Reading/Writing Journal

Finished a couple of YA books recently.  Little Tree (mentioned last post) and "Ashes of Roses," which I picked up after last post.  The MC is a 15 year old who comes through Ellis Island from Ireland to NYC.  She and a younger sister find themselves working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory just before the 1911 fire that happened there.  Highly recommend if you're looking for an easy read.

I think I have a sports book to fill that one's place. 

But the biggest news is I have my NaNo project decided!

Last Thursday, a friend came over to tackle the jungle in our backyard.  I helped (very little) and afterwards, we talked a little bit.  I mentioned the struggles I was having with my writing, and he gave a few encouraging platitudes.  Brought up PrepMo, and I implied I was just hoping to have an idea worth prepping and the ability to figure out either plot or characters, as asking for both was too much to be feasible.

HMN was watching some Stephen's Universe the other day and the episode (maybe a song) mentioned "fifty pages about wedding cake."  She scoffed, but I immediately thought of a scene from the Unabridged Princess Bride.  I pointed out to her that if you talk about taste testing different wedding cakes, and then describe the baking and the enjoyment of the final product, including a few mishaps along the way, you could probably come up with fifty pages.

After a few moments, the pieces clicked, and I thanked her for my NaNo project.

The very next day, facebook reminded me of a friendivesary.  The picture it featured was one I took of him and his wife at their wedding reception featuring them pinky-swearing not to smash cake in each other's faces.

BAM!

That story is definitely getting included somehow.  So I have at least two characters, one scene, and an overarching theme.  Don't know if either one of them is going to be the MC or if it's going to include more than one cake.  But I've long held a theory that the way a couple cuts their cake says something about their personality as a couple.  In a few weeks, I may do a social media survey and ask people to tell me what they remember about their wedding cake/that part of the reception.  See if I don't get some more inspiration.

Well, off I go to sign up for a few more goodreads giveaways.

Reading/Writing Journal

I've finished reading two books since I last posted. According to Goodreads, I'm still four books behind schedule.  "The Handmaid's Tale" was the first.  Although the online discussion group didn't pan out, it did relight the fire in me to read.  That, and cooler weather that allows me to take reading walks.  I went with HMN to Half Price so she could sell back some of her books.  While wandering the store, I found a book called "The Education of Little Tree."  It was a nice, simple read which made it easy to read while gaming or in the presence of housemates.  I'm currently reading "The Mill on the Floss," which is not.  The writing style of "Anna Karenina" is such that I could do that, but the physical size of the book is not conducive to such practices. 

I probably ought to stop by Half Price when I'm done here (it's literally on the way home) and see if there's anything for a buck with a style that can replace Little Tree's.

I had an epiphany last week sometime.  (The days all run together and I'm not as good as I used to be about writing things down.)  Instead of trying to force myself to commit to prose, I should reconnect with the poet inside of me.  I'll probably focus on poetry for the rest of August, September (although there will be up to three times I leave town on a trip), and maybe a little bit into October.  I'll definitely do PrepMo in October.  Hopefully I have an idea I can outline by then.

Even found some magazines that supposedly pay for poetry/submissions that I can vet to see if any of them are in line with the kinds of things I write.

Wish me luck!

Reading/Writing Journal

I signed up for Camp NaNo.  And immediately stopped writing.  Why is Camp the kiss of death for me?  I'm hoping to have a novel idea in place by November.  Which will require having linear enough thoughts to develop a plot.

One of my friends posted to facebook that she wanted to start reading The Handmaid's Tale and was starting a group where people could talk about it as they read.  I expressed interest, she added me, I went out and bought the book (because I was too lazy to sort through my boxes, too scared to ask a friend I know has it, and didn't feel like renewing my license so I could get a library card to borrow it from a library).  And they are much more ambitious readers than I am!

Speaking of, it's nice-ish out.  I should go home, do some more slack chores (I play a four person game with three computer players and do things like load the dishwasher while the game takes its turns), and take a reading walk tonight.  There's a park a few blocks away that has a trail that I think leads to the local high school.

Reading/Writing Journal

Cleaning out the open tabs in the web browser on my phone.
Had a friend post to facebook asking for recommendations for short stories.  These are her responses.

A Letter to God by Gregorio Lopez y Fuentes
A Lodging for the Night; Suicide Club stories; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Ray Bradbury
Tuck Everlasting
A Rose for Emily
Holy is the Firm by Anne Lamott


Writing, Places to Submit
www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom
List of contests and places to submit short stories and other writing.

Writing Journal

I've been ridiculously sick with a nasty cold for almost a solid week.  I'm down to just the drainage left.  It was seriously the worst I can remember feeling from an illness as an adult.  I coughed so much so hard that I popped a blood vessel in my eye!  Headaches, fevers, chills, congestion, fatigue, all of it.  Three solid days.  Then three days where some of the symptoms were lessened.

I didn't want to touch anything because I didn't want to spread the germs.  In fact, I left church earlier than I anticipated yesterday because a family came in late and sat behind me.  With an infant who was less than two months old.  I was like, "Jesus, get my germs away from this baby!"  I didn't even shake hands with people.  Gave a couple of air hugs.  But I mean it when I share everything except my germs with people.  Even when I lived alone, I would cough and sneeze into my shirt collars.

Anyway, that's what's kept me from writing.  In an odd way, it made me grateful that I hadn't applied for jobs, or gone looking for one.  Terribly poor form to call out of your first full week or an interview because you have a cold.  Even worse to show up with one.  I seriously rubbed my upper lip raw.  There's a small open sore between my nose and lips from all the wiping.

But I'm going to write today.  About a drunken painter in a city of wonder, thanks to a 60 second art challenge by a couple friends of mine.  Watch here.

Came back to add that Pandora, even though I have all my stations on shuffle (and I listen to a wide array of stuff) started my writing session off with Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream," and ended with George Jones' "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me," which is funny because I made Underwood's song the motivating factor for my MC to leave his regular bar early that night and my page ended up with him passing out as he entered one his ex hated.