Why is it that as soon as you start a serious project, your creative juices overwhelm you and nag you to return to your fun projects? For me I think it has to do with my stress levels, that my brain automatically defaults to thinking about my characters to remove myself from the difficulties of day-to-day life.
Speaking of some escape, I recently devoured Laura Florand's The Chocolate Thief. Truly delightful. I didn't think the epilogue chapter was necessary, and if anything, it weakened the romance of the whole story. I also found myself enamored with Sylvain, the chocolatier, who seemed more interesting than the main female character. Rounder and less two-dimensional than the rich girl character.
I love the French feel. Love the language and the easy flow of the book.
I think I enjoyed it equally, or perhaps for different reasons, compared to her first book, Blame it on Paris.
My hectic life enjoyed a little breather.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
And September winds down
This summer, the amount of traffic on my food blog (www.angelfoodcooking.blogspot.com) has doubled and I periodically see days where it quadruples from what I used to see as my baseline.
Yet while I updated that blog usually once or twice a day, I can't keep this one active or interesting.
I have completed 2 assignments for the internal communications office of USAID as the start of my eInternship at the department of state.
The first newsletter I laid out for the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group appears to have reached its audience successfully. This I credit to my template designer (Gayle Hendricks) and my contributors who have made the editing easy.
Meanwhile the honors thesis is taking shape-- rough but written. I have a mini proposal document my professor requested and really rough drafts of the introduction and chapters one through three.
In the midst of all this, I'm applying for jobs, working with freelance clients and wondering what written endeavors will come at the end of this year: academic or creative?
Yet while I updated that blog usually once or twice a day, I can't keep this one active or interesting.
I have completed 2 assignments for the internal communications office of USAID as the start of my eInternship at the department of state.
The first newsletter I laid out for the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group appears to have reached its audience successfully. This I credit to my template designer (Gayle Hendricks) and my contributors who have made the editing easy.
Meanwhile the honors thesis is taking shape-- rough but written. I have a mini proposal document my professor requested and really rough drafts of the introduction and chapters one through three.
In the midst of all this, I'm applying for jobs, working with freelance clients and wondering what written endeavors will come at the end of this year: academic or creative?
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Chapter One AGAIN
Last night, I finished my first week of school and a hectic work week. After a week of lectures, it becomes hopeful that my psych class will be easier than I thought and maybe I do have time for everything.
Last night I didn't go to bed early. Instead of collapsing when my daughter went to bed, I rewrote chapter one of my second manuscript, Courting Apparitions. Except it wasn't a rewrite as much as stripping stuff out.
At the end of the first novel, two characters ended up bound together in an unusual circumstance and I thought this would impede the conditions for the start of the second book.
In the previous draft, the protagonist runs into the antagonist and his emotional state upon seeing the antagonist causes an event that sets the book in motion.
I thought that would be a problem if the antagonist had a partner and through that partner learned more about himself that would theoretically keep the event from happening.
But then I realized the simple answer, what if the antagonist went looking for the protagonist because he needed to revisit what happened in the previous book and this would upset the protagonist and spur the event that sets the book in motion.
The simple solution in writing is best 99% of the time.
New first line:
"No man ever deserved anything more than Étienne d'Amille deserved this beer right now."
Last night I didn't go to bed early. Instead of collapsing when my daughter went to bed, I rewrote chapter one of my second manuscript, Courting Apparitions. Except it wasn't a rewrite as much as stripping stuff out.
At the end of the first novel, two characters ended up bound together in an unusual circumstance and I thought this would impede the conditions for the start of the second book.
In the previous draft, the protagonist runs into the antagonist and his emotional state upon seeing the antagonist causes an event that sets the book in motion.
I thought that would be a problem if the antagonist had a partner and through that partner learned more about himself that would theoretically keep the event from happening.
But then I realized the simple answer, what if the antagonist went looking for the protagonist because he needed to revisit what happened in the previous book and this would upset the protagonist and spur the event that sets the book in motion.
The simple solution in writing is best 99% of the time.
New first line:
"No man ever deserved anything more than Étienne d'Amille deserved this beer right now."
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Current projects
This summer I agreed to take on the newsletter for the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and the first issue of the redesigned newsletter went to the printer last week and I'm told it's in production. When it appears on the web site, I'll post the link.
My honors thesis is to the point where I should write a rough draft. I've done a draft of the introduction and started chapter one.
My big news is I got an "eInternship" with the internal communications office of USAID at the department of state. My first job was to write a labor day message. My supervisor approved and will share the edits with me soon.
Creative writing? Not happening right now... But I also have some new freelance clients, which could lead to some exciting exercise for my pen.
My honors thesis is to the point where I should write a rough draft. I've done a draft of the introduction and started chapter one.
My big news is I got an "eInternship" with the internal communications office of USAID at the department of state. My first job was to write a labor day message. My supervisor approved and will share the edits with me soon.
Creative writing? Not happening right now... But I also have some new freelance clients, which could lead to some exciting exercise for my pen.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Jimi Hendrix
I'm in Hippocampus Magazine this month, in the rock and roll issue:
http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/2012/07/review-becoming-jimi-hendrix-by-steven-roby-and-brad-schrieber/
http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/2012/07/review-becoming-jimi-hendrix-by-steven-roby-and-brad-schrieber/
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
History based
My stories very much blend the history of the real world with what happens in their universe.
My first novel takes place in 2002 because of some of these elements. The characters don't work if they are removed from that time.
Etienne and Basilie must be children of post World War II. Basilie has to be a corporate raider circa 1980s. Adelaide can only rise as a supermodel in the pre-waif days and in the shadow of beauties like Cindy Crawford.
More importantly, Etienne's uncle dies in Algeria. His father probably served in Indochina. He completed his national service in a post colonial Djibouti, which means he didn't see the action his father and uncles did.
I was reading Frantz Fanon yesterday, and as a anti-colonial philosopher AND a psychiatrist, he had some interesting notes about the impact of warfare on the Algerians and the French alike during the war for Algerian independence.
I realized, reading these notes, that I had finally found my link to Uncle Gaston's service, conduct and death. This excites me.
The intricate crossing of fiction and history allows the author to comment on the actions of nations and the state of society.
I've already written a short character sketch to introduce Khadijah, who may challenge everything Etienne believes about his family, his country's "civilizing mission" of yesteryear and what it means to be "French."
It may help him do what's right in the aftermath of his own actions.
My first novel takes place in 2002 because of some of these elements. The characters don't work if they are removed from that time.
Etienne and Basilie must be children of post World War II. Basilie has to be a corporate raider circa 1980s. Adelaide can only rise as a supermodel in the pre-waif days and in the shadow of beauties like Cindy Crawford.
More importantly, Etienne's uncle dies in Algeria. His father probably served in Indochina. He completed his national service in a post colonial Djibouti, which means he didn't see the action his father and uncles did.
I was reading Frantz Fanon yesterday, and as a anti-colonial philosopher AND a psychiatrist, he had some interesting notes about the impact of warfare on the Algerians and the French alike during the war for Algerian independence.
I realized, reading these notes, that I had finally found my link to Uncle Gaston's service, conduct and death. This excites me.
The intricate crossing of fiction and history allows the author to comment on the actions of nations and the state of society.
I've already written a short character sketch to introduce Khadijah, who may challenge everything Etienne believes about his family, his country's "civilizing mission" of yesteryear and what it means to be "French."
It may help him do what's right in the aftermath of his own actions.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Why write?
When writing non-fiction, it's easy to explain your motives. You have a goal. You want to educate. You hope to prove something.
Fiction... Sometimes it can feel like a waste of time. You're making up stories. Who cares?
The simplest answers may be that writing fiction addresses the human condition or comments on a moment in time in our society. Both are important.
But why bother? To a certain extent there is the ego factor. I did this. I like this. I want to share. I seek feedback.
Seeking publication is hard and serious work. Is it worth it? If you don't know if you'll reach the end goal of publication, why bother?
The answers vary.
It can be therapeutic to transfer energy and emotion into ideas on paper.
It can provide a sense of accomplishment.
I have trouble finding enough books I want to read or stories that hit all the criteria that make me enjoy reading.
So, I write them.
Fiction... Sometimes it can feel like a waste of time. You're making up stories. Who cares?
The simplest answers may be that writing fiction addresses the human condition or comments on a moment in time in our society. Both are important.
But why bother? To a certain extent there is the ego factor. I did this. I like this. I want to share. I seek feedback.
Seeking publication is hard and serious work. Is it worth it? If you don't know if you'll reach the end goal of publication, why bother?
The answers vary.
It can be therapeutic to transfer energy and emotion into ideas on paper.
It can provide a sense of accomplishment.
I have trouble finding enough books I want to read or stories that hit all the criteria that make me enjoy reading.
So, I write them.
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