I had such a great day yesterday. I met some wonderful people who seem real cool - unlike a lot of the backstabbers I've (and my housemates) had to deal with.
One's a gamer looking for a group. Another belongs to the SCA and seems like a real decent person who won't talk behind our backs and treat us like crap because we don't agree with every move they make. (I'm not saying everyone we deal with in the SCA sucks, completely the opposite. Most everyone is great, but there are a few who go way out of our way to make our lives unpleasant - to the point of almost ruining our entire vacation. If it was the majority then we wouldn't belong to the SCA. It's just certain people who just wandered in recently and try to act like htey've belonged their whole lives and drive others out because of bad attitudes and possibly jealousy.)
Then there's the clown we met. Well, she's not a clown these days, but she twists balloons and is way off the wall. It's so much fun to hang out with creative people.
Now for the disillusionment part. I heard something today about how someone has been treating her child and I almost blew my stack. It's one thing to not be supportive, it's another to be down right degrading to your own daughter. I was blown away when I heard the stories. I know I'm not in the mommy business anymore, but I couldn't immagine doing something like that to the girls - or anyone for that matter.
Well, I started this post yesterday, but had to stop because I had my writing job last night. When I was done with work it was midnight, so nano time! I wish I had the money to order Taboo Tuesday tonight. I'd love to do a PPV and TT was one of my favorites last year. Then after that I needed to get a little nano writing done.
I love doing nano, but it's also fun to have an actual writing job that puts my work out there on a weekly basis. Every little thing that adds to my writing resume is great. I was really nervous when I applied for the job, but I've gotten so much good feeback from readers that I'm more confident now. What really sealed it for me was the night I wanted to go out because it was the last night the club was holding Goth night. I hadn't been in quite a while, but I've been going since it was at Zootz, so I felt like something I should do. Also, it's where Matt and I went to see each other before we moved in together. Anyway, I told my boss I had an obligation that Monday night and would not be able to get my article in by midnight. I'd be willing to write it when I got home, but it wouldn't be in until 5AM. He told me that I was so reliable, he loved my work and had gotten so many possitive comments on my work that if I wanted the night off completely I could have it. I told him I'd rather do my work even if it was in a little later than usual. I was extremely thrilled he was so happy with my work. I'm always nervous about things like that. I've always been in high management or designing. Only because of one of my English Professor in college who told me I needed to be writing. He liked my design work, but was in love with my writing. It only took me ten years to really follow his advice.
Guess I'm done my rambling. I need to go to the bank, cash my check and pick up a few things a Wal-Mart for nano. Yay post Halloween candy!
Later days,
Ken
Monday, October 31, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Life Is Bloody Good!
I thought I had lost this little tid bit from last year's nano.
I looked through all my files - it's not there.
I looked through all my printed work - not there either.
I didn't even think of looking through my blog, but I did today - there it was!
I was bummed and started writing it again, but something about it felt funny. I couldn't get the feel of the original. It was the first time I'd used a writing promt and it felt liberating. The words just flowed as if they were asking to be written.
So I copy and pasted the scene here because a few people wanted to see it and I think it's fun. Please remember this is very rough. I have done nothing to it since first writing it other than spell check. Also, this is a scene from a novel, so it's a bit out of context, but you will bet the point.
Rancid Yak Butter
“Lucy, did you know that spreading rancid yak butter on your belly will keep you from getting stretch marks?” Evie looked so proud that she was able to help me with one of my pregnancy problems. Rancid yak butter, was she serious?
“Um, Evie, um, I’m not sure about this idea.” I wasn’t sure if she was serious about what she was saying, or if she was joking with me.
“Yes, yes, it will work. My mother did it through each of her pregnancies. She had seven children and four miscarriages. I know it works.” She ran to the refrigerator and returned with a glass jar in her hand. Inside was this strange glutinous substance that shook and jiggled when she placed it in front of me. It was the color of that cholesterol stuff hairdressers use on overly damaged hair.
I just sat there and looked at the jar for a moment before I swung my eyes back up to look at her. “Where did you get this?” I had to ask her.
“Off the internet. Where else was I going to get rancid yak butter in this country?” Her voice held an undertone of laughter as she spoke. Was this a joke?
“You’re kidding about this, right? That’s not rancid yak butter is it? You, Thora, Jordan and Devin are playing a joke on me right?” There was no way she was serious about this. I reached out and took the jar in my hands. Just picking it up made the contents shake and shimmy. But when I looked up her eyes were deadly serious.
“Of course I’m serious. Where I grew up we had to have this stuff shipped in by boat and then mule. It started out fresh and became rancid on the journey. It cost so much money that she wouldn’t have used it if it didn’t work.” Evie took the jar from me and opened it. I was fine until the smell hit me. I’d been nauseous through most of my pregnancy and figured the smell of rancid yak butter would send me over the edge for the day. But for some reason it smelled good to me. So good I wanted to eat it.
“So what am I supposed to do with it?” I kind of hoped I’d get to eat the stuff. What was wrong with me?
“You rub it one your belly. Why? What do you think you’d have to do with it?” She sounded and looked befuddled.
“Never mind, just give me the stuff,” I mumbled.
I looked through all my files - it's not there.
I looked through all my printed work - not there either.
I didn't even think of looking through my blog, but I did today - there it was!
I was bummed and started writing it again, but something about it felt funny. I couldn't get the feel of the original. It was the first time I'd used a writing promt and it felt liberating. The words just flowed as if they were asking to be written.
So I copy and pasted the scene here because a few people wanted to see it and I think it's fun. Please remember this is very rough. I have done nothing to it since first writing it other than spell check. Also, this is a scene from a novel, so it's a bit out of context, but you will bet the point.
Rancid Yak Butter
“Lucy, did you know that spreading rancid yak butter on your belly will keep you from getting stretch marks?” Evie looked so proud that she was able to help me with one of my pregnancy problems. Rancid yak butter, was she serious?
“Um, Evie, um, I’m not sure about this idea.” I wasn’t sure if she was serious about what she was saying, or if she was joking with me.
“Yes, yes, it will work. My mother did it through each of her pregnancies. She had seven children and four miscarriages. I know it works.” She ran to the refrigerator and returned with a glass jar in her hand. Inside was this strange glutinous substance that shook and jiggled when she placed it in front of me. It was the color of that cholesterol stuff hairdressers use on overly damaged hair.
I just sat there and looked at the jar for a moment before I swung my eyes back up to look at her. “Where did you get this?” I had to ask her.
“Off the internet. Where else was I going to get rancid yak butter in this country?” Her voice held an undertone of laughter as she spoke. Was this a joke?
“You’re kidding about this, right? That’s not rancid yak butter is it? You, Thora, Jordan and Devin are playing a joke on me right?” There was no way she was serious about this. I reached out and took the jar in my hands. Just picking it up made the contents shake and shimmy. But when I looked up her eyes were deadly serious.
“Of course I’m serious. Where I grew up we had to have this stuff shipped in by boat and then mule. It started out fresh and became rancid on the journey. It cost so much money that she wouldn’t have used it if it didn’t work.” Evie took the jar from me and opened it. I was fine until the smell hit me. I’d been nauseous through most of my pregnancy and figured the smell of rancid yak butter would send me over the edge for the day. But for some reason it smelled good to me. So good I wanted to eat it.
“So what am I supposed to do with it?” I kind of hoped I’d get to eat the stuff. What was wrong with me?
“You rub it one your belly. Why? What do you think you’d have to do with it?” She sounded and looked befuddled.
“Never mind, just give me the stuff,” I mumbled.
Dreaming
After nano is over I really need to get back to work on my '03 nano story. When I get it finished and whipped into shape I will submit it.
Where? Who knows, but that's research I need to do. I got a lot of great tips from Baty's book. *plug plug* I wish I'd bought it when it first came out. If I had then maybe I would probably be finished with Hawthorne and half way through edits. It would also probably help if I had a had a wonderful writers group like I had for over a year. *hint hint*
Maybe once we get into the new house I'll feel more inspired. I'll have my own space to work (both sewing and writing). Well, mostly my own place - I'm going to make sure Jay has space to set up his easle and what he needs. That way he has a place to work other than his bedroom and he can keep everything set up al the time. Also, I can brow beat him into actually getting some work done if I'm right there - And he can do the same for me.
So, even though I have 50K to write in November I need to actually keep the momentum this year and dive head first back into Hawthorne.
'No Plot? No Problem!' is the best writing book I've ever read. It really has a lot of good ideas that work for me. I normally can't read a book like that straight through. Normally I'd read some during the day and then read fiction at night before going to sleep. This past week I've read Baty's book before bed and didn't miss my fiction. I think that's very cool.
This wasn't intended to be a whole blog promoting this book, but it has really changed the way I think about writing and editing. I actually feel like I can finish Hawthorne and get it rewritten so I can try to get it published.
Ken
Where? Who knows, but that's research I need to do. I got a lot of great tips from Baty's book. *plug plug* I wish I'd bought it when it first came out. If I had then maybe I would probably be finished with Hawthorne and half way through edits. It would also probably help if I had a had a wonderful writers group like I had for over a year. *hint hint*
Maybe once we get into the new house I'll feel more inspired. I'll have my own space to work (both sewing and writing). Well, mostly my own place - I'm going to make sure Jay has space to set up his easle and what he needs. That way he has a place to work other than his bedroom and he can keep everything set up al the time. Also, I can brow beat him into actually getting some work done if I'm right there - And he can do the same for me.
So, even though I have 50K to write in November I need to actually keep the momentum this year and dive head first back into Hawthorne.
'No Plot? No Problem!' is the best writing book I've ever read. It really has a lot of good ideas that work for me. I normally can't read a book like that straight through. Normally I'd read some during the day and then read fiction at night before going to sleep. This past week I've read Baty's book before bed and didn't miss my fiction. I think that's very cool.
This wasn't intended to be a whole blog promoting this book, but it has really changed the way I think about writing and editing. I actually feel like I can finish Hawthorne and get it rewritten so I can try to get it published.
Ken
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Attack of November!
Well, not quite yet, but soon. I am more ready than I was last year, but I'm still nervous.
The last two years I knew my characters inside and out. I knew the setting and plot through and through. I had that story floating in my head for years.
This year the plot and most of the characters were thought up by someone else. We've had a number of brainstorming sesions so I do feel like I had a hand in the creation, but it's still strange to me. I've done a lot of work the past few days really getting to know the main character, but she didn't originate in my head, so it's taking a bit for her to settle in.
Also, I hope I haven't over mapped the chapters. I have a brief outline for each, but that's more than I usually do. There are about 5 or 6 of the 25 chapters that I have no idea what will happen with them. So either they will be the easiest to write, or the hardest. Which ever, it will be interesting to see.
The other thing that as me on the edge of my seat about November is, well two things actually.
1- Every year I've done nano something has happened in the middle to try to screw it up somehow. The first year I had to take a week of in the middle when my mom came up for the divorce. Last year my craptop died half way through the month. I lost all the work I'd done and had to start over. There was no way to retrieve the info, even though the Ogre spent two weeks trying for me.
2- The move. The last thing I'd every want is to move in the winter, much less during November. Luckily we won't be in the new house until the first of the year so I have all of December to pack and get rid of everything I can. That way my stuff doesn't get packed and moved for me as it has been my past 7 or 8 moves.
Oh, I forgot, I also have my weekly article to write. All those words every week and I can't use them towards my 50K word count. Such a shame.
I should be working on getting ready and taking care of my Maine nanoers. Need to plan as much interactivites as possible so as many people as possible can meet each other. I've found the bigger support chain you have for nano, the easier it is to reach 50K. I know I wouldn't have made it last year if not for my weekly meetups with Lori and Janelle.
Back to work,
Ken
The last two years I knew my characters inside and out. I knew the setting and plot through and through. I had that story floating in my head for years.
This year the plot and most of the characters were thought up by someone else. We've had a number of brainstorming sesions so I do feel like I had a hand in the creation, but it's still strange to me. I've done a lot of work the past few days really getting to know the main character, but she didn't originate in my head, so it's taking a bit for her to settle in.
Also, I hope I haven't over mapped the chapters. I have a brief outline for each, but that's more than I usually do. There are about 5 or 6 of the 25 chapters that I have no idea what will happen with them. So either they will be the easiest to write, or the hardest. Which ever, it will be interesting to see.
The other thing that as me on the edge of my seat about November is, well two things actually.
1- Every year I've done nano something has happened in the middle to try to screw it up somehow. The first year I had to take a week of in the middle when my mom came up for the divorce. Last year my craptop died half way through the month. I lost all the work I'd done and had to start over. There was no way to retrieve the info, even though the Ogre spent two weeks trying for me.
2- The move. The last thing I'd every want is to move in the winter, much less during November. Luckily we won't be in the new house until the first of the year so I have all of December to pack and get rid of everything I can. That way my stuff doesn't get packed and moved for me as it has been my past 7 or 8 moves.
Oh, I forgot, I also have my weekly article to write. All those words every week and I can't use them towards my 50K word count. Such a shame.
I should be working on getting ready and taking care of my Maine nanoers. Need to plan as much interactivites as possible so as many people as possible can meet each other. I've found the bigger support chain you have for nano, the easier it is to reach 50K. I know I wouldn't have made it last year if not for my weekly meetups with Lori and Janelle.
Back to work,
Ken
