...zombie beheading; courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
On Writing
Did I mention I'm writing a book?
Well, I am!
I started out with a good story idea from my husband, Jason, who has a constant stream of ideas at the ready that are not limited only to stories, but practical inventions, rules for society, and of course, band names and concept album titles. But one particular idea he had for a story seemed to have a lot going for it, so either I offered to write it or he told me to, I forget which, but the commission was made. I started with a few short stories and then forgot about it. He encouraged me and sometimes nagged me to keep on with it. "Sure, I will," I'd say, and then played Fallout 3 instead.
So, when National Novel Writing Month came around this year, which is annually in November, a friend of mine posted about it on Facebook and I figured it was a sign. This is a project to encourage writers to drum up a 50,000 word first draft of a novel in 30 days time. There is no prize other than satisfaction of completion. What there is, is nationwide support from thousands of other writers who are undergoing the same project. Within days, I was perusing through the NaNoWriMo (get it?) message forums, which were very slow by the way due to heavy amounts of online traffic. I signed up for a regional forum and found there are literally hundreds of people in my general vicinity doing the writing challenge, and events were set up at my local library that I can practically walk to.
Who knew?
So, I finished the 50,000 word count, by accident sort-of, since I was away over Thanksgiving and was offline using a tool that didn't have a word count function. Anyway, I finished the count, although the story itself didn't have an ending yet. All the advice on the website, and the helpful emails that NaNoWriMo puts together from published authors and founders of the site, said to give it a rest for a bit before returning to the draft for editing. But, it was important to come back.
That's the point I'm at. I'm halfway through a first general edit. I still have to write an ending for the story, but it helps to go through everything to clear up some inconsistencies. The story is a lighthearted supernatural mystery of sorts, and there is a lot of mythology and stuff to work through. Sure, I invented a lot of it, but it should probably make sense. I spent at least 8 hours one Saturday, and just as many hours on Saturday and Sunday of last weekend, going through this. I have this feeling it will never be fully revised but I'm at least trying, right?
I should make note that I don't exactly know what I'm doing. However, a friend invited me to a writer's group, which I attended once so far this year and may go back. Another writing group is a little closer in distance and at a more convenient time, so my plan is to check that one out before I commit to a group. Either way, I absolutely see the benefit in having a peer group evaluate work. It's a bit terrifying, but I made a promise to myself that I would clean up an appropriate length excerpt to submit for peer review. Then I'll run away and hide.
Well, I am!
I started out with a good story idea from my husband, Jason, who has a constant stream of ideas at the ready that are not limited only to stories, but practical inventions, rules for society, and of course, band names and concept album titles. But one particular idea he had for a story seemed to have a lot going for it, so either I offered to write it or he told me to, I forget which, but the commission was made. I started with a few short stories and then forgot about it. He encouraged me and sometimes nagged me to keep on with it. "Sure, I will," I'd say, and then played Fallout 3 instead.
So, when National Novel Writing Month came around this year, which is annually in November, a friend of mine posted about it on Facebook and I figured it was a sign. This is a project to encourage writers to drum up a 50,000 word first draft of a novel in 30 days time. There is no prize other than satisfaction of completion. What there is, is nationwide support from thousands of other writers who are undergoing the same project. Within days, I was perusing through the NaNoWriMo (get it?) message forums, which were very slow by the way due to heavy amounts of online traffic. I signed up for a regional forum and found there are literally hundreds of people in my general vicinity doing the writing challenge, and events were set up at my local library that I can practically walk to.
Who knew?
So, I finished the 50,000 word count, by accident sort-of, since I was away over Thanksgiving and was offline using a tool that didn't have a word count function. Anyway, I finished the count, although the story itself didn't have an ending yet. All the advice on the website, and the helpful emails that NaNoWriMo puts together from published authors and founders of the site, said to give it a rest for a bit before returning to the draft for editing. But, it was important to come back.
That's the point I'm at. I'm halfway through a first general edit. I still have to write an ending for the story, but it helps to go through everything to clear up some inconsistencies. The story is a lighthearted supernatural mystery of sorts, and there is a lot of mythology and stuff to work through. Sure, I invented a lot of it, but it should probably make sense. I spent at least 8 hours one Saturday, and just as many hours on Saturday and Sunday of last weekend, going through this. I have this feeling it will never be fully revised but I'm at least trying, right?
I should make note that I don't exactly know what I'm doing. However, a friend invited me to a writer's group, which I attended once so far this year and may go back. Another writing group is a little closer in distance and at a more convenient time, so my plan is to check that one out before I commit to a group. Either way, I absolutely see the benefit in having a peer group evaluate work. It's a bit terrifying, but I made a promise to myself that I would clean up an appropriate length excerpt to submit for peer review. Then I'll run away and hide.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Audio Books
I went through a phase a few years ago listening to audio books. It was a great way to change up the commute to work, and my yearly reading list doubled.
The thing with audio books, at least with me, is that it is quite a challenge to find the right kind of book to listen to. I found that many classic books do not work for me. I started Jane Eyre and had to keep rewinding tracks. Then I cut someone off in traffic without checking my blind spot because I had to concentrate so much on the dialogue that I wasn't paying attention to driving.
Some of my favorite audio books I've listenend to are:
"To Kill a Mockingbird," read by Sissy Spacek. It makes a big difference to have an Oscar winning actor reading a book.
"Love is a Mixtape" read by author Rob Sheffield, who was a music critic for Rolling Stone for many years, so his personal musings on songs and bands were a treat. I straight up cried at the very sad turn the book took regarding his personal life. This wouldn't have been nearly as great if it was a hired actor reading his part.
"Paper Towns" by John Green, read by actor Dan John Miller (who you may not know by name but may recognize as a bit part actor). I cannot underestimate how much an actor can bring to an audio book. This is a perfect match for a quirky coming-of-age type story.
On the other hand, an audio book can greatly alter the experience of a book in the wrong way. I could barely get through "The Secret Life of Bees" on CD because the author spoke so terribly slow with that long southern drawl. The accent was a perfect fit for the story. But certain themes of the book were driven home pretty hard, and having to hear it sp-o-k-en out s-o sl-o-w-ly had me skipping tracks and swearing at the author for being so literal about the damn bees.
I am about to pick up an audio book for Chrisopher Moore's "Bite Me" from the library, I'll give an update after I start it. I would hope someone reading Moore's work will have the right energy to get the quirks right. I'm a huge fan of his books and it would be a shame for the audio reading of it to be mishandled somehow. Having listened to one of Carl Hiaasen's books on CD ("Nature Girl"), the voice acting really made the most of the bizarre story and extreme characters.
Do you have any suggestions of good audio books?
The thing with audio books, at least with me, is that it is quite a challenge to find the right kind of book to listen to. I found that many classic books do not work for me. I started Jane Eyre and had to keep rewinding tracks. Then I cut someone off in traffic without checking my blind spot because I had to concentrate so much on the dialogue that I wasn't paying attention to driving.
Some of my favorite audio books I've listenend to are:
"To Kill a Mockingbird," read by Sissy Spacek. It makes a big difference to have an Oscar winning actor reading a book.
"Love is a Mixtape" read by author Rob Sheffield, who was a music critic for Rolling Stone for many years, so his personal musings on songs and bands were a treat. I straight up cried at the very sad turn the book took regarding his personal life. This wouldn't have been nearly as great if it was a hired actor reading his part.
"Paper Towns" by John Green, read by actor Dan John Miller (who you may not know by name but may recognize as a bit part actor). I cannot underestimate how much an actor can bring to an audio book. This is a perfect match for a quirky coming-of-age type story.
On the other hand, an audio book can greatly alter the experience of a book in the wrong way. I could barely get through "The Secret Life of Bees" on CD because the author spoke so terribly slow with that long southern drawl. The accent was a perfect fit for the story. But certain themes of the book were driven home pretty hard, and having to hear it sp-o-k-en out s-o sl-o-w-ly had me skipping tracks and swearing at the author for being so literal about the damn bees.
I am about to pick up an audio book for Chrisopher Moore's "Bite Me" from the library, I'll give an update after I start it. I would hope someone reading Moore's work will have the right energy to get the quirks right. I'm a huge fan of his books and it would be a shame for the audio reading of it to be mishandled somehow. Having listened to one of Carl Hiaasen's books on CD ("Nature Girl"), the voice acting really made the most of the bizarre story and extreme characters.
Do you have any suggestions of good audio books?
Monday, January 31, 2011
So, it's been a couple of weeks.
The first charge I gave myself with my little project was to get out the box of old journals and take a general look at them.
You know, there is a reason a diary is often referred to as private or secret. Remember when stores sold diaries with little locks on them?
I now understand this.
I don't have many secrets, per se, but the written thoughts of a young girl who assumes no one else will be reading them are... difficult to get through. Like, really difficult. Some of the early entries cracked me up, but most of it was detailing kids at school who I no longer remember, or teachers I didn't like, who I do still remember but don't care so much. At some point, I must have thought I did have secrets, because there are permanent marker cross outs in several sections. The only thing I can think of is if I said something bad about a friend and later ended up regretting it.
Despite exciting entries like that, I found the early years to be pretty dull. I fast forwarded to the pivotal first boyfriend years, specifically to the break-up. I had one of those break-ups where the guy wanted to remain friends, which always sounds like a great idea at the time. You hear stories like, "We dated for two years and it just didn't work out. But now we're great friends!" Or, "I hang out with my ex's new girlfriend all the time!" I think I thought I could be one of those people. Likewise, I think my ex-boyfriend thought I could be one of those people.
Not that I beileve so much in the meaning behind astrological signs, but... I'm a scorpio. Scorpios are generally passionate, jealous and possessive. Of course, I would never be any of those things, but sometimes the stars align the right way and a mood strikes. I'm just saying.
What I noticed most about that period of writing is the specific absence of detail regarding the break-up. I think at the time it was too difficult to even write about. By the time I did, we were in broken-up-but-friends territory, and that was downright painful. I wish I could time travel to meet with late 1990s Stephanie and let her know, "Girl, let that boy go. You have plenty of other friends. Including guy friends."
But what can you do?
What surprised me most about my journal revist, was how long I kept a written journal. I thought I stopped writing around age 20, but I found entries as late as age 25! There was written documentation of my engagement to my husband. I was really shocked to find that, and I'm glad I felt it was important enough at the time to write it down.
I have not gotten very in-depth with this little journal project; I'm not sure if I'll revisit it soon, or ever. Part of me wants to take all 20 something of those books and dump them in a tire fire. If I can barely read them, why keep them around? The thought of someone else reading them is enough to incite a panic attack. But there is something to be said about holding on to that written word. It's a little piece of history. So for now, the box of journals remains. Tucked away, deep in the closet.
You know, there is a reason a diary is often referred to as private or secret. Remember when stores sold diaries with little locks on them?
I now understand this.
I don't have many secrets, per se, but the written thoughts of a young girl who assumes no one else will be reading them are... difficult to get through. Like, really difficult. Some of the early entries cracked me up, but most of it was detailing kids at school who I no longer remember, or teachers I didn't like, who I do still remember but don't care so much. At some point, I must have thought I did have secrets, because there are permanent marker cross outs in several sections. The only thing I can think of is if I said something bad about a friend and later ended up regretting it.
Despite exciting entries like that, I found the early years to be pretty dull. I fast forwarded to the pivotal first boyfriend years, specifically to the break-up. I had one of those break-ups where the guy wanted to remain friends, which always sounds like a great idea at the time. You hear stories like, "We dated for two years and it just didn't work out. But now we're great friends!" Or, "I hang out with my ex's new girlfriend all the time!" I think I thought I could be one of those people. Likewise, I think my ex-boyfriend thought I could be one of those people.
Not that I beileve so much in the meaning behind astrological signs, but... I'm a scorpio. Scorpios are generally passionate, jealous and possessive. Of course, I would never be any of those things, but sometimes the stars align the right way and a mood strikes. I'm just saying.
What I noticed most about that period of writing is the specific absence of detail regarding the break-up. I think at the time it was too difficult to even write about. By the time I did, we were in broken-up-but-friends territory, and that was downright painful. I wish I could time travel to meet with late 1990s Stephanie and let her know, "Girl, let that boy go. You have plenty of other friends. Including guy friends."
But what can you do?
What surprised me most about my journal revist, was how long I kept a written journal. I thought I stopped writing around age 20, but I found entries as late as age 25! There was written documentation of my engagement to my husband. I was really shocked to find that, and I'm glad I felt it was important enough at the time to write it down.
I have not gotten very in-depth with this little journal project; I'm not sure if I'll revisit it soon, or ever. Part of me wants to take all 20 something of those books and dump them in a tire fire. If I can barely read them, why keep them around? The thought of someone else reading them is enough to incite a panic attack. But there is something to be said about holding on to that written word. It's a little piece of history. So for now, the box of journals remains. Tucked away, deep in the closet.
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