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 |  probably stuff i think is funny. or aggravating. or both. |
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| you've probably heard of (or participated in, even) the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? if not, check it out here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ the founder and organizer, Chris Baty, also wrote a guide to writing a novel in 30 days: "No Plot? No Problem!" (isbn#0811845052): http://www.amazon.com/No-Plot-Problem-Low-Stress-High-Velocity/dp/0811845052/ref... gimmicky, right? but it works. if you follow the guide and the spirit of the adventure, you'll have a complete story arc reaching 50K words by the end of november. it'll need a lot of work before it's a finished novel, but you'll have written down the bones of the thing--amazing. several well-known writers have completed novels this way, and even better, published them. (you'd have to visit the nano site for details on that.) i've completed NaNo projects for the past two years, and i'd assumed i'd be working on editing the two novels i have, rather than racking up yet another unfinished novel to store away and stare at. i sigh a lot, staring at my unfinished novels. i kept telling myself that i need to buckle down, get these done before haring off on any new, exciting writing adventures. but then, i asked myself, "why be so hard on myself, self?" so, what? i've got two unfinished novels waiting for me. november comes around once a year, and the momentum i get from sharing the crazy with hundreds of thousands of people all over the world results in huge amounts of writing. it's stressful, and grueling, and . . . fun! plus, professional writers often gross a higher daily word count than the nano requires (about 1700 words a day, i think--don't trust me to get the math right), and experiencing that level of output is invigorating. even if it is crap. doesn't matter!! (well, it matters in the long run, but in the first-draft stage? naw. not so much.) so, what'd i decide for this year? i can feel november looming, its domed head breaching the calendular horizon. what should i do? splurge in another month of abandon, of creative whimsy and ludricrous plot twists? or buckle down, be responsible, trudge along on my existing novels which cry out for help in feeble whimpers from my laptop files? i think we all know which way i'm leaning right now. and you know what? i can always buckle down eleven months of the year. that's where i need to improve my work ethics, dammit. November's for NaNoWriMo!!!! who's with me??? *picture me astride a fidgety horse with my face in war paint, a tartan draped over my shoulder* |
| http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=264135ad-9838-437c-a3cd-fd11a5bffe05&... working in retail most of my adult life, i haven't spent many labor days at home. it's a pity, because i believe labor day should be a holiday for every single worker in the country. i think we can last a day without gasoline, groceries, movie theaters, restaurants and shopping. the idea that labor day is a great day for blockbuster sales is insulting to me. labor day is the one day of the year americans remember the effort and sacrifices working folks made to improve life for the common man--reasonable working hours, better wages, restricted child labor, SAFER working environments. the weekend didn't exist before the labor movement demanded one. people worked twelve+ hour days seven days a week. imagine what your life would be like now if these people hadn't stood together and demanded better from their government. hurrah, labor day!!! i hope you're able to relax and enjoy this day of remembrance and celebration for working people all over the country. and if you're working today, i salute you, and invite you over for a nice brat when you're done.   |
| one of the courses i'm taking is a beginning short story writing class. i started the same class five years ago--which resulted in the beginning inklings of my nascent novelling efforts--but dropped out before the end of the semester. i was afraid to find out i wasn't really a writer; i couldn't face the possibility of failure. i'm better at failing now, having worked hard enough and developed writing skills to the point i can accept sucking in the short term if that means i'll eventually reach competence in the long term. so, i'm taking the class again. yesterday, we received our second assignment: the internal monologue. so, five years ago i breezed through this one. if you goto my portfolio and look for "clean dead steve", you'll find my first effort. this time, though, i'm having trouble staying inside the character's head. i keep wanting to jump outside and set scene, or move plot forward. is that a sign i'm more or less developed as a writer? or neither? maybe i'm just more opinionated as a writer, now. hunh. we'll see how it turns out. i imagine i'll post whatever drivel falls out onto the page. |
| okay, not so much. i mean, have you seen my teachers? but damn, am i excited to be taking classes again!! i'm a little freaked, taking on 4 classes on top of my measly part-time slacker job and keeping the writing going on top of it. i haven't tried this much since, well, ever. i don't think. i've taken classes before, while working full-time, but the writing variable is the killer. how to keep enough juice in the tank to write after a long day of slogging? haven't figured it out yet. but, i'm only a week into the semester. i'll get there. i've noticed i historically respond well to a larger workload--gets me off my ass and going. color me . . . ACTION GIRL!!!! |
| i like writing that sinks me into another perspective, one that i might not experience on my own. i was trolling poetry sites, and came across this one: "I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America." "I, Too" by Langston Hughes I'd forgotten about this poem, but it hits just as hard as the first time. Love it. |
| official monday prompt: i'm a sucker for lyrics. maybe it's how they hit strung together with the music, but sometimes a certain song will just settle into me like home. i've never been to either carolina, but ryan adams makes me want to belong there: "Oh My Sweet Carolina lyrics I went down to Houston And I stopped in San Antone I passed up the station for the bus I was trying to find me something But I wasn't sure just what Man I ended up with pockets full of dust So I went on to Cleveland and I ended up insane I bought a borrowed suit and learned to dance I was spending money like the way it likes to rain Man I ended up with pockets full of cane Oh my sweet Carolina What compels me to go Oh my sweet disposition May you one day carry me home I ain't never been to Vegas but I gambled up my life Building newsprint boats I race to sewer mains Was trying to find me something but I wasn't sure just what Funny how they say that some things never change Oh my sweet Carolina What compels me to go Oh my sweet disposition May you one day carry me home Up here in the city feels like things are closing in The sunsets just my light bulb burning out I miss Kentucky and I miss my family All the sweetest winds they blow across the south Oh my sweet Carolina What compels me to go Oh my sweet disposition May you one day carry me home May you one day carry me home" voice of an angel, that man. a foul-mouthed, pissy, egotistical angel. here's a link, if you'd like to hear the song. a wonderful duet with emmylou harris, another singing angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMZYRvDvgT4 so, a sense of place. we all try to set a scene, a tone, in our stories. how often do we try to place a setting so strong it becomes a character in its own right? how often do we try to create a sense of a place we've never been? |
| i woke up this morning, after several days of not sleeping so well (minor health issues), and my head was racing with ideas for my novel--i made notes, and some of them are meaty, add something important to the overall theme and foreshadowing to larger events. the cool thing is, that's never happened to me before. the waking up to automatic ideas. i wonder if maybe having this story in the back of my mind all the time is creating a subconscious flow. a trickle most of the time, but my brain's chewing on this project even when i'm not aware of it. that'd be super cool, because i've had trouble conceptualizing such a large story arc, and my brain helping rather than hindering may signal the turning point. maybe i'm beginning to wrap my head around this thing; and thank goodness. i only hope that once i finish this novel the next one moves faster, since i'll know how it all works together. i'm curious--those of you who have finished your first novels, how did it go? what was progress like for you, and how long did it take? |
| someone on another site started a discussion thread asking why we write stories. i've always had the urge, but i've never looked for answers why; i guess i've taken it for granted, my interest in writing. i started writing stories as a kid--as all kids are naturally creative in some way. i figured it wasn't anything special, just another game to play. in grade school, i gained attention for my stories, and the teacher would sometimes ask me to read them to the class. i took that for granted, too, not being the kind of kid who saw themselves as special. i wrote stories in high school, took a creative writing class, contributed to the school literary magazine. still, i saw it as a side interest, a hobby. something i did for myself, which is a fine way to spend time, of course. but i never asked myself why i wrote stories. never occurred to me to do so. i don't remember writing fiction during my college years; and afterward, when i spent my time and energy toward working, and trying to make a home with my boyfriend--who did write stories--i described myself as someone who "used to write stories." i saw writing stories as a pipe dream; that the frustration of trying to get "somewhere" with writing wouldn't be worth it. then, for some reason, i started up again about three or four years ago. i enrolled in a short story writing class at the community college; i ended up dropping out halfway through the semester because i was afraid of discovering i wasn't good enough. i'm a perfectionist by nature, so "good enough" for me means talented. having potential is always easier than realizing it.  but i kept writing on my own, signed up here at wdc in april 2006, and started my portfolio with the few stories i had written while taking that course. it's amazing to me when i think back, how uncertain i was, how much i wanted to be a good writer. i'm a better writer now than i was, and i still have a way to go. but i still didn't have the urge to question why i wanted so badly to write stories until i read this discussion thread. i posted something about how i want to be published, that my main motivation is to write novels and to be successful at it. and that's true, but it's not the whole reason. i realized today, sitting and watching movies, how important storytelling is to me. how i feel most alive when i'm experiencing a truly satisfying story--one that illuminates for me the fine, the strong, the courageous, the funny, the tragic of the world. god, but i love a good story. a good story can take us out of ourselves, can show us another's experience, can inspire us to achieve greatness--what else does this, besides love? i realized i feel most when i'm with my husband and animals, and when i'm immersed in story. so, that's why i do it, i decided. i love that connection to the world. a long story with a short ending.  why do you write?? |
| official monday prompt: i found this link, which explains automatic writing. direct, subconscious writing that may (or may not) reach your pure self and bring out its truest expression. i bet you've got some freaky deaky in there; i'm curious about what comes out when you try this technique. go, surrealists, go!! http://www.languageisavirus.com/articles/articles.php?subaction=showcomments&id=... |
| hi, y'all. i won a contest!! and $100!!! for a story!! i didn't even have to take my pants off!! i joined a site called www.reviewfuse.com, which has its good and bad points (like any other site.) and i submitted a story ("The Whippoorwill") to the monthly site contest. the judging is two-staged: first stage: the site admins select the best-rated top three stories second stage: the site admins read the critiques the writers of the submitted stories have submitted (each posted story requires 2-4 written critiques), and judges the critiques based on how helpful and thorough they are. and i won!! yay!!  just wanted to spin like a top for a sec, and share with my wdc buds. thanks!!carry on. *salutes* |
| i've started a writing group on my other website, www.scribophile.com, geared toward helping writers (me, included) develop our skills writing love scenes. it's a tricky aspect of storytelling, and i think all too often people either gloss over them out of discomfort or assume writing these scenes is easier than it is. so many pitfalls, so difficult to build a romantic scene that furthers the story while evoking emotional and physical responses from readers--like anything else, our taste in what works for us in romance & sexy stuff is individual. how to write a scene that feels original but is still effective as a touchstone between characters and a widespread audience? i dunno, but hopefully we'll figure it out together. i think having a solid background writing poetry helps, because of the focus on sensory detail--poets seem to have developed skill for distilling images for the greatest impact. right now, i'm busy judging an initial challenge for the circle, but after that (around august 8th or so) i'll be introducing various exercises for writers. if you're curious, i'd love for you to visit and check it out! free memberships are available at scribophile, just so you know.  http://www.scribophile.com/circles/the-love-machine/ |
| i don't care that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" ended six years ago. while i love "Firefly" and "Dollhouse" each in their own wonderful way, i have to say Buffy is where i go when i need to be replenished creatively. the writing in this show is so smart, so rich with character and heart and humor, that my admiration just spills over into unadulterated mojo. i feel like i can do anything when i watch this show--knowing these talented people created buffy and kept her going for seven seasons against all odds, and kept her so damned good . . . it makes me feel heroic. and i haven't even done anything yet! doesn't matter. i feel like the possibility is out there. the sheer storytelling--where i'm feeling weakest right now--makes my bosom swell. i've otherwise only felt this way after watching two movies: "Ratatouille" and "Stranger Than Fiction". if you haven't seen these movies, you gotta--you'll feel like you can conquer any obstacle. |
| it always surprises me, this resurgence of will for writing. no matter how disillusioned, how tired or discouraged i become and tell myself to take a break, don't pressure myself so much--i always return. i can't seem to make myself work on the novel, but this seems to be more of a self-confidence problem than a writing lust problem. no fix for that but to jump in and fricking do the thing, i think. *sigh* a friend recently suggested i schedule one day a week to work exclusively on the novel--no matter what, if only for an hour or two. i want to try this; progress is progress, and a whole hog's butt better than what's happening now. one thing i've noticed is my waning interest in critiquing others' work--for me, critiquing takes much more energy than writing. i need to project myself into the writer's mind, to intuit their intentions versus the product, and gauge whether they've achieved their goals with the work and if not, why? and if so, how? it's a lot of thinking, and each new critique reveals to me my own weaknesses with story structure. also, it's difficult to keep putting effort into critiques for people when i rarely receive one more than a step above, "dude, this was cool. rock on!" not helpful, although i appreciate the sentiment. even my goto critique site, www.scribophile.com, has its limits; and i notice myself posting for my critique fix and then feeling bitter because i just don't get the rush i used to from receiving critiques. i need to step back from so much interaction and focus on deepening my stories. and, of course, facing my novel demons. gack. well, i hope the writing life is good for everyone here, amidst the ups & downs. i admire you all, who plod onward in your effort to connect with readers everywhere. |
| http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2009/07/1_trillion.html the framework of the existing healthcare bill making the rounds. looks pretty good, so far. |
| using our brains is good. we should do it more often; and even better, we should do it in the service of a youngster who can really use our brains to their benefit. check this out: http://www.in2books.com/penpal08/ can you spare a few hours a month during the school year to read a few curriculum novels and discuss them with a 3rd-5th grade student? it's all virtual! no need to leave the house! let's do it. |
| official monday prompt: in honor of the fabulous short story maven, kelly link, i bring to you a writing prompt inspired by her quirky genius: "My brother will be fired out of the cannon." this is a phrase she uses in more than one story, and one packed with intriguing possibilities. hope it works for you. visit this page to explore her work. free downloads of "Magic For Beginners", a short story collection. http://lcrw.net/kellylink/mfb/index.htm |
| official monday prompt: this week, try exploring the first kiss. can be romantic, sure. but how else could it be? terrifying? disgusting? hilarious? parasitic? i'm just sayin'. i challenge you to evoke this universal first experience, but to do it without resorting to the cliche. make us live this kiss in all its technicolor glory. |
| hi, all. started my new job yesterday at a cafe--it's a small, 50's-style lunch counter. simple menu, old-fashioned espresso machine. it's charming, and humble, and i hope it stays that way. it's a job that'll keep me going, but not much more. but i like the quirkiness of my coworker and supervisor (there's only 3 of us running the place), and the steady stream of regular customers give the place a homey feel, too. after two daysw, i'm sure i don't have a handle on all the undercurrents--there may be petty jealousies, and i sense a hint of nepotism in the parent company's upper mgmt--but so far, it's about as andy griffith as i hoped for. sweet. now, if i could only get affordable health care . . . |
| http://iran.whyweprotest.net/ how are they doing this? i dunno, but you go, people of iran!! *peace sign* |
| http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/rip.html link to a really nice a capella michael jackson (jackson 5) performance. touching, and helps me forget all his weirdness. what a charisma he had. |
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