rose]

I've only read the poetry so far, but if I had to pick 3 I'd go for:

-Vegas
-Desperation
-I've Broken the Jar

I think Impermanence relies too heavily on the aesthetic of abstract concepts and the formatting that you've used. I'm not sure if the reader of your portfolio would be more impressed just because you'd italicized some words, and bolded others.
I really like the idea of the tessellations on shattered glass, I think it's the strongest image in the poem, but I dislike some of the bracketed parts.

As always though, you should go with what you feel most proud of, or what you think will showcase your talent. Trust your own instincts in this important decision.

I'll read the prose shortly, I don't think I've read ANY of them.

[Riel]

Well, I guess that a match-up for two out of three is pretty good. The only reason that I didn't consider 'desperation.' was that it was single line; I wasn't sure that whoever was reading it would appreciate it.

[Disc Jockey]

personally, i think "give and take" is a lot better than "i've broken the jar". just sayin'. i like "impermenance" as well, but it's really short. i don't think anybody will be impressed with the length of your poems. call me a hypocrite for saying that less words are more powerful, but just the choosing of the words means a lot. try writing more types of poetry. look up different types; you could even try rhyming? most of your poems are all the same, just the wording and placement is different.
when is this thing due?

[Lycanthrope]

I just looked at the poetry. I think it is safe to say that I've Broken the Jar and Vegas should both be in your portfolio. Also, I'm not sure what it is about it, but Because has been drawing my attention the whole time.

I'll look at all the prose in a bit once the phone calls and instant messages from the shit tonight die down. I'm looking at this in a very stressed state of mind. But from what I have read of your prose (I intend to re-read it all in a bit), definitely go with maybe she will. I absolutely loved that piece.

And Disc Jockey, Riel said that theoretically the visit will be in the next week or so.