Monday, August 22, 2011
The Wedding Drug
Active Ingredients:
God.....................................98%
Government License............2%
Uses:
Take this drug as directed by a clergyman or clergywoman.
The wedding drug is commonly prescribed for the bonding of soul-mates, women with no ambition, legitimating children, avoiding murderous soon-to-be-fathers-in-law, those seeking revenge on ex-boy/girl friends and/or parents, and tax breaks.
Recommended Dosages:
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN
Adults (18 or older).....1 per lifetime
Those pregnant or breastfeeding should not make hasty decisions to take this drug.
Side Effects:
Side effects may include eternal bliss, eternal misery, large amounts of debt, babies, obesity, greying of hair, hair loss, vertical and horizontal creases in forehead, crow's feet, strain on relationships with in-laws, and unimaginable happiness.
In some extreme cases marriage can cause volatile fighting. If this is the case, please seek medical attention from a doctor as this may be due to a severe psychological condition.
Drug Interactions:
Avoid other marriage drugs, adultery, excessive debt, plotting in-laws, and money-draining habits. These can result in serious side-effects including injury and possibly death/murder.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Daaannnnng......
So it's been almost two months since the last post. WOW. Sorry, guys.
So I have done chaptero uno (yeah, I know Spanish-don't act like you're not impressed). I have actually already revised it based on some feedback I got from this awesome writing group that's really kicked up now. I've not submitted the revised version of said chapter to those writers yet (sorry y'all had to find out about it this way), but will do so tonight when I get home. I actually just finished those revisions last night and feel a lot better about this chapter now, but still have some questions. A great idea they had was starting in the middle of some action. I think the hardest part about writing for me will be not boring readers with so much backstory, but to integrate the backstory with the action and other dialogue the book. So I'm working on that as I start chapter 2. Hopefully we'll see how that goes next week after our Sunday meetings. AND, maybe I'll start pushing through all of this a little faster. I'd love to have this finished by the end of the year.
Right now my biggest speedbump is wedding planning. There is so much going on with that and all the other events leading up to it (showers, portraits, alterations, etc.) that my weekends are getting eaten up. But I have just a little over two months left of wedding mess and then maybe I can settle in and get cracking. I seem to write best when I have an empty day with NOTHING else going on. I fall into some sort of rhythm and can write for a good while until my brain is fried from trying to put my imagination into readable and captivating sentences. Which, as you can tell from this blog, is a challenge for me.
Next post, I shall impress you with my German...
So I have done chaptero uno (yeah, I know Spanish-don't act like you're not impressed). I have actually already revised it based on some feedback I got from this awesome writing group that's really kicked up now. I've not submitted the revised version of said chapter to those writers yet (sorry y'all had to find out about it this way), but will do so tonight when I get home. I actually just finished those revisions last night and feel a lot better about this chapter now, but still have some questions. A great idea they had was starting in the middle of some action. I think the hardest part about writing for me will be not boring readers with so much backstory, but to integrate the backstory with the action and other dialogue the book. So I'm working on that as I start chapter 2. Hopefully we'll see how that goes next week after our Sunday meetings. AND, maybe I'll start pushing through all of this a little faster. I'd love to have this finished by the end of the year.
Right now my biggest speedbump is wedding planning. There is so much going on with that and all the other events leading up to it (showers, portraits, alterations, etc.) that my weekends are getting eaten up. But I have just a little over two months left of wedding mess and then maybe I can settle in and get cracking. I seem to write best when I have an empty day with NOTHING else going on. I fall into some sort of rhythm and can write for a good while until my brain is fried from trying to put my imagination into readable and captivating sentences. Which, as you can tell from this blog, is a challenge for me.
Next post, I shall impress you with my German...
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Chapter 1
I've written the first two paragraphs of it twice. Knowing the story you want to tell and even memorizing a few lines to use on what will probably be chapter 31, but not being able to get past the first bit is so frustrating. It's probably because I've not been writing much else, other than operations policies at work. And let me tell you, that is GREAT practice for fiction. :-)
I think I've decided to set aside my Sundays for God and writing. I know that this will not always be consistent, since there are weekends I will need to travel and so on, but this is my goal. I'm still trying to get past my exhaustion at the end of the day during the weeks to really get going on writing. I'm the type of person who has to sit down and write as much as possible before losing my spot/inspiration, so setting a huge chunk of time aside for me to do this should be a big help.
So Church, then writing, then writer's group (when we can), then more writing. I'm excited just thinking about it!
Speaking of which, the only member of my writing "group" that I've met so far, Anne Riley, has an awesome series on her blog about the beginning of her writing journey. It's been wonderful and encouraging to follow! You can read it here: http://annerileybooks.com/blog/
I think I've decided to set aside my Sundays for God and writing. I know that this will not always be consistent, since there are weekends I will need to travel and so on, but this is my goal. I'm still trying to get past my exhaustion at the end of the day during the weeks to really get going on writing. I'm the type of person who has to sit down and write as much as possible before losing my spot/inspiration, so setting a huge chunk of time aside for me to do this should be a big help.
So Church, then writing, then writer's group (when we can), then more writing. I'm excited just thinking about it!
Speaking of which, the only member of my writing "group" that I've met so far, Anne Riley, has an awesome series on her blog about the beginning of her writing journey. It's been wonderful and encouraging to follow! You can read it here: http://annerileybooks.com/blog/
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Hibbidy Who?
I actually did it last night! I wrote a whole page just before I accidentally fell asleep! I'm about to read back over it now. I hope it's not total crap, but we will see! An idea I'm getting used to, and that has helped liberate me, is knowing that even if I think it's crap and don't want anyone else to ever read it, it's not a waste of time. Just a way of learning by doing...and how else can you learn?
Though many of you know who I am, I'm going to elaborate just a little bit so you'll have a hint about what kind of stories you might be reading in the future.
My main interest in life is history. I know that will probably bore half the people on here who had that God-awful teacher in middle/high school that bored you to tears or scarred you for life from memorizing names and dates. To tell you the truth, I wasn't overly interested in it until college. That's when it gets fun, because you get past the name and date stage and you just get time frames and context. You can find dates in the book later when you absolutely need a solid number. Names, you still have to memorize...otherwise it would be really hard to know how the story went and keep the characters separated.
So for those of you who hate history, I ask you to try to bear with me. You might learn something fun. I promise, I'm not going to write history textbooks. It's the fun stories I'm interested in telling and from the first (maybe third) person perspective. Hopefully you will find it enjoyable and with any luck inspire you to research on your own. Google and Wikipedia count!
As far as my personality, I'm actually too confused to be able to tell anyone with confidence anymore. I've taken the Myers-Briggs test 3 times in my life and have gotten 3 results. Most recently today. So for right now, I'm an ESTP. About 5 years ago I was an ENTP. Almost 10 years ago I was an ENFP. I don't know about ENFP anymore, but ESTP, and ENTP both sound right, and they both sound creative and fun...which is how I like to think of myself.
What I can tell you is that I'm a procrastinator and so this whole process may be very long and drawn out, but due to mad ESTP skills, I will make it fun!!
P.S. Lots of cool people were suspected ESTP's....TEDDY ROOSEVELT!, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway.....Madonna.....ok, let's pretend she's not one....
Though many of you know who I am, I'm going to elaborate just a little bit so you'll have a hint about what kind of stories you might be reading in the future.
My main interest in life is history. I know that will probably bore half the people on here who had that God-awful teacher in middle/high school that bored you to tears or scarred you for life from memorizing names and dates. To tell you the truth, I wasn't overly interested in it until college. That's when it gets fun, because you get past the name and date stage and you just get time frames and context. You can find dates in the book later when you absolutely need a solid number. Names, you still have to memorize...otherwise it would be really hard to know how the story went and keep the characters separated.
So for those of you who hate history, I ask you to try to bear with me. You might learn something fun. I promise, I'm not going to write history textbooks. It's the fun stories I'm interested in telling and from the first (maybe third) person perspective. Hopefully you will find it enjoyable and with any luck inspire you to research on your own. Google and Wikipedia count!
As far as my personality, I'm actually too confused to be able to tell anyone with confidence anymore. I've taken the Myers-Briggs test 3 times in my life and have gotten 3 results. Most recently today. So for right now, I'm an ESTP. About 5 years ago I was an ENTP. Almost 10 years ago I was an ENFP. I don't know about ENFP anymore, but ESTP, and ENTP both sound right, and they both sound creative and fun...which is how I like to think of myself.
What I can tell you is that I'm a procrastinator and so this whole process may be very long and drawn out, but due to mad ESTP skills, I will make it fun!!
P.S. Lots of cool people were suspected ESTP's....TEDDY ROOSEVELT!, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway.....Madonna.....ok, let's pretend she's not one....
Sunday, June 12, 2011
And So It Begins...
As some of you may know, I've actually blogged before. My first blog was about my adventures in losing weight. It started over a year ago, and though I've lost quite a bit of weight since then (and am still trying to before my wedding in October), it became a burden and so I stopped.
So why am I trying again?? GREAT question. I've recently had some really fun stories pop into my head and I want to try to actually write some books. After meeting with a budding writer like myself (though 3 years ahead of the game from me and with a book already self-published), she suggested blogging as a way to get the creative juices going. I can see how this would work considering every time I've actually built up the courage to pull up a blank Word document and start on my book, I've gone completely blank or talked myself out of just about every sentence that popped up from the keyboard with questions like "is that really going to be the first sentence of your book?" and "wait...would that be historically true?". This way, I can just write, whether I'm talking about myself, progress with the book, or whatever is on my mind. I think it will be a good creative exercise.
So I'm going to take the opportunity to air out my anxieties in this first blog post and maybe that will help me get over them. Here are the thoughts currently going on in my head:
#1. I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Seriously, I know I've BS'ed some essays in the past and that my thesis committee may have perceived my paper on women's bathing suits as fiction, but this will be the longest thing I've written that comes completely from my imagination. What you have to understand is that after almost 4 years of graduate school, my imagination is in bad shape. If my imagination were a human, it would be a 300 lb nightmare with curlers in a mumu in the Doritos aisle at Walmart. It just needs to be reminded of its potential and importance. I think this blog should help with my imagination's healthy exercise regimen.
#2. My ideas for books are crap and no one cares. Just because these sound like stories I want to read, it may not be something anyone else would enjoy. I may have this story that I'm dying to get out of me, but it will suffer ridicule and mockery (probably more from me than anyone--I seriously am my own worst critic).
#3. It's not as adult as I think. I'll write it thinking I'm writing at an adult reading level, but it will actually be at the 12 year-old reading level. Maybe I'm taking myself way to serious. I mean, I'll be happy ANYONE would want to read it and find it enjoyable, right?
#4. People will recognize themselves. I can't help but develop a lot of these characters from experiences I have with people I know, and though I may change the names, someone could recognize themselves and become offended, no matter how many times I deny it. On the other hand, considering at least half of the story I currently have in mind is based on history, I might not have a whole lot of trouble with that.
#5. I hope I never hit it big because I don't want people telling embarrassing stories about me from childhood. Vain? YES. But you have to understand, having been a nerd and at times a weirdo, I have a LOT of embarrassing stories! It's really not a good excuse to NOT do something, though. Hiding from that crap would keep me in a box forever, and no one can live like that.
So there it all is hashed out for you. I'm not going to commit to daily/weekly/monthly postings, though it would be nice. I learned from that the last time I blogged. Instead I will blog as much and as often as I can to stay in practice and to get this project rolling. Next post I will try and tell everyone a little more about what I want to accomplish.
I hope you enjoy the blog and that it is helpful, encouraging and/or uplifting to someone out there that is in the same boat as me (and good luck to you if you are!). I'm already feeling better and more confident about getting started!
So why am I trying again?? GREAT question. I've recently had some really fun stories pop into my head and I want to try to actually write some books. After meeting with a budding writer like myself (though 3 years ahead of the game from me and with a book already self-published), she suggested blogging as a way to get the creative juices going. I can see how this would work considering every time I've actually built up the courage to pull up a blank Word document and start on my book, I've gone completely blank or talked myself out of just about every sentence that popped up from the keyboard with questions like "is that really going to be the first sentence of your book?" and "wait...would that be historically true?". This way, I can just write, whether I'm talking about myself, progress with the book, or whatever is on my mind. I think it will be a good creative exercise.
So I'm going to take the opportunity to air out my anxieties in this first blog post and maybe that will help me get over them. Here are the thoughts currently going on in my head:
#1. I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Seriously, I know I've BS'ed some essays in the past and that my thesis committee may have perceived my paper on women's bathing suits as fiction, but this will be the longest thing I've written that comes completely from my imagination. What you have to understand is that after almost 4 years of graduate school, my imagination is in bad shape. If my imagination were a human, it would be a 300 lb nightmare with curlers in a mumu in the Doritos aisle at Walmart. It just needs to be reminded of its potential and importance. I think this blog should help with my imagination's healthy exercise regimen.
#2. My ideas for books are crap and no one cares. Just because these sound like stories I want to read, it may not be something anyone else would enjoy. I may have this story that I'm dying to get out of me, but it will suffer ridicule and mockery (probably more from me than anyone--I seriously am my own worst critic).
#3. It's not as adult as I think. I'll write it thinking I'm writing at an adult reading level, but it will actually be at the 12 year-old reading level. Maybe I'm taking myself way to serious. I mean, I'll be happy ANYONE would want to read it and find it enjoyable, right?
#4. People will recognize themselves. I can't help but develop a lot of these characters from experiences I have with people I know, and though I may change the names, someone could recognize themselves and become offended, no matter how many times I deny it. On the other hand, considering at least half of the story I currently have in mind is based on history, I might not have a whole lot of trouble with that.
#5. I hope I never hit it big because I don't want people telling embarrassing stories about me from childhood. Vain? YES. But you have to understand, having been a nerd and at times a weirdo, I have a LOT of embarrassing stories! It's really not a good excuse to NOT do something, though. Hiding from that crap would keep me in a box forever, and no one can live like that.
So there it all is hashed out for you. I'm not going to commit to daily/weekly/monthly postings, though it would be nice. I learned from that the last time I blogged. Instead I will blog as much and as often as I can to stay in practice and to get this project rolling. Next post I will try and tell everyone a little more about what I want to accomplish.
I hope you enjoy the blog and that it is helpful, encouraging and/or uplifting to someone out there that is in the same boat as me (and good luck to you if you are!). I'm already feeling better and more confident about getting started!
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