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In Praise of Miyazaki-San or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Anime
<< Edited May 12, 2010 >> What defines inspiration to a writer? I’ve spent a good deal of time reading, and have found some favorite authors, but there’s always more to it than just BOOKS, isn’t there? Stimuli is all around us. An artist’s source of inspiration is the very world around them, and they can step into worlds of another’s creation to find inspiration for their own. I have a deep and abiding love for music and brilliant composers, and amusingly enough, I’ve spent more academic class hours studying films and scripts than actual creative novel writing, so I have many things that have shaped my personal creative style.…
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What I Look Like Doing Research XD
Wow, I actually have something to post on my YouTube account: The medieval studies topics are actual search tags I have used extensively to do research before. ^_^ I’ve been trying to think of trailers for my book to create, but for now I think I will put that on the back burner til it’s being edited seriously by people other than me. But I still want to post things up on there! I’ve been rooting around for ideas. Any suggestions?
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April LOLs Day (& some writer link spam)
Usually I avoid April Fool’s Day as much as possible, but for whatever reason, feeling cheeky today, I posted an April Fool’s joke telling all my personal Facebook friends that I was getting published by Random House. When I clarified that it was a joke, there was talk of medieval torture and witch burnings XD Had a fun instant message conversation with a friend about it that I wanted to share: Friend (F): Shouldn’t you be on a hawaiian yacht or something, celebrating your contract? 😛 I mean, you couldn’t have possibly been kidding, right? Me (C): ^_~ No! of course I couldn’t have possibly…trust me, I would have broadcast…
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A is for Axhsausted!
An appalling anguish afflicted the already aggrieved author. Graaahhh! My novel isn’t cooperating, talked my webcomic over with a friend who is giving me suggestions on what to do, and though it’s all such good advice I feel like my brain has hit a wall. While I wearily feel like I have so much more to learn about this medium’s brand of storytelling, my sci-fi main character is poking her head out and asking, “Since they’re being annoying, can I come out now?” It’s probably cuz I am exhausted. I need to finish reading some library books that indirectly have to do with my writing (reading them for fun AND…
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The Bird and the Baby: A Recollection
Once upon a time in the summer of 2006…We were given a weekend off from our month-long program in London, so our house of American university students scattered to different corners of Europe. Most went in groups to other countries, but I stayed in Mother England with my feet firmly planted. In the early afternoon, after mostly everyone had departed, with a messenger bag packed for a day trip, I set off alone. I rode the tube to Paddington Station, ate some Yo Sushi, and boarded a train bound for Oxford. The Eagle and Child Pub has been a thing of myth for me ever since middle school, when one…
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Script Frenzy!!!
Today I got an email from the people who brought you such writing joys as NaNoWriMo, announcing their newest writing project! { SCRIPT FRENZY } Similar idea to the wildly successful National Novel Writing Month, but with script writing! You have 30 days to write a 100-page script about anything of your choice! As I am also writing a script for an upcoming webcomic, I jumped right in! I have a head start, but I figured writing 100 MORE pages would encourage me to get it all done faster! I’m picking up a few pointers in the way of a writing a comic strip script here. If you go…
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Miles to Go
Finally got back on the trail of my novel, tying things together! Also have reserved a wiki for the details of my land and story, to go up once my book is published! But recently I have been trying to focus a lot of my energy on being employed, and having a job will help support my writing, which is very important. So, tata for now, everyone. I have more journals up my sleeve, but they will have to resurface at another time. Thanks, for your patience, guys!
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Panel Planning
Hit another writing wall. But I figure I need a bit of a mental health day (and physical health day *blows nose*). So I’m gonna let the novel simmer and make plans for my webcomic, and see where it goes!
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Obligatory Valentine’s Day Entry { a series of haikus }
Of all the WalgreensIn all the towns in the world,It had to be mine. My plans were simple.Some milk, maybe some crackers,Box of cereal. I knew I shouldn’t,And yet I found myself there,Red, pink and white aisle. Everywhere: all ’round:I could not escape my fate.And then there he was. His face was shapely,His coloring was ruddy.I felt a tremor. Irish! And so sweet!I picked it right off the shelf.Cuz I love truffles. SpecificallyBaileys Irish Cream trufflesNon-alcoholic. I must be crazy:I buy my own candy andI still love V-day! Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! If you have someone, enjoy them today, and make sure to treat them this way all year long!…
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But I’m a Cockeyed Optimist!
I’ve been getting a whole bunch of little idea nuggets. Not story ideas (I’m getting those too), but ideas for promotion-type things! My two biggest things I have been wanting to do lately are: 1. Create a youtube account and post videos (but I have no idea what they would be about), and 2. Create a character twitter account (except that none of them have access to our world, necessarily). Still, I WANT TO DO THESE THINGS! Perhaps once I get my book finished I’ll be able to figure something out. The videos will probably happen once I’m published, but the twitter, I am still figuring that out. Yet even…
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The Origin of "Puella Docta"
Happy February, everyone! (A bit belated, but still!) Thought I’d start the month off with an informative entry! So, I’ve used the handle “puelladocta” on a lot of sites over the years, including my twitter. When this journal was on Blogger its url was “puelladocta.blogspot,” and after a stint as canelsonauthor.com, it went back to puelladocta.com again! I’m sure a few of you out there are wondering. “Why, Christina?” you may ask. “Why, oh, why, oh, why ‘puelladocta’ of all things? Your name isn’t even close to Puella Docta, nor are you a docta (read “doctor”), and what the heck is a ‘puella?’ Do you watch Madoka?” Well, I’ll tell you, Little…
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In My Own Little Corner
I just realized. It’s the last day of January. I can hardly believe the year is 1/12th over! This is my view from the screened in porch today.The ground is covered in snow with a sheet of thin ice over top. It’s funny to watch the dogs walk on top of the snow, and if they step too hard, they suddenly sink in with a jerk. When they chase each other across the yard they kick up chunks of icy snow. Oh, yes. In case you didn’t catch that, I’m on the screened in porch. With snow outside. Don’t worry, I’m wearing a down jacket, boots, and a fuzzy hat,…
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"I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by."
J. D. Salinger, author of “Catcher in the Rye” died yesterday (Jan. 27th) of natural causes, at the ripe ol’ age of 91. {read the article} The funny thing is that I thought he died long ago. That’s how reclusive he’s been. His only published novel is “Catcher in the Rye,” and a few short stories, including “Franny and Zooey.” I first read “Catcher in the Rye” in high school, with our grade divided into different period English classes, and in my small group I was surprisingly one of the few who expressed enjoyment reading it. I never fancied myself having teenage angst at the time, though looking back, I…
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The Fantastic Tom Siddel (Gunnerkrigg Court)
Webcomics count as books! Oh, do they ever! That is, if they’re good and seem more like a mini series than a bunch of random strips. One of my favorites is a gem of visual storytelling in both art and writing: the incredible tale of Gunnerkrigg Court but Tom Siddel. Within the first week of my attendance [at Gunnerkrigg Court], I began noticing a number of strange occurrences. The most prevalent of these oddities being the fact that I seemed to have obtained a second shadow… It tells the story of Antimony Carver, and her journey to discover the mysteries of her sprawling, industrial school–Gunnerkrigg Court–which is so much more…
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A Little Bit of Everything
Oh man, I’ve been meaning to post this entry last month! I’ve been thinking about/doing a lot of things lately, so I hope you’ll forgive the discombobulatedness of this entry! Blogging really is my favorite way to keep the writing alive when I’m not actually “writing,” but doing more “editing.” It makes me feel more productive when I have something published on my blog, or when I’m making plans for it ^_^ My story has been keeping me busy, but lately I’ve been doing much more job hunting, so I’ve made less time for it than I’d like. Speaking of blogging, one of my writer friends, Morgan Riley, mentioned to…
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The Writing on the Wall
It’s the third week of the New Year, and I’ve already got a new plotting strategy. My brain felt fried after spending so long writing the first draft, and I was worried that I’d have to really push myself to write and edit. But after a chat with a fellow writer friend, I had a huge a-ha moment when she suggested a method that would really help me visualize the rapidly expanding plot of my novel. Sticky notes. Okay, I know I’ve been tracking this all over my Facebook page, but this is the first time I’ve tried this approach and, frankly, it’s very empowering! Plus, I really get to…
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2009 Year in Review
A new decade. Funny how those things creep up on you. This time last decade I was barely out of middle school. The dream of becoming an author was a warm flicker in my heart, and I’m not sure if I’d thought up my novel at that point yet. But in the subsequent ten years, I have carried that novel series with me, through the highs and lows of school life, and after college graduation I set out for the trip of a lifetime: the journey to authorhood. I’ve grown. So has my novel and its series, and we’ll continue to. So many wonderful things have happened in 2009, including…
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The Delightful Maud Hart Lovelace
Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! I have a special Book Byte for you. On this wonderful night, my heart is warmed by thoughts of Christmases during my childhood, and all the happy memories I have of days gone by. So, I felt it only fitting to talk about one of my favorite heartwarming book series. I’m only sad that it took me so long to finally hear about it, but I’m so happy that I can read it as an adult. It’s even more of a pleasure. Maud Hart Lovelace is not an author many recognize by name, but those who do, it’s safe to say they are fierce fans of…
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826 Valencia
Another new little posting series: The Write Stuff, *groan* where I post interesting, quick morsels of info involving the grooming of the next generation of writers, anything from awesome teachers or inspiring stories, to non-profits, to anything else I think counts. What do you get when you cross learning to write with an abiding love for all things piratey? Why, 826 Valencia, of course! As one of the locations of the 826 National centers, they tutor kids in writing. Here’s a bit about 826 Valencia in their own words. From their website: Founded in 2002 by author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari, 826 Valencia is dedicated to supporting students ages…
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In the Realms of the Unreal
Sometimes, authors and artists fantasize about being hermits. It’s a romantic notion: cast off worldly things like cell phones, the internet, acquaintances and jobs, and run away where there is no one to bother you, and you’re blessedly detached from the looming, ugly world that threatens to come between you and your creativity. I still get nostalgic for that strange place of creative bliss that I’ve only found a few times in my own mind, yet, I’d never really thought about the flipside of this coin until I heard the unusual story of Henry Darger. I’ve just finished watching “The Realms of the Unreal” documentary about the life of Henry…
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The Illustrious Terry Pratchett
This is the first Book Byte-featured author so far that is already published, and has considerable notoriety and very devoted fans. I started reading Terry Pratchett (or I should probably say Sir Terry Pratchett!) in high school, and I’ve been on a quest to read all of his Discworld series since! (Quite an endeavor, as there are over 20 books and he keeps adding more.) With an infectious, comical writing style that reads like a witty, British comedy, Pratchett creates a fantastic, magical world that is alive and thriving (if not a bit grubby and smelly at times, but it does its best ^_^), and engages the reader so much…
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Who doesn’t love a good Renaissance fair?*
*quote from one of my dear editor friends! Happy Belated Thanksgiving, all! I’m not exactly back, but there have been a few new developments on the writing front. First off, I’ve halted work for National Novel Writing Month and started a very basic outline of a web comic project, which sadly was going at a snail’s pace mostly because of my lack of fresh inspiration. I hope to finish sometime in the future, except I just got all the edits back I had handed out for Book 1. Which is the second thing. I’ve started to do a number of story-enriching edits, and oh, my word! It felt like I…
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Don’t Panic…
I will be taking a little blog hiatus for an unmarked period of time. There is simply nothing interesting story-related going on: straight-up editing Book 1 and coming up with the ideas for Book 2 is a long and arduous process and I have nothing to report. Stay tuned for twitter updates and perhaps a Blog Byte or two, but my blogging muse needs a rest. I leave you with a cute picture of a rather baffled Reynard: ~ Adieu for now ~
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Lisa Patton
Lisa Patton and I met by random chance at a car repair shop as I was leaving and she was entering. After a mere minute-long conversation, we found out we were both authors, and we’ve been friends ever since! FIRST LINES: “Memphis is my home. It always will be no matter where I live. In the South we have a tendency to be possessive of our hometowns.” It’s about a Southern belle and her tales of moving up to Vermont and running an inn with her family. Lisa has also been an innkeeper in Vermont, so I think it’s safe to say that this book has a lot of truth…
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The Show Must Go On
Lots of things to do today, and the brilliant writing ideas are lacking, so yeah, good timing, actually. The ideas should come once I have an opportunity to stay pretty much solely focused on writing. However, while waiting for that, I’ve discovered StoryCasting.com, where you can draw up a dream cast of your favorite actors to portray characters in your favorite books! Sadly, they don’t have a choice of obscure actors, but it’s really fun!
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Fun Things to Do On the NaNo Site
In addition to writing and updating my word count every day, there are a few little things that have been distracting me on the NaNoWriMo site: The Word Count Scoreboard A lot cooler than it sounds, you can see which world region is writing the most words per day. For example, today I am quite amused that #1 Germany; #2 Maryland, US; #3 Seattle, Washington, US is the lineup. Forums Not as recently, but it’s the best way to keep in touch with all the other NaNo-ers (I keep thinking “Nanoo-nanoo” from Mork & Mindy whenever I type “NaNo”). They have places where you can work out your ideas with…
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In the Absence of Twitter
I realize how supplementing with Twitter hasn’t helped my blogging *covers face* I have serious gaps. But I’ve decided to keep most of the tweet streams with a lot of the writing process sentiments in them. After all, I use twitter as an extension of my blog. So if you feel like you’re missing something in between my entries, trot on over to my new Tweet Archive Tweet Archive! But officially, to catch up the proper blog, National Novel Writing Month hath begun, and I am already over my quota for the next two days, so things are really good! I think I am going to start the agent/publisher search this…
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*Paces*
I have all the strict ideas down on paper: the ones that have refused to leave my head while I wrote the other one. The rest won’t come, I don’t think, until I start writing in November. How terribly frustrating. Sometimes you need to just write, the act of writing will somehow work everything out in the end. That alone can often do me more good than a planning session: things will fall out of the sky that I never suspected just because I am writing. Alas, I must bide my time til Nov. 1. Well, at least I won’t have time to mope about Halloween ending! {Edited 10/23/09} I…
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Jeanette Bennett (and Wendell Howe)
Jeanette Bennett received a new lease on life when she took a pause from a “real” job and began pursuing her passion as a writer. She’s been gaining notoriety on the web for less than a year now, which is a testament to her popular writing experiment! She’s been seeing how well she can write a story on twitter though the eyes of one of her characters, and it’s safe to say that she’s been wildly successful! A bit befuddled? Well, if you’ve never heard of Dr. Wendell Howe, the time traveler from the 27th century, then I pity your loss. But weep no more! It just so happens that…
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From Twitter 10-18-2009 (Temporal Tea)
15:29:30: Book Two ideas are flowing…BLOG: http://twurl.nl/dd1urb 15:30:04: Haha, story of my writing life…RT @Quotes4Writers: “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.” Jane Austen 15:31:46: RT @AdviceToWriters: Writing is its own reward.HENRY MILLER #writing #writechat #writetip 15:44:20: #TemporalTea Just showed up…and saw myself from when I went on #TemporalTues. Well, self, have fun XP Gonna get out b4 I see…myself 15:44:59: What an incandescently beautiful day! Haven’t had a lovely like this in a while! 15:47:19: (me from #TemporalTues) Hi, @Wendell_Howe! Ooh, is that coyote jerky? Nice slideshow, btw! 15:47:39: RT @Wendell_Howe: Hello @puelladocta Nice to see you…goodbye. #temporaltea 15:47:48: RT @Wendell_Howe: Oh dear I think @puelladocta got caught…
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Rapture!
I must have turned on the light three times and jotted down notes as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep last night. All those ideas I held back are flowing out now for Book 2, and I’m so excited! I can hardly wait til November. I am writing out layout ideas like mad. ~added at 7pm~ Also, I realize I have more and more friends joining me for NaNoWriMo! I’m so excited! ~added at 8pm~ Just finished writing up my main character’s school schedule, complete with professors, and I feel like I’m back in college!
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Friends in the Write Places *corny horn*
I’m preparing my beloved first draft to send to a few editor friends to read over. I just need it out of my lap for right now so my brain can recover from all that intensive writing and thinking and stewing that was going on for months and months on end. YEARS, even! (Oy!) I’ve been preparing the story’s world for most of my young life, and it took me just over a year to finish this draft. The fact that it’s finally written down a way I really, truly like, that is half the battle, and my brain is crying “uncle.” But I’m definitely at peace with the fact…
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From Twitter 10-14-2009 (Temporal Tues. meeting Prof. Wendell Howe)
18:10:55: Oh wow. My brain has been to full to even think about #TemporalTues. Well, maybe just one…. 18:11:51: #TemporalTues Set date and time to make it to @Wendel_Howe’s birthday. I hope dress pants, long sleeve top and wrap sweater will fit fashion 18:12:58: #TemporalTues Okay, maybe not birthday, but I’m not quite sure of the occasion. There’s his office! Lots of glass windows…. 18:16:11: #TemporalTues I hope they don’t have too many old janitor closets-turned offices! I need to get back in time for supper. Just a quick visit. 18:16:40: #TemporalTues I ran into the janitor. He looked rather bored, but pointed me in the right direction. 18:17:25: #TemporalTues…
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Chris Carlton Brown
I’m going to start a new little series here on me blog: the Book Byte, where I briefly showcase writers or books I really like. I’ll cover my favorite mainstream ones, but especially ones published by personal author friends, because I believe we writer types should help each other out! So, in the words of Strong Bad: “Let’s take a look. A book-look.” Chris Carlton Brown is a dear friend of my family. “Hoppergrass” is his debut book, and I was lucky enough to read it earlier this year. FIRST LINE: “It’s always a clean, white car—this time a Ford.” It’s a story about a teen juvie and his stint…
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Southern Book Festival
Despite how unprepared I was for the chillier-than-expected weather, my two friends and I descended on the festival with high spirits! I came away with a few new books, accessories, and new contacts that I hope will pan out in the future! It really reminded me of all the work that is ahead of me. Getting published is no easy thing, yet, like an ever-optimistic character from an anime cartoon (glittery eyes and all) I whisper, “I can do it! I will do it!” before the title credits roll. I’ll just have to see how the next episode pans out. Vive les livres!
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National Novel Writing Month
I’ve been so excited to post this entry, and now that it’s October the time has come! Behold, the amazing wonder that is National Novel Writing Month (better known as NaNoWriMo!) The premise: come up with an idea for a novel, and write all of it in the span of one month, specifically November! I won’t be participating this year, but I’ve thrown my hat in the ring in years past! I used it mostly to write back-story, though. My main problem was that I always had a novel I was working on (the one I just finished), and according to their rules you need to start a brand new…
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IT IS FINISHED!
FINAL DRAFT OF MY NOVEL IS DONE!!! As of 11:45 AM this morning. Oh my gosh, I’m done! Next comes the intensive editing, but first, big-time celebrating!!!!
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Still Here, I Promise!
Twitter has eaten my proper blogging again! Writing Process Update: I’m onto Chapter 24!!!! The best part is, I forsee Ch. 25 being the last one in the book, so I am VERY close to being done! Things of Note: I’ve been doing a lot of web-wandering for writerly resources, and I found an awesome listing of 101 Best Websites for Writers from Writer’s Digest Magazine. This list is amazing, and it covers everything from databases of publishers, to sites that tell you about publishing scams, to little ways to spark your muse! Definitely worth checking out! And for all of you who have been wanting to start a blog,…
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*emerging from my locked writing office*
This quote epitomizes my life right now, as I endeavor to tie up loose ends and just get this story out of me. You have to allow yourself the liberty of writing poorly. You have to get the bulk of it done, and then you start to refine it. You have to put down less than marvelous material just to keep going to whatever you think the end is going to be — which may be something else altogether by the time you get there. ~LARRY GELBART There will be many edits to come, but right now I just have to whip this beast into submission!
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Writing My Heart Out (with the cunning use of smoke screens!)
The one thing I love about writing fantasy is this: I can write about whatever I want. Literally. I create my own world, my own rules, and populate it with creatures and peoples, and it’s all done to my taste. Sometimes it’s just a creative idea that comes out of nowhere, nagging at me, demanding to be put onto paper. Sometimes it’s wish fulfillment, sometimes it’s getting out emotions. But to me, it’s the greatest gift I could possess. It fulfills me like little else can. Writing is my life experience put on the page, and I pour out my heart through my characters. Still, whatever I put in, I…
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Flying (DON’T write what you know)
Darn Tweets have been monopolizing my blog space. Sorry I haven’t been making any actual posts in a while. Editing is going well. I’m up to Ch. 10 right now. Man, it feels weird going over stuff that I’ve gone over so many times, except that I am finally connecting everything coherently, so that is huge. I have also been gathering more writing ideas for future books in this series. I love life: it provides such rich opportunities for self expression and research. I wrote a blog last month entitled Life Experience, which talks more in depth about my love for research and experiences. Someone posed a point to me…
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Blogs du jour avec hollandaise
I love to blog, and honestly, watching “Julie and Julia” yesterday just fueled the fire. It was about good food, book publishing AND blogging, among other things! Needless to say, I love it when favorite things come together. ^_^ On that note, I just wanted to share a few blog entries I ran across recently. Of course, I’m always on the lookout for seasoned writers on the web; people who have been around the block a few times and know the world and know the life, and this is a great opportunity to introduce one of the ones I follow: Cures for Writer’s Block & some Preventatives. ~ I first…
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The Great Struggle
“It is of the utmost that I speak to you about a great struggle, which is taking place [at] this mortal temple we call the [writer’s desk]. The contestants are those aged combatants…art…and commerce. And art, it would appear from the [lack of income]…is in its usual position of jeopardy.” – edited quote from Nicholas Nickleby movie. Since I am, sadly, not a full-time writer, the great quest (as Mel Brooks put it), The Search for More Money, takes precedence over any deadline I might have set for myself. I am so close to the end that I can see the finish line, but I have realized that setting a…
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All within me cries out
I officially have the crucial details for the rest of the book, aka the last 3-5 chapters. So let it be written, so let it be done! *clap clap*
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Just a few more miles to go
I had a chance to talk with one of my local writing friends today, and she read Ch. 19 to give me feedback. Oh my gosh, she said she loved it! She said it was so intense and gripping and she couldn’t wait to see what would happen next! *squee!* I’ve realized that this is the closest I’ve ever come to finishing a book that I haven’t really rushed. I’ve consistently written from the deepest part of my gut, and I’m actually really proud of all of it so far. Sure, there will still be editing and critiques to figure in, but I am absolutely elated. I am already three…
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So this is what the end feels like…
Juggling writing with freelance work now, so I have more time. I’m getting to a very exciting part of the story, where things get worse before they get better. Believe it or not, I am making a valiant DO (there is no try) to finish the entire thing before Aug. 14th. So I will definitely be hauling tail the next week or so. I’m really excited!
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Life Experience (Write what you know)
The old adage goes; “write what you know.” As an author, I’m what I like to call a “method writer.” Like a method actor, I want to have some experience in areas I’ll be writing about so I can portray them with realism. I’m a rather curious, adventurous person, so I’ve racked up a number of experiences. I’ve been horseback riding, gone to a firing range, been spelunking, rock climbed on a bare rock face, traveled, and a host of incidental things that I can draw reference from; anything from standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon to driving a car. Not to mention going through college and moving…
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My real garden with imaginary toads
*waves* Hey, guys. Don’t worry about the Twitter thing, it will all get worked out, and if not, I’ll figure something out. But I’m not stressed about it. In fact, right now I am just so happy that I’ve had enough energy to write a little bit of my book every single day! And now that it’s the weekend I can really gain some ground! I am on Chapter 15 now, which I’m quite excited about. I know I say this, but I really feel like the end is in sight. I am writing through everything, not pruning as much as I am trimming here and there so it is…
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I meant REALLY listen!
I had a really great phone convo with one of my dear writer friends last night. We hadn’t chatted in a while, and it felt good to catch up. We know each others’ writing weaknesses, and she helps me so much (I can only hope it’s mutual!). We talked about life and stories, and she encouraged me to keep growing as a writer, which will lead to some necessary tweaking in my narrative. I caught a glimmer of golden truth today when I had a chance to scribble some thoughts down. It was a truth that I knew well, but it still hadn’t sunk in. I was continuing with an…
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Traveling is an education
I get ideas from all sorts of unexpected places, especially since I work with people from so many different backgrounds with varied histories and experiences, including many who were born in other parts of the world. I found myself in the middle of a wonderful conversation yesterday, listening to two foreign-born coworkers talking about the fun, creative things they would think up to entertain themselves as kids, all involving some sort of mischief and lots of wonderful local color. My inner anthropologist was absolutely delighted, and my inner author was equally pleased with the influx of new mind-expanding ideas. And this was not the first conversation I’ve had/heard like this.…