Wednesday, September 16, 2015

This & That

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via Pinterest

   I write this while recovering from wisdom tooth extraction, which was a lot less painful than I expected it to be but still no barrel of laughs. I was actually hoping to get some writing done this week anyway, but haven’t so far (for reasons that became obvious the minute I woke up from surgery). Instead, I’ve been reading, binge-watching TV, and sleeping. Mostly sleeping.

   Right after the surgery my sister bought me a Pop! figurine of Hershel Greene, one of my favorite Walking Dead characters. He brightened my day so much it’s kind of embarrassing. And I’m about halfway through The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz, which is perfect comfort reading: an addictive voice, great historical details, and I plot that’s leisurely enough to make me feel relaxed but exciting enough to keep me turning the pages. Plus, I’ve about two chapters away from finishing Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony. I really can’t complain :)

Isn't he ADORABLE?
 
   I haven’t been writing, but I do have a few ideas knocking around in my head, and it’s nice to have some time to mull them over. One in particular is a story I’ve wanted to write for ages that keeps refusing to come together. I’ve had two false starts already (one went on for five chapters, the other petered out after just one). It’s frustrating, to say the least, but I do feel like every attempt is bringing me closer to what I actually want to write. Or at least I hope they are.

   Last week I started keeping a WIP journal. I didn’t think I’d need one, since I write about writing quite a bit in my regular journal, but having a notebook specifically dedicated to ranting about my current projects and why my muse is on the fritz makes all the difference. (On a side note, do you guys picture your muses as anyone or anything in particular? At the moment mine feel like a bunch of crusty cowboy types who spend the day trash-talking me, which probably says a lot about my level of confidence, but it’s still fun to think about.)

  Oh, and one more thing: my sisters and I recently watched Fury, which was an all-around wonderful movie. It’s also rated R, so it’s probably not for everybody, but give it a try if you like gritty tearjerkers. I promise you won’t be disappointed. 

Staring into the distance, a disheveled soldier stands in front of a tank, with "Fury" written on the barrel and other soldiers leaning/sitting on it.

  I'm still on pain medication, so thanks for bearing with me if things got a little loopy :) What have you guys been up to lately? 

12 comments:

  1. Awwwww dentist stuff is the worst. ;/ *offers blankets and ice cream* A WIP journal is a really good idea -- I've done it on and off, but I'm the least consistent person ever so that never works out for long. xD

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    1. I'm not a very consistent journaler either, so I just try to write entries when I feel like I really do have something I need to vent about. So far it's been very therapeutic :) I think it's one of those things that might not necessarily work for all projects, but has been really helpful (so far, anyway) for this one.

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  2. Argh, I have to go to the dentist soon too so *much sympathy* I've never had a WIP journal, but it definitely sounds helpful to leave snarky comments somewhere -- typically I just leave them in my manuscript and delete them later, ahaha.

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    1. The WIP journal helps me because sometimes I don't feel like going into all the specifics in my regular journal (maybe because I'm already subconsciously preparing myself in case it fails?). Having a notebook dedicated to talking about the specifics loosens me up, for some reason.
      Besides, why delete all your snarky comments? You never know when they could come in handy :)

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  3. I have to get my wisdom teeth extracted too. Apparently, now the time is perfect, considering my wisdom teeth are almost fully grown. :( I hope you feel better soon!

    That figurine is adorable. I must admit, I'm late to the party where The Walking Dead is concerned, but it's a brilliant show. Good luck with inspiration for your WIP journal. :)

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    1. I'm feeling better already--all things considered, my surgery was a lot LESS painful than I expected it to be, which was a wonderful surprise.
      I only started watching The Walking Dead earlier this year (thank you, Netflix!) so I'm late to the party, too. It became one of my new favorite shows within the first couple episodes :)

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  4. Oh, Fury is SO GOOD! My boyfriend is a tank enthusiast (nerd) and is training for the army, so when this was released we had to go and see it. I basically cried for the entire film, and nearly had a few panic attacks too... but it's soooo worth it! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
    Beth x
    www.thequietpeople.com

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    1. It's one of the best movies I've seen all year, and it's so great to find someone else who loved it--it's a movie that REALLY deserves a bigger fandom, because it's amazing. Thanks for commenting!

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  5. I'll be curious to here how you like "The Hired Girl". I'm always drawn to books taking place in that time period.
    Glad the frightening removal of teeth went alright. (Personally, mine was a bit of a traumatic experience, but I survived.) Happy healing and enjoy your downtime! ^^

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    1. I only have a few chapters left to finish, and I've enjoyed it. Plot-wise, it isn't exactly a nail-biter, but it's so interesting to see that period through the eyes of a maid--the one who has to clean the chandeliers and iron all the dresses--and it was the perfect book to read during downtime :)

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  6. I've never had a WIP journal myself, but I'd love to hear more about it as you keep filling it up! Yay for Artemis Fowl! Boo for dentist! Yay for Walking Dead even though I haven't seen that show! And, also, I have never actually considered personifying my muse. I don't think I have one.

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    1. I don't spend a whole lot of time thinking about my muse/muses, except when I'm going through writer's block. Personifying them is pretty goofy, but it helps make the whole process a little less scary. At least I think it does :) Thanks for commenting!

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