I finished up the 2nd draft of Violet's Monster: Volume I last Friday at lunchtime. I printed it and handed off the 66 page manuscript to Mr. Wenger and then passed my copy off to a friend. We'll see what they have to say!
I am afraid I might have some drama coming my way - my family bugged me until I sent them a copy.
I don't think they're going to like it.
1. They don't do fantasy/sci-fi/urban fantasy/horror.
2. They will have a problem with the 2nd book due to situations arising in the 1st book.
3. They probably won't let my siblings read it b/c of certain characteristics of my writing: violence, dark subject matter, "questionable" morals and lack of Christ-centered plot.
I'm a Christian. I write. My beliefs DO show through my writing. Just...not in characters who are Christians, necessarily. I think the world can see what I believe without me pounding it into their heads with a plot hammer.
So...I'm really nervous. But you know what? I'm learning to speak my mind. Whether anybody's listening or not. I have things to say, and I'm going to say them.
Here comes the more outspoken me. Attempting to speak in love, but acknowledging that perhaps we all could use our brains a little more instead of repeating drivel that was pounded into our heads since preschool.
/end of whatever-this-is.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Violet's Monster: Volume I Update
I keep changing the last few words of the title because I can't get it to sound right, but I think I might have solved the problem...we'll see.
Violet's Monster: Book I sounds better than Violet's Monster: the First Book, but Violet's Monster: Volume I sounds the best. Unless I can come up with a really cool subtitle...it also allows me to make fun of myself - there's a scene in The Importance of Being Earnest where it talks about three volume novels...;)
Anyway, I have made a lot of progress in the last few days and I am much happier with this draft than the last one. I've written out one or two of my very favorite scenes [which I may post here, if you'd like], and I'm about to start writing another favorite part of the story.
I think by the time I get to the 8th or 9th draft, it is going to be a very different book than what I had originally intended, but it might actually work better. It's a lot darker than I wanted [most of my writing is dark, so I guess I'm the one-style kind of author, which works fine for me], but there are some funny things in there [at least, I think they're funny]. So I'm looking forward to sending it out and seeing what people think.
And now, to end this post: [which is really just me gearing up to start writing]
The opening paragraph to Chapter 1: Meet Violet
Violet walked home from school in the rain, her black and white striped umbrella bobbing along in time with her feet, which were encased in her very favorite pair of red Mary Janes. Violet’s art portfolio was under her arm, and Violet was wishing that all of school could be like art class.
From Chapter 4: Where is Max?
Violet opened the door to her room and immediately felt something was off. She looked under the bed and in the closet, her suspicions confirmed. Max was gone.
Violet wondered where he could be, and then wondered if perhaps his family had come and taken him back to their world. It only took a moment for her to make a decision. She grabbed a pen and notebook, a camera, a paper opener that resembled a dagger, and an apple from her snack basket. She stuffed all of these into her book bag and turned to face the closet. “I’m coming to get you, Max.”
Violet marched into the closet, only to bump her nose on the wall. “Ouch!” She considered the wall and tried again. “Open, Sesame?” No dice. She crossed her arms and looked around the room, wondering how they could have taken Max. Her eyes fell on the bed and an idea popped into her brain.
Violet hitched the book bag over her shoulder and got down on her hands and knees. She squeezed under the bed and held on to her bag, waiting. For a moment, she thought she had failed once again. Then, the floor swallowed her up and she was spinning through space.
That's all I've got for now.
Revisions, Away!
Violet's Monster: Book I sounds better than Violet's Monster: the First Book, but Violet's Monster: Volume I sounds the best. Unless I can come up with a really cool subtitle...it also allows me to make fun of myself - there's a scene in The Importance of Being Earnest where it talks about three volume novels...;)
Anyway, I have made a lot of progress in the last few days and I am much happier with this draft than the last one. I've written out one or two of my very favorite scenes [which I may post here, if you'd like], and I'm about to start writing another favorite part of the story.
I think by the time I get to the 8th or 9th draft, it is going to be a very different book than what I had originally intended, but it might actually work better. It's a lot darker than I wanted [most of my writing is dark, so I guess I'm the one-style kind of author, which works fine for me], but there are some funny things in there [at least, I think they're funny]. So I'm looking forward to sending it out and seeing what people think.
And now, to end this post: [which is really just me gearing up to start writing]
The opening paragraph to Chapter 1: Meet Violet
Violet walked home from school in the rain, her black and white striped umbrella bobbing along in time with her feet, which were encased in her very favorite pair of red Mary Janes. Violet’s art portfolio was under her arm, and Violet was wishing that all of school could be like art class.
From Chapter 4: Where is Max?
Violet opened the door to her room and immediately felt something was off. She looked under the bed and in the closet, her suspicions confirmed. Max was gone.
Violet wondered where he could be, and then wondered if perhaps his family had come and taken him back to their world. It only took a moment for her to make a decision. She grabbed a pen and notebook, a camera, a paper opener that resembled a dagger, and an apple from her snack basket. She stuffed all of these into her book bag and turned to face the closet. “I’m coming to get you, Max.”
Violet marched into the closet, only to bump her nose on the wall. “Ouch!” She considered the wall and tried again. “Open, Sesame?” No dice. She crossed her arms and looked around the room, wondering how they could have taken Max. Her eyes fell on the bed and an idea popped into her brain.
Violet hitched the book bag over her shoulder and got down on her hands and knees. She squeezed under the bed and held on to her bag, waiting. For a moment, she thought she had failed once again. Then, the floor swallowed her up and she was spinning through space.
That's all I've got for now.
Revisions, Away!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Post-Productive
Last week was my "creative" week [no need to inquire further] and I spent lots of time knitting away at three potholders [red, green, and white for Stu's mom], a scarf [not enough yarn, I have to rip it out and make a purse], and a clutch [black with rainbow trim], while also working on my Secrets Journal and Violet's Monster: The First Book revisions.
Whew.
Revisions are...going. I'm on page 36 of a second draft and I have to say I like this version a lot better, even if I know what parts I'm going to have to expand in later revisions. I've got notes on what I need to know, what I need to put in, and stuff I want to put in, so hopefully, I will have a decent-sized manuscript by Friday. I've got several hours to type today and possibly bits and pieces throughout the day tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday while I'm at work. I'm wondering if I'll have to end up writing most nights as well.
This is like pulling teeth. Sometimes the words just flow and I go along alright for a few pages and then I get distracted or I think, "This isn't working," or I go up to check something and end up re-reading a different section and adding in a few more sentences. Agh!
But hopefully it will get done [if I would quit blogging it might] and I will have a nice set of notes awaiting me after the New Year.
Cheers!
Whew.
Revisions are...going. I'm on page 36 of a second draft and I have to say I like this version a lot better, even if I know what parts I'm going to have to expand in later revisions. I've got notes on what I need to know, what I need to put in, and stuff I want to put in, so hopefully, I will have a decent-sized manuscript by Friday. I've got several hours to type today and possibly bits and pieces throughout the day tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday while I'm at work. I'm wondering if I'll have to end up writing most nights as well.
This is like pulling teeth. Sometimes the words just flow and I go along alright for a few pages and then I get distracted or I think, "This isn't working," or I go up to check something and end up re-reading a different section and adding in a few more sentences. Agh!
But hopefully it will get done [if I would quit blogging it might] and I will have a nice set of notes awaiting me after the New Year.
Cheers!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
My Own Post Secret Book
Creating this collage journal has been...incredible. Finding pictures to go with my thoughts, realizing things about myself both good and bad, and putting them into words, capturing them forever...there is something breath-taking [sigh of relief?] in releasing these thoughts that have been captive for so long.
I encourage you to try it. Take a plain old notebook [or get the recyclable brown one from Wal-Mart] and just...sit. Sit down, write out whatever you're holding in, and put it in there. Put in pictures, stickers, things torn from magazines...at the end, you'll see what a beautiful, sad, funny thing life is and you'll have something you can look back through and remember with.
I'm keeping mine in plain sight. One of my secrets explains why. You can read about it if you want.
This is a tradition I'm going to keep.
I encourage you to try it. Take a plain old notebook [or get the recyclable brown one from Wal-Mart] and just...sit. Sit down, write out whatever you're holding in, and put it in there. Put in pictures, stickers, things torn from magazines...at the end, you'll see what a beautiful, sad, funny thing life is and you'll have something you can look back through and remember with.
I'm keeping mine in plain sight. One of my secrets explains why. You can read about it if you want.
This is a tradition I'm going to keep.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Capture a Bit of Beauty in My Secrets
A few months ago I was watching some of the students here [not creepily] and I saw someone's creative journal - it was a plain enough notebook, but as she pulled it out, I could see that she had collaged and scribbled and drawn throughout the inside. It was so beautiful it almost made me gasp and I determined right then and there to capture some beauty of my own.
I purchased a recycled-paper journal yesterday at Wal-mart for $7.97. It is plain, brown hardback with brown pages, beautiful in its simplicity. I have yet to decide whether to decorate the outside or not.
I also remembered this morning that some people on Post Secret, instead of sending their secrets in, journal them by making postcards and placing them in their journals. This too is a beautiful thought. I'm going to combine the two.
I'm already planning on placing some of my favorite Psalms between the pages, and today I wrote the first thing that will go in my journal. I simply wrote one line on a white piece of paper and spent a few minutes decorating it with the highlighters in my drawer. I surprised myself by using a pen and pencil in order to make something else apparent - I used pen for the permanent part of my statement and pencil for the part that is temporary. I have to admit...I am pleased with myself for thinking of this. :P
I intend to journal quite often this way.
I have often tried to keep a journal but the routine of sitting down and writing in a few small pages is not a habit I am good with keeping. So maybe this way, I can journal whenever the mood strikes, and it will help me process. Win!
I purchased a recycled-paper journal yesterday at Wal-mart for $7.97. It is plain, brown hardback with brown pages, beautiful in its simplicity. I have yet to decide whether to decorate the outside or not.
I also remembered this morning that some people on Post Secret, instead of sending their secrets in, journal them by making postcards and placing them in their journals. This too is a beautiful thought. I'm going to combine the two.
I'm already planning on placing some of my favorite Psalms between the pages, and today I wrote the first thing that will go in my journal. I simply wrote one line on a white piece of paper and spent a few minutes decorating it with the highlighters in my drawer. I surprised myself by using a pen and pencil in order to make something else apparent - I used pen for the permanent part of my statement and pencil for the part that is temporary. I have to admit...I am pleased with myself for thinking of this. :P
I intend to journal quite often this way.
I have often tried to keep a journal but the routine of sitting down and writing in a few small pages is not a habit I am good with keeping. So maybe this way, I can journal whenever the mood strikes, and it will help me process. Win!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Dreams Continue
Last night I had a bowl and a mugful [don't ask] of my homemade chicken noodle soup...while lacking in carrots [or "feet-ass" as Stu so colorfully phrases it], it tastes alright...it's simple and is done in 30 minutes, just boil the chicken/chop it up while waiting on the noodles, plop them in the broth and heat it up while adding in pepper, parsley, salt, & onion powder. Tasty...except I always want a grilled cheese sandwich with it.
I dreamed last night about playing harp and then it turned into something else...it was much more epic and quite lengthy but I had to do a lot this morning and promptly forgot. Anyway...that's another food to add to your list of "good for dreams eating."
Today I decided I was going to write more of Violet's Monster [beginning book II] and opened a blank word document to find...that I didn't want to write after all. The muse is gone, at least for the moment, and I've been procrastinating all day. :P Sigh. I do have about 3 weeks to revise/edit the first one so I can hand it in to my English prof...I mean, NaNo helped me write it but I do have a due date. So it looks like I need to spend about $3.50 and print out a copy. I'm getting more excited about it and I know when it's all printed out I will spend some time reading through it...at least ten minutes. XD
Anyway, what was I saying? I had something specific in mind when I opened up this post...ah, well...it's an update, right?
SEVEN CHRISTMAS MOVIES I MUST WATCH THIS [AND EVERY} YEAR:
1. The Muppets' Christmas Carol - arguably the best version. And my favorite Christmas movie...ever. Followed closely by:
2. The Grinch [the cartoon] - Not the one where it's just the book illustrations, but the actual green Grinch. Not the live-action one either, although baby Grinch is absolutely adorable.
3. Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!/Charlie Brown Christmas - I love Linus in this one. I can also play the "Linus and Lucy" song on the piano.
4. While You Were Sleeping - hold on, hold on, it DOES take place at Christmas, and my brother and I had a tradition of watching it every year around this time. What's NOT to love about a Sandra Bullock/Bill Pullman movie?!
5. Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer - The clay-mation movies are throwbacks to my childhood. I love this version of the story and I'm fascinated with this type of animation.
6. A Christmas Story - I know, I know, everybody [or it seems like everybody] hates it and does not understand why it's funny, but...I have a soft spot for it.
7. Elf - Stu's favorite Christmas movie and also one of mine...Will Farrell is terrific, and so is Zooey Deschanel. Their duet and Buddy the Elf's one-liners are my favorite things about this movie.
Runners-Up:
It's a Wonderful Life - only because I really like "You Can't Take it With You" more.
Christmas Vacation - funny, but...still, it's Chevy Chase.
Shrek the Halls: Shrek's Christmas Special - just caught part of this last night. So ridiculously Shrek that I loved it. I <3 Fiona as an ogre. And Shrek is awesome. But I didn't see all of it so...can't go on my tops list until I do!
What are your favorite Christmas movies?
I dreamed last night about playing harp and then it turned into something else...it was much more epic and quite lengthy but I had to do a lot this morning and promptly forgot. Anyway...that's another food to add to your list of "good for dreams eating."
Today I decided I was going to write more of Violet's Monster [beginning book II] and opened a blank word document to find...that I didn't want to write after all. The muse is gone, at least for the moment, and I've been procrastinating all day. :P Sigh. I do have about 3 weeks to revise/edit the first one so I can hand it in to my English prof...I mean, NaNo helped me write it but I do have a due date. So it looks like I need to spend about $3.50 and print out a copy. I'm getting more excited about it and I know when it's all printed out I will spend some time reading through it...at least ten minutes. XD
Anyway, what was I saying? I had something specific in mind when I opened up this post...ah, well...it's an update, right?
SEVEN CHRISTMAS MOVIES I MUST WATCH THIS [AND EVERY} YEAR:
1. The Muppets' Christmas Carol - arguably the best version. And my favorite Christmas movie...ever. Followed closely by:
2. The Grinch [the cartoon] - Not the one where it's just the book illustrations, but the actual green Grinch. Not the live-action one either, although baby Grinch is absolutely adorable.
3. Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!/Charlie Brown Christmas - I love Linus in this one. I can also play the "Linus and Lucy" song on the piano.
4. While You Were Sleeping - hold on, hold on, it DOES take place at Christmas, and my brother and I had a tradition of watching it every year around this time. What's NOT to love about a Sandra Bullock/Bill Pullman movie?!
5. Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer - The clay-mation movies are throwbacks to my childhood. I love this version of the story and I'm fascinated with this type of animation.
6. A Christmas Story - I know, I know, everybody [or it seems like everybody] hates it and does not understand why it's funny, but...I have a soft spot for it.
7. Elf - Stu's favorite Christmas movie and also one of mine...Will Farrell is terrific, and so is Zooey Deschanel. Their duet and Buddy the Elf's one-liners are my favorite things about this movie.
Runners-Up:
It's a Wonderful Life - only because I really like "You Can't Take it With You" more.
Christmas Vacation - funny, but...still, it's Chevy Chase.
Shrek the Halls: Shrek's Christmas Special - just caught part of this last night. So ridiculously Shrek that I loved it. I <3 Fiona as an ogre. And Shrek is awesome. But I didn't see all of it so...can't go on my tops list until I do!
What are your favorite Christmas movies?
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