GLORIOUS WRETCHEDNESS

It was a town of machinery and tall chimneys... It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye, and vast piles of buildings full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where the pistons of steam-engine worked monotonously up and down like the head of an elephant in a state of melancholy madness.


                                                                                           CHARLES DICKENS  Hard Times, 1854


You can see it, hear it, smell it -- if this doesn't inspire, what would?

While my steampunk expedition is not full of squalor and stink, I may have to re-think this and add more of have-nots. Showing the great differences of wealth. I just don't know if I have the expertise for this...of course, I'll never have it iffen I don't try.

My heroine is a "found girl," young girls who are either abandoned or orphaned -- foundlings -- left to their own devises. People can bring them home, and put them to work. Yet it is a way to ensure a roof and some food on a daily basis.

I don't go into it, her fortune changes soon after the opening, but maybe it needs to be shown...hmmm. Or, maybe I could incorporate found girls into her new home.

See? I told you that Dickens was inspiring!

What, who inspires you?

ROW80 CHECK-IN... IT'S ABOUT TIME, SHEESH!

Things have been interesting. Not with writing, gosh, no. Just everything else. Of course, that's why it hasn't been interesting with writing. But, I grow tired of excuses and whining. My own, that is -- anyone else, I'm right there for you. What I have been doing is looking -- with new eyes -- at things I've written. I know, past tense. Yet I feel, is this avoidance? Hell yeah. But, is it lesser avoidance to, at least, read and consider past writings, or, not do anything at all? Perhaps this is just another excuse...I don't care, it's what's getting me to sleep at night. So, I've decided to re-think a couple of my pieces. I re-read a few things and these things did not suck...shocking! Not sure, yet, what to do with these, but, they've got me thinking. So, this next week, my plan is to figure out what my plan is. YIKES! Not measurable...at all. Except in my own mind. So, where's your mond at?

WHY PAINTING IS LIKE WRITING, PLUS ROW80

It sounds like the start of a bad joke:
Why is painting a room like writing a book?
I don't know, why is painting a room like writing a book?

 I hope you weren't waiting for a punch line -- I'm fresh out of punch lines, too tired from painting.

Okay, okay.

WRITING A BOOK      

What should I write?
Idea!
PREPARE
Research/Brainstorm
GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Notebook, notecards, sticky notes, whiteboard, pens, computer
WRITE
Halfway through your idea changes
Suddenly in a tight corner -- how do you write out of this?
Move things around
Want it done so badly, it's all you do in your spare time
First pass -- done!
Needs fixing
Re-write
Think you're done, until someone else looks at it!
Fix the misses
Done! Still, it never matches what you first envisioned

PAINTING A BIG ROOM


What should I paint?
Chose colors
PREPARE
Tape baseboards, remove wall plates
GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Paint, brushes, tape, rollers, ladder, screwdriver, hammer, cloth, newspaper
PAINT
Halfway through, you realize you have to paint the room 2 different colors
Suddenly in a tight corner -- how do you paint behind the weight machine?
Move things around
Want it done so badly, it's all you do in your spare time
First coat, in certain lights it looks done
Needs second coat
Think you're done until your husband comes in w/ the mega light
Fix the mixes
Done! Hey, it looks better than what you thought it would.

So, here's what I learned. It does eventually get done. If you have the right tools, it's a hell of a lot easier. If you prepare, it goes so much faster (sure it's a pain, but worth it in the long run). It feels damn goodly to be done.

So, yesterday, I loaded Pages on to my iPad -- it's easier to bring to work than the laptop -- I can bring it anywhere. That's part of the right tools. I'm concentrating on the re-write right now. that's part of needs fixing. Plus, the whole thing just made me excited.

That's it -- sort of a check-in.
How are you doing?

HELLO STRANGER...A ROW80 CHECK-IN

Confession: I have missed 3 (three!) check-ins. Yikes!

Mea Culpas are abounding. Of course, it's not because I didn't want to check-in, I just...didn't. Almost worse. Every time I thought I might have time, I'd already be 2 or 3 days late, thus, thinking I'd catch-up the next time.

You can see how well my plan worked. NOT ONE BIT. Hmmm.
I feel as if we (I) need a recap:

When last we left our intrepid (or, rather, procrastinating) heroine, she was bemoaning the fact that she had no time. She has yet to find the time, nor is she done with painting the basement.

She is certain that any day now things will fall into place and she'll be back on schedule.

Not the greatest check-in, I grant you, still, a check-in, none-the-less.
I'm still working on things, editing here and there and writing some new words...here and there. Nothing remotely spectacular or even mediocre.

So, Monday will be my sponsor post. Ha! I promise to be better with the check-ins.

What's your promise this next week?

SUNDAY, SUNDAY...OR, ER, WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY

January, 25

So, I forgot to attach this post to Sunday's linky...I don't know why. So, I'm recycling it for today
Alrighty then.
Weren't we just here? I was.

So, first, I copied Ryan King and changed the colors of my blog -- I do love to redecorate.

Second, not yet settled into this new schedule, so will change my goals.

Third, not only did I change the color of my blog, but today I painted the two doors in our foyer (more coats needed...yay?) and will start the basement this next week and weekend. It's something that I've wanted to do for awhile, and it's being done.

I think this might force me to find time during the day, like that newly forgotten "lunch" I seem to remember. 

Things I did:
Wrote 2 new scenes for BETWIXT.
Reading a couple books on mythology and monsters (not part of my goals, but it felt productive)
Started The 90 Day Novel...I try not to read too many craft books -- just stick with my faces -- this one, I don't know, it's pulled me in and made me look at things, so I'm going to try the method. We'll see.

New Goals:
Continue 90 day method, check in with where I am on that.
Continue to brainstorm for Goddess.
That's all folks... How's everyone else doing?

Time to Make the Check-In...

Wow. Time is moving at an incredible rate -- it do move quickly.

Tuesday was my fist day at new library/new position. After retrieving all the brain matter strewn about, I think it'll be good (a lot to learn). BUT, I now am the proud owner of my very own office, with a door, and a name plate, and everything. Big time.


Ha!


Sunday: checked-in, wrote some new words and had another plot epiphany on BETWIXT. Readied posts for tKw
Monday: Posted on tKw. Had granddaughter all day, but did check in with other ROWers late that evening.
Tuesday: {{{brain fry}}}.
Wednesday: check-in. Very late. Posted tKw article.

Really did not know my brain would be this fried -- and no writing over lunch for a while. Still stepping like a baby, but that's okay.

I need to step back and figure out where I have some wiggle room -- I might be a weekend novelist for awhile!

How are you all doing?

A ROW...ND ABOUT CHECK-IN

Last week was pretty much a no go on anything. And that's okay, not beating myself up -- just really did not know I would need this much time. Still have other issues as well, and without going into too much information, these, too will take time and energy...and prayers. I'll take my goals one week at a time -- starting the new position at the new library on Tuesday (nervous, excited). NEW GOALS: Today -- post goals. Get posting ready for Those Kennedy Women Monday -- check in w/ other ROW80 folk. Edit or brainstorm/write, either BETWIXT or GODDESS IN THE MECHANICA. Tuesday -- I'm not scheduling anything -- brain might be reeling from too much new info! Wednesday -- ROW80 check-in and check-in w/others Thursday -- evening writing 7:00--8:00 Friday -- Another day off... Saturday -- prepare postings for tKw Sunday -- check-in That's it -- nothing stunning or glorious -- baby steps, right? Just a little aside, if I weren't a part of this ROW80 community, I'm pretty sure I would not be doing anything toward my goals. The writing would stop completely -- which wouldn't be good, because writing can be so therapeutic. So I am very happy to be a part of this. Thanks. How are you all doing?