Journals save my life--I'm serious!

I have a library of journals. No. I'm not kidding. And I don't mean figuratively. I mean I LITERALLY have enough journals to line at least two shelves! Or maybe more!

This is due to my obsession with seeing cute diaries, artistic journals, and provocative covered notebooks. These are inevitably hardcover. I prefer the hardback kinds. They survive.

For many years, I purchased those with spines, the more they resembled an actually hardcover book, the better. If I found the kinds that had false leather look, gold trim pages, and a satin bookmark, AWESOME.

I guessed that the more a writing journal looked attractive and prestigious, I figured it would compel me to write. But I learned that was quite the opposite.

Those reference-looking diaries went on my shelf, to keep track of dreams that were repetitive or especially troubling. So when I returned to just simple hardcover journals, the writing flowed. Screwy, huh?

I changed my tastes yet again. No more journals with spines. Now I went to spiral notebooks. But they're still artsy, heavily decorated, and provocative diaries. 

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.

Camp NaNoWriMo - Day 29 - And I am a WINNER! *PARTY!*

I WON CAMP NANOWRIMO 2016! I can't believe it!

Thought I had two more days, but, beat my pre-set word count when I was struggling with a chapter, and realized I could rewrite the revised scene from a journal of five years ago. It was a difficult scene, the middle of an easy chapter. However, that singular moment consisted of several literary and grammatical devices I would have to use. It consisted of flashbacks, inner monologue, thoughts, inferences, personal history, and epiphany. While this sounds like an absolute mess, thanks to the training, feedback, and constructive criticism I received from MFA mentors and classmates, I didn't even look at the scene's previous typed draft but pulled from the journal to rewrite an entirely new scene.
No matter what, this April is not only special because it is my mom's and a brother's birthday month, but this contest is synonymous with the writer's life. We must be persistent, consistent, diligent, and persevere in this business. When we do that as writers, we learn and open other opportunities for ourselves and others.

Fun Post! But still being serious...

Everyone should have a teddy

   Just wanted my readers/visitors to know  that I joined Camp NaNoWriMo! Why  should you care? Well, this time, one can  set how high the word count must be. I set  mine to 15,000. Seems attainable, doesn't  it? But, then again, I need all the motivation I can create for myself to complete this novel. For anybody who frequents social media, the bookish teddy on the left is my buddy from graduate school. I saw him and just fell in love. He is now my mascot when I'm in the middle of beating a deadline, mired in research, or just need somebody cute to pick up my spirits when I'm stuck in the middle of writing!

Gift from a work friend

Which takes me to the next image on the left. This was a gift from a dear friend at work. Everyone knows, even students, that I am a short story author and am constantly writing. This gorgeous notebook given as a gift (was it birthday? Christmas? GAH! Can't remember!:( ) and I am using it along with its other companions.
Dear readers, you have no idea how many of these journals I have... I need them. Like a vampire needs blood.

The Harlem Renaissance

 My next two books definitely are high on the list of research that saved my bacon! When I had dropped down a plot-hole, or paper, paper everywhere, and not a plot to think, both these books on the Harlem Renaissance pulled me firmly into those times, giving me their history as the beating of a heart. There have been so many references that have helped the development of this story and of me as a writer, I don't know where there will be enough space to dedicate them all, but, this blog will have to do!

When Harlem Was In Vogue

Earlier Book Log musing

[From an earlier book log - 11/2/08]
(My fake words in italics/Real words in bold)

I just discovered something about myself. While inventing a language for my feline characters, I often discover that whatever language I chose to emulate [...], followed exact real-world syntax!

For instance, 'Mata ga!' in [my] Si'amese [cat language] followed the actual Japanese word 'mata'! Bar'wati is my made-up word for 'storyteller'. In Arabic, 'haka wati' means 'storyteller'. I did not know this!

Also, the word 'Kannashi' or 'cannot succumb' is also an actual Japanese word I had not learned previously. And the Red tabby words 'Nna hubusa' - 'I am very pleased/I feel pleased'. 'Nna' is used in the Igbo/Nigerian word 'Nna ayi' means 'our father'! How did I know? I didn't! I just created these things, and when I read, these exacts come back. Amazing.

A SIDE NOTE: 'chi' in Chinese means a person's spirit or energy.
'chi' in the Igbo language means a personal god.

Ooh!  I just found out some other things! In Dr. Achebe's famous novel "Things Fall Apart", 'Nnadi' (there's that Nna again) is also a word and so is 'osu', which means 'outcast'.
But its deeper definition is what struck me: "Having been dedicated to a god, the osu was taboo and was not allowed to mix with the freeborn in any way."

Book count...

Over 1,800 handwritten pages. Over 100 pages typed. Heaven help me.

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.

First Draft Anniversary

Reached the anniversary for my novel's first draft - 3/24/11. Book log# 7 almost complete. My dog gangster epic is going full steam ahead!
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