In 2004 I started writing a novel about Ancient Egypt. Then lots of stuff happened, and I didn't write for years.
When I did start writing again, I would pull it out occasionally and look at it. There were re-writes, edits, a paragraph added here and there, new scenes, once in a while I'd even finish a chapter. But mostly it just sat there. I would put it away, take it back out, put in on the shelf, then take it down and dust it off.
Today? I finished it. Seven years, forty-one chapters, and 185,000 words later.
I suppose it's hard to lose a debate with yourself, but if anyone could, it would be me. I've been debating with myself whether or not to post this story I wrote, or post any of my work, actually, and ( Collapse )
My partner decided she wanted a kitten, and when one of her aunts suddenly said, "Oh, I have a litter of four," that was pretty much it. So, Saturday we drove almost two hours away to go look at the cat. I was kind of worried; it was three months old, hadn't been handled much by people, and had been charged at by a dog so it was pretty spooked. But, the cat got corralled, my partner was grinning as she held the little meowing ball of fur, and I resigned myself to the inevitable.
Currently, though, she is sacked out, looking completely angelic and peaceful and not anything like the evil whirlwind I know she'll turn into when her eyes open.
So, no, I don't post very often here. Which is too bad, since I actually pay for this blasted journal. Last year I tried to make a resolution that I'd actually post once a week, but ... that lasted until March? And then it became a simple, 'oh, hey, I posted a new story here' space.
But today I have something I want to talk about. I'm probably going to piss off a couple of people, and I suppose that's okay. I just . . . I don't know if I need answers so much? Or just to talk some stuff out. ( Collapse )
All I've ever wanted is to tell stories, and I can do that whether I get published or not. But it would be nice to hold a book in my hand again and say, 'that's mine. I did that'. So maybe I should try the formula, see what comes of it.
I posted two new stories for Halloween. One of them was written in only a week, so it needs some editing, but it's not bad. The other one I spent nine months on, and it's posted on the Academy.
Okay, I don't normally do these things. But I got tagged, and since yellowsmurf6 has been bugging me about posting and commenting... here.
You Should Be a Film Writer
You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!
I've been up since 5:30 this morning, which is entirely too long in my book, so forgive me for any typos or other mistakes.
I hit 3000 this week, as I have for the last few weeks, but I did it in a totally different way. Last Wednesday, for some strange reason, I got an idea for something and ended up writing a simple 4000 word story -- and ending it. Four hours, four thousand words, done. Shortest story I've written... in forever. But it works, and I've gotten a few good reactions to it, so we'll see if anyone else likes it. In case anyone's interested, it's over at rsc_writing, so go look if you want. I don't have a title yet.
The yearly Xena con was this past weekend, and it was fantastic as usual. Hudson was there -- love Hudson. And while Lucy was onstage, she brought out an old friend -- Claire Stansfield! I'd never seen them onstage together, so it was kinda cool to have them going back and forth. The whole audience went nuts when Claire came out. I was on my feet before rhi_silverflame had registered who it was, I think.
So, something else happened at the con. I was kind of -- well, I want to say I was offered an opportunity but it was more that it was dangled in front of me and I was told that if I want it, I have a hell of a lot of work to do. I won't say much about it, after all, don't want to jinx anything, but let's just say April is looming large -- such a long time away, but really just about 8 weeks. I could either fail spectacularly or achieve something I had only dreamed about.
I had an interview for the new position at work. It went well, I think, but I won't know if I got it for a couple weeks yet. I was actually the first person interviewed for the job, and was told I set a very high bar for everyone who follows, so -- here's hoping. Again, no expectations. You hear me, universe? No expectations!
I just was looking back at my journal... and I got to the bottom of the first page, equaling 20 posts.. and the date was October of 2003. 2003, yah'll. Twenty posts in just over five years? Wow. Either I have very little to say or I just don't like posting my thoughts to the world. Or I'm lazy. Who knows?
Anyway, I will try to do better. I will. Like lisa_moose I will attempt a weekly update, though if I get the new job it might be longer than that. And yes, the application for the new job went in yesterday. Everybody cross your fingers, turn around three times, and do the hokey pokey for a moment, and maybe the gods of employment will be kind to me.
In other news -- well, there isn't other news, really. It's Tuesday, my day off, and with three days of strategically placed vacation time, I'm working only two of the next eight days. Hats off to long weekends.
sideofzen, will you kill me if I ask you to make me a new layout? Abby is spiffy, and me still loves, but since I'm working on writing again, I kind of want one that looks more... literary. *shrug* Whatever the hell literary is, right?
I talked in my last post about the writing, and tcdale asked if I was going to post it anywhere. I wasn't planning on it, but I am looking for more people who might want to read because I could use somewhere else to go for feedback. I think that's the thing I miss most about when I was writing Conspiracy, I would write it, post it, and there was immediate feedback, normally within an hour of it being posted. With this one, since I'm hoping to send it straight for publication, I don't want to post it, so no feedback other than my beta reader. I have two betas, and a cheerleader. If anyone else would like to join either group, let me know. And don't be worried that I'll get upset if you don't like something: one of my betas just said I needed to cut the first 12,000 words and we're still talking. *winks at butterflykiki.
My final thought for the night? Lychee red tea with camu camu juice is good for the soul. That is all.
accomplished
tired