As I mentioned in last week’s post, I have read a lot over the last few weeks, so I thought I would share what I’ve read and what I thought about it. I was planning to put it all in one post, but it got a little wieldy. (Yes, I’ve read that much.) So I’ve…
Back in January, I shared some writing goals that I hoped would help me get “unstuck” in February. I suspected that my “writer’s block” (which I don’t really believe in) was due mostly to the fact that I did not quite know what to do next, and I thought that making a plan would help me…
Differences between art forms are fascinating to me. Reading and writing are my favorite things in the world, so literature is the art form that I understand best and relate to most. But I love looking at everything from dance, music, visual art, film…you name it. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about musical theatre in…
Last week, I wrote about feeling overwhelmed with my project, and how uncertain I was where to even begin. So I finally made a plan and set some goals. I decided in February (and the last week of January), I would focus on research. So far, it’s been going well. I’ve got quite a…
I have a new writing post for you today. If you’ll recall from my NaNoWriMo posts last November, I am currently working on a novel about Phillis Wheatley. And when I say “currently working on,” I mean “trying-but-it’s-hard-and-I-don’t-even-know-what-to-do-next” kind of working. This is what has been happening inside my head for almost two months now: Me:…
I have thought a lot recently about facts, opinions, and being opinionated. Being open-minded is important to me. One of my pet peeves is when people do not think for themselves and ask questions. This is one reason I have always felt uncomfortable with calling myself a member of a particular political party. (To this…
Hello again. I don’t know about you, but it still feels weird to say that it’s 2017. Maybe a few more weeks and it will feel normal? After my little unplanned hiatus over the last few weeks (sorry – I was enjoying time with my family and then got sick as soon as I got…
Christmas is the day that holds all time together. –Alexander Smith Merry Christmas!
There have been many, many times over the course of my life that heartbreaking stories have dominated news media (for varying lengths of time, whether it is minutes, hours, or days). At those times, I always look at everyone around me, and I read what people post on social media, or listen to what they…
For those of you following the news, you will have seen that the situation in Syria has rapidly deteriorated. (You can find an excellent summary of what is happening here, from the ever-wonderful BBC.) As I am writing this, some reports are emerging of a deal that has been reached which could end the summary killings…
Last weekend, I went with one of my roommates to attend a production of Handel’s Messiah. Like so many people, I grew up loving the “Hallelujah Chorus” and “For Unto Us a Child Is Born,” but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I ever bothered to listen to the full oratorio. It’s not my…
Surprise! You know when I said I wasn’t going to post this Wednesday? Well, I changed my mind. I finished NaNoWriMo (reached my 50,000 words, and actually finished my story) much earlier than I thought, and my fingers were itching to blog, so here we go. This NaNoWriMo (my fifth) was both more difficult and…
Well, NaNoWriMo is almost over. As I’ve mentioned previously in my other NaNoWriMo posts, I have done this project several times before and was able to successfully complete it each time – even when I was a full-time student with a part-time job. This year, it’s been a whole different ballgame, for a lot of reasons.…
What I’ve learned doing NaNoWriMo this time around: It’s amazing to have a story you’re really in love with. Don’t get 11,000 words behind. Don’t get 11,000 words behind. It’s not fun to 11,000 words behind. Don’t get 11,000 words behind. Conclusion? Don’t get 11,000 words behind.
I’m a bit preoccupied with writing my novel about Phillis Wheatley at the moment (and trying to catch up on my word count, as I am still really far behind) and couldn’t think of much else to write about this week, so I thought I would share a couple of excerpts from this work in progress.…