I used to think that I was the sort of writer who worked on many projects at once. I had probably thirty different 'story beginnings' in a folder on my computer, and whenever I felt like it, I'd go and work on one.
Now, though, I'm starting to understand what people mean when they talk about immersing yourself in the novel. It's so much easier to work on a novel when you're completely devoted to it - like the difference between having a conversation with your best friend and having a conversation at a high school reunion. You know each other so well that it's easy to fall into the rhythm of talking/writing. This simile is starting to break down, but my point is this: I need to stop skipping from project to project and choose one to which I will devote all my attention and thought and daydreaming.
Fortunately, I have just the project: the good old NaNoWriDay novel, now clocking in at a solid...seventy-one pages. It really needs the attention, too.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Conundrums
Slogging a bit through the writing - I'm having trouble figuring out how much British slang I should use in the British characters' speech. Too much, and it sounds ridiculous and pretentious; none at all, and there's no distinction between the Brits and the Americans.
In the meantime, I've been giving Stargate: Atlantis a shot. I've seen six or seven episodes now, and I have to say, I'm not connecting to it in quite the same way that I did with Stargate: SG-1. Might have something to do with the absence of all my favorite characters, but I think it's also the lack of the same sense of urgency. In SG-1, the fate of the world is at stake. In Atlantis, sure, their base is at risk, but...eh. It really demonstrates the importance of high stakes in storytelling.
In other news, I'm almost set to declare my English major - I've found an adviser, I've written a four-year plan, and now I just need to come up with the rationales. You'd think that would be easy, but not so much. It's a bit more complex than "I like writing and reading" - or at least, I think it's supposed to be. Maybe I'm overthinking?
Either way, I'm off to my poetry writing seminar now. We're collaborating with the music composition class to set poetry to music, and our first major collaboration is due in mid-February. Eesh, scary stuff.
In the meantime, I've been giving Stargate: Atlantis a shot. I've seen six or seven episodes now, and I have to say, I'm not connecting to it in quite the same way that I did with Stargate: SG-1. Might have something to do with the absence of all my favorite characters, but I think it's also the lack of the same sense of urgency. In SG-1, the fate of the world is at stake. In Atlantis, sure, their base is at risk, but...eh. It really demonstrates the importance of high stakes in storytelling.
In other news, I'm almost set to declare my English major - I've found an adviser, I've written a four-year plan, and now I just need to come up with the rationales. You'd think that would be easy, but not so much. It's a bit more complex than "I like writing and reading" - or at least, I think it's supposed to be. Maybe I'm overthinking?
Either way, I'm off to my poetry writing seminar now. We're collaborating with the music composition class to set poetry to music, and our first major collaboration is due in mid-February. Eesh, scary stuff.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Week 2
I seem to have some kind of mental block when it comes to updating regularly. Oops.
Work in the Writing Lab tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get some more writing done. I've got a direction for the story, but I always feel weird writing explosions and carnage. Not sure how I'll reconcile those two. And of course the novel is only about 1/3 written.
Off to bed now. Hopefully I'll have some actual thoughts. Oh, I was reminded of my dislike of e.e. cummings in poetry class today when we had to listen to "In Spring" set to music. Twice. It's not just the butchering of English grammar and punctuation that drives me nuts - I could get used to it, if forced, and I can see the point. But the composer completely disregarded what cummings had done with the poem's form, which turned a bizarre poem into a lousy, sentimental poem with awful music to it.
Gah. cummings just bothers me.
Work in the Writing Lab tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get some more writing done. I've got a direction for the story, but I always feel weird writing explosions and carnage. Not sure how I'll reconcile those two. And of course the novel is only about 1/3 written.
Off to bed now. Hopefully I'll have some actual thoughts. Oh, I was reminded of my dislike of e.e. cummings in poetry class today when we had to listen to "In Spring" set to music. Twice. It's not just the butchering of English grammar and punctuation that drives me nuts - I could get used to it, if forced, and I can see the point. But the composer completely disregarded what cummings had done with the poem's form, which turned a bizarre poem into a lousy, sentimental poem with awful music to it.
Gah. cummings just bothers me.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
First day of work
I'm now officially a productive member of society. I worked from 8:30-noon today as the Office Manager of the Grinnell College Writing Lab, and will be returning for the same shift on Thursday. What does this actually entail? Well, I answered the telephone twice. I helped seven or eight people set up appointments. I drank a mug of tea. And when I wasn't doing anything job-related (most of the time), I wrote. Yes, dear readers, my job at the Writing Lab basically pays me to sit and write, interrupted only occasionally to help people. I got six [handwritten] pages done today.
It's the perfect setting, really. I can't mess around on the Internet. I can't listen to music or watch TV. I can't leave my homework for that period of time, because it might suddenly become very busy. The office is very quiet. The only things I can do are read and write. Amazing. And the actual work isn't bad either; the phone system is quite uncomplicated, most people who come in just sign themselves up for an appointment, and the most complex thing I do is register people for the College Writing 101 course. I love this job. Sure, the office is a tad chilly, but that can be dealt with by wearing long-sleeved shirts. I'm thrilled that it's working out so well.
I'm off to type up everything I've written in the past few days. I've been trying to follow Somerset Maugham's example, writing every morning, and so far (as in, the past two or three days) I'm sticking with it. Hooray.
It's the perfect setting, really. I can't mess around on the Internet. I can't listen to music or watch TV. I can't leave my homework for that period of time, because it might suddenly become very busy. The office is very quiet. The only things I can do are read and write. Amazing. And the actual work isn't bad either; the phone system is quite uncomplicated, most people who come in just sign themselves up for an appointment, and the most complex thing I do is register people for the College Writing 101 course. I love this job. Sure, the office is a tad chilly, but that can be dealt with by wearing long-sleeved shirts. I'm thrilled that it's working out so well.
I'm off to type up everything I've written in the past few days. I've been trying to follow Somerset Maugham's example, writing every morning, and so far (as in, the past two or three days) I'm sticking with it. Hooray.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A new semester
I'm back at school, so hopefully blog posts will resume.
This semester, I'm determined to a) do well in my classes and b) complete a novel. Not just a first draft - a novel. This should be easier than last year, since for most of the semester I'll only have three classes (two English, one history). I suppose I haven't been as good about writing regularly as I should - but my mom gave me a very cool book, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and it has inspired me to get back to work. Probably my favorite quote (which he's quoting from Somerset Maugham): "I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp." I think I should aim for that sort of mentality.
And now I have to clean out my desk and get rid of some of the junk under my bed so I can stuff my suitcases back there. Also, the bottom of the fridge has turned green and black and should be dealt with (I may be procrastinating, but at least I'm procrastinating with necessary tasks).
Final thought: my fortune from last night's dinner at Chuong Garden reads: "Keep true to the dreams of your youth." How appropriate.
This semester, I'm determined to a) do well in my classes and b) complete a novel. Not just a first draft - a novel. This should be easier than last year, since for most of the semester I'll only have three classes (two English, one history). I suppose I haven't been as good about writing regularly as I should - but my mom gave me a very cool book, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and it has inspired me to get back to work. Probably my favorite quote (which he's quoting from Somerset Maugham): "I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp." I think I should aim for that sort of mentality.
And now I have to clean out my desk and get rid of some of the junk under my bed so I can stuff my suitcases back there. Also, the bottom of the fridge has turned green and black and should be dealt with (I may be procrastinating, but at least I'm procrastinating with necessary tasks).
Final thought: my fortune from last night's dinner at Chuong Garden reads: "Keep true to the dreams of your youth." How appropriate.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Lately
Wow, been a while.
In preparation for returning to work on my 8/6/06 NaNoWriDay, which has been pruned all the way down to 51 decent pages, I went with my dad to a firing range. Quite an experience - I never realized how loud guns are until I shot one. I don't think it's something I'll be doing regularly, but it was good to find out what firing a gun is actually like for when I write scenes involving gunfire.
Otherwise, I've been spending most of my time cooking (sauteed mushrooms, vegetable soup, shepherd's pie) and figuring out how far I could travel on my latest royalty check (answer: a coach airplane ticket within North and Central America). Life is much as it has been.
In preparation for returning to work on my 8/6/06 NaNoWriDay, which has been pruned all the way down to 51 decent pages, I went with my dad to a firing range. Quite an experience - I never realized how loud guns are until I shot one. I don't think it's something I'll be doing regularly, but it was good to find out what firing a gun is actually like for when I write scenes involving gunfire.
Otherwise, I've been spending most of my time cooking (sauteed mushrooms, vegetable soup, shepherd's pie) and figuring out how far I could travel on my latest royalty check (answer: a coach airplane ticket within North and Central America). Life is much as it has been.
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