inside tha purple haze

Impatience

2007-10-25T16:40:00.001-04:00

I realize I’ve spent way too long playing around with characters, world building and back story. I need to get writing. I know there are a lot of holes left to fill, but I’m anxious to get this stuff out of my head and onto paper. I’ve committed to NaNoWriMo, and I can’t wait until November 1^st. It’s been a long time since I’ve been excited about writing.

I want this novel out of my head so I can continue. The ideas are marinating right now, but there is SO much OTHER stuff I want to work on. I’ve got an urban fantasy marinating. The NaNo novel from 2001 that I’m afraid to finish ßtons of editing there, and a couple of short story ideas. So, between now and Nov. 1^st I’m pretty much all over the place, and the ideas are flowing. I bet it’s because la bruja knows that I won’t have time to play when Nano starts.

Ciao for now.

TEST

2006-11-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

Posting from Palm TX

Are You Ready? I'm Not.

2006-10-27T16:06:00.000-04:00

It’s been about a month already, when I made ambitious plans to outline my story during the month of October. I was hoping to be über-prepared for NaNoWriMo It did not happen. Not only that, right now I’m not all that upset about it. I have two novels fighting for growing room inside my head. One is of a chick-lit type, the other is urban fantasy.

I love both protagonists, of course, and therein lies the problem. CONFLICT. As popular writing advice goes, “what is the worst thing you can do to your character” is the bridge to conflict and plotting. Well, I know I am just being too damn nice to my girls, and I need to raise the stakes. But I feel very mean when I do that. I do not relish making their lives miserable. The antagonist—not so much.

In any case, that is the plan this weekend. To come up with ways to make my characters suffer. Today is the 27^th. I still have 4 days to come up with some sort of vague outline before NaNoWriMo begins. Or I can fly bu the seat of my pants….again.

Inspiration

2006-09-13T14:51:00.000-04:00

I downloaded <a href="www.inspiration.com">Inspiration </a> for both my
desktop and my Palm handheld. I'm having a good time, playing around
with it. I can see how it will definitely help me with outlining.

I love the fact that it is visual, allowing me just to "throw stuff at
the wall, and see if it sticks". And even better, converting it into an
actual outline.

Now, this is not my first introduction to Inspiration, but the first
time was quite some time ago...maybe 3 or 4 versions ago, and it was
less user-friendly back then. I'm at work right now, and I can't wait
until I can take a break, pull out my Palm and get to doodling. Yay me!

random thoughts

2006-09-05T16:16:00.000-04:00

I suck at plotting. I was reading this blog,
http://jacoppinger.blogspot.com/, and he is using Inspiration. Looking
at the website, I see there is a version for the Palm OS. I love my
Palm, even though I'm not using it to its full potential. However this
may motivate me in that direction.

I have the scenes in my head rambling around, but I can't seem to get
them into a nice 3-Act structure. Ok, so maybe I just need to write
them anyway. But I've tried that before, and ended up writing myself
into a tight corner. And that manuscript is still in the corner,
waiting for a total overhaul.

Blog by Mail

2006-09-04T14:52:00.000-04:00

This is cool. Seeing as how blogger is restricted at work, I must blog via email. This is the coolest. AND, as you can see I figured out how to post crappy pictures from my cell phone. That should prove to be interesting in the future.

It’s Labor Day, and I’m at work. By choice. Double time and a half is a great incentive to spend the day being non productive. I mean really, how much work can I do, when everyone else is home. Ok, well I was able to help out a couple of people, but that’s about it. Call back during business hours!

I’ve been typing up some novel notes I’d handwritten on a legal pad. I was in danger of losing the pages to the ravages of my purse, my car, and general day-to-day wear and tear.

I go through spells—sometimes I prefer writing longhand, and sometimes I need to compose at the keyboard. I plan to start working from First Draft in 30 Days as a way of getting, and keeping myself organized. I’m a packrat, and a paper whore. Too much of it, and I get overwhelmed. I’m quick to print off a webpage (to be read later), than taking a few minutes to read it right then. And then these random pages get lost, misfiled, or, when I come across them again, I have no blasted idea of why I printed it off in the first place. Same thing with bookmarks. I can CTRL+D with the best of them, but there is no rhyme or reason on how I save my bookmarks. I’m turning over a new leaf. With my new laptop, everything gets its own folder: the year, subject, etc. I’ve been doing the same with MS Word. It’s helpful to me in so many ways, I feel so organized! Let’s see how long this lasts.

Multimedia message

2006-09-04T13:35:00.000-04:00

My workstation

(no subject)

2006-09-03T22:34:00.000-04:00

<table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0
cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" align=center><font
face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black;
font-size: 14pt;'><b>You've Experienced 56% of
Life</b></font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><center><img
src="http://images.blogthings.com/howmuchlifeexperiencedoyouhavequiz/life-3.jpg"
height="100" width="100"></center><font color="#000000">
You have a good deal of life experience, about as much as someone in
their late 20s.
You've seen and done enough to be quite wise, but you still have a lot
of life to look forward to.</font></td></tr></table><div
align="center"><a
href="http://www.blogthings.com/howmuchlifeexperiencedoyouhavequiz/">How
Much Life Experience Do You Have?</a></div>

Multimedia message

2006-09-03T15:18:00.000-04:00

I love this pic

2006-09-03T15:13:00.000-04:00

Test

Mobile Email from a Cingular Wireless Customer http://www.cingular.com

2005 NaNoWriMo

2005-11-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

I have descended into madness. It's NaNo time! Originally, I'd planned to use September/October to work on characters, outlining, etc.--PLANNING for NaNo. But somehow time got away, and there it was October 31st, and I wasn't ready.

Nevertheless, I'm in.

Yesterday's word count was below goal, but still not back--1068 words.

Write Every Day

2005-08-07T09:23:00.000-04:00

Everything I have ever read about writing stresses, "you must write every day".

I don't.

I feel incredibly guilty that I don't. And I spend (waste) a lot of time thinking about how can I manage to write every day. Less sleep? I already go to bed around 11 or 12, and I'm up by 5, so no, that doesn't seem possible. I'm presently averaging 4-5 days a week, 800+ words a day. And this is in 15-minute blocks of time that I scrape out through the day. I just started working again, last week. By the time I get home I am physically and mentally exhausted. It takes me at least an hour just to de-stress. Add to that dinner, daughter-time, getting ready for the next day. Next thing you know, it's 10:00.

So, for the time being, my little 15 minute "mini-marathons" are just going to have to do. I'm hoping that this schedule will get easier in the next month or so, and I'll be able to weave in more writing time.

The least I CAN do right now...is stop feeling guilty about it. Ok. I don't write everyday. And that's okay. If I could I would, but I can't, and I have to realize that that's okay too.

Movie Meme

2005-07-21T23:58:00.000-04:00

I had to post this Movie Meme

Bold the ones you've seen

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. MAS*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

2005-07-13T23:33:00.000-04:00

I found this desktop timer. It's called Minute Timer 1.1, and it's perfect for me. I am finding it easier for me to write in short little bursts in between all the multi-tasking I do all day. This is my first attempt writing in this manner. So far in two 15 minute sessions, I've written almost 800 words. Keeping that pace, I'd hit 2400 per hour. I'm gonna ride this wave and see where it takes me.

Happy 4th!

2005-07-04T18:13:00.000-04:00

Fourht of July, and so far, I've spent the day surfing blogs, a little knitting, and working on my outline. Using Holly's Notecarding: Plotting Under Pressure, I got a lot done. I have a better idea of my scenes, where I'm lacking, and where I need to narrow my focus. It was certainly a big help. Now, I didn't have any index cards, so instead I used Excel. I may try to find a notecard program (like Writer's Blocks) online. I realized one important thing. I was going to use multiple viewpoints, but I can see that there are only two that are important to the story--Malcolm and Erika, but mostly Erika. I want to throw Malcolm in there, because I want readers to see that he's really not as bad once you get past your first impressions.

late night muse & diversions

2005-06-06T18:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I slacked off big time. Distracted by a computer game. Children of the Nile. Kinda like Sim City in ancient Egypt. A very involved game, and you are the Pharoah. It got me thinking about setting a story in ancient Egypt. I don't even know if there's a market for it. Or perhaps I can make a market for it.

Anyways, after wasting a good portion of the day (and night) on it, I went to bed about 4am this morning. THAT's when Mr. Muse decides to wake up big time. I found motivation for my MC, peeked into her husband's motivation, and found a series of opening events that will turn her world upside down. So, though they are coming slowly, I am ever grateful the words are coming. I just wish they'd not prevent me from going to sleep. It's difficult to read my writing after one of those late-night-dim-light-so-I-don't-disturb-anyone scribblings.

CONFLICT

2005-05-22T21:01:00.000-04:00

Conflict has been on my mind a lot lately. Specifically--not having enough. My MC has a good life, and I am trying to figure out how to make it all fall apart. I have tons of stuff planned to happen along the way...but not that potentially life-changing inciting incident. (Can you tell I've been reading about writing?) I know I wrote about this before, but still no resolution. Maybe I'm just trying too hard. I've also been writing down some ideas on the changes that need to be made on Eden's Promise. That manuscript needs a bit of work, but it is definitely salvageable.

In all the reading about writing I've done, one thing is clear. The first (or second, or third) manuscript I complete is typically a "throw-away". And having that mindset, I keep holding back...not wanting to "waste" good plot ideas and characters on something that may likely never get published. That is precisely my problem with EP, and why I keep procrastinating on finishing it.

what i did on summer vacation

2005-05-11T16:12:00.000-04:00

Well, it wasn't summer vacation, but it was certainly a blogging hiatus. A reader left a comment wondering if I'd been writing during my time away from here. Yes and no. The truth--I wrote, albeit sporadically, and pretty much moved writing way down on the priority list. Now, I'm back to blogging, and for whatever reason,it seems to be writing. Perhaps these entries are my writing "warm-up". Whatever it is, it seems that in my case, blogging helps my writing instead of taking away from my writing.

first steps

2005-05-11T02:32:00.000-04:00

Getting acquainted with my characters. I'm having difficulty with finding the right opening conflict. I'm thinking maybe I just need to get on with the outline, and work it out later. I got down some good words on my MC's husband/protagonist. He is taking on an adversarial role on this stage. I don't see him changing his ways, because he doesn't ever think anything is wrong with him--it's the world around him. And he just doesn't understand why Erika (MC) is making things so difficult.

Well, in other news, it looks like I'm going to be in New York in June. I feel good and bad about it. But in any case, I plan to make the best of it.

random musings

2005-05-02T17:00:00.000-04:00

Astrology for writers, editors, filmmakers

Libra: Commit. Say yes. Sign the contract. Cash the check. Stop thinking out loud about why you shouldn't do the above..we are all bored with your shortcomings in the decisionmaking dept.

Could it be they're talking to me? I would have to say so. I make tougher on myself than it needs to be. And for what, so I can whine about it later? ARRRGGGGHHHHH

Enough.

Just keep writing, writing, writing. Just keep writing, writing, writing.....

to-do

2005-05-01T20:34:00.000-04:00

I need to get an outline down for Untitled #2. I hate that I don't have a title, but nothing has come to mind yet. I was thinking Happily Ever After, but that is pretty unoriginal. Anyway, Eden's Promise was written without an outline, and while the premise is decent, it goes in 99 directions at once and loses focus of my original vision. I finally realize that writing sans outline, at least a sketchy outline, does not work for me. My MC is pretty well fleshed out. I've gotten far into her backstory. The other major players are not as fully drawn yet, but I'm getting there. My weak areas are: conflict (being too easy on my characters), and organization--which is an issue throughout my life, not just in my writing.

I have an idea of how I want the book to end, but am not sure how to get there. If I can get past my major stumbling block, I'll be good. Major conflict. I've got lots of minor conflicts in mind, but nothing major enough to set things in motion. I had an idea of making a list of everything that can go wrong for my MC when the book opens. Let's see how that works out.

Flickr

2005-05-01T13:31:00.000-04:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

WIPs

2005-05-01T12:54:00.000-04:00

Eden's Promise
Untitled urban fantasy
Untitled chick lit

Eden's Promise is on hiatus. Not quite done, but lack of an outline has me stumped as to where to go next.
#2 (UUF) & #3 (UCL) are in development, and currently the loudest voices inside my head.

My goal for May is to get back on track with my writing. My discipline has been lacking, and truth be told, I'm not getting anywhere. I've identified the reasons behind this, and I'm working them out. Now it's up to me to get the words down.

stats

2005-05-01T12:45:00.000-04:00

blogger says i've written 31,645 words. hard to believe it has been that much. i've been away from this blog for 2 years. time to resurrect, and give new focus.

2005-05-01T12:26:00.000-04:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.