progress!

Well, I've jumped ahead with my writing, though I have a LONG way to go to hit my mark. Still, I'm rather pleased that I've gotten this far. Truly! And I am now ranked 49 of 167 would-be novelists. Woohoo!

One thing I'm definitely learning: I'm not cut out to be a novelist. Nope. Short stores, I think I'm your girl. But the last book I wrote was my dissertation for my doctorate and that took a couple of years to complete. I even had about fifty graphs in it, so that cut down on some of the writing. (You know, "a picture is worth a thousand words" and all that, though making the picture can take about as long as writing the words would have.) Writing that book taught me that I didn't want any more doctorates!

Writing this book is teaching me that I may not quite be ready to let my freak flag fly in this direction. I would certainly have to use a pseudonym, because if any of this material made it to print, everyone would wonder what kind of kinko I am. I guess I spent too much time in the Navy. Or maybe I've read too many of "those" magazines. Or maybe I should blame it on the a-a-a-a-alcohol, as Jamie Foxx would say (though I have liquor of any kind - except virtual on facebook! - rather infrequently these days). Or maybe, just maybe, it goes back to me not being wired right.

I've read interviews over the years of folks who act in roles that are contrary to their character. Carroll O'Connor was one of the most educated, liberal, laid-back, accepting people on the planet, EXCEPT in his role as Archie Bunker, racist bigot extraordinaire on "All In The Family." For eight years, he let his alter ego loose upon the tv screen, to much acclaim. Then there's Robin Williams, a comedian who is left of center and off the charts, effortlessly letting loose his wit in whatever venue he finds himself. EXCEPT when he's Walter Finch or Sy Parrish, the sociopaths in "Insomnia" and "One Hour Photo", respectively. Talk about creeps! he completely let his dark side come out to play.

So, maybe that accounts for the words that flow from my fingertips when a "novel" is being written. Hey, it's all fiction, right? Fiction is defined as "works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form." Imagination is "forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses." And fiction is just a milder word for fantasy, is it not? Why not make it sexual fantasy as well as romantic fantasy and dramatic fantasy? Why not, indeed? My writings are simply imagination gone wild, much like college kids on spring break: fairly harmless, but don't let the family know the details of your exploits!

52 of 166

No, I haven't become a Borg creature. My ranking has moved up slightly in a slightly larger field of participants. So... GO ME!!! After quite a hiatus, I'm back and up to 8000 words after a brief period of writing this afternoon. (Hey, it was slow at work and I jumped at the chance!) I intend to spend more time writing this evening, after dinner and my usual Monday night pursuits, i.e., watching The Big Bang Theory and How I met Your Mother. Yes, I am quite aware that they'll be repeats. Yes, I will watch them anyway, and enjoy every minute of it. There is truly so little tv I partake of; this hour of frivolity helps keep my sense of time's passage intact, much like the sun's travels across the sky help me during daylight hours. Now, to get some supper and clear my schedule of all else crying for my attention!

still going...

It's been a rather busy time for me, so I haven't had the time to write like I would have hoped. Still, I AM persisting, and that's the point of rising to a challenge, is it not? At a grand word count of 6100, I am now ranked 53rd in a field of 165. This was Day 16 of the challenge, so I do need to try to work in some more word counts in the next two days, before my friends from Hiram come on down. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I took a little writing interlude during their visit, but I don't know that I would be comfortable with them... or anyone at this point... possibly reading over my shoulder.

Now, I'm not saying that they would throw me off my game. When I start writing, the first few lines are hard, but then the characters move right on in and make themselves at home and I never quite know what they'll come up with next. Well, that's not exactly true, now is it? I have a really good idea of what will happen, and I'm actually a bit surprised about it. You see, well, are you familiar with the works of Harold Robbins? You know, the guy whose books all deal with sex, sex, and more sex? Well, my characters think they're in one of his novels. Only they're a bit more graphic. Yeah.

So, who's to say anyone will ever get to read this but me? Still, I am rather enjoying it. I can't wait to see what they're gonna do next!

here we go!

I am so very excited! This past weekend was a fabulous start to my New Year, filled with fun times with friends old and new. On one of the social sites I use - facebook, if you must know - I had beau coup wishes for a happy birthday, with quite a few from unexpected sources. Nice! I had gone to work on my special day, as I am quite a trouper and I was needed there, but I did get off a bit earlier than usual, allowing me to get up to my BFF's place in Hiram in time for a mojito before dinner. Very nice! Then she and I and the family all piled in to the car and off we went in search of cake. Big, monster, artery-chokin' hunks of cake, at a place known as Pasta Bella. I selected Lemon Meringue Pie, with a five-inch, beautifully sculpted, perfectly browned meringue topping on a three-inch layer of lemon curd. YUMMMM. Oh, did I mention the candle? Yes, boys and girls, there was a pink candle valiantly blazing atop the dreamy drifts of whipped egg whites, as well as a trio singing "happy birthday, dear customer" as the lovely treat was gently placed before me. My BFF had given me a lovely "aquarium" picture, a three-dimensional still life with fish, so to speak. I intend to place it in my Ocean Room, on the wall near the computer, so I can enjoy the new view as I converse here and elsewhere. She told me she had thought of my personal aquarium, my bedroom, as the location for the new art, but I would rather have it where I can look at it often through open eyes, not eyelids.
The next day, off we went to the trade fair at Centennial Park, where my BFF was to hawk her wares: beautiful purses, with pockets inside for essentials. Great fabrics, nice textures, several different styles of The Perfect Bag (at etsy.com). (Yes, I am QUITE shamelessly promoting her enterprise!) I even found a rather unique necklace for my little black dress: a strand of gray and black beads, closed with two sterling dragonflies on the side. Not only is it an unusual piece, but it also appeals to my asymmetry bent. I'll have to create an occasion to try it out... oh, wait, I can wear it at the Celebration of Daddy's Life scheduled for Sunday! Oh, nice! I think Daddy would definitely have approved!
Saturday night, one of my BFF's friends had a low country boil, with a twist. They use crayfish, with a few crab legs for good measure, instead of shrimp, and they season it with fire. No, truly, They say they're using Louisiana spices, but I have it on good authority - my entry and exit orifices - that it's fire. Even the corn on the cob and the new potatoes were so spicy as to be nearly inedible by normal people. Fortunately, none of them were present and we all ate our fill, followed by a trifle created by my BFF in honor of my birthday. A non-dairy concoction with cherries, chocolate-laced whipped "cream", and angel food cake, topped with Bing cherries.
Wait just a darn minute! I know what you're thinking. "That's twice she's mentioned her birthday and not said anything about HER eating cake. What's up with that?" Well, quite frankly, I think I'm done with cake for a while, after having a certain type of cake lay siege on my mind for better than two weeks. So, pie, trifle, cobbler, bread pudding, even brownies, but no cake, please. The angel food cake in the trifle doesn't count, as it's not whole, but torn into little pieces. So, there!
On Sunday, my bird from Charleston flew on down and we had dinner and a movie. Actually, we had slunch (too late for lunch, too early for supper) at one of my favorites (Chili's - their tilapia is so very tasty!), then the movie. "Star Trek" for the second time, this time paying more attention to the character Ayel, played by Clifton Collins, Jr. He was also in "Sunshine Cleaning", as a completely (COMPLETELY) different character. I had wanted to see "Star Trek" again, especially for the sword fight (!) and the view of Earth from space. The viewing was that much nicer with my bird by my side!
And the whole weekend, my brain was feverishly trying to work up concepts for my novel-writing experience. Oh, how about this one? Hmmm, how to flesh it out past just a few pages? Whose voice should be telling the tale? Should there be only the one point of view? How about a series of stories, woven together? That sounds like fun, but how to get the characters to meet? Where to have the tale set? When is the action and what is the action and why??? So, Monday evening I began my journey into the Southern Cross world, having finally settled on an opening gambit... and found, after the first few lines, that I had diverged from my original concept into one that felt more natural, more me. I'll be quite interested to see where this adventure leads!