I've come to a scene in my novel where the hero and heroine tour the Quinault Indian Reservation. I've never been to the Reservation and finding photographs and images of it have proved more difficult than I expected.
As with my scene about pool, I want my readers to believe me. I want them to think I've been to the reservation and have done the things my hero and heroine are doing there. This is hard.
I have maps and some physical descriptions of the land in general, but I'm picky. I want details! It's not such a bad M.O. to make up some things, considering very few have been to the Quinault Indian Reservation. But that one reader that says "there's no ravine near the river" would surely drive the bow and arrow deep into my heart.
All of this whining stems from my detachment from writing these last couple of days. I feel out of sorts, which could be period, if we're being totally honest here, or even the distraction of my boy friend having a couple days off from work. But I'll lay the blame on my mind trying to sabotage me. It feels unprepared to move forward, so I stall.
My proposed plan to get out of this is to take some of the research I did today and just write through the scatteredness, throwing in some key words I want and coming back to the reality and detail of the scene at a later time. During revisions.
I'm glad we got this settled.
grand total: 22856
P.S. I haven't forgotten about the review. I plan to do that this weekend.
Quote of the Day: I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger for life that gnaws in us all. ~Richard Wright, American Hunger, 1977
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
no guts no glory
I've noticed a few things about my body as I've gotten older. My fat isn't evenly dispersed. It settles predominantly in my gut. And before all you people, who say you should be thankful you don't struggle with an all-over weight issue, jump on my un-sympathetic bandwagon, let me speak my piece.
My issue isn't the disproportionate weight, it's my lack of discipline to do anything about it. And trust me, I've tried it all. Diet, exercise programs, etc. I even thought about being a personal trainer, just so I would have to get in killer shape first. Of course that didn't happen. You could say I have so many goals that it's hard for me to focus, or you could say, I'm lazy and/or undisciplined. Whatever the case, it pisses me off that I can't get into the permanent habit to exercise. Our bodies are amazing works of art and all shapes and sizes should be cherished, but I want mine to last as long as possible and that involves a little bit of work.
Instead of having a body that looks like I do nothing, I want one that proves that I do. So I'll keep trying. Writing this novel and keeping up with the word count despite a million obstacles (outer and inner) has shown me that I actually can accomplish things that I set out to do. And health should be my number one priority in the grand scheme of things. I guess the next time I want Birthday Cake Remix from Coldstone Creamery, I'll get a smaller size or run another mile on the treadmill (which I haven't used for months). Gotta start somewhere, right?
daily total: 716
grand total: 21147
Quote of the day: And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath
My issue isn't the disproportionate weight, it's my lack of discipline to do anything about it. And trust me, I've tried it all. Diet, exercise programs, etc. I even thought about being a personal trainer, just so I would have to get in killer shape first. Of course that didn't happen. You could say I have so many goals that it's hard for me to focus, or you could say, I'm lazy and/or undisciplined. Whatever the case, it pisses me off that I can't get into the permanent habit to exercise. Our bodies are amazing works of art and all shapes and sizes should be cherished, but I want mine to last as long as possible and that involves a little bit of work.
Instead of having a body that looks like I do nothing, I want one that proves that I do. So I'll keep trying. Writing this novel and keeping up with the word count despite a million obstacles (outer and inner) has shown me that I actually can accomplish things that I set out to do. And health should be my number one priority in the grand scheme of things. I guess the next time I want Birthday Cake Remix from Coldstone Creamery, I'll get a smaller size or run another mile on the treadmill (which I haven't used for months). Gotta start somewhere, right?
daily total: 716
grand total: 21147
Quote of the day: And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath
Thursday, May 8, 2008
i miss jason castro
There is nothing like the smell of sushi and beer at 5:30 in the afternoon.
After a lovely dinner at our local west valley sushi hut, our waiter informed my boyfriend and I that we received $20 off our bill for the mere fact that I was a lady. I realized that sometimes it pays to be a woman. Let's hear it for ladies' night! Discounts for not having a penis. I find it kinda funny.
Some more perks:
1) Free drinks from men wanting to get laid.
2) Getting to go to the bathroom with a buddy.
3) Blaming a bad mood on your period.
3) Men doing things for you, to impress you (and then back to the latter half of #1)
4) Being able to cry without getting picked on.
5) Getting sympathy for cramps.
6) Smelling good no matter what.
7) Having make-up available to cover up the un-pretty.
8) Dying our hair or getting highlights without being called "gay".
9) Hidden arousal.
10) Less messy clean-up after the "deed" is done.
Ok, so it got a little crude. I had to dig deep for those last couple. I'm sure there are sooo many reasons why it pays to be a woman, but I managed ten big ones.
Yesterday was a slow day in writing, coming in at but again, I did something, which is the best part of it all. It means, that the story is moving forward, even if by a word or two. Neat, huh?
daily total: 901
grand total: 20159 (my goal has been reached!)
P.S. Anyone else miss Jason Castro? He was voted off American Idol, and although he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he sure made me smile with his unique voice and easy-going attitude. We'll miss ya, sexy blue eyes.
Quote of the Day: A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket. ~Charles Peguy
After a lovely dinner at our local west valley sushi hut, our waiter informed my boyfriend and I that we received $20 off our bill for the mere fact that I was a lady. I realized that sometimes it pays to be a woman. Let's hear it for ladies' night! Discounts for not having a penis. I find it kinda funny.
Some more perks:
1) Free drinks from men wanting to get laid.
2) Getting to go to the bathroom with a buddy.
3) Blaming a bad mood on your period.
3) Men doing things for you, to impress you (and then back to the latter half of #1)
4) Being able to cry without getting picked on.
5) Getting sympathy for cramps.
6) Smelling good no matter what.
7) Having make-up available to cover up the un-pretty.
8) Dying our hair or getting highlights without being called "gay".
9) Hidden arousal.
10) Less messy clean-up after the "deed" is done.
Ok, so it got a little crude. I had to dig deep for those last couple. I'm sure there are sooo many reasons why it pays to be a woman, but I managed ten big ones.
Yesterday was a slow day in writing, coming in at but again, I did something, which is the best part of it all. It means, that the story is moving forward, even if by a word or two. Neat, huh?
daily total: 901
grand total: 20159 (my goal has been reached!)
P.S. Anyone else miss Jason Castro? He was voted off American Idol, and although he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he sure made me smile with his unique voice and easy-going attitude. We'll miss ya, sexy blue eyes.
Quote of the Day: A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket. ~Charles Peguy
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
the day after cinco de mayo
I realized I should have had my margarita yesterday. I mean, it was Cinco de Mayo. Instead I had a generic Jack and Coke, my second drink of choice. I go through phases and also stages of brokeness, so I'm lucky to have even generic Jack in the house at the current stage ;-) I made up for the drinks by grilling some shrimp fajitas to pay homage to my Mexican friends.
I didn't have a huge word count Monday, coming in at 732 words, but I hit a streak today and made up for the small slump.
I'm finishing up the big pool / bar scene where we meet the Detective (who is driving me crazy because I'm not an expert on law enforcement) and we get to see a couple different sides to my hero and heroine. In other words, it gets into the nitty gritty.
I've found I like the intense action scenes with multiple characters. I like having the hero and heroine, possibly the villain and the comic relief all together to duke it out...with amazingly orchestrated page turning scenes. The funny part is that I think my best work comes in the introspection. I have a way with thoughts. HA! That makes me laugh for some reason.
Anyway, I haven't changed my playlist yet or finished the book I'm reading. I plan on it this week. And it looks like I'm a little under 800 words to my goal to make 20,000 words by May 17. Nice and way ahead of schedule!
daily total: 1120
grant total: 19214
Quote of the Day: Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow
I didn't have a huge word count Monday, coming in at 732 words, but I hit a streak today and made up for the small slump.
I'm finishing up the big pool / bar scene where we meet the Detective (who is driving me crazy because I'm not an expert on law enforcement) and we get to see a couple different sides to my hero and heroine. In other words, it gets into the nitty gritty.
I've found I like the intense action scenes with multiple characters. I like having the hero and heroine, possibly the villain and the comic relief all together to duke it out...with amazingly orchestrated page turning scenes. The funny part is that I think my best work comes in the introspection. I have a way with thoughts. HA! That makes me laugh for some reason.
Anyway, I haven't changed my playlist yet or finished the book I'm reading. I plan on it this week. And it looks like I'm a little under 800 words to my goal to make 20,000 words by May 17. Nice and way ahead of schedule!
daily total: 1120
grant total: 19214
Quote of the Day: Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow
Sunday, May 4, 2008
sunday is my fun day
Actually, Saturday is my fun day. But Sunday ain't nothing to sneeze at....Especially when you get some serious writing done. I'm still working on the pool playin' scene and it's just coming to the mucho exciting part. I live for those mucho exciting parts.
I'm also finishing up one of the books I'm currently reading and I'll post a review either tomorrow or Tuesday. And I'll be changing my playlist.
You have something you want me to talk about? Spill it. Leave me a comment and I'll wrap it into one of next week's posts.
Catch yas later!
daily total: 1341
grand total: 17362
Quote of the Day: The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anaïs Nin
I'm also finishing up one of the books I'm currently reading and I'll post a review either tomorrow or Tuesday. And I'll be changing my playlist.
You have something you want me to talk about? Spill it. Leave me a comment and I'll wrap it into one of next week's posts.
Catch yas later!
daily total: 1341
grand total: 17362
Quote of the Day: The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anaïs Nin
Saturday, May 3, 2008
my novel
I remember mentioning that I was going to tell y'all at least a little about my novel.
I do have a tentative title, but I'm gonna keep that part secret. Let's call it COT for now.
COT is a romantic suspense with Native American and paranormal influence. It takes place in southwestern Washington and involves a naive archivist, always mistaken for a librarian, who gets her dream job at a progressive library. From her very first day she gets the feeling she's being watched and after eerie emails, strange phone calls and even getting attacked she knows someone or something is out to get her. And there's her co-worker, a steaming hot Quinault man with a tragic past. She vowed that her new job would get her undivided attention, but continuing to fight her heart against having feelings for this man and trying to stay alive is proving nearly impossible.
I've already said too much, but hey, I like you people :-)
daily total: 1091
grand total: 16021
Quote of the day: So often is the virgin sheet of paper more real than what one has to say, and so often one regrets having marred it. ~Harold Acton, Memoirs of an Aesthete, 1948
I do have a tentative title, but I'm gonna keep that part secret. Let's call it COT for now.
COT is a romantic suspense with Native American and paranormal influence. It takes place in southwestern Washington and involves a naive archivist, always mistaken for a librarian, who gets her dream job at a progressive library. From her very first day she gets the feeling she's being watched and after eerie emails, strange phone calls and even getting attacked she knows someone or something is out to get her. And there's her co-worker, a steaming hot Quinault man with a tragic past. She vowed that her new job would get her undivided attention, but continuing to fight her heart against having feelings for this man and trying to stay alive is proving nearly impossible.
I've already said too much, but hey, I like you people :-)
daily total: 1091
grand total: 16021
Quote of the day: So often is the virgin sheet of paper more real than what one has to say, and so often one regrets having marred it. ~Harold Acton, Memoirs of an Aesthete, 1948
Friday, May 2, 2008
margarita woes
Yesterday I worked for 11 hours at my day job. End of month is tough in the accounting industry and I was beat. I actually wrote 99 words just to say I did something related to my novel.
When I got home all I wanted was a margarita and sleep. And I got both.
Today wasn't an 11 hour day, but it's funny how one long day can throw you off for a couple thereafter.
I had a margarita again tonight, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from writing. Who knows, it might be my best stuff! HA!
Anyway...I'm afraid if I continue blogging right now it might get weepy or angry or some other dwarvish emotion. So it's a short one today.
todays total: 1304
grand total: 14930
Quote of the day: There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein. ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith
When I got home all I wanted was a margarita and sleep. And I got both.
Today wasn't an 11 hour day, but it's funny how one long day can throw you off for a couple thereafter.
I had a margarita again tonight, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from writing. Who knows, it might be my best stuff! HA!
Anyway...I'm afraid if I continue blogging right now it might get weepy or angry or some other dwarvish emotion. So it's a short one today.
todays total: 1304
grand total: 14930
Quote of the day: There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein. ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith
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