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 |  Daily notes and timed freewrites but mostly my blog |
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Last week of December and I think I am finally getting my act together in the writing department after a long break in routine starting last August or a little bit before. Disruptions in my daily life with job loss and then internet loss really dampened my drive to create. However, since once again getting an internet connection in my own home, the need to create has blossomed. I have spent some time perusing through the Marchlands accounts and with the spur of PatrickB   's Symposium Topic 30, I have settled on a project to start the year 2015. Actually, I will be returning to an older project--some ten years older--in which I will be editing Malyn's journal as written around 2001. "Malyn Kept a journal--Raw resource to Verloren wip" of my book "freewrites: prompts, scenes, or teasers" is now priority. This is a WIP as I am changing the original text from the author's translation of the character's words into how her words would actually appear from an "in character" reader's viewpoint. It is a character's journal and should be written from the character's pov in the character's voice. The original drafts were written as a bard or scribe of the D&D fantasy genre would have written an 'as told to me' or 'as read from' account; with the educated scribe's grammar corrections.Basically, I hadn't visualized the full characterization of Malyn or how she would speak at the time of the first drafts. Now that I've lived with the character for going over fourteen years, her voice is quite clear. She is articulate and educated even though she came from a backwards village in barbarian country. Her ability to learn quickly is due to a racial anamoly. Her mother was Vosian--barbarian, sort of a cross between Cossack and Mongolian. Her father, however, is Sidhelein--or Elven from the Forests west of Malyn's home village. She is physically larger than the average Elf or human, yet a head shorter than her Vos cousins. (Vosian females are typically from 6'5"- 6'9" and men are from 6'8"-7'5". Malyn is a puny 6'1".) Her broken speech is due to the fact that she is writing in a second language, which she was never properly educated. The common trade language was picked up over the years through her interactions with Brecht traders traveling through her village maybe four to six times a year. She is the only half-elf existing in the Rhzlev Vosian domain due to an historical mistrust between the two races. She has endured the existence of not quite belonging since she was raised by her mother among her mother's people. However, Malyn earned the respect of the Sandorev villagers through her loyalty to family and home. Then her mother died and she has taken up the journey to discover something about her father's people. (Her father disappeared with the remnants of the Sidhelein lands falling into the plague of shadow.) |
| I took advantage of the new system gifted to me and loaded two games I purchased over six years ago which were incompatible with my xp computer. Since I have no I-net access at home these days, I don't feel guilty at all playing computer games for most of the day Sunday. I've enjoyed playing Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind; Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Fable: the Lost Chapters... Fable is the game I spent the most time with. I even got a bit of housework accomplished and plan to get some more done tonight after work. I find it interesting that after playing a computer game I want to clean house...seems I have more energy to spend after completing a game goal. Hmmmmm? |
| Testing ...Sweet! It works on my new computer...I can save entries in my account again. The main difference is that I'm using google chrome as my main browser. Before I'd get everything written out and when I clicked the save entry button, I'd get a failed message--that was with internet explorer as my browser. So glad I figured out how to make chrome my default. I'm presently at my sister's and enjoying I-Net access...I have access through my old XP at home--uses a phone line--but don't have a phone line hook up on this computer to plug into the internet I've paid for. Also, because my XP is over 12 years old I no longer have access to all the services on WdC. Once I figure out a budget for WiFi, I will again be connected at my home. As Bilbo Baggins would say: Got to figure out all the will dos and why fores first. So until next time, time to go home and attend my Saturday routine there. |
I'm getting a few minutes logged in before I go to work. I've closed out another gig successfully. All the positive reviewing I've done here has literally paid off. I'm excited  . |
| Hmmm, I have a new computer but though I can read everything on the site and access my items, it seems I can't write new entries as of yet. However I still have access on my tablet to make changes. I am presently brain weary and will explore connection options at another date. |
| Looking forward to this weekend. I got my Christmas present from my son, Tim, today and will be setting it up tonight after work. I'm excited. Last night I attended the company Xmas party. Good food and a good time. Well, time to get going. Work is calling. |
| Looking forward to this weekend. I got my Christmas present from my son, Tim, today and will be setting it up tonight after work. I'm excited. Last night I attended the company Xmas party. Good food and a good time. Well, time to get going. Work is calling. |
| Just closing up my WiFi access at my sister's place. The dogs have settled down and I will be on my way to work after I finish this post. This week I'm working 4 ten hour shifts with Thursday off...Thursday is the company Christmas party. Therefore, my work schedule is M-W 1pm to 11pm (we take two 15 min breaks but no lunch). Go to the Company party from 5:30pm to 8-9pm then Friday I work from noon til 10pm. Next week my schedule is back to normal. Over the Christmas-New Years holiday I will have the whole week off. Since I have no vacation time, I won't be paid for that week, but I've been able to set a week and two days pay aside so I can pay my Jan rent. Life is good. I am a day ahead on my recent gig so that will be wrapped up by tonight. Then I can attend to Malyn and get something going on her first book which is 3/4s finished. I need to get the ending of the first book together then start the second draft editing. I'm excited. |
I sat down to write and of course, I need to back away from a locked front door and see if I can find an unlocked side door or back door. Hell, an unlocked window will do.  Okay, crawling through a window...The end of NaNoWriMo is close and of course now is when the urge to write hits. That is okay. Whenever the writing urge hits this strong is always welcome. This weekend I spent with family at my sister's home. Where I'm invited to share their WiFi and company whenever I wish. (There right now, in fact.) At home I indulged in the extended edition of the Lord of the Rings movies as well as most of the extras on the DVD collection. As usual, after watching the movies and documentaries I pick up my copies of Tolkien's story. I have the paperback 33rd printing, August 1971 edition of the books. I first read the books in the 1980s while in college. My husband read them first and then convinced me to read them. I am glad to have them to reread at my leisure. So here I am trying to described the effect the documentaries and the books and the movies have on me. In short, I become very restless. The need to write or at the very least to read more, stirs within me. My Malyn character was partially born from this need to write after the Tolkien experience. I have her sold on maps and I've a history of her parents, her childhood, her meeting destiny. The urge this time is as strong if not a bit stronger to get into Malyn's world. I think once I've finished my present fiverr assignment, Malyn is going to get some serious attention. |
| Sweet! I'm at my sister's house and have access to WiFi for my tablet. When I really need to use my tablet I now know where to go. LOL Well, we have pie. Will talk later. |
| I have finished reading the gigs, now to responding. I have organized the manuscript into 8 sections and I will be focusing on each section as I would if it had trickled in one 5,000 word section at a time. Then I will give an overall commentary on what works and what needs work.if Having a good weekend as far as production off site. It's windy and raining at the moment. My outdoor cat has sought refuge inside today and he's demanding to be fed! |
| Today I am doing some needed organizing (all off site projects, but still dealing with reading and commenting). I was passed the distraction phase for this time of year, yesterday (11-7-14) and actually have returned energy to attend to projects partially ignored through the last week. I have set up my multi-gig project into 8 sections. Each section consists of 5k words give or take a couple thousand to complete chapters. Several are less than 5k and two are over, so pretty evenly spaced. I have been reading okay, but I am behind by half of where I should be. Today, I play catch-up and hope to finish reading the next section that is equivalent to gig 5. This will put me right on schedule. Tomorrow I plan to finish the reading and start on the evaluation phase. This will give me five days to finish my 10 day goal (6 days early for standard timing). Even if I go a couple days over my personal goal, I will have delivered well within my advertised time constraints. I have basically played a "Scotty" card to make myself look like a super hero for gig production...LOL...I admit, I didn't plan on the personal emotional hurdle, so I am very happy I exaggerated the time I would need to finish this project. Grief is a persisant condition. This January will mark four years since my son's passing. As usual I didn't realize 'why' I was having problems focusing all last week until 11-6-14, Chris's 35th birthday. Then I understood completely. I have this special talent of ignoring 'time' until it smacks me in the face. I am usually so focused into my daily routines that everything outside the here and now have to be triggered into consciousness. Chris's birth date is such a trigger. 11-5 means nothing; not even a warning. 11-6 on the other hand is an unlocked door opening and all the memories tumbling out. Chris is frozen in time, of course, and shall never age beyond the 31 years that we knew him. Our memories keep him 'alive' in our lives. Our grief is our reaction to his physical abscence in our lives. (I say 'our' and not 'my' because he was loved by many more people than me.) An interesting thought just crossed my mind...regarding the imprint that individuals have on other's lives and the ripple in the pond effect. This thought, of course, is as old as the origins of mankind. I am as close to making myself a recluse as I can possibly attain and still be self supporting with a job outside my home and contact with neighbors and family as it occurs. Also, my sharing on writing.com, fiverr.com, and facebook most likely impact in some way, to a higher degree than I could imagine. So, even with my stay at home alone attitude, many people know me or at least know of me...I'm not the hermit on the hill whispered about in gossip circles and known about only by name within a small community and by what third person stories have been told about me. I'm still on the grid, so to speak. And yet, when my time comes to experience the next adventure of existence, there will be many who will grieve within their experience of my impact on their lives. Like the inner ripples are taller and smaller--those closest to me, will have the most long lasting memories and intense emotional energy. While the outer ripples are shallower but wider--those only with the knowledge of some of my activities may have a passing thought regarding my abscence. Another idea crossed my mind this week in regards to a story topic/content/theme. It went something like this...the combination of the idea of my Institute stories and the STNG Holo-Deck technology. A prison/hospital combination system the mentally disturbed or criminally maladjusted with the 24th century goal of rehabilitation and reintegration. Basically, each cell would be individually adapted to the emotional healing/mentally reprogramming needs of the person incarcerated. This crossed my mind when I was thinking, how could I make the stories believable enough for a reader to connect with the characters. The biggest obstacle to believability was to explain why each individual was having their particular 'prison/incarceration' experience. The Holo-Deck technology would actually aleviate all the believability issues. Okay back to work off site...Have a great week end every one. |
| I've had a long day of distraction. November 6th (35 years) ago I gave birth to my first born son. I celebrated his 'birthday' by carrying on as usual. I went to work and read. I fed the cat and played a game. I filled up the gas tank and watched television. (The fact that this list isn't written in any order shows somewhat the level to which I am distracted.) I have tried to recount my routine in some kind of order, but have found it easier to let the list tumble out as if my thoughts are Yatzee dice thrown from a cup. Let them land as they will. Time for bed, past time actually. I am more tired than usual. Tomorrow, I work from noon until after six pm. I hope to have more energy and less emotional/mental distraction. It could happen. I find myself thinking of my son often, but birthdays and such find me dwelling on his absence and on how much I miss him. |
| An idea just now struck me. All these years I have persisted in writing a novel; actually I've visualized maybe three if not four novels in series to tell Malyn's story. The idea is so very simple and Malyn smacked me up side the back of my head for taking years to settle on it: ('it' being this "not a novel" idea). I have written chapters that could as easily be completed as short stories and some combined into one or more novellas. If I place these short stories and novellas in order I'd have only a few more short stories to patch in holes to make a decent anthology that say a traveling Bard could make a decent living. (I'm thinking of something like the "Thieve's World" anthologies edited by Robert Lynn Asprin, which revolve around a single theme, a specific location where unsavory sorts have congergated. Only, instead of having many authors contributing, I will merely avail myself as a scribe who is privileged to transcribe these soon to be famous characters into the annuals of Bardic Tales. After all, these characters did have a major role in saving all of Cerilia. They deserve our respect if not our gratitude.) Malyn never wanted fame, nor did she ever seek to become a hero, yet she has always wanted her story/stories told. Other characters who share her story however, want very much to bask in the flame of fame and fortune. For them it's a matter of good business and or family or national pride. Well, Malyn as well as Trellen, Vollig, Brenda, Cayen, and Britta are rolling their eyes at me. I'm thinking they are wondering how anyone can be so thick! |
| I had hoped to write a bit today. Instead, I've acquired an opportunity to work on a huge Beta-read assignment. This B-r project is huge and will take about 10-16 days to complete. This particular project also promoted me to level 1 on fiverr.com gigs. I'm excited. It feels funny to receive money for doing something I love to do...but hey, I won't quibble about it. Well, to bed. To sleep. And tomorrow, read a bit then to work. Then home and read some more. My personal goal is to get the project presented within 10 days. But I will have to push myself to focus only on the gig to accomplish my goal. |
| Still November 1st here, barely. I am revisiting an old friend. Malyn's story is one that persists even when my muse is distant and cold. I often equate Malyn as the name of my muse, but I think she is more than just an urge to write. For me, especially this time of year when writing.com is all a buzz with NaNoWriMo, I find my thoughts turned toward three characters whom I've the most intimate knowledge: Malyn the Vosian barbarian tseravas born from a DND Birthright game; Cassini, a half gypsy and half Morevni wainwright with a bit of background with the local thieves guild; and Gwendyln, a Celtic styled Cleric whom was chosen by her Goddess, not the other way around. Of the three characters, Malyn is the one with the strongest pull upon me. Tonight, once again, I've written another intro to a story that wants to be told, a story only I can tell, yet, has successfully evaded the telling over the years. Malyn was created in the fall of 2000, a year before I even knew of the existance of Writing.com. A hush had fallen on the small five wagon caravan. The barbarian warrioress looked up briefly and caught a patch of bright blue as she rode slowly along side a covered wagon. The forest road was nothing like the taiga of her own country, yet she found a comfort in the closeness of the trees. And, even though most of her life had been spent in a small village surrounded by wind swept tundra and rolling hills at the base of the mountains of the Gnollfells to the North, she had opportunity to travel to the southern forests of Rzhlev and hunt the venison and bear found there. The Forests of her lands were a subartic coniferous evergreen wall dominated by firs and spruces. This forest was adapted to the warmer climes and though still coniferous and evergreen, the trees dominating were pines and larch. The smell was familair but wrong at the same time. Malyn looked for the crow, raven and blackbird she was used to seeing, but they were fewer in number. The birds in this southern domain were brightly colored and melodious. A warrioress a long way from her homeland, Malyn rode as a flanking guard for the train, as one of five mercenaries hired to protect two families and a Dwarf Priest of Moradin on their journey to a place called the Giantdowns. She knew nothing of these lands and found herself wondering at the circumstances which had brought her to be working as a mercenary guard on the other side of her known world. She'd started out as a standard guard and guide for a merchant train of Brecht Traders. Malyn had accepted the offer to act as a guard through the Voslands of Rzhlev with her cousins Bohan and Yasha after her Uncle had come to them and said the Brecht traders needed safe passage to the capital. It was a pleasant couple weeks and Malyn needed to leave the village after the shock of her Mother's death, early that spring. Malyn remembered looking at each house and warehouse and official building and the faces of every villager as they passed through on their departure. She knew that she would not be coming back. She had no plans to return and could not visualize her return, so Malyn knew she would now leave the only home she'd ever known. But it was an unsettled feeling because there was no vision of where her path would lead. She was drawn along as a toy pulled along by a string. Her feet placed distance between her and all that she had known, but Malyn felt she had no control over the compulsion and that she must obey. She knew she was on the road to find herself. She suspected she was on the final journey of her existance. 471 words |
| Oh my! Two days visiting in a row. I think I will write here today. Lately, it seems when I peruse WdC I am so sidetracked that I don't write anything. Halloween, the Celtic New Year, is nearly upon us. Images of ghosts, vampires, Frankenstein's Monster, werewolves, zombies, animated skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, witches and black cats are everywhere. The harvest season is in full swing. Corn stalks are added to decor for parties. Bobbing for apples comes to mind, although I was never very talented at that game. St. Mary's peak has snow on it warning everyone in the Bitterroot area that winter is just around the corner. I am looking forward to the cooler weather (the heat of the short summer is nearly too much for me). I have finished reading Alastair Reynolds's book The Prefect. If given five stars to rate this story, I'd give it four and a half. The story was interesting enough for me to read it during my breaks at work, but not so captivating as to demand my attention when I was back home. However, the details of people, culture, and the unfolding mystery to this space aged cop on a beat story did hold my interest to the point that I looked forward to work so I could read more. Overall a good read. I found myself thinking this is the same quality novel I could produce. The story sequence is linear and the four character views (two good guys and two bad guys) give the story depth and a sense of realism. I know this novel will influence any future writing I accomplish. This book has structure. |
| Well, here I am. Now to discover what will happen...besides reading, that is.... |
| Sixteen days ago I made an entry expounding upon plans to do something, any ol' thing, after work. However, actions never really materialized. I have found myself exhausted after a work day; mentally exhausted, that is. The job is very mentally demanding...it is also demanding in a creative way. So when I come home I have found myself too tired to do any writing or 'evaluating' in the form of reading and reviewing. At this point, I am too thankful about being employed to begrudge my lack of creative gusto here on WdC. I do miss participating, however. I am hoping that as the job becomes more familiar and routine, I will find the energy to participate more and more here. I have a severe case of the droopy eye syndrome as I write tonight, so once I reread for any spelling mistakes I plan to get some shut-eye and return in the morning. Goodnight WdC. |
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