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!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
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])
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