Yo Ho Ho! It's the Writer's Life for me!

Can't watch "The Shape of Water" (as much as I want to) until I finish that side project about a young grad student falling in love with her research subject, a mer-man. I wrote most of this story long before even "Avatar" -did some artwork on it, also- and still had people comparing my story to that film. This also happened with the dog historical being compared to a cartoon in the 1990s. Oy, the writing life.

Just another update...

Finally finished that difficult chapter I've been trying to work on for DAYS while figuring out my longhand notes. Especially when one's trying to capture the Southern Black community of wealthy and middle classes... Mix that in with talking canine characters, and yep, working in 1911 vernacular and social mores is a fun time. #sarcasm #exhausted

Somebody's Become A Bad Guy

Someone's becoming a villain.

A character who I thought would be a help to my main protagonists is frightfully becoming an antagonist. The more scenes with his best friend, my male main character, he is showing another side that no one who knows him is especially liking.

The more my hero gets close to my shero/heroine, the more antagonistic this 'friend' becomes!

Also, the schoolmate friend who I thought would simply be a weak secondary character is actually getting stronger the more he interacts with my protags as well as with other characters. He is becoming my main couple's 'cheerleader' and doing his best to support them both emotionally, not just in obvious material means.

These writerly revelations has changed several chapters and relationships as well as the tone of the story in a dynamic way. Because of such revelatory mutations, I don't have to rely on several of my journal notes. I can simply write blindly and freely.

More to come...

The Art of Plugging Away...

Ahhh... It's been a while since I wrote one of these.

shutterstock photo keyword writer

A lot has been happening with my writing. I'm applying for many writing opportunities, revising, editing, and then submitting. Being a nervous wreck as deadlines approach and I wonder will I be accepted. A short story was accepted, but a query letter's objective wasn't. *weeps*

 rgbstock.com photo by Arinas74

You may have noticed I changed the wording in the title and subtitle for this blog. I think it's more straight forward rather than so enigmatic with the previous title!

I also updated my website, "trimmed the fat," so to speak. I tidied up the wording, paying close attention to my Visitor Tracker on the main page. I've not only been getting visitors from the United States, but also a couple from overseas! It's both exciting and frightening, which is why I decided to tweak the wording and rearrange some of the icon links. Need to be professional at all times.

I'm also looking into more professional freelance writing so that I may supplement my income. The novel is now a 'working novel' instead of a 'novel draft' or a 'work-in-progress'. Its latest was at 580+ pages on the main manuscript. Still writing. Still researching.

I bring one book log (what I call my writing journals)

My two protagonists (c)

to my main job so I can use my breaks and in-between tutoring sessions to write some more. Stacey Hankin and Slasher Castellano are both fun protagonists to write about and that's a good sign to a writer. We need to feel sympathetic towards our characters, even our antagonists, or the tales would never be told.

Again, thanks for reading. As more writing adventures continue, even artistic ones, please watch this space!
The website is a focal point and my 'business card', but my blogs, especially this one, are a diary/journal that I use to keep readers in the loop.

Lastly, SUBSCRIBING to this blog is FREE! I may offer a newsletter in the future that will be attached to it. We will see.
And again, THANK YOU, Dear Readers.

Inktober 10/12/16 - Submission #8

My protagonists from novel. This piece needs so much more but I'm pressed for time. I think I made Slasher's paw too large though he has large paws. I do like drawing them together and writing about them.

Stacey & Slash Castellano (c)

From my journal

Originally written on 7/2/16
Now that the manuscript is technically complete, I realized I could not have written this by a younger self. I lacked experience. I lacked courage and creative experimentation I am more comfortable to confront.

I am now only willing to confront issues and tackle subject matter that may have been taboo or off-limits to me back then. Now I use those same topics not only in the historical novel but in my other writings.

Author's Note in my journals

In many journals, when I need to take a step back and look at my writing with an objective eye, I will title 'Author's Note'.

Initially penning these feels completely self-indulgence. But when I don't read these 'notes' for a while, it's when I realize the gem of understanding about why I wrote it in the first place.

Here is an example. Written on July 27, 2011:
There are too many personal stories to be told. Everyone has a story to tell: a private history(lesson). This book may take 3 books, I'll see.
Look at that: I always said 'Stacey's Story' would be only one book, + I was right. If I only focused on her. But once I began revealing Slash's story too, then the floodgates opened, + everyone needed to tell their story.
-End of journal entry

Art imitates story imitates life imitates art...

I will continue to explain about the novel-in-progress (still whittling away) and discuss my various inspirations.

When my classmate and fellow alum published my short story, "Diner Chat", I did not understand the impact of how deep others would scrutinize its implications. Renamed "Night Sounds", I was told by my classmate/editor that she felt it reminded her of Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks", and that struck me as extraordinary in that his iconic paintings were one of countless artistic inspirations for me over the years.

Hopper often conveyed soft and hard lines within his paintings, and he portrayed many scenes from a New York of the 30s-40s. Whether he used actual locales or his scenes were figments of imaginary whimsy, Hopper's techniques of structure, color, and dimension made the painting FEEL real to the viewer. We may never know if much of the painter's locations and scenes were ONCE real, but, that isn't the point is it? Just like writers, artists want to pull the viewer, temporarily into their world. And if it feels real long after one has left it, than the impact has been successful.

For some fun at the official online site for the "Mental Floss" magazine, here is a link about Hopper's "Nighthawks". I hope you will enjoy and happy reading!

15 Things You Might Not Know About 'Nighthawks'

http://mentalfloss.com/article/63967/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-nighthawks

IMAGE CREDIT:
EDWARD HOPPER. NIGHTHAWKS, 1942. THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, FRIENDS OF AMERICAN ART COLLECTION.

And the beat goes on...

I finally uploaded all three documents to a cloud, merged the three (thesis, NaNoWriMo content, & the typing I did before, during & in between), and am doing the laborious process of formatting to an adaptable font so it can cross over to my desktop. All of this possible (so far!) on my Chromebook. I want to download to desktop this weekend. I won't take the chance of the new draft being entirely on a cloud. Must download quickly to its USB.

My short story “Night Sounds” is out! Prick of the Spindle AVAILABLE at Amazon.com (Print or Kindle)

http://prickofthespindle.org

PRICK OF THE SPINDLE Issue 9 is out!

My short story “Night Sounds”, based on my work-in-progress novel, is one of many luminous prose/poems/illustrations/reviews in the journal!

Prick of the Spindle is available in PRINT and on KINDLE!

Available at Amazon.com!

Prick of the Spindle (Kindle or Print) 

Here is 'Slasher' Castellano!

I couldn't draw Stacey and not Castellano! Needless to say, he made a bigger splash on Facebook and I don't blame them. He always does.

Same materials: Prismacolor designer markers and Uni-ball precision 0.5 illustrator pens!

The New & Improved Stacey!

On May 9th, right on the cusp of completing my thesis, I quickly sketched my revamped 'Stacey' character. Her personality remained intact. I only did some more digging (pun almost intended but happily kept) into what kind of dog breed she came from. Here are the results. She made a hit on Facebook.

Materials used: Prismacolor designer pens and Uni-ball precision 0.5 illustrator pens.

The THESIS Is Done... Well, to a certain degree. Rewrites will follow.

Yesterday morning, some time after 2:30 am, I completed my thesis and submitted 50 pages to mentor and 141 pages (that includes cover sheet, preface, revised prologue, abstract and lucky 13 chapters) to the university's BlackBoard. 

I had uploaded a draft version but panicked and officially submitted it. Any changes to be made, I will let the school deal with me being able to re-upload. 

This has been a struggle and has taken plenty out of me. How my favorite writers churn out books seems beyond my mortal ken. Just writing, rewriting, work-shopping and researching has done me in more than any other writing endeavor I've undertaken. No wonder I immediately gravitated towards short stories!  

My novel-in-progress has mutated in a wonderful way. It has metamorphosed from a half-eaten caterpillar to raggedy cocoon and finally a brightly-winged butterfly that is trying to get away from me. I wondered often why writing was likened to childbirth and child-raising and I have caught a glimpse, possibly a hairsbreath sliver of what mothers who have raised children must go through. To see a child one way and watch that child become a completely different individual than what the parent could have imagined.

This story has changed in gargantuan ways I didn't foresee. It has changed me in a shorter time as a writer than those sixteen years of professional writing I went through with my short fiction and handful of art. 

There can be no complete explanation of the changes that have also taken place within me. I feel more courageous, more daring and this contented introvert can risk humiliation knowing she has tried.   

And in the middle of what I coined "Thesis Mania", my writers' guild published a second guest post of mine. I will be uploading the link to my bibliography blog "The Angry Goblin". I completely forgot about this! Oh well. It's there and it does speak about my MFA experience and being an anthropomorphic writer.

All this maternal imagery and changes? Just in time for Mother's Day! :)

Still in Thesis *Crisis* Mode

I'm not making excuses, but last night's packet had already been ready for weeks. Everything was in order until I changed my annotation plans. Absolutely ridiculous. I had two chapters already ready and my annotations set up. Then I changed my theme. *Gag*
My thesis chapters are already lined up (for creative portion) and the next packets will be annotated by three books each. That is all.

I continue to plug away

Currently using my novel draft as my project for the duration of this MFA program.

The previous packet involved a difficult subplot that, had I not pushed through it, would not have made sense to work on the rest of the book.

It involved the female protagonist's early months in Harlem, thrown into the middle of all the music, politics, sex, bootlegging, gangster-tied and gangster-owned businesses, legit and illegitimate, and how she is trying to survive her time just to live in a decent apartment. Her fight to live her life as comfortably as possible 'morally compromises her' (mentor's words, not mine) and forces her into things she would not have done had she still been home in rural Tennessee. However, she is smart and capable, and though naive and not as worldly as her counterparts, she easily wades into the corruption that threatens to drown her.

When I first came up with the idea for this novel, I never dreamed nor expected it to grow in the ways it has. Each term grows stronger with my confidence to this book. It has stretched my writing muscles and my research skills. When I run up against a wall, I am able to bounce back in quicker than before. Now that I got through this chapter, -- my mentor enjoyed it, loved the new character I introduced who will serve for most of the book, but was pleased that I strengthened my female protagonist to the point she blazes across the pages -- and with only structural and transitional issues to go over and edit, I think I got off easy.

Last month, and even in July, I did not think I would pull this chapter off. Even before the day of the deadline, when I sent it in, I was lamenting that it wouldn't fly: it was rough and coarse. Shoddy, it wasn't my best work. But it did work. And according to those in my life that know this story from its inception until now, structure issues are easier to deal with than the idea and imagination used. In other words, the fundamental core of the story is left intact and my feedback included adjectives on how I handled scenes and description, which are some of my strengths. Now, to work more on transition and structure. And get my tools ready for the next chapter, and more on that third-term essay!

If you feel this is for you, then do that MFA. But, also look for the right one for you, even if it takes a while. Like I did.

And the Beat Goes On...

*Singing*...just like my love, everlasting!

Sorry, I've dated myself, but, that's a cool song. YouTube it!

Anywhoo, have been sick with the flu since last week. I'm still not fully recovered. Have this persistent cough, however, I was able to return to work just this week.
I am doing that graduate work and trying to work on the dog gangster novel. My mentor wants me to start from the beginning, which is difficult since I rarely start a story from the beginning! I know, that sounds cracked, but, the longer a narrative, the more I jump around, trying to find the meat of it.
I already did an awkward Chapter One, and a more fluid Chapter Two. Now, I'm working on Chapter Three, and it's a daunting task. Aargh!
I will get it together.

Of innocence and purity

A friend didn't want me to explain the song, "Me and Mrs. Jones" to HER friend. Her argument that while she herself was innocent, her friend was pure. And then, that got me thinking.. The differences between innocence, purity, chastity, virginity, naivete'..and how our society confuses these terms, often using them interchangeably within prose, poetry and verbally.
I will speak about purity and innocence.
I'm often drawn to how the 'innocent' character is portrayed in any story I'm reading.
In one of my cat fantasy stories, my lynx boy is part of a prophecy that whoever wields the evil weapon he carries, will become corrupted.
Because my lynx is purehearted, he is one of a few who can carry the infernal weapon without being influenced by it. This, of course, makes him a target by the mortal, immortal, divine, and infernal worlds.

Don't worry...Art series will continue

I know I promised my dog historical fiction illustrations. Have no fear - I have some folders saved and dated. I just need to do some digital touch-ups before I post. This is what happens when a person both writes and draws. Procrastination becomes almost chronic.

"Don't cry, honey."

"Don't cry, honey." by Carmen K. Welsh (c)

Here is the first in an illustrated series I promised some weeks before.
These drafts aren't final. They are from my sketchbook devoted entirely to my Dog Prohibition-era crime novel.

Here are my two protagonists.

Dog novel & research has slowed to a crawl

I've reached journal #10 for the dog gangster story, writing time (which usually ran 3-5 pages a day) has slowed.
Also, researching has changed. I did commando-style skimming, flipping through certain chapters, trying to finish other chapters on a given topic.

Now, I do a more in-depth research, where I find time to read each reference as a novel.