I've posted 60 blogs so far. Today is number 61. I'm proud of myself for sticking to this and a huge thanks to all of you who have signed on as followers...even if you don't read it, so you'll never see this. Thanks also to those of you who have not only signed on, but leave me comments periodically either on this site or via my email address. I love and appreciate each and every one of you. You are true friends.
Writing is a messy business. I can't remember the last time I saw my diningroom table without papers scattered all over it, flash drives lying about, reference books piled high, pens, pencils and yet for some reason...I still have the placemats on the table. But I'm using the placemats. One for my laptop, one for the box with my completed manuscript, one for books, one for mailing envelopes, even one for writing tools along with pads of paper. I think it's funny that I don't have anything sitting on the table unless it's on a placemat. No free-range writing paraphernalia.
I wonder when the "placemat" was first used. It's such a nice item for defining space. Before the placement there was just the great big tablecloth. What kept your knife and fork in your designated table area? What was to keep it from creeping over into your partner's area? How did we really know whose drink was whose? Dah, Dah...enter the PLACEMAT! No longer is it a problem telling what area of the diningroom table belongs to whom. Now your area is mapped out for you...marked out with clear boundaries. Any part of the table that doesn't have a placemat is open range. These spots are for things we want to share with others. But the placemat in front of me...that's mine, all mine. Don't cross my placemat line to grab food from my plate or borrow a utensil. If I wish to share...I will hand you the item in question...otherwise...stay back! This is my spot!
I hate round or square placemats. Who the heck came up with that idea? There's not enough room on one of those things for me to keep all my stuff on it. If I have a placemat I want it to be rectangular...a large rectangle is best. Room for my plates, cup, utensils and napkin. My little world...Deblandia. Welcome to my world...by invitation only.
Okay...back to serious writing...coming to you from my laptop, sitting nicely in the middle of my placemat, atop my messy diningroom table.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
"CRITICAL" REPORT
I didn't do one blessed thing yesterday as far as writing goes. Very short "accomplishments" list for the day. Very disappointed in myself. I MUST do better today.
I did discover a wonderful cure for insomnia though, this past weekend. The Informant starring Matt Damon. Wow, what a snooze fest this movie is. It's basically just a lot of blah, blah, blah...over half way through the movie you "get it" but by then...I'd really lost interest. There are a couple of snicker funny parts in it, but no laugh out loud moments. Too many "guarded looks" going on between the actors, conversations are basically on a monotone level and well...that did make for some great sleeping! I'm thinking about buying it when it comes out on DVD and then plugging it in on those nights when my brain just doesn't want to shut down and I'm sure to get a peaceful nights sleep.
Considering it was based on a true story, it had the potential to be really good, but definitely fell short of it's goal.
I did discover a wonderful cure for insomnia though, this past weekend. The Informant starring Matt Damon. Wow, what a snooze fest this movie is. It's basically just a lot of blah, blah, blah...over half way through the movie you "get it" but by then...I'd really lost interest. There are a couple of snicker funny parts in it, but no laugh out loud moments. Too many "guarded looks" going on between the actors, conversations are basically on a monotone level and well...that did make for some great sleeping! I'm thinking about buying it when it comes out on DVD and then plugging it in on those nights when my brain just doesn't want to shut down and I'm sure to get a peaceful nights sleep.
Considering it was based on a true story, it had the potential to be really good, but definitely fell short of it's goal.
Monday, September 21, 2009
BATHROOM ASPIRATIONS
Went to a wonderful Meetup gathering on Saturday night. A publisher from Novello Festival Press was there along with two copy editors. The information they passed on was amazing and I'm so glad that I went.
Besides the great tips I received...I acquired a new aspiration while attending the meeting! I want to be in the Quail Ridge Bookstore bathroom! This is the first time I have visited those facilities and besides loving the really cool table, in there, which looks like a pile of books...the walls are covered with autographed framed photos of authors who have visited the store. I have to admit all those people staring at you while you "take care of business" can be a little disconcerting, but I spent an extra ten minutes just checking out all the pictures. I want to be on that wall! I never thought I'd want to spend anymore than time than absolutely necessary in a public co-ed bathrooom, but this has now become my dream. You can have your Walk-of-Fame Hollywood...I crave a spot on the Quail Ridge lavatory wall. When I see my picture there...then and only then...will I know I have truly MADE it to the big time!
Besides the great tips I received...I acquired a new aspiration while attending the meeting! I want to be in the Quail Ridge Bookstore bathroom! This is the first time I have visited those facilities and besides loving the really cool table, in there, which looks like a pile of books...the walls are covered with autographed framed photos of authors who have visited the store. I have to admit all those people staring at you while you "take care of business" can be a little disconcerting, but I spent an extra ten minutes just checking out all the pictures. I want to be on that wall! I never thought I'd want to spend anymore than time than absolutely necessary in a public co-ed bathrooom, but this has now become my dream. You can have your Walk-of-Fame Hollywood...I crave a spot on the Quail Ridge lavatory wall. When I see my picture there...then and only then...will I know I have truly MADE it to the big time!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
PATRICK SWAYZE
Lately I've been seeing a lot of stories both in print and on the tube about amazing people, living amazing lives and overcoming unbelievable obstacles. R.I.P. Patrick Swayze. Here's a man with cancer so bad, that he would (in his words) lay on the bathroom floor at night for hours in excruciating pain, cursing the cancer eating him up, but he still got dressed each morning and went to the studio to tape his TV show. He refused to give up. He refused to give in. He just kept on going.
This kind of determination is something I wish I possessed. I don't think I'd have that kind of strength. I want to believe I do though. I want to believe that faced with insurmountable odds I would push forward and strive to triumph. Don't we all wish we had this kind of enduring spirit?
I will remember Patrick whenever I am tempted to lay in bed for another hour, or not tackle a simple re-write, or don't want to climb onto the treadmill for an hour. I have no excuse. I am healthy, strong and vital. I won't waste this precious life I've been given.
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years...Abraham Lincoln
This kind of determination is something I wish I possessed. I don't think I'd have that kind of strength. I want to believe I do though. I want to believe that faced with insurmountable odds I would push forward and strive to triumph. Don't we all wish we had this kind of enduring spirit?
I will remember Patrick whenever I am tempted to lay in bed for another hour, or not tackle a simple re-write, or don't want to climb onto the treadmill for an hour. I have no excuse. I am healthy, strong and vital. I won't waste this precious life I've been given.
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years...Abraham Lincoln
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
WEEKEND GRIEVING
There's always kind of a let-down after a long weekend, isn't there? A kind of sadness and grieving process needs to take place before we can move on and accept the fact that "it's back to work time". Even though I am currently among the "unemployed" in this grand nation of ours, I am still treating my novel production as a "job". But, I took this weekend to have fun on the water, enjoy a movie and spend time with friends. It's back to the grind of writing now.
Today I plan to complete the final draft of my short story for the Greensboro Review contest. I tend to procrastinate, but this time my goal is to have the story out the door no later than Friday, the 11th. Okay so maybe that's cutting it a little close to the wire...but at least I'm not over-nighting it on the 14th.
It's a dreary day, but my story line is rather dark, so maybe this weather will set a good backdrop to script about my childhood angst. Till tomorrow...........
Today I plan to complete the final draft of my short story for the Greensboro Review contest. I tend to procrastinate, but this time my goal is to have the story out the door no later than Friday, the 11th. Okay so maybe that's cutting it a little close to the wire...but at least I'm not over-nighting it on the 14th.
It's a dreary day, but my story line is rather dark, so maybe this weather will set a good backdrop to script about my childhood angst. Till tomorrow...........
Saturday, September 5, 2009
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
A very good friend of mine told me, during a phone conversation yesterday, that this month's Writer's Digest has a list of 24 agents looking for novels to represent. I hurried my butt over to Barnes and Noble at Triangle Town Center as fast as I could legally drive (well maybe a little over "legal") and grabbed myself a copy.
Clutching my treasure to my chest, I was headed back to my car...when the beauty of the day suddenly struck me and I thought "why just go home and peruse my magazine? I could just grab a drink and sit outside the mall in the lovely, peaceful, serene center court they have created.
I zipped into Moe's to get a sweet tea (I'm so Southern now!) and wandered over to a seating section in the center of the common area between the beautiful landscaped walking paths. The area was totally isolated and I found a lovely table with a large umbrella to shade me from the direct sunlight. I pulled my magazine from it's bag and took a pen and writing pad from my purse, let out a deep sigh, took a quick sip of tea and opened to page one.
A minute later I hear a loud voiced woman speaking very rapid angry Spanish. I tilted my head over my shoulder and wouldn't you know it...here sat said woman at a table directly behind me, legs crossed, loose foot bobbing rapidly up and down, obviously arguing with someone about something in a language I don't understand. I tensely turned back to my magazine trying to block out the ever increasing volume of the discussion going on in back of me. Just when I thought I had it conquered...a shrill scream rent the air and the head of a boy, about 5 years old pops up above one of the large rocks strategically placed to add peace and serenity to the area. Two moms were now standing at the base of the rock, one of them yelling for little Jimmy to "get down!"
Sighing I very slowly closed my magazine, placed it back into the bag, slipped my notepad and pen into my purse and stalked off to my car. Peace and quiet were finally achieved when I arrived back at my own home, sitting on my own back porch, sipping the rest of my Moe's tea and leisurely reading through my magazine. "There's no place like home...There's no place like home."
Clutching my treasure to my chest, I was headed back to my car...when the beauty of the day suddenly struck me and I thought "why just go home and peruse my magazine? I could just grab a drink and sit outside the mall in the lovely, peaceful, serene center court they have created.
I zipped into Moe's to get a sweet tea (I'm so Southern now!) and wandered over to a seating section in the center of the common area between the beautiful landscaped walking paths. The area was totally isolated and I found a lovely table with a large umbrella to shade me from the direct sunlight. I pulled my magazine from it's bag and took a pen and writing pad from my purse, let out a deep sigh, took a quick sip of tea and opened to page one.
A minute later I hear a loud voiced woman speaking very rapid angry Spanish. I tilted my head over my shoulder and wouldn't you know it...here sat said woman at a table directly behind me, legs crossed, loose foot bobbing rapidly up and down, obviously arguing with someone about something in a language I don't understand. I tensely turned back to my magazine trying to block out the ever increasing volume of the discussion going on in back of me. Just when I thought I had it conquered...a shrill scream rent the air and the head of a boy, about 5 years old pops up above one of the large rocks strategically placed to add peace and serenity to the area. Two moms were now standing at the base of the rock, one of them yelling for little Jimmy to "get down!"
Sighing I very slowly closed my magazine, placed it back into the bag, slipped my notepad and pen into my purse and stalked off to my car. Peace and quiet were finally achieved when I arrived back at my own home, sitting on my own back porch, sipping the rest of my Moe's tea and leisurely reading through my magazine. "There's no place like home...There's no place like home."
Friday, September 4, 2009
GROWING IDEAS
The "reading" I went to last nite was so wonderful! We have such talent here in the Raleigh area and I enjoyed listening to everyone. I even go up enough nerve to get up and read one of my short pieces. It was nice to hear some fiction pieces, as I was afraid it would be all poetry. Some poetry I enjoy...like the comedic prose of one of the last readers, but for the most part...I just don't really get it. Way too abstract for my tiny brain.
I know most of you must be on Facebook. I was looking through the messages left on FB last nite after coming from the reading and a friend of mine mentioned that she was "vacuuming up tiny brown things from her porch that seemed to have come from her ferns and she wondered if they were spores." Well after being at this gathering with creativity and imagination running rampant...I couldn't help but start to picture those spores sitting in the vacuum bag, growing, mutating and morphing into some kind of weird fern alien being, then suddenly busting out of the vacuum and slithering through the house, choking the inhabitants before moving onto the rest of the neighborhood. Ahhhh the joys of being a writer and having that over active visualization. Hope I didn't scare the bejesus out of her..........hee hee I'll be saving this idea in my little idea file.
I know most of you must be on Facebook. I was looking through the messages left on FB last nite after coming from the reading and a friend of mine mentioned that she was "vacuuming up tiny brown things from her porch that seemed to have come from her ferns and she wondered if they were spores." Well after being at this gathering with creativity and imagination running rampant...I couldn't help but start to picture those spores sitting in the vacuum bag, growing, mutating and morphing into some kind of weird fern alien being, then suddenly busting out of the vacuum and slithering through the house, choking the inhabitants before moving onto the rest of the neighborhood. Ahhhh the joys of being a writer and having that over active visualization. Hope I didn't scare the bejesus out of her..........hee hee I'll be saving this idea in my little idea file.
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