Life is hard sometimes. Like now.
We're facing the loss of a very loved person in our family, my father-in-law. The doctors give him about six to eight weeks. I don't know what to say, or not say, here on the blog, except that he will be terribly missed by all of us when he's gone.
He is in hospice care now and we will all be spending a lot of time there, so I don't anticipate blogging much for the next couple of months.
Until later, then, hug your loved ones and be well.
M
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Merry, Merry!
Yes, Mrs. Mitty lives!
'Tis the season, however, and the blog has had to pay the price.
So before it's too late, I want to wish you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas! For those who don't celebrate Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Yule/Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa or whichever other winter holidays you may celebrate. {s}
I wish you peace, happiness, and love this season and always.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Snippet Day
I decided I would have a 'post-a-snippet' day and see if I can get anyone else to play along. I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours...that kind of thing. Oh, heck, I'll show you mine, regardless. {g}
So without further ado, a snippet from ~
THE BINDING OF THE MARU
copyright MH Ward 2006
{Young Kailia speaking here -- }
I picked up my pack and shifted it onto my shoulders, bestowing a farewell glare upon the House of Mysts. Drawing a deep breath for fortification, I picked up my staff and stepped out onto the road to Gilphord.
About to round a bend in the road that would obscure my view of the place, I glanced back for one last look and saw... not the House of Mysts I had only just left, but a tangle of low, thorny shrubs bordering the road, and beyond them, a long pasture speckled with grazing sheep. There was no structure there, and not a trace of human trespass.
It was...well, a fortnight ago, I'd have said 'impossible'; now it was merely peculiar.
Judging by the sun's position, I had about an hour of daylight left. This would be a night of no moons, so I needed to arrive before the sun was gone. I increased my pace. I had no intention of being caught out alone on the road after dark.
While I hiked along, my mind turned again to picking at the Mystics' message; it was like a nut I couldn't quite get the shell off; I just couldn't leave it alone until I exposed the meat of the matter. (I had cause to wonder, later, if they had meant it to be so, or if it was just another unfortunate case of my curiosity being more than they bargained for.)
It wasn't that I doubted their word or wisdom, but by all that is blessed, they could not have been more vague if they tried. When I begged for more information, they would only respond in that maddening way of theirs, "Have no fear you will miss him, child. What is to be shall be."
Surely I would encounter dozens or even hundreds of men in gray, traveling the roads as I was. How was I to tell which was the one? And if they thought not what he seemed suggested any hint, they could go fish. I had yet to meet a man who was all he seemed on first acquaintance.
But no, come to think on it, they said, "a man of gray", not "a man in gray".
Could that be significant? But what could a "man of gray" be other than a man in gray? Gray hair? What else was gray? Clouds? Animals? Shadows or mists? A dead man? I shivered, hoping very seriously that there was no way at all that a dead man could be vital to my journey.
By the Creator, I would drive myself mad trying to puzzle it out. They might better have told me nothing than let my imagination run amok. Besides, I realized that concentrating on their riddles was distracting me from really noticing the few passers-by; though I was fairly certain I would have been jolted from my woolgathering had a dead man strolled past.
It did not sit well, but I supposed I must trust in their parting words and just go about my business. Certainly, if what was to be was to be, I would not miss the man.
I approached the outskirts of Gilphord as the sun began to sink into the treeline, so I wandered off the road and sought out a good spot to make camp. I found a peaceful clearing in the wood with a creek a few yards beyond and began hunting up firewood. There was plenty of deadfall to last me a single night so I needn’t do any chopping.
Just to be on the safe side, when I finished placing my fire and blankets, I pulled from my pack the ball of twine and the small bells I carried to stake out an alarm.
No animal and no man - dead or alive - was going to sneak up on me while I slept.
# # #
So without further ado, a snippet from ~
THE BINDING OF THE MARU
copyright MH Ward 2006
{Young Kailia speaking here -- }
I picked up my pack and shifted it onto my shoulders, bestowing a farewell glare upon the House of Mysts. Drawing a deep breath for fortification, I picked up my staff and stepped out onto the road to Gilphord.
About to round a bend in the road that would obscure my view of the place, I glanced back for one last look and saw... not the House of Mysts I had only just left, but a tangle of low, thorny shrubs bordering the road, and beyond them, a long pasture speckled with grazing sheep. There was no structure there, and not a trace of human trespass.
It was...well, a fortnight ago, I'd have said 'impossible'; now it was merely peculiar.
Judging by the sun's position, I had about an hour of daylight left. This would be a night of no moons, so I needed to arrive before the sun was gone. I increased my pace. I had no intention of being caught out alone on the road after dark.
While I hiked along, my mind turned again to picking at the Mystics' message; it was like a nut I couldn't quite get the shell off; I just couldn't leave it alone until I exposed the meat of the matter. (I had cause to wonder, later, if they had meant it to be so, or if it was just another unfortunate case of my curiosity being more than they bargained for.)
It wasn't that I doubted their word or wisdom, but by all that is blessed, they could not have been more vague if they tried. When I begged for more information, they would only respond in that maddening way of theirs, "Have no fear you will miss him, child. What is to be shall be."
Surely I would encounter dozens or even hundreds of men in gray, traveling the roads as I was. How was I to tell which was the one? And if they thought not what he seemed suggested any hint, they could go fish. I had yet to meet a man who was all he seemed on first acquaintance.
But no, come to think on it, they said, "a man of gray", not "a man in gray".
Could that be significant? But what could a "man of gray" be other than a man in gray? Gray hair? What else was gray? Clouds? Animals? Shadows or mists? A dead man? I shivered, hoping very seriously that there was no way at all that a dead man could be vital to my journey.
By the Creator, I would drive myself mad trying to puzzle it out. They might better have told me nothing than let my imagination run amok. Besides, I realized that concentrating on their riddles was distracting me from really noticing the few passers-by; though I was fairly certain I would have been jolted from my woolgathering had a dead man strolled past.
It did not sit well, but I supposed I must trust in their parting words and just go about my business. Certainly, if what was to be was to be, I would not miss the man.
I approached the outskirts of Gilphord as the sun began to sink into the treeline, so I wandered off the road and sought out a good spot to make camp. I found a peaceful clearing in the wood with a creek a few yards beyond and began hunting up firewood. There was plenty of deadfall to last me a single night so I needn’t do any chopping.
Just to be on the safe side, when I finished placing my fire and blankets, I pulled from my pack the ball of twine and the small bells I carried to stake out an alarm.
No animal and no man - dead or alive - was going to sneak up on me while I slept.
# # #
Thursday, November 30, 2006
You Must Be A Writer
1. You must be a writer if, even when you've been procrastinating about opening it up, you are compelled to race to your WIP the moment a wisp of a good idea comes floating within the grasp of your conscious mind.
2. You must be a writer if there's a path worn in your house from the place you write to the place that serves up the caffeine or, alternately, caffeine-free beverages to which you are, nonetheless, addicted. (It's actually not about the beverage - it's your brain yelling at your sleeping ass to return some of the blood flow and feed it a little more oxygen...)
3. You must be a writer if, when you're on a hot streak and you see your ____ (spouse, neighbor, kids, dog, mother-in-law....fill in the blank) coming, you have an overwhelming desire to be able to turn invisible so you can keep working without interruption.
4. You must be a writer if you wish you never had to stop to 1) eat, 2) sleep, 3) go to the bathroom, or 4) go to w*rk. Such petty considerations should not be allowed to keep you from your magnum opus.
5. You must be a writer if, when you step outside after working very intently on your writing for a few days or weeks, you discover it's a different season than the last time you noticed*. (Not dissimilar from the situation where you've driven yourself home from someplace on mental auto-pilot, without having any recall of the details of the trip...but lots of details about what's going on in the WIP.)
Got any more??? {g}
* Michigan writers may not even notice this phenomenon, however, since the seasons seem to change much more frequently than they're supposed to. Seasonally, our year goes a bit like this (starting in January): Winter, Winter, Winter, Spring, Winter, Winter, Summer, Spring, Summer, Fall, Summer, Summer, Summer, Winter, Summer, Fall, Winter, Winter, Fall, Winter, Winter. {g}
2. You must be a writer if there's a path worn in your house from the place you write to the place that serves up the caffeine or, alternately, caffeine-free beverages to which you are, nonetheless, addicted. (It's actually not about the beverage - it's your brain yelling at your sleeping ass to return some of the blood flow and feed it a little more oxygen...)
3. You must be a writer if, when you're on a hot streak and you see your ____ (spouse, neighbor, kids, dog, mother-in-law....fill in the blank) coming, you have an overwhelming desire to be able to turn invisible so you can keep working without interruption.
4. You must be a writer if you wish you never had to stop to 1) eat, 2) sleep, 3) go to the bathroom, or 4) go to w*rk. Such petty considerations should not be allowed to keep you from your magnum opus.
5. You must be a writer if, when you step outside after working very intently on your writing for a few days or weeks, you discover it's a different season than the last time you noticed*. (Not dissimilar from the situation where you've driven yourself home from someplace on mental auto-pilot, without having any recall of the details of the trip...but lots of details about what's going on in the WIP.)
Got any more??? {g}
* Michigan writers may not even notice this phenomenon, however, since the seasons seem to change much more frequently than they're supposed to. Seasonally, our year goes a bit like this (starting in January): Winter, Winter, Winter, Spring, Winter, Winter, Summer, Spring, Summer, Fall, Summer, Summer, Summer, Winter, Summer, Fall, Winter, Winter, Fall, Winter, Winter. {g}
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Christmas Tag!
Hey, I'm it! {g}
Sara Walker Howe tagged me, so here's my turn:
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog! It was the first "recipe" I ever learned. My four siblings and I shared a kiddy cookbook growing up and we all learned how to make egg nog from that. :-)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Wraps till his fingers fall off or he runs out of wrapping paper and Sunday funnies, whichever comes first.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored, always. Some years we use the little micro lights and others the traditional larger ones, but always multi-colored.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Sometimes, only depending upon whether or not it catches my eye at the store. :)
5. When do you put your decorations up? Used to be December 18th (day after my birthday, so that didn't get lost in the holiday shuffle), but now that I don't get *quite* as excited about birthdays...any time after December first and before the 20th. (If we started before the first, we'd feel like we were dancing on the grave of the Thanksgiving turkey. ;))
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? My friend Fran's cannoli!!! Mmmmmm.to die for! She only makes them at Christmas and won't give anybody her family recipe! But she always shares.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Just one? Well, there are lots, but.... The anticipation! Early Christmas morning, my three sisters, brother and I, all in our jammies, robes and slippers, gathered and sat down on the top flight of stairs, just below our parents bedroom. We whispered and wondered what we were going to get this year, as we waited for Mom and Dad to wake up and give us the go-ahead to dash down and get our stockings - and look at the presents under the tree. (We only got to open stockings before Mass. Regular gifts were after.) The stockings always held the following: One little box of cereal from a Snack-Pak , one orange, and several little chocolates. I'm sure there were some other little doo-dads in there too, but those are the ones that stick in my mind as "always". Ours was mainly a Cheerios, Wheaties, and Oatmeal house, so Snack-Paks and sweetened cereals were Quite the Big Deal, and rarely seen but at Christmas.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? First grade - gossip around the drinking fountain at school. I can't say I was shocked - I did have three older siblings, so I may have gotten a clue from them - but I do remember feeling rather deflated about the whole thing. I mean, I *liked* Santa. (Still do. ;))
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. We're blessed with an abundance of family nearby, so we celebrate Christmas three times: Once with husband's family (Christmas Eve), once with our little family at home (Christmas morning), and once with my mom and sibs and their offspring (Christmas afternoon).
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Mostly homemade and homey things. Ornaments our kids made when they were little. Little felt Irish misses mom brought back from Ireland, a needlepoint(?) reindeer that holds a piece of candy in its mouth, nesting birds, some little corn husk ladies, antique carolers, a little Hallmark penguin that we all love for no reason other than its cuteness. And colored glass ball ornaments for their shine. :) We start with colored lights, then add garlands of popcorn and cranberry, and then garlands of other edibles (red licorice bits, marshmallows, Cheez-Its, raisins, Fruit Loops...whatever can be gotten on a thread). And then we put the ornaments on. When the tree goes, after Christmas time, the garlands come off and get draped around the bare bushes out in the front yard for birds and squirrels to pick at. :)
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I live in Michigan. I *must* love it. Actually, I do. Just not so much after the middle of March. :>
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, and not half bad, as I recall. It's been a while, but I think I will put that on my to-do list for this winter, along with trying out those snowshoes DH gave me three years ago. LOL
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Absolutely! It was Thomasina (the name I gave her, after the movie). My Thomasina was a purple Siamese cat about three feet tall who sat up very straight and regal-looking. She was the ONLY thing I wanted from the moment I laid eyes on her. She had "green ruby eyes" and a long tail you could wrap around her and tuck in between her front and back legs, AND she had lemon-yellow satin inside her ears. And when I opened the big box on Christmas morning...it wasn't her. I was devastated (for at least 15 minutes). But I got her the next year, which I thought was nothing short of a true Christmas miracle. :) I still have her...much the worse for love and wear (and my cousin Paul...LOL), but that's another story.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Honoring God and family, spending time with loved ones, doing my bit to make the holiday season nice for others however I can. :)
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Um, did I mention Fran's cannoli? ;D Other than that, paintbrush cookies, almond crescent cookies, those horrible dry lumpy Italian cookies that I can't leave alone and are so fabulous with coffee, and, hmm...fudge. :D
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Sitting up late Christmas Eve, snuggling with DH on the couch by the light of the Christmas tree, listening to Christmas music, watching it snow...just being peaceful together.
17. What tops your tree? A silver star with a little light in the middle of it.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving. I have no moral objection to receiving {g} but giving is so much more satisfying and I love feeling like a fairy godmother. :)
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Carol of the Bells. My sisters and I learned it in choir in school and we sing different parts, so we love singing it together in harmony. (One of the big treats at our family get-togethers - LOL - for us, anyway.)
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Well...more of a "Eh". I might eat one little one and enjoy it, but that's it until next year. {g}
And now...TAG, Jo, you're it! And you too, Beth! :)
Sara Walker Howe tagged me, so here's my turn:
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog! It was the first "recipe" I ever learned. My four siblings and I shared a kiddy cookbook growing up and we all learned how to make egg nog from that. :-)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Wraps till his fingers fall off or he runs out of wrapping paper and Sunday funnies, whichever comes first.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored, always. Some years we use the little micro lights and others the traditional larger ones, but always multi-colored.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Sometimes, only depending upon whether or not it catches my eye at the store. :)
5. When do you put your decorations up? Used to be December 18th (day after my birthday, so that didn't get lost in the holiday shuffle), but now that I don't get *quite* as excited about birthdays...any time after December first and before the 20th. (If we started before the first, we'd feel like we were dancing on the grave of the Thanksgiving turkey. ;))
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? My friend Fran's cannoli!!! Mmmmmm.to die for! She only makes them at Christmas and won't give anybody her family recipe! But she always shares.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Just one? Well, there are lots, but.... The anticipation! Early Christmas morning, my three sisters, brother and I, all in our jammies, robes and slippers, gathered and sat down on the top flight of stairs, just below our parents bedroom. We whispered and wondered what we were going to get this year, as we waited for Mom and Dad to wake up and give us the go-ahead to dash down and get our stockings - and look at the presents under the tree. (We only got to open stockings before Mass. Regular gifts were after.) The stockings always held the following: One little box of cereal from a Snack-Pak , one orange, and several little chocolates. I'm sure there were some other little doo-dads in there too, but those are the ones that stick in my mind as "always". Ours was mainly a Cheerios, Wheaties, and Oatmeal house, so Snack-Paks and sweetened cereals were Quite the Big Deal, and rarely seen but at Christmas.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? First grade - gossip around the drinking fountain at school. I can't say I was shocked - I did have three older siblings, so I may have gotten a clue from them - but I do remember feeling rather deflated about the whole thing. I mean, I *liked* Santa. (Still do. ;))
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. We're blessed with an abundance of family nearby, so we celebrate Christmas three times: Once with husband's family (Christmas Eve), once with our little family at home (Christmas morning), and once with my mom and sibs and their offspring (Christmas afternoon).
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Mostly homemade and homey things. Ornaments our kids made when they were little. Little felt Irish misses mom brought back from Ireland, a needlepoint(?) reindeer that holds a piece of candy in its mouth, nesting birds, some little corn husk ladies, antique carolers, a little Hallmark penguin that we all love for no reason other than its cuteness. And colored glass ball ornaments for their shine. :) We start with colored lights, then add garlands of popcorn and cranberry, and then garlands of other edibles (red licorice bits, marshmallows, Cheez-Its, raisins, Fruit Loops...whatever can be gotten on a thread). And then we put the ornaments on. When the tree goes, after Christmas time, the garlands come off and get draped around the bare bushes out in the front yard for birds and squirrels to pick at. :)
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I live in Michigan. I *must* love it. Actually, I do. Just not so much after the middle of March. :>
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, and not half bad, as I recall. It's been a while, but I think I will put that on my to-do list for this winter, along with trying out those snowshoes DH gave me three years ago. LOL
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Absolutely! It was Thomasina (the name I gave her, after the movie). My Thomasina was a purple Siamese cat about three feet tall who sat up very straight and regal-looking. She was the ONLY thing I wanted from the moment I laid eyes on her. She had "green ruby eyes" and a long tail you could wrap around her and tuck in between her front and back legs, AND she had lemon-yellow satin inside her ears. And when I opened the big box on Christmas morning...it wasn't her. I was devastated (for at least 15 minutes). But I got her the next year, which I thought was nothing short of a true Christmas miracle. :) I still have her...much the worse for love and wear (and my cousin Paul...LOL), but that's another story.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Honoring God and family, spending time with loved ones, doing my bit to make the holiday season nice for others however I can. :)
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Um, did I mention Fran's cannoli? ;D Other than that, paintbrush cookies, almond crescent cookies, those horrible dry lumpy Italian cookies that I can't leave alone and are so fabulous with coffee, and, hmm...fudge. :D
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Sitting up late Christmas Eve, snuggling with DH on the couch by the light of the Christmas tree, listening to Christmas music, watching it snow...just being peaceful together.
17. What tops your tree? A silver star with a little light in the middle of it.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving. I have no moral objection to receiving {g} but giving is so much more satisfying and I love feeling like a fairy godmother. :)
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Carol of the Bells. My sisters and I learned it in choir in school and we sing different parts, so we love singing it together in harmony. (One of the big treats at our family get-togethers - LOL - for us, anyway.)
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Well...more of a "Eh". I might eat one little one and enjoy it, but that's it until next year. {g}
And now...TAG, Jo, you're it! And you too, Beth! :)
Okay, This is Fun :-)
Err, well, it *was* fun. I got about halfway through my *Tag!* post when the power went out and nuked it. It just came back on but I have to work in the morning and am going to hit the hay now.
I'll post it tomorrow night!
I'll post it tomorrow night!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Trucking Along
Well, I broke my pattern for this novel and got about a thousand words written of a late-in-story section. And I was *so* going to do this in A-B-C order this time. Oh well, as they say, whatever works.
I was surprised to find out some things about a couple of characters today. One I thought was good is bad. And I finally got a picture of the personal nemesis of my heroine -- the whole dude, actually, as there was only sort of "the Dark Side" up to this point, with nobody but nameless henchmen. I think the bad-guys discussion on the forum birthed this one for me. [g] I also learned who is at the top of the food chain on the baddies' side.
All in all, a pretty productive day (night...morning...whatever, yeah, it's 4:26 in the morning; what an idiot I am!)
G'nite!
****
TRACKING...
Accomplished one end scene, whole. :)
I was surprised to find out some things about a couple of characters today. One I thought was good is bad. And I finally got a picture of the personal nemesis of my heroine -- the whole dude, actually, as there was only sort of "the Dark Side" up to this point, with nobody but nameless henchmen. I think the bad-guys discussion on the forum birthed this one for me. [g] I also learned who is at the top of the food chain on the baddies' side.
All in all, a pretty productive day (night...morning...whatever, yeah, it's 4:26 in the morning; what an idiot I am!)
G'nite!
****
TRACKING...
Accomplished one end scene, whole. :)
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Random Thoughts About Writing
My last thought before I sat down at the computer - fresh coffee in hand (no, in cup, actually) - arrived in sort of a bubble of giddiness: “Do you know how much I LOVE writing?” (Don't ask me whom I was thinking it to. [g])
It's one of a few select creative activities that I can totally immerse myself in: writing and painting (quasi-artistic, not house) foremost among them. I guess it's about making something from nothing. I bet God enjoys His work, likewise.
I can write and fiddle with my writing for hours on end, days on end, even, barely coming up for air or sustenance or human contact, though my family doesn't let me get away with it for long.
On one hand, this is a wondrous, transported state of being. I create; I am my creations – in the sense of experiencing all that they do, vicariously – and I love the work involved in trying to perfect the creation.
On the other hand, it works really well as a way to escape tending to the laundry, dishes, paperwork and other such less pleasant responsibilities demanded of someone running a household, which can create discontent within the family/community.
Why does there always have to be a price? Polarity? Consequences? Struggle?
Questions for the Ages, I suppose. But I'll continue to take it as it comes and deal with creating balance as I need to.
Because, seriously, do you know how much I LOVE writing? [S]
*****************
Tracking...
A little more fiddling with the current scene, prep for posting in exercises.
It's one of a few select creative activities that I can totally immerse myself in: writing and painting (quasi-artistic, not house) foremost among them. I guess it's about making something from nothing. I bet God enjoys His work, likewise.
I can write and fiddle with my writing for hours on end, days on end, even, barely coming up for air or sustenance or human contact, though my family doesn't let me get away with it for long.
On one hand, this is a wondrous, transported state of being. I create; I am my creations – in the sense of experiencing all that they do, vicariously – and I love the work involved in trying to perfect the creation.
On the other hand, it works really well as a way to escape tending to the laundry, dishes, paperwork and other such less pleasant responsibilities demanded of someone running a household, which can create discontent within the family/community.
Why does there always have to be a price? Polarity? Consequences? Struggle?
Questions for the Ages, I suppose. But I'll continue to take it as it comes and deal with creating balance as I need to.
Because, seriously, do you know how much I LOVE writing? [S]
*****************
Tracking...
A little more fiddling with the current scene, prep for posting in exercises.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Weird Helps
I was reading over the current POV exercise at the forum and thinking I might participate this time. So I took a chunk out of a scene I'm working on, and pasted it into a new document to get it ready for the exercise.
Interesting thing happened. (Well, interesting to *me*, anyway.) I re-read that chunk before I started marking it up to post - and quite easily saw how to fix some clunky phrasings and sentence order problems. Interesting, because I didn't see how to fix them when they were sitting in the original document attached to the other 14,500 words.
So what was that weird mojo? Just that little bit of "white space"? Making an island of those words so that I *couldn't* write anything after or before, thus, not getting distracted by what I wanted to write next? I don't know, but whatever it was, it seems to have made the problems and their solutions pop right out at me. I liked that!
I think I'll file this under "Editing Tips".
*******************************
Tracking...
Got a little more done on the same scene today.
The rest, same as it ever was...for the last few days, anyway. [g]
.
Interesting thing happened. (Well, interesting to *me*, anyway.) I re-read that chunk before I started marking it up to post - and quite easily saw how to fix some clunky phrasings and sentence order problems. Interesting, because I didn't see how to fix them when they were sitting in the original document attached to the other 14,500 words.
So what was that weird mojo? Just that little bit of "white space"? Making an island of those words so that I *couldn't* write anything after or before, thus, not getting distracted by what I wanted to write next? I don't know, but whatever it was, it seems to have made the problems and their solutions pop right out at me. I liked that!
I think I'll file this under "Editing Tips".
*******************************
Tracking...
Got a little more done on the same scene today.
The rest, same as it ever was...for the last few days, anyway. [g]
.
Just Tracking Today
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Continued writing the scene where Kailia sets off on her own again.
Today's Target:
Continue writing scene (above).
Update reverse-outline. (Didn't get to that yet.)
On the Percolator:
Need to read MARU through from beginning so as not to lose the reins on the timetable before I go any further.
Also need to read through the western and start figuring out how to fill in the holes.
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Continued writing the scene where Kailia sets off on her own again.
Today's Target:
Continue writing scene (above).
Update reverse-outline. (Didn't get to that yet.)
On the Percolator:
Need to read MARU through from beginning so as not to lose the reins on the timetable before I go any further.
Also need to read through the western and start figuring out how to fill in the holes.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Tracking
I get to go into work late tomorrow so I'm up late writing tonight. But not for much longer.
Not much of a post today, except to say that I'm grateful that the words are flowing again. Maybe not great words, but since SFD is what I'm after, they'll do. :)
TTFN!
**************************************
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Re-established my accountability log (tracking).
Began writing the scene where Kailia sets off on her own again.
Today's Target:
Continue writing scene (above).
Update reverse-outline. (Didn't get to that yet.)
On the Percolator:
Need to read MARU through from beginning so as not to lose the reins on the timetable before I go any further.
Also need to read through the western and start figuring out how to fill in the holes.
Not much of a post today, except to say that I'm grateful that the words are flowing again. Maybe not great words, but since SFD is what I'm after, they'll do. :)
TTFN!
**************************************
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Re-established my accountability log (tracking).
Began writing the scene where Kailia sets off on her own again.
Today's Target:
Continue writing scene (above).
Update reverse-outline. (Didn't get to that yet.)
On the Percolator:
Need to read MARU through from beginning so as not to lose the reins on the timetable before I go any further.
Also need to read through the western and start figuring out how to fill in the holes.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Getting Real, Getting Faces, Getting Going
I haven't written much in the last four days due to a boatload of migraines (gone now, thank God!).
Today, I split off my "story bible" from the mondo story file. It was getting too unwieldy. So now my total word count for the story is more accurate. I have about 1300 words in the bible, so those are now subtracted from my progress meter. This fantasy novel really needs one (a bible, that is) - foreign words and places and all are going to require an appendix, too, so, lots of material for a bible.
I did, though, finish something that's fun and kind of important to my forward progress. I've found "faces" for all my MCs (and some needed child and adult faces; Kailia needed three: child, adult, old).
This may seem strange, but I am very visual, and need photos to help me "see" my characters. What I do, after creating the characters and getting to know them, is to do web searches for actors/models/regular-people headshots. When I find one that really strikes me as "Character X", I copy and paste it into my story bible.
Sometimes, having the face even helps me flesh out the characters. Brakkus, for example, even as a child, has a section of hair two-inches wide that's white as snow. And there's a story behind that that I didn't know before I found his picture. [g]
Question: Anybody else do this picture thing, or am I the only weirdo?
Question: Do you use a "bible"? If so, what goes in yours? Enquiring minds want to know. [s]
I'm having a good month, compared to last, with over 2,000 additional words so far, so I want to keep the momentum going and aim for at least 5,000 by the end of the month. (I have some time off next week). I can tell since I haven't been doing my little TRACKING thingo at the end of my posts, that I have let myself slack quite a bit more, so I'm going to re-institute that starting today.
**************************************
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Discovered how and why Kailia is going to leave Falcon's place alone.
Today's Target:
Write the scene (above).
Update reverse-outline. (Don't worry, I know what I mean, and that's what's important. [g])
On the Percolator:
Need to read MARU through from beginning so as not to lose the reins on the timetable before I go any further.
Also need to read through the western and start figuring out how to fill in the holes.
Today, I split off my "story bible" from the mondo story file. It was getting too unwieldy. So now my total word count for the story is more accurate. I have about 1300 words in the bible, so those are now subtracted from my progress meter. This fantasy novel really needs one (a bible, that is) - foreign words and places and all are going to require an appendix, too, so, lots of material for a bible.
I did, though, finish something that's fun and kind of important to my forward progress. I've found "faces" for all my MCs (and some needed child and adult faces; Kailia needed three: child, adult, old).
This may seem strange, but I am very visual, and need photos to help me "see" my characters. What I do, after creating the characters and getting to know them, is to do web searches for actors/models/regular-people headshots. When I find one that really strikes me as "Character X", I copy and paste it into my story bible.
Sometimes, having the face even helps me flesh out the characters. Brakkus, for example, even as a child, has a section of hair two-inches wide that's white as snow. And there's a story behind that that I didn't know before I found his picture. [g]
Question: Anybody else do this picture thing, or am I the only weirdo?
Question: Do you use a "bible"? If so, what goes in yours? Enquiring minds want to know. [s]
I'm having a good month, compared to last, with over 2,000 additional words so far, so I want to keep the momentum going and aim for at least 5,000 by the end of the month. (I have some time off next week). I can tell since I haven't been doing my little TRACKING thingo at the end of my posts, that I have let myself slack quite a bit more, so I'm going to re-institute that starting today.
**************************************
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Discovered how and why Kailia is going to leave Falcon's place alone.
Today's Target:
Write the scene (above).
Update reverse-outline. (Don't worry, I know what I mean, and that's what's important. [g])
On the Percolator:
Need to read MARU through from beginning so as not to lose the reins on the timetable before I go any further.
Also need to read through the western and start figuring out how to fill in the holes.
Monday, November 06, 2006
If You Write It They Will Come...
Sometimes, writing really is just about taking that leap of faith that something will come of it if you just start. You may have to crash your way through paragraphs or pages of detritus to get to the core, the heart of what you're going for, but you will get there if you keep at it. (And remind me to re-read this next time I get stuck, k?)
After a lot of procrastinating, I finally opened up MARU yesterday evening -- with an attitude. In order to get myself out of my low word production slump, I decided to ignore everything but the last line of the furthest chapter and just step off from there (no matter what I stepped in). So I did. I wrote a pretty horrid couple of paragraphs, concluding with the following: [boy, does this suck]
That wasn't part of the storyline, just my commentary on what I'd typed. Looking at it again today...yeah. It really does suck. [g] But that's what rewrites are for. Anyway, the good thing is, a viable character was born in those crappy paragraphs.
I met the fourth and final member of the Maru. His name is Sebastion. Here's how it happened:
I asked myself, "So why is it bugging Kailia so much that they have to go back to Falcon's place?"
And I answered: "Well, the obvious reason is that it's in the opposite direction of her destination. And too, she envisions Bad Things happening with Grayce and Falcon under the same roof with her. But the further problem is that...they're...going to be late...they're going to...miss a rendezvous...with...Sebastion!"
So, there he was. After that sentence, I wrote: [WTF - Who is Sebastion???]
And I learned he is a bad-ass who wants no truck with any do-gooders. But they have to have his help.
Don't you just love complications? [eg]
After a lot of procrastinating, I finally opened up MARU yesterday evening -- with an attitude. In order to get myself out of my low word production slump, I decided to ignore everything but the last line of the furthest chapter and just step off from there (no matter what I stepped in). So I did. I wrote a pretty horrid couple of paragraphs, concluding with the following: [boy, does this suck]
That wasn't part of the storyline, just my commentary on what I'd typed. Looking at it again today...yeah. It really does suck. [g] But that's what rewrites are for. Anyway, the good thing is, a viable character was born in those crappy paragraphs.
I met the fourth and final member of the Maru. His name is Sebastion. Here's how it happened:
I asked myself, "So why is it bugging Kailia so much that they have to go back to Falcon's place?"
And I answered: "Well, the obvious reason is that it's in the opposite direction of her destination. And too, she envisions Bad Things happening with Grayce and Falcon under the same roof with her. But the further problem is that...they're...going to be late...they're going to...miss a rendezvous...with...Sebastion!"
So, there he was. After that sentence, I wrote: [WTF - Who is Sebastion???]
And I learned he is a bad-ass who wants no truck with any do-gooders. But they have to have his help.
Don't you just love complications? [eg]
Saturday, November 04, 2006
I Think I Can, I Think I Can...
So, October rather fell apart as far as writing goes. I don't think I topped 1000 words for the month. (OTOH, it's 1000 more than I wrote last October.)
So, on to November! I set a goal of 500 measly words a week. If I can't do *that* something is seriously wrong and I shall have to have a severe talk with myself, in addition to letting everyone call me a wannabee.
In the writing I did manage last month, one unexpected thing happened. Well, two things.
1) Jerlann became Jerlanna. Whoopdeedoo! But, the reason she got a mini-name change, is because 2) she is going to become more involved in the story and needs a nickname and I didn't want it to be Lann or Ann. Lanna seems nicer. If I am right, she's going to become one of the Maru. (And here I thought she was just going to be a bratty little sister we'd see the last of in chapter one.)
UNLESS...this is just one of those wild hares the Muse throws out across your path to see if you'll run after it...while she sits back and laughs and calls out, "Just kidding!"
We shall see...
So, on to November! I set a goal of 500 measly words a week. If I can't do *that* something is seriously wrong and I shall have to have a severe talk with myself, in addition to letting everyone call me a wannabee.
In the writing I did manage last month, one unexpected thing happened. Well, two things.
1) Jerlann became Jerlanna. Whoopdeedoo! But, the reason she got a mini-name change, is because 2) she is going to become more involved in the story and needs a nickname and I didn't want it to be Lann or Ann. Lanna seems nicer. If I am right, she's going to become one of the Maru. (And here I thought she was just going to be a bratty little sister we'd see the last of in chapter one.)
UNLESS...this is just one of those wild hares the Muse throws out across your path to see if you'll run after it...while she sits back and laughs and calls out, "Just kidding!"
We shall see...
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Silliness - A Valuable Commodity
Okay, I totally ripped this off from (the brilliant, witty, and wise) Jo's post in Gonkland, but I feel it's so important to share the absurdly silly, that if you missed it, you should have another crack at it... Visit Elastic Enthusiastic when you have a moment or five. [g]
Now, as for me, speaking of silly, I told a co-worker yesterday that I would write five pages this weekend. Yikes. I better get cracking, cause so far, I've added about, oh, mebbe 400 words? Yeah. Lots to do, says the Procrastination Queen. (What was I thinking!?)
TTFN!
Now, as for me, speaking of silly, I told a co-worker yesterday that I would write five pages this weekend. Yikes. I better get cracking, cause so far, I've added about, oh, mebbe 400 words? Yeah. Lots to do, says the Procrastination Queen. (What was I thinking!?)
TTFN!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
How to Start a Fight, or, The Death of Manners
This is going to sound a little personal - and it is - but real life is full of writing lessons. This one is: Reflect on real-life experiences to make your writing stronger and more real.
There are a few topics that were once considered taboo in polite dinner conversation; among them, Religion and Politics. I wish they still were. By everyone, but especially by my extended family.
Not recently, but in the not too distant past, our extended family (DH's side) was dining out together at a fine-dining restaurant - a rare occasion - and the talk turned to politics. DH and I are of a political persuasion at odds with the rest of the family's, so my immediate hope was that DH would not take the bait and respond to 'the other side's' provocative remark. Silly me, I should have known better.
I tried, truly I did, to say nothing, and to encourage DH likewise. But this family is one of strong wills and stronger opinions (however misguided {g}), and they are not inclined to keep their opinions to themselves. If necessary, they gang up on the person(s) they perceive as "wrong" and, as a last ditch effort, revert to the "loudest opinion wins" philosophy. It seemed they felt it necessary that day (DH provided a good argument for 'our side'). Well, the ganging up ensued, but thank God, it didn't get loud.
I tried to deflect the topic to safer ground (and failed) and in the interest of not causing a public row, just made "the face" at DH to let them rant and rave as there is no point trying to make them "think" about what they are spouting. From that point, I simply kept my mouth shut and said nothing to any of them. I started talking to DH quite deliberately about some topic altogether different. I got some looks from the others sitting nearby, but gradually, they got the hint and that topic of discussion died.
By that time, I felt as if we had been personally attacked and I was thoroughly pissed off with the whole bunch of them. I was prepared to get up and leave and they could all f* off and die, for all I cared. Bearing in mind that most of the time they are wonderful, loving people whom I love. But apparently, politics turns them into mindless, ravening beasts. (Maybe it's just a wee bit of a hot button for DH and me as well. {g})
In any case, I stuffed my rage, got indigestion and a headache, and had a thoroughly rotten evening. DH and I left first after dessert was finished and spoke about cutting ties with them all on the way home. We decided, nah, we're all just pissed off and caught up in the emotions provoked by having our strong beliefs attacked. So we got over it.
Now, the moral of this little story, writers, is that it doesn't take all that much to start a war. Strong emotions, strong beliefs, an unwillingness to settle, and an incautious tongue are four volatile ingredients that can explode into unintended consequences.
It just so happens that DH and I care enough about maintaining family ties to have not acted on our initial impulses. Remember that, the next time you (or your characters) sit down to dinner, particularly if it's with someone you love less than you love your family. Use the What If... technique with your characters. What if they all thought they were sitting down to an innocuous social dinner and Someone said something extremely inflammatory, not knowing that Someone Else had Serious Reason to Object, and ... well, you know what to do. ;)
There are a few topics that were once considered taboo in polite dinner conversation; among them, Religion and Politics. I wish they still were. By everyone, but especially by my extended family.
Not recently, but in the not too distant past, our extended family (DH's side) was dining out together at a fine-dining restaurant - a rare occasion - and the talk turned to politics. DH and I are of a political persuasion at odds with the rest of the family's, so my immediate hope was that DH would not take the bait and respond to 'the other side's' provocative remark. Silly me, I should have known better.
I tried, truly I did, to say nothing, and to encourage DH likewise. But this family is one of strong wills and stronger opinions (however misguided {g}), and they are not inclined to keep their opinions to themselves. If necessary, they gang up on the person(s) they perceive as "wrong" and, as a last ditch effort, revert to the "loudest opinion wins" philosophy. It seemed they felt it necessary that day (DH provided a good argument for 'our side'). Well, the ganging up ensued, but thank God, it didn't get loud.
I tried to deflect the topic to safer ground (and failed) and in the interest of not causing a public row, just made "the face" at DH to let them rant and rave as there is no point trying to make them "think" about what they are spouting. From that point, I simply kept my mouth shut and said nothing to any of them. I started talking to DH quite deliberately about some topic altogether different. I got some looks from the others sitting nearby, but gradually, they got the hint and that topic of discussion died.
By that time, I felt as if we had been personally attacked and I was thoroughly pissed off with the whole bunch of them. I was prepared to get up and leave and they could all f* off and die, for all I cared. Bearing in mind that most of the time they are wonderful, loving people whom I love. But apparently, politics turns them into mindless, ravening beasts. (Maybe it's just a wee bit of a hot button for DH and me as well. {g})
In any case, I stuffed my rage, got indigestion and a headache, and had a thoroughly rotten evening. DH and I left first after dessert was finished and spoke about cutting ties with them all on the way home. We decided, nah, we're all just pissed off and caught up in the emotions provoked by having our strong beliefs attacked. So we got over it.
Now, the moral of this little story, writers, is that it doesn't take all that much to start a war. Strong emotions, strong beliefs, an unwillingness to settle, and an incautious tongue are four volatile ingredients that can explode into unintended consequences.
It just so happens that DH and I care enough about maintaining family ties to have not acted on our initial impulses. Remember that, the next time you (or your characters) sit down to dinner, particularly if it's with someone you love less than you love your family. Use the What If... technique with your characters. What if they all thought they were sitting down to an innocuous social dinner and Someone said something extremely inflammatory, not knowing that Someone Else had Serious Reason to Object, and ... well, you know what to do. ;)
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Pocket Full O' Goodies
* Today was a good day. I consolidated all of my MARU (fantasy novel) files into one, did a bit of rewriting on Chapter One, and did an actual word count, rather than the guesstimate I had on my word-o-meter previously. I had almost twice as many words as I thought (including today's work). :)
* Check out Flogging The Quill for some useful tidbits, if you haven't already. One of the recent posts there will be a bit of deja vu for Books & Writers forumites - about what should be on the first page of your novel. But there are lots of other goodies, too. Among them a reminder about using the Bookmarks feature in word processing software. (I use MS Word and Open Office and both have the feature.) Very, very useful! Especially since I am condensing my "million files" method into one big file per MSS.
* Another happy little find today was iFinger 2.1 with a very handy dictionary that parks on your browser and WP title bar. (You can get the Mirriam-Webster free, or a limited-time trial version of one of the OEDs. I got both and they work together.) I got it from Download.com.
Okay, that's it for me today. Happy writing, writers!
* Check out Flogging The Quill for some useful tidbits, if you haven't already. One of the recent posts there will be a bit of deja vu for Books & Writers forumites - about what should be on the first page of your novel. But there are lots of other goodies, too. Among them a reminder about using the Bookmarks feature in word processing software. (I use MS Word and Open Office and both have the feature.) Very, very useful! Especially since I am condensing my "million files" method into one big file per MSS.
* Another happy little find today was iFinger 2.1 with a very handy dictionary that parks on your browser and WP title bar. (You can get the Mirriam-Webster free, or a limited-time trial version of one of the OEDs. I got both and they work together.) I got it from Download.com.
Okay, that's it for me today. Happy writing, writers!
Friday, October 13, 2006
Dream on, Mrs. Mitty
Doesn't pay to think, some days.
Just fifteen minutes ago, I was thinking how very nice it was that DH and DS were really understanding my need for quiet writing time, and leaving me to it, and picking up the slack I was creating in household chores.
Well, pop that dream bubble. {g} Two minutes ago, just as I started warming up to some rewriting in the fantasy novel, DH comes in and says, “I need your help.”
Ah, well. It's nice to be needed, too. {s}
Just fifteen minutes ago, I was thinking how very nice it was that DH and DS were really understanding my need for quiet writing time, and leaving me to it, and picking up the slack I was creating in household chores.
Well, pop that dream bubble. {g} Two minutes ago, just as I started warming up to some rewriting in the fantasy novel, DH comes in and says, “I need your help.”
Ah, well. It's nice to be needed, too. {s}
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Brain Drain
I think the heading about says it all.
I've spent the last three evenings printing out what seems like thousands but is actually only a few dozen files that comprise my western/romantic-suspense story. The files are in varying sizes, ranging from 1/3 to 73 pages.
I can definitely say I have the major bones of a first draft here (SFD for sure, but still...) I have a few blank spots in the storyline that need to be filled before the official pasting-together phase begins though. What I did tonight was to sort the chunks into where (Act I, Act II, or Act III) they will fall in the story, and where within the Acts. And then I listed them in a spreadsheet in that order. Finally, some organization on paper! {g}
Also, I sorted all my non-story material, separating "research" from "craft" from "characterization" from "story bible" from "outline" (of which, somehow, I wound up with four). I do outline entries after I write the scene, not before. Little backward, yep, that's me. {g}
Anyway, my brain is in sleep mode now, so I'm to bed.
I've spent the last three evenings printing out what seems like thousands but is actually only a few dozen files that comprise my western/romantic-suspense story. The files are in varying sizes, ranging from 1/3 to 73 pages.
I can definitely say I have the major bones of a first draft here (SFD for sure, but still...) I have a few blank spots in the storyline that need to be filled before the official pasting-together phase begins though. What I did tonight was to sort the chunks into where (Act I, Act II, or Act III) they will fall in the story, and where within the Acts. And then I listed them in a spreadsheet in that order. Finally, some organization on paper! {g}
Also, I sorted all my non-story material, separating "research" from "craft" from "characterization" from "story bible" from "outline" (of which, somehow, I wound up with four). I do outline entries after I write the scene, not before. Little backward, yep, that's me. {g}
Anyway, my brain is in sleep mode now, so I'm to bed.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Inciting Incidents
I love those words: Inciting Incident.
They even sound important and suspense-filled and exciting, don't they? I almost hear the dum-de-dum-dum of the Dragnet theme when I read those words... (Okay, so I'm weird; what's new?) {g}
What is it that starts the conflagration that your story is about to become?
In my 1860s western/romantic-suspense, the Inciting Incident is when two strange men, individually, arrive in a small town right around the time that one of the townswomen disappears. (Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, one is a serial killer, the other, the undercover agent on his trail.)
In my fantasy, the Inciting Incident is the finding of an ancient scroll by a teenage boy who is destined for Big Things, though he doesn't know it.
What are your inciting incidents?
* * *
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Bought a laser printer so I can print out the files for the western. Yay!
(Wound up with an energy-sipping HP 1022n xi).
Today's Target:
Get the western printed out & start finding holes and patching.
Continue work on recasting conversation with Brakkus and Sareen.
Update Blogs.
On the Percolator:
Nothing much percolating today.
They even sound important and suspense-filled and exciting, don't they? I almost hear the dum-de-dum-dum of the Dragnet theme when I read those words... (Okay, so I'm weird; what's new?) {g}
What is it that starts the conflagration that your story is about to become?
In my 1860s western/romantic-suspense, the Inciting Incident is when two strange men, individually, arrive in a small town right around the time that one of the townswomen disappears. (Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, one is a serial killer, the other, the undercover agent on his trail.)
In my fantasy, the Inciting Incident is the finding of an ancient scroll by a teenage boy who is destined for Big Things, though he doesn't know it.
What are your inciting incidents?
* * *
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Bought a laser printer so I can print out the files for the western. Yay!
(Wound up with an energy-sipping HP 1022n xi).
Today's Target:
Get the western printed out & start finding holes and patching.
Continue work on recasting conversation with Brakkus and Sareen.
Update Blogs.
On the Percolator:
Nothing much percolating today.
Monday, October 02, 2006
As the saying goes...
Don't like the weather? Wait five minutes.
That's what they say about Michigan, and in this case, "they" are right. After the beautiful day yesterday, the thunderstorms started last night.
Then quit. Then started again. Then quit again. Then started again and again, and again! I've lost track of how many times. The kids at school were somewhere on the spectrum between giddy and hysterical when the big booms and flashes hit. {g} It's been quite a day and we even had a lovely sunset between downpours.
I made a movie today at work. A very *small* movie - about three minutes. I shot the video, did a few edits, added a few stills, effects and some music, and voila! It was of our principal doing a Mr. Rogers-style promo for an upcoming band concert. I think that was the most fun I've had at work in...ever. We now have a fairly good set of bloopers for the next staff social event, too. I was almost in tears laughing over some of the first few takes, and I blew the next one by not being able to stop laughing at the previous attempt. Thank goodness my boss is a good sport! {g}
Writing has been interesting for me as I get back at it this time. I am being much more demanding of myself as to *how* I go about writing this fantasy novel. I think the reason is that it's going to be a complex production with threads and timelines that will require a lot of weaving.
Also, one of the MCs will be in third person, and one in first. (I didn't decide that part; they did.) I don't want the story to get hopelessly tangled before it even gets well underway, so I'm going slow and steady and (mostly) linearly. And crossing my fingers.
I want to live up to the good story idea and not screw it up. {g}
If you are a writer, too, do you ever get this sense of intimidation from your work?
* * *
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Decided how to approach the rest of the conversation between Brakkus & Sareen (since I was stumbling over it) - made a list of 'talking points' to work from.
Today's Target:
Continue work on recasting conversation (above).
Update Blogs.
Make a decision about a laser printer.
On the Percolator:
What happens at Falcon's place in Maru?
That's what they say about Michigan, and in this case, "they" are right. After the beautiful day yesterday, the thunderstorms started last night.
Then quit. Then started again. Then quit again. Then started again and again, and again! I've lost track of how many times. The kids at school were somewhere on the spectrum between giddy and hysterical when the big booms and flashes hit. {g} It's been quite a day and we even had a lovely sunset between downpours.
I made a movie today at work. A very *small* movie - about three minutes. I shot the video, did a few edits, added a few stills, effects and some music, and voila! It was of our principal doing a Mr. Rogers-style promo for an upcoming band concert. I think that was the most fun I've had at work in...ever. We now have a fairly good set of bloopers for the next staff social event, too. I was almost in tears laughing over some of the first few takes, and I blew the next one by not being able to stop laughing at the previous attempt. Thank goodness my boss is a good sport! {g}
Writing has been interesting for me as I get back at it this time. I am being much more demanding of myself as to *how* I go about writing this fantasy novel. I think the reason is that it's going to be a complex production with threads and timelines that will require a lot of weaving.
Also, one of the MCs will be in third person, and one in first. (I didn't decide that part; they did.) I don't want the story to get hopelessly tangled before it even gets well underway, so I'm going slow and steady and (mostly) linearly. And crossing my fingers.
I want to live up to the good story idea and not screw it up. {g}
If you are a writer, too, do you ever get this sense of intimidation from your work?
* * *
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Decided how to approach the rest of the conversation between Brakkus & Sareen (since I was stumbling over it) - made a list of 'talking points' to work from.
Today's Target:
Continue work on recasting conversation (above).
Update Blogs.
Make a decision about a laser printer.
On the Percolator:
What happens at Falcon's place in Maru?
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Wow. It’s October already!
Today, a friend and I hopped in her car and went for a day-trip. We drove a couple of hours to an Ikea store and met my daughter and son-in-law for lunch. And shopped, of course. What a great way to spend a day! Not that I’m typically a shopper – far from it! – but spending time with some of my favorite people and gallivanting across the countryside are always a pleasure for me.
It was a gorgeous fall day in Michigan – the kind we really treasure. I’m a visual person, and a day like this is almost an overdose of visual stimuli for me (but in a good way). {g}
We enjoyed robin’s-egg blue skies, fluffy puffs of plump white clouds, trees dressed in autumn finery of crimson and green, orange and brown. Verdant meadows were dotted with clumps of shrubs and wildflowers – purple clusters and yellow. Golden fields of crops on the wane painted hills and valleys. Kettles of hawks circled high above the trees, soaring on updrafts. Their solitary cohort sat atop the highest branch of a naked tree, keeping watch.
I was so busy soaking in the splendor that I didn’t even take any pictures*.
(And in case you’re interested, since Vicki drove, not me, I just ignored all the cars and buildings. Sometimes, deliberately, we see what we want to see… {g})
# # #
* I've gotten the urge to take pictures again, so here are a few recent ones. I thought they might be useful when I go to write description – they are pretty, natural scenes. I’ve particularly focused on a meadow overgrown with some gold flowering plant (goldenrod maybe?? I know not!) as it began to turn colors. It’s a spot I drive past on my way to and from work.
Click any photo to enlarge the view.
Field of Gold in September
(day one of four)
A Good Hiding Spot for Little Birds
(day one of four)
A Little Spot of Color
(day one of four)
For those of y'all who don't get much snow, that little color-tipped metal pole sticking up behind the fire hydrant is the tip-off for snowplow drivers not to get too close. Guess they figger we're going to have a light year, else they'd have those ten-footers out. ;)
Sunflower Patch
(day one of four)
The A.M. Commute
A lucky shot, using digital camera without looking to see what I was shooting. (Kids, don't try this at home.)
Field of Gold in the Rain
(day 2 of 4)
Field of Gold in September
(day 3 of 4)
Field of Gold in September
(day 4 of 4)
The Hand of God
Fingers of cloud with rays of sunlight streaking out between them.
The Sentinel
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Began recasting Brakkus & Sareen’s conversation in real time, per crit feedback. Found numerous substitues for “scroll” and plugged them in to chapter one. {g}
Also fixed (again!) the freaking cable internet connection.
Today's Target:
Continue work on recasting conversation (above).
Update Blogs.
Make a decision about a laser printer.
On the Percolator:
What happens at Falcon's place in Maru?
It was a gorgeous fall day in Michigan – the kind we really treasure. I’m a visual person, and a day like this is almost an overdose of visual stimuli for me (but in a good way). {g}
We enjoyed robin’s-egg blue skies, fluffy puffs of plump white clouds, trees dressed in autumn finery of crimson and green, orange and brown. Verdant meadows were dotted with clumps of shrubs and wildflowers – purple clusters and yellow. Golden fields of crops on the wane painted hills and valleys. Kettles of hawks circled high above the trees, soaring on updrafts. Their solitary cohort sat atop the highest branch of a naked tree, keeping watch.
I was so busy soaking in the splendor that I didn’t even take any pictures*.
(And in case you’re interested, since Vicki drove, not me, I just ignored all the cars and buildings. Sometimes, deliberately, we see what we want to see… {g})
# # #
* I've gotten the urge to take pictures again, so here are a few recent ones. I thought they might be useful when I go to write description – they are pretty, natural scenes. I’ve particularly focused on a meadow overgrown with some gold flowering plant (goldenrod maybe?? I know not!) as it began to turn colors. It’s a spot I drive past on my way to and from work.
Click any photo to enlarge the view.
Field of Gold in September
(day one of four)
A Good Hiding Spot for Little Birds
(day one of four)
A Little Spot of Color
(day one of four)
For those of y'all who don't get much snow, that little color-tipped metal pole sticking up behind the fire hydrant is the tip-off for snowplow drivers not to get too close. Guess they figger we're going to have a light year, else they'd have those ten-footers out. ;)
Sunflower Patch
(day one of four)
The A.M. Commute
A lucky shot, using digital camera without looking to see what I was shooting. (Kids, don't try this at home.)
Field of Gold in the Rain
(day 2 of 4)
Field of Gold in September
(day 3 of 4)
Field of Gold in September
(day 4 of 4)
The Hand of God
Fingers of cloud with rays of sunlight streaking out between them.
The Sentinel
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Began recasting Brakkus & Sareen’s conversation in real time, per crit feedback. Found numerous substitues for “scroll” and plugged them in to chapter one. {g}
Also fixed (again!) the freaking cable internet connection.
Today's Target:
Continue work on recasting conversation (above).
Update Blogs.
Make a decision about a laser printer.
On the Percolator:
What happens at Falcon's place in Maru?
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Absentee Landlord Syndrome
That's what I feel like: an absentee landlord. I mean, why stake out a place for myself here and then neglect it?
Oh, yes, I remember. I had to go back to w*rk.
It's okay. In fact, it's really good this year. Makes a world of difference that I don't have the dreaded lunchroom monitor duty I had last year, and that I actually got some time before students came in to do some planning! What a concept!
My writing (other than the blog) also went by the wayside for these past few weeks while I adapted to my new schedule. I sort of knew that was going to happen; though I didn't really want to let it, I allowed it. But, bzzzzzt! Time's up. Slacking's over. Adjustment's made and writing is back on the agenda.
So, I'm off to take a last glance at my first five pages of the fantasy before I upload for critque. Wish me luck...I'll need it. [g]
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Caught up on Books & Writers forum and started crits. [g]
Today's Target:
Fix the *!@* internet/router problem.
U/l pages to forum for critique.
Continue work on Chapter Two of TBOTM (fantasy novel).
On the Percolator:
What happens at Falcon's place in TBOTM?
Oh, yes, I remember. I had to go back to w*rk.
It's okay. In fact, it's really good this year. Makes a world of difference that I don't have the dreaded lunchroom monitor duty I had last year, and that I actually got some time before students came in to do some planning! What a concept!
My writing (other than the blog) also went by the wayside for these past few weeks while I adapted to my new schedule. I sort of knew that was going to happen; though I didn't really want to let it, I allowed it. But, bzzzzzt! Time's up. Slacking's over. Adjustment's made and writing is back on the agenda.
So, I'm off to take a last glance at my first five pages of the fantasy before I upload for critque. Wish me luck...I'll need it. [g]
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Caught up on Books & Writers forum and started crits. [g]
Today's Target:
Fix the *!@* internet/router problem.
U/l pages to forum for critique.
Continue work on Chapter Two of TBOTM (fantasy novel).
On the Percolator:
What happens at Falcon's place in TBOTM?
Sunday, August 27, 2006
The Two Faces of Mrs. Mitty
Boo-hoo!
Yippee!
I go back to work tomorrow.
Sad because my annual "time to write as much as I like" is over.
Happy because my annual "season of poverty" is ending. [g]
I'm happy to make the trade-off of money for time, although I'd be even happier if somebody would pay me to stay home and work on my novels and short stories all summer (or all year, for that matter!). Do feel free to let me know if you should hear of anyone with the wherewithal and inclination to do such a thing! (Yeahright.)
I started another blog the other day ('cause, you know... anything to avoid doing some of those unpleasant tasks like filing, cleaning the garage, etc.). This new one - called Technically Speaking - is mainly for the benefit of people I work with at school; perhaps they can pick up some technical knowledge through osmosis. I don't have a plan for it other than to talk about technology and software and such, so we'll see how it goes.
Okay, it's been a long day and I think I'm blathering now, so I will close with a Nighty-Nite!
Yippee!
I go back to work tomorrow.
Sad because my annual "time to write as much as I like" is over.
Happy because my annual "season of poverty" is ending. [g]
I'm happy to make the trade-off of money for time, although I'd be even happier if somebody would pay me to stay home and work on my novels and short stories all summer (or all year, for that matter!). Do feel free to let me know if you should hear of anyone with the wherewithal and inclination to do such a thing! (Yeahright.)
I started another blog the other day ('cause, you know... anything to avoid doing some of those unpleasant tasks like filing, cleaning the garage, etc.). This new one - called Technically Speaking - is mainly for the benefit of people I work with at school; perhaps they can pick up some technical knowledge through osmosis. I don't have a plan for it other than to talk about technology and software and such, so we'll see how it goes.
Okay, it's been a long day and I think I'm blathering now, so I will close with a Nighty-Nite!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Two Sides of the Coin
I’m having trouble with a short story I’ve written. It seems to be a trend with my short stories: I don’t like how they turn out. Probably explains why I write so few of them.
The first short story I wrote (as an adult) was for a Creative Writing class, and with the pressure on to do something “different”, I came up with exploring the idea of infidelity on the part of a neglected wife. (Not autobiographical, happily.) I thought that, even if it had been done, at least the wife as the guilty party was a little different. And the husband ‘saying’ he was forgiving, but not actually forgiving her afterward… Well, see, it just wasn’t any fun.
I didn’t like the story. I didn’t like the characters, though I made them at least a little sympathetic. I really didn’t like their behaviors – any of them – and I wanted to throw it away and start a new story before I even finished. I told my instructor how I felt and he said, “Finish it.” I was truly annoyed. I understood why he wanted me to finish it, and he was right to make me – I can admit now - but I hated the whole story. So I gave it one of those ‘left-up-to-the-reader’ endings that he taught us about. Ha. Showed him. ;)
So now, ancient history aside, after having not written any short stories in about ten years, I have written two of them. The one I’m having trouble with currently has a sappy, sugary-sweet ending, and that’s not what I’m after at all. I want it to be a happy ending, but not like that! It’s supposed to be kind of mystical and mysterious and leave the reader with something akin to a gentle case of goosebumps, or a glowy warm feeling – not a toothache.
Gosh I love/hate writing. I’ve always loved it…just never saw the other side of the coin before now! The feeling of knowing exactly what I want to come out, but not being able to grasp the exact right way to shape it to make it happen is driving me bonkers!
Perhaps the Magic Drawer will help. We shall see!
Now, onto the other short story…so far so good…editing in progress. Cross your fingers for me! [g]
The first short story I wrote (as an adult) was for a Creative Writing class, and with the pressure on to do something “different”, I came up with exploring the idea of infidelity on the part of a neglected wife. (Not autobiographical, happily.) I thought that, even if it had been done, at least the wife as the guilty party was a little different. And the husband ‘saying’ he was forgiving, but not actually forgiving her afterward… Well, see, it just wasn’t any fun.
I didn’t like the story. I didn’t like the characters, though I made them at least a little sympathetic. I really didn’t like their behaviors – any of them – and I wanted to throw it away and start a new story before I even finished. I told my instructor how I felt and he said, “Finish it.” I was truly annoyed. I understood why he wanted me to finish it, and he was right to make me – I can admit now - but I hated the whole story. So I gave it one of those ‘left-up-to-the-reader’ endings that he taught us about. Ha. Showed him. ;)
So now, ancient history aside, after having not written any short stories in about ten years, I have written two of them. The one I’m having trouble with currently has a sappy, sugary-sweet ending, and that’s not what I’m after at all. I want it to be a happy ending, but not like that! It’s supposed to be kind of mystical and mysterious and leave the reader with something akin to a gentle case of goosebumps, or a glowy warm feeling – not a toothache.
Gosh I love/hate writing. I’ve always loved it…just never saw the other side of the coin before now! The feeling of knowing exactly what I want to come out, but not being able to grasp the exact right way to shape it to make it happen is driving me bonkers!
Perhaps the Magic Drawer will help. We shall see!
Now, onto the other short story…so far so good…editing in progress. Cross your fingers for me! [g]
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Inspiration In The Arena
I don't want to say much about my wonderful family here (especially without their permission), but I can't share this entry without mentioning my only brother. He's a world-champion pool player and a craftsman of fabulous, gorgeous, custom cues. The road to success in his chosen endeavors has been fraught with ups and downs all along the way, just like it is for writers and, frankly, anyone with a dream and a goal.
He once shared with me something that kept him encouraged when things were not going so well. It's one of the most inspiring pieces I've ever read and in case you've never seen it, I wanted to share. In case you have, read it again. It's worth it.
The words are an excerpt from one of Theodore Roosevelt's speeches CITIZENSHIP IN A REPUBLIC (the entirety of which is also worth reading). This segment is commonly known as 'The Man in the Arena'.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
CITIZENSHIP IN A REPUBLIC,
'Man In The Arena'
April 23, 1910
He once shared with me something that kept him encouraged when things were not going so well. It's one of the most inspiring pieces I've ever read and in case you've never seen it, I wanted to share. In case you have, read it again. It's worth it.
The words are an excerpt from one of Theodore Roosevelt's speeches CITIZENSHIP IN A REPUBLIC (the entirety of which is also worth reading). This segment is commonly known as 'The Man in the Arena'.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
CITIZENSHIP IN A REPUBLIC,
'Man In The Arena'
April 23, 1910
Sunday, August 06, 2006
On My Diminutive Pony: A Rant In Two Parts
Part One: Climbing upon my diminutive pony here, so as not to insult the air in the stratosphere where the high and mighty reign, so clearly superior, over my head and the heads of my cohorts: my fellow (as yet) unpublished novelists. (And, speaking for myself, at least, I am not, thank you very much, a “wannabee writer”. I abhor that term. I write; therefore, I am a writer.)
It seems that many of us deluded fools believe wrongly, that there is some point and purpose to our writing. We should know better. We could never be good enough. There are already fine, erudite, and sophisticated authors aplenty, and we are fouling their turf and besmirching the name of “writer” and should cease and desist at once.
Harrumph!! Ptooie! I spit on that!
Can you tell I have recently read two articles wherein published authors of some renown, have blown hard over their own self-proclaimed superiority? And not only that, but made a strong point that so many people out there ‘trying’ are just a huge waste of time and effort. Grrrr. That kind of self-righteous pomposity sickens me.
Part Two: Get thee a life!
If you have nothing better to do with the one you have now than to cut people down and discourage them in their chosen endeavors, it’s time to get yourself a new life.
Look around you. See how imperfect everyone else is?
Good, that was the easy part.
Now, look in the mirror. Guess what! You’re not perfect either. Get over yourself, already.
Look outside of yourself and see what you can see. Look for a way to make the world just a tiny bit better, a tiny bit nicer.
Then do it.
And if you should happen to encounter someone in one of life’s small pools of happiness, fulfillment and contentment, for God’s sake, LET THEM WALLOW IN IT!
Thank you very much for reading. Ranting complete.
Have a shiny day. ;)
PS: These rants are for persons who shall remain unnamed. I do not know them personally, in the case of Part One, but I think we all know people for whom Part Two was written. Negatrons. Pessimists. And fun-spoilers of all stripes. (Of course, if you are reading my blog, I am certain this rant has nothing whatever to do with you. [g])
It seems that many of us deluded fools believe wrongly, that there is some point and purpose to our writing. We should know better. We could never be good enough. There are already fine, erudite, and sophisticated authors aplenty, and we are fouling their turf and besmirching the name of “writer” and should cease and desist at once.
Harrumph!! Ptooie! I spit on that!
Can you tell I have recently read two articles wherein published authors of some renown, have blown hard over their own self-proclaimed superiority? And not only that, but made a strong point that so many people out there ‘trying’ are just a huge waste of time and effort. Grrrr. That kind of self-righteous pomposity sickens me.
Part Two: Get thee a life!
If you have nothing better to do with the one you have now than to cut people down and discourage them in their chosen endeavors, it’s time to get yourself a new life.
Look around you. See how imperfect everyone else is?
Good, that was the easy part.
Now, look in the mirror. Guess what! You’re not perfect either. Get over yourself, already.
Look outside of yourself and see what you can see. Look for a way to make the world just a tiny bit better, a tiny bit nicer.
Then do it.
And if you should happen to encounter someone in one of life’s small pools of happiness, fulfillment and contentment, for God’s sake, LET THEM WALLOW IN IT!
Thank you very much for reading. Ranting complete.
Have a shiny day. ;)
PS: These rants are for persons who shall remain unnamed. I do not know them personally, in the case of Part One, but I think we all know people for whom Part Two was written. Negatrons. Pessimists. And fun-spoilers of all stripes. (Of course, if you are reading my blog, I am certain this rant has nothing whatever to do with you. [g])
Thursday, July 27, 2006
The Magic in the Drawer
It’s true, the oft repeated wisdom that sometimes you just have to put the darn thing away for a while. I was discussing with a writer friend of mine the other day how solutions seem to magically ferment while the manuscript is stuck away in a drawer. Somehow, there’s a weird chemical reaction that occurs, linking The Untouchable Drawer to the author’s brain. It brews up answers to puzzling dilemmas and makes glaring errors we couldn’t see for being too close to the work, visible.
Last spring, I started my western/whatever-it-is novel with a character that I really enjoyed: Jimmy Donovan. A charming but irresponsible rogue, he was going to be one of the primary POV characters in the story and in fact, started the story off and running. Before too long, I was actively looking for something for him to do in order to justify his presence in the story, because I liked him. A lot.
Nada is what I kept coming up with. Well, I’ll just write around him and his “stuff” for a while, as long as I’m writing in random scenes anyway, I said. So I did.
Over the winter, I put my MS in the drawer for reasons that had more to do with pouting than authorial wisdom, but there was this surprising benefit: When I took it out again and looked it over, I – just like that [envision fingers snapping here] – decided to get rid of Jimmy Donovan. Piece of cake.
The emotional distance I gained from sticking him in the drawer for months allowed me to see the “obvious” solution: Dispose of a character who wasn’t adding anything of substance to the story.
Later still, I decided that, rather than get rid of him entirely, I would just reduce him to a reference, where Kit receives a Dear John from him at the outset of the story. He becomes then, just one more piece of her terrible, rotten, hideously bad day.
Now, if I choose to write the second and third books of the series I have in mind (assuming I WILL one day finish this first one!), he will appear in one of them. I still like the guy, after all. He’s got possibilities. He’s just not necessary to the current story, so out he goes.
I have a hunch that something better is going to come of Jimmy Donovan, once he’s had the chance to ferment in that drawer for another year or so. ;)
Last spring, I started my western/whatever-it-is novel with a character that I really enjoyed: Jimmy Donovan. A charming but irresponsible rogue, he was going to be one of the primary POV characters in the story and in fact, started the story off and running. Before too long, I was actively looking for something for him to do in order to justify his presence in the story, because I liked him. A lot.
Nada is what I kept coming up with. Well, I’ll just write around him and his “stuff” for a while, as long as I’m writing in random scenes anyway, I said. So I did.
Over the winter, I put my MS in the drawer for reasons that had more to do with pouting than authorial wisdom, but there was this surprising benefit: When I took it out again and looked it over, I – just like that [envision fingers snapping here] – decided to get rid of Jimmy Donovan. Piece of cake.
The emotional distance I gained from sticking him in the drawer for months allowed me to see the “obvious” solution: Dispose of a character who wasn’t adding anything of substance to the story.
Later still, I decided that, rather than get rid of him entirely, I would just reduce him to a reference, where Kit receives a Dear John from him at the outset of the story. He becomes then, just one more piece of her terrible, rotten, hideously bad day.
Now, if I choose to write the second and third books of the series I have in mind (assuming I WILL one day finish this first one!), he will appear in one of them. I still like the guy, after all. He’s got possibilities. He’s just not necessary to the current story, so out he goes.
I have a hunch that something better is going to come of Jimmy Donovan, once he’s had the chance to ferment in that drawer for another year or so. ;)
Friday, July 21, 2006
Work, Work, Work
Okay, I haven't set any specific goals for the last few days but I have been working. (My goal for the month was 15,000 words, and I think I'm about there now.) I've got the first draft of the final chapter of the western underway. No, this doesn't mean I'm done with the first draft of the book, since I'm not writing it in order, but I know enough of the other events in the story now that the final chapter can be written - at least roughly.
I suppose I could have written the final chapter first, considering that I've known from the beginning what the ending was going to be. But, I've been writing scenes and chapters as the spirit moved me, and just lately, it's moved me to the finale.
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Started the final chapter of the western.
Today's Target:
Continue roughing out the final chapter.
On the Percolator:
What happens next at the riverside in fantasy?
I suppose I could have written the final chapter first, considering that I've known from the beginning what the ending was going to be. But, I've been writing scenes and chapters as the spirit moved me, and just lately, it's moved me to the finale.
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Started the final chapter of the western.
Today's Target:
Continue roughing out the final chapter.
On the Percolator:
What happens next at the riverside in fantasy?
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Blowing It or Blowing It Off
It's all about attitude.
Myself, if I have a day where I don't do squat, I call it blowing it off. 'Blowing it' has too much of self-flagellation about it and, as good as I can be about guilting myself, there is such a thing as going too far. No sense in beating myself up for being human.
And, as one might just guess...I blew off writing yesterday (other than updating the blog).
Back on the horse today, though.
Giddyup!
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Er, see above.
Today's Target:
1000 words of MS for western. (And not getting so involved I forget to go to my dentist appointment.)
On the Percolator:
1000 words of MS for western.
Myself, if I have a day where I don't do squat, I call it blowing it off. 'Blowing it' has too much of self-flagellation about it and, as good as I can be about guilting myself, there is such a thing as going too far. No sense in beating myself up for being human.
And, as one might just guess...I blew off writing yesterday (other than updating the blog).
Back on the horse today, though.
Giddyup!
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Er, see above.
Today's Target:
1000 words of MS for western. (And not getting so involved I forget to go to my dentist appointment.)
On the Percolator:
1000 words of MS for western.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
This 'n That
My, my, time is flying. Before I know it, summer will be gone and I’ll be back to my day job – my paying job, more to the point. Boo hoo. Well, I suppose it’s a necessary evil*. Certainly right about now it’s seeming more necessary than evil. Being broke sucks, that’s for sure.
* Not really evil, however. I actually like my job. Love working with kids and with computers, and that’s almost all of what the job is, so I have no complaints (except the fact that I’m not independently wealthy without having to work at all).
I’ve finished the SFD (emphasis on S) of the funeral chapter in the western! Thank you, Lord! It definitely needs a red pen and a lot of filling-in, but I have the essence of it down at least. Onward!
Today’s brainstorm was headpieces that Kailia’s people wear in the fantasy story. Don’t ask me where it came from, other than the need to keep their hair out of their faces, but they’re fairly intricate, involving status and clan indicators as well as serving a practical purpose.
In the fantasy, Grayce has been introduced and has just discovered some of Kailia’s specialness. We left him with his mouth gaping. Hope he doesn’t catch any flies.
* * *
TRACKING…
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Finished the first draft of the funeral chapter. Yahoo! Did a little ordering of the chapters.
Today's Target:
500 words on the farewell chapter in western; journaling.
On the Percolator:
Kailia's Big Thing again...
* Not really evil, however. I actually like my job. Love working with kids and with computers, and that’s almost all of what the job is, so I have no complaints (except the fact that I’m not independently wealthy without having to work at all).
I’ve finished the SFD (emphasis on S) of the funeral chapter in the western! Thank you, Lord! It definitely needs a red pen and a lot of filling-in, but I have the essence of it down at least. Onward!
Today’s brainstorm was headpieces that Kailia’s people wear in the fantasy story. Don’t ask me where it came from, other than the need to keep their hair out of their faces, but they’re fairly intricate, involving status and clan indicators as well as serving a practical purpose.
In the fantasy, Grayce has been introduced and has just discovered some of Kailia’s specialness. We left him with his mouth gaping. Hope he doesn’t catch any flies.
* * *
TRACKING…
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Finished the first draft of the funeral chapter. Yahoo! Did a little ordering of the chapters.
Today's Target:
500 words on the farewell chapter in western; journaling.
On the Percolator:
Kailia's Big Thing again...
Monday, July 17, 2006
Zilch Day
Yesterday was a bit of a zilch as far as writing goes. And in case you’re equating “zilch” with “zero”…well you wouldn’t be far off, but that’s not the kind of zilch I mean.
I expect there are very few who’ve ever experienced a zilch (made up – as far as I know – by DH’s high school crew, back in the day…), so let me ‘splain ya.
Ground rules:
No. 1 You can only make one when you’re camping and
A) Bored silly, and
B) Have exhausted all other forms of entertainment
No. 2 It has to be night time (totally misses the point and visuals, done by daylight)
No. 3 You must follow safety procedures.
[deleted]
Well, after writing up the explanation, and then discussing with myself the wisdom of putting the directions for zilch-making out on the ‘net (yeah, even if I am the only one reading my blog…) I decided not to since I’d hate to think some kid followed the “recipe” and burned him or herself, or set a forest on fire. So, I guess I’m not ‘splainin’ ya. But I will say that it’s something of a pyrotechnic marvel, a unique phenomenon that includes the cartoon-esque sound of a downward spiral.
And that, the sound of a downward spiral, was pretty much what would accompany my writing efforts yesterday. (Long way around the block on that one, eh?) I sat down – several times, in fact – put my fingers on the keyboard, and began to write. So I did do some writing.
Unfortunately, what little came out on each attempt was more or less tripe and drivel. I’m hoping it was the heat and the incipient migraine (which has been hovering, thinking about blowing up for three days). It was above 90 again all day yesterday and as a rule, I start wilting in the 80s, puking in the 90s. Not a big fan of hot, humid weather.
So, some days you’ve got it, and some days you don’t. And you move on.
* * *
TRACKING…
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
I sat myself in the chair and wrote a couple of paragraphs for the funeral scene. Did personal journaling. No blog update. (The day before, I wrote more than 700 words of a new scene and the 300 I was shooting for in the funeral scene.)
Today's Target:
Finish the blasted funeral scene and move on, already! Journaling.
On the percolator:
Same old same old. But I know more about Kailia's life than I did yesterday.
I expect there are very few who’ve ever experienced a zilch (made up – as far as I know – by DH’s high school crew, back in the day…), so let me ‘splain ya.
Ground rules:
No. 1 You can only make one when you’re camping and
A) Bored silly, and
B) Have exhausted all other forms of entertainment
No. 2 It has to be night time (totally misses the point and visuals, done by daylight)
No. 3 You must follow safety procedures.
[deleted]
Well, after writing up the explanation, and then discussing with myself the wisdom of putting the directions for zilch-making out on the ‘net (yeah, even if I am the only one reading my blog…) I decided not to since I’d hate to think some kid followed the “recipe” and burned him or herself, or set a forest on fire. So, I guess I’m not ‘splainin’ ya. But I will say that it’s something of a pyrotechnic marvel, a unique phenomenon that includes the cartoon-esque sound of a downward spiral.
And that, the sound of a downward spiral, was pretty much what would accompany my writing efforts yesterday. (Long way around the block on that one, eh?) I sat down – several times, in fact – put my fingers on the keyboard, and began to write. So I did do some writing.
Unfortunately, what little came out on each attempt was more or less tripe and drivel. I’m hoping it was the heat and the incipient migraine (which has been hovering, thinking about blowing up for three days). It was above 90 again all day yesterday and as a rule, I start wilting in the 80s, puking in the 90s. Not a big fan of hot, humid weather.
So, some days you’ve got it, and some days you don’t. And you move on.
* * *
TRACKING…
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
I sat myself in the chair and wrote a couple of paragraphs for the funeral scene. Did personal journaling. No blog update. (The day before, I wrote more than 700 words of a new scene and the 300 I was shooting for in the funeral scene.)
Today's Target:
Finish the blasted funeral scene and move on, already! Journaling.
On the percolator:
Same old same old. But I know more about Kailia's life than I did yesterday.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Goal Setting and Desire
Finally, I am getting it. (No, not that! Well, that too, but we're talking goals here, k?)
For most of my life, I've heard, "You've got to set goals blah, blah, blah." Well, I’ve learned that I can set goals until the cows come home, jump over the moon, and come home again, and still never accomplish X, Y, or Z. Unless I want to.
"They" say that, in order to be successful, goals must be attainable, realistic, and manageable. True enough. But they seem to have forgotten to add “desirable” to the list.
I don’t know about others, but I have to really care about accomplishing a goal in order to make it happen. Perhaps I'm just a slacker at heart, but frankly, I can barely work up a tepid "I suppose I aughtta..." over goals for household projects. With writing goals, however, I get something more like an Austin Powers "Yeah, baby!" kick from my subconscious, and so, keep at it. For me at least, desire matters more than anything else in accomplishing a goal (more than anything, once you’ve *set* a goal, that is).
When you have the desire to complete the task, goals are a great thing. They're what get you from F or G (where mere enthusiasm and adrenaline may fade away) to Z! I know this now, because I'm getting there. I’m making better progress in my writing than I ever have in other projects where I’ve tried goal-setting. As a bonus, I’ve developed the ability to persist through “ugly” patches in my writing, rather than starting something new as a method of avoidance.
Now, if I could only inject some of that writing bug into my anemic desire to organize the garage…
Many thanks indeed to Lauri, Cindy, and Ramon in the CS Books & Writers Community for the enlightenment and encouragement. ;)
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Hit the target – just over 300 new words for the funeral scene. Did the journaling including a writing exercise. (Thanks to Prill for the link.)
Today's Target:
Finish the funeral scene - get events in better order and flesh it out more; aiming for around another 300 words. More journaling.
On the percolator:
Same as yesterday...What is Kailia's Big Thing going to be?
For most of my life, I've heard, "You've got to set goals blah, blah, blah." Well, I’ve learned that I can set goals until the cows come home, jump over the moon, and come home again, and still never accomplish X, Y, or Z. Unless I want to.
"They" say that, in order to be successful, goals must be attainable, realistic, and manageable. True enough. But they seem to have forgotten to add “desirable” to the list.
I don’t know about others, but I have to really care about accomplishing a goal in order to make it happen. Perhaps I'm just a slacker at heart, but frankly, I can barely work up a tepid "I suppose I aughtta..." over goals for household projects. With writing goals, however, I get something more like an Austin Powers "Yeah, baby!" kick from my subconscious, and so, keep at it. For me at least, desire matters more than anything else in accomplishing a goal (more than anything, once you’ve *set* a goal, that is).
When you have the desire to complete the task, goals are a great thing. They're what get you from F or G (where mere enthusiasm and adrenaline may fade away) to Z! I know this now, because I'm getting there. I’m making better progress in my writing than I ever have in other projects where I’ve tried goal-setting. As a bonus, I’ve developed the ability to persist through “ugly” patches in my writing, rather than starting something new as a method of avoidance.
Now, if I could only inject some of that writing bug into my anemic desire to organize the garage…
Many thanks indeed to Lauri, Cindy, and Ramon in the CS Books & Writers Community for the enlightenment and encouragement. ;)
***
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment:
Hit the target – just over 300 new words for the funeral scene. Did the journaling including a writing exercise. (Thanks to Prill for the link.)
Today's Target:
Finish the funeral scene - get events in better order and flesh it out more; aiming for around another 300 words. More journaling.
On the percolator:
Same as yesterday...What is Kailia's Big Thing going to be?
Friday, July 14, 2006
The Fiend Named Should
Spoke with Vicki C. last night (dear friend, wise woman, artist and soap-maker extraordinaire). She is such a great advocate for my writing. When I started in with, “I should be doing such and so…” she stopped me right away and said “Enough with the shoulds!” or something to that effect.
Though I do seem to need reminding from time to time, I know as well as she the evil that lurks in that word. Should. It’s one of the great joy-killers of life, skulking about in the shadows, just waiting to attack for the moment I start indulging in something that not only gives me great pleasure, but could conceivably lead to a dab of income – or maybe even a bunch of it – in the fullness of time. (Ever the optimist, I!)
The fiend named “Should” belongs in a weighted and chained trunk in the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean. The disaster areas that are my office, garage and basement will be there – after I’m done writing – and one more day (or week or month or year) of inadequate attention to them won’t make a bit of difference in the evolution of my life. Inattention to my writing, however, will.
* * *
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment: Named the main characters' horses in the Western I'm working on. Silly, but it needed to be done. Also got in another snippet of the funeral scene - bleah. It's dragging horribly.
Today's Target: Continue working on funeral scene in Western (shooting for at least 300 words). Personal journaling. Update blog. (Check.)
On the percolator: What is The Big Thing Kailia must do/find/save in the fantasy novel?
Though I do seem to need reminding from time to time, I know as well as she the evil that lurks in that word. Should. It’s one of the great joy-killers of life, skulking about in the shadows, just waiting to attack for the moment I start indulging in something that not only gives me great pleasure, but could conceivably lead to a dab of income – or maybe even a bunch of it – in the fullness of time. (Ever the optimist, I!)
The fiend named “Should” belongs in a weighted and chained trunk in the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean. The disaster areas that are my office, garage and basement will be there – after I’m done writing – and one more day (or week or month or year) of inadequate attention to them won’t make a bit of difference in the evolution of my life. Inattention to my writing, however, will.
* * *
TRACKING...
Yesterday's Big Accomplishment: Named the main characters' horses in the Western I'm working on. Silly, but it needed to be done. Also got in another snippet of the funeral scene - bleah. It's dragging horribly.
Today's Target: Continue working on funeral scene in Western (shooting for at least 300 words). Personal journaling. Update blog. (Check.)
On the percolator: What is The Big Thing Kailia must do/find/save in the fantasy novel?
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Confessions of an Apple Polisher
I confess. I am a writer, supposed to be creative, and still I "borrowed" a little for my blog name. It's from the first story I remember really identifying with while I was growing up: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, by James Thurbur. (The Mrs. refers to me, though, not Walter's Mrs.)
How could I help but identify with Walter? I have always been a daydreamer. One of Mom's few recurring bits of advice to me (however much I've ignored it - sorry Mom!) has been to "get your head out of the clouds".
It takes very little to set me off with a new story idea: dramatic music, an overheard conversation, spotting a person who seems out-of-place. (Ignoring new story ideas in order to stay on track with the one I'm currently working on is more my problem. After reading The Writer's Tale (Susan Adrian's blog) today, I begin to understand this is not an uncommon problem among writing types.)
So, back to the borrowing thing... I was going to feel a little guilty about "borrowing" (those 12 years of Catholic education weren't all for naught) but then after reading the Wikipedia entry about The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, I decided not to. After all, if a little judicious borrowing was (perhaps) good enough for James Thurbur, it's good enough for me.
How could I help but identify with Walter? I have always been a daydreamer. One of Mom's few recurring bits of advice to me (however much I've ignored it - sorry Mom!) has been to "get your head out of the clouds".
It takes very little to set me off with a new story idea: dramatic music, an overheard conversation, spotting a person who seems out-of-place. (Ignoring new story ideas in order to stay on track with the one I'm currently working on is more my problem. After reading The Writer's Tale (Susan Adrian's blog) today, I begin to understand this is not an uncommon problem among writing types.)
So, back to the borrowing thing... I was going to feel a little guilty about "borrowing" (those 12 years of Catholic education weren't all for naught) but then after reading the Wikipedia entry about The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, I decided not to. After all, if a little judicious borrowing was (perhaps) good enough for James Thurbur, it's good enough for me.
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