Reading Journal

I began "Like Any Normal Day," which is an advance reading copy I let sit so long you can probably buy it.  But I wouldn't.  Maybe get it from the library, though.  I'm not that far into it (trying not to be, since I'm barely 2/3 through the Catechism) and maybe it's because I've let so much time go between readings that I just haven't gotten into it.  It seems like a good story, though.  Essentially a paraplegic asks his younger brother to take him to Dr. Kevorkian to do what Dr. Kevorkian does best, focusing on the emotions of the younger brother--torn between doing what he thinks is best for his brother and what his brother thinks is best.  And haven't we all felt that way about someone? 

But the editors aren't very good.  I'm only a few chapters in and have already seen more errors than Tricia would have allowed in the BCR.

I'll try to keep reading so I can update this more than once a month.  Sheesh seashmore, it's like you've got a life or something.

Writing Journal

I finished "Tell Me Who I Am."  I liked it, but I liked it a whole lot better before it was revealed to be a bunch of paginated, published blog posts.  Well, I guess, some of them were more than that, but that revelation burned it for me.  I still plan on referring back to it from time to time and sending it to a friend or two. 

In rearranging my bookcases (after I cleaned off a shelf in my bedroom), I not only made room for me to purchase more books, but I also rediscovered a memoir that my dad sent me.  It was written sometime before 1988 by my dad's grandma's cousin.  It's over 35,000 words, and I've decided to take upon myself the task of abridging her early years, when she lived in Sioux City, for submission to the Briar Cliff Review for consideration for their Siouxland section.

But, holey moley, has that been invaluable as a resource for family history.  I've unearthed a lot of research needing to be done.  Which I'm trying to not get so caught up in that I forget to work.  *sheepish smile*

Reading/Writing Journal

Reading
I can now allow myself to purchase more fiction!  I cleaned out the closet part of my dresser a little bit over the weekend and rearranged my bookcases.  (Sorry no before pictures.)


My LDS lit



Top shelf: writing/craft in front and kiddie lit in theback
Middle shelf: anthologies/collections
Bottom shelf: Reference & some cassette tapes



Fiction on the left, non-fiction on the right












Now if only I could find time to read more......

Writing
This is more editing than actual writing, but.....this weekend, I was finally able to figure out why that essay about an experience I had 6 years ago never felt quite right.  I was writing for the wrong audience!  Instead of intending it to be submitted to The Briar Cliff Review, I wrote it with the intent to submit it to the Ensign.  Came out much better, although still in need of some work.
In cleaning, I rediscovered something my dad sent me.  His grandmother's cousin wrote her life's story in about 36,000 words.  She was born and raised in Sioux City, so I've decided to abridge it and submit that to the BCR for their Siouxland section.  (There's a lot of personal reaction to historical data in there.)  That was something started on impulse because if I had thought about the repercussions of such an undertaking, I would have put it off until I wasn't feeling so busy. 
After I'm through with my version, I'm going to talk to my dad about getting permission to submit at least the Siouxland parts.

Reading Journal

I finally finished Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, which was replaced by "Tell Me Who I Am."  There are some fabulous stories in there, people.  Check it out, seriously.

Here's my quotes from this round of Milton's Paradise

PL, Book III
"...if I foreknew
Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault...
Authors to themselves in all
Both what they judge and what they choose; for so
I form'd them free, and free they must remain."

"For neither Man nor Angel can discern
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone."

Book V
"In contemplation* of created things
By steps we may ascend to God."
*contemplation: from Latin "com" and "templum," consecrated space

Book VI
"When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so
Most reason is that Reason overcome."

Book XI
"Their Maker's Image...then
Forsook them, when themselves they vilifi'd
To serv'd...
Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own."

_________
The poet that I read from (for 2012: Year of the Poem) was Emily Dickinson.
Here are some of my favorite lines from that reading.

632
"The Brain is just the weight of God--
For--Heft them--Pound for Pound--
And they will differ--if they do--
As Syllable from Sound."

1732
"My life closed twice before its close;
It yet remains to se
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me.

So huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we konw of heaven,
And all we need of hell."

________
Still chugging through the CCC.  I really hope I don't have to shelve that.

Reading/Writing

I've made decent progress in the Catechism, and slight progress in Paradise Lost.  I am hoping beyond hope to have one of them (most likely the latter) finished by the end of the month.  (Which means I should probably be reading on my lunch break right now....)

My NaNoWriMo is coming along quite nicely.  Kind of. 
That change I posted about before?
Irrelevant.

The only thing I've kept the same is the reader's advocate character and the main concept of the novel.  Two of the female characters have undergone sex changes and I've added another major character, bringing my total to 4.5.  (The one female character is more of a prop, but needs to retain a presence in the story.)
I've figured out how most of the characters have met each other, as well as my conflict.  I'm hoping to finish finding out how the rest of the characters know each other, mostly CD and CY as their relationship is going to be very important to the presentation of the conflict.

I'm also not sure how/if I want to incorporate Fate vs. Destiny into the novel. 

The best news is that I have my resolutions mostly conceptualized!  (By which I mean how Justice is served and an idea of how Mercy is delivered.)