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Post by Hellcat on Mar 2, 2009 1:17:25 GMT -5
So I decided to get in on this blogging stuff. There are a lot of things I’d like to talk about which don’t seem to fit on the other forums, and this looks like a great place to put them.
I have another reason for starting a blog: I want to get back into the habit of writing on a regular basis. I used to write every day, and once upon a time I dreamed of writing the Great American Novel. That dream kind of went up in smoke. I’m not sure what happened or exactly when it happened. But at some point over the last couple of years I lost the knack for writing fiction.
The writing process was never easy, but it was usually enjoyable. I loved tinkering with a sentence until it was just right. I loved the process of creating characters, giving them a backstory, creating dialogue, and then putting a plot in motion. It was exhilarating to see a scene taking shape on the page and know that I got it down exactly the way I wanted it. There were nights when I was so inspired that I just couldn’t wait to get at the keyboard.
These days it’s completely different. I sit there and sweat and suffer through a dozen false starts, knowing what I want to say but for some reason unable to put it all together in a coherent form. Some kind of block happens between my brain and my keyboard. I can’t seem to concentrate on the task at hand, and it’s too easy to just give up and go do something else. Somewhere along the way writing stopped being fun and turned into a chore. I don’t like chores. I have enough chores. So I put the fiction aside. Will I ever pick it up again? I can’t say for sure. I want to pick it up again, I know that much.
Now for the good news. This blog will not be devoted to whining about not being able to write. That would get old fast. My plan is to reacquaint myself with the writing process. I want to rekindle that creative spark, and start having fun with writing again. So I’m going to talk about things that interest me and things that are happening in my life. And maybe some of these things will interest you too, and we can talk about them.
Sound good to you? All right then, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a journey into the mind of Hellcat. Even I don’t know what we’ll find in there.
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Post by Afgncaap5 on Mar 2, 2009 2:37:13 GMT -5
I hate false starts. Have you ever tried NaNoWriMo? I found that it really, really, *really* helped me with writing.
My favorite professor (Walt Wangerin, Jr., which meant I was also a huge fan before getting to class) had a phrase he used a lot. "Revision is forgiveness. Sin all ya want." I really loved that phrase. But as much as I preached that phrase to others (and myself) I had difficulty practicing it until NaNoWriMo. To misquote Phantom, it helped me to learn that I didn't need to write something good, I just needed to write something.
Now, admittedly, my book still isn't finished. However, I'm nearing my 50,000 word goal, I'm pretty much at the book's climax, and I really don't feel like I'm going to be stopping soon (especially not this far in to the process.) It may take me several more months, but I'm glad I'll finish.
And it'll be the greatest American novel ever written about the trials of ninjas at Christmas-time, the evils of Yeti, and why you should always give cider to trees.
I smell a pulitzer.
But anyway, yeah, I wish you lots of luck. It can get tough to kindle that creative spark. :-)
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Post by Blue Raja on Mar 2, 2009 11:13:33 GMT -5
I love writing too, Hellcat, but in my recent years I've only been able to work on ANYTHING creativity-wise in tiny little increments splattered over months and years, which as you probably know is not conducive to productive writing. As a result, I've pretty much given up on any kind of story writing for now. Which is a shame, because my vocabulary, word flow, and appreciation for characterization and detail have improved quite a bit since my late teens, when I was so much more passionate about the writing process and actually COULD devote time to it. As it stands, the only decent story I've ever been able to finish required a co-writer! (Not published or anything, just some fanfiction - but I'm quite proud of it all the same.) But I know exactly where you're coming from with the Ultimate Writer's Block thing. You'll have a sympathetic ear here!
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Post by Hellcat on Mar 2, 2009 15:20:35 GMT -5
I hate false starts. Have you ever tried NaNoWriMo? I found that it really, really, *really* helped me with writing. My favorite professor (Walt Wangerin, Jr., which meant I was also a huge fan before getting to class) had a phrase he used a lot. "Revision is forgiveness. Sin all ya want." I really loved that phrase. But as much as I preached that phrase to others (and myself) I had difficulty practicing it until NaNoWriMo. To misquote Phantom, it helped me to learn that I didn't need to write something good, I just needed to write something. Now, admittedly, my book still isn't finished. However, I'm nearing my 50,000 word goal, I'm pretty much at the book's climax, and I really don't feel like I'm going to be stopping soon (especially not this far in to the process.) It may take me several more months, but I'm glad I'll finish. And it'll be the greatest American novel ever written about the trials of ninjas at Christmas-time, the evils of Yeti, and why you should always give cider to trees. I smell a pulitzer. But anyway, yeah, I wish you lots of luck. It can get tough to kindle that creative spark. :-) Thanks for the good wishes. I hope you are successful with your work as well. I had not heard of NaNoWriMo, so after I read your post I looked it up. The concept sounded familiar, and when I read a little more I remembered why. Their site featured the book No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty. I bought that book about a year ago but never got around to reading it. This may be part of my problem. I get distracted too easily -- oh, look, a bluejay! Such a pretty bird...uh, where was I? Well, anyway, I just dug the book out, and this time I'm going to read it. Friends have told me that it helped them. I'll give it a shot. I love writing too, Hellcat, but in my recent years I've only been able to work on ANYTHING creativity-wise in tiny little increments splattered over months and years, which as you probably know is not conducive to productive writing. As a result, I've pretty much given up on any kind of story writing for now. Which is a shame, because my vocabulary, word flow, and appreciation for characterization and detail have improved quite a bit since my late teens, when I was so much more passionate about the writing process and actually COULD devote time to it. As it stands, the only decent story I've ever been able to finish required a co-writer! (Not published or anything, just some fanfiction - but I'm quite proud of it all the same.) But I know exactly where you're coming from with the Ultimate Writer's Block thing. You'll have a sympathetic ear here! Thanks, Blue! I'm in kind of the same boat. My skills have improved in recent years but the passion has waned. I'm going to try really hard to get the passion back.
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Post by Afgncaap5 on Mar 2, 2009 18:06:59 GMT -5
(Not published or anything, just some fanfiction - but I'm quite proud of it all the same.) I've always appreciated the concept of fanfictions. They can be a big help to new writers, I think. Characterization doesn't have to develop when you know the characters and setting already, which can be a bit of a crutch at times, but if you get hung up on things like that then it's a huge help. Having said that, I've not written much fanfiction, and I've put even less of it up online (most of it was bad stuff. ;-))
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Mar 3, 2009 12:40:12 GMT -5
As someone who's spent tons of time looking at various drafts of what "great" authors have written, I think EVERYONE would give up if they judged themselves by their first drafts. I once did a seminar paper on various drafts of a 19th century novel, and it was shocking how horrible the first draft was. But, on reflection, most of the building blocks were there.
Another author I admire, Gene Wolfe, once said that real writing doesn't happen in the first draft. It really starts somewhere around the fifth or sixth.
The problem with most writers, especially young ones, is that they're impatient and insecure. So they want to have success early to make them feel validated. But only the tiniest portion of a fraction of a percentage of authors can get away with minimal revisions. And the (unfortunate) idea of some kind of innate genius or talent that makes itself immediately apparent is a myth we inherited from the Romantics. It doesn't exist, but most writers I know seem to feel like it should be apparent. The truth is that writing takes loads and loads of work, revision, worry, failure, restarting, etc. But when you look at it as a craft rather than some kind of "magical" expression of "inspiration," it becomes much more manageable...and also much better.
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Post by Hellcat on Mar 4, 2009 0:44:37 GMT -5
But when you look at it as a craft rather than some kind of "magical" expression of "inspiration," it becomes much more manageable...and also much better. I agree. Some of the greatest pleasure I've had in writing has come from working and re-working until I had a line come out just right. This blogging experiment has allowed me to feel some of that satisfaction again.
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Post by Hellcat on Mar 8, 2009 10:46:45 GMT -5
Thought I’d shift gears a bit and talk about one of my great passions: cooking.
It wasn’t always a passion. In fact, up until about three years ago the only thing I knew how to cook was meatloaf. My mother tried to teach me when I was younger, but I didn’t have the patience or the desire to learn. Cooking seemed like a boring chore. Eventually she gave up, and apart from the occasional meatloaf I never set foot in the kitchen.
Everything changed in July of 2005 when my mother suddenly passed away. My world was completely turned upside down. For the first time in my life I was living alone. I had a boatload of new responsibilities, from paying the property taxes to maintaining the heating system. It didn’t take long for me to adjust to my new role as head of the household, but before long I realized that meals were going to be a real challenge.
I lived on takeout for a while, but it soon became apparent that this would not be a good long-term strategy. For one thing it was getting expensive. Also, my choices were pretty limited because I live just outside the delivery zones for most of the good restaurants in my area. And most importantly, sometimes the food just wasn’t that good. It didn’t take long for me to get tired of takeout. There was only one option left: learn to cook.
The prospect was pretty intimidating at first, but I threw myself into the project. I bought cookbooks, I bought some new kitchen equipment, and I became a Food Network junkie. I had to go back to the basics, such as how to chop an onion or brown ground beef. I started slow with easy stuff, such as baked chicken breast and baked potatoes. Once I learned how to cook the simple dishes I gained enough confidence to try more ambitious meals. I didn’t have too many kitchen disasters apart from destroying a pot and cutting myself a few times. Even if the dish didn’t turn out exactly the way I wanted it, I never had something turn out to be completely inedible. Here’s an advantage of living alone: you don’t have to feed a bunch of hungry people, so there isn’t that much pressure. If a dish flops, it flops. No big deal -- if you can't eat your mistake, just order a pizza and try again tomorrow.
The best part was, cooking didn’t turn out to be the drudgery I had feared. I really enjoy it. I love to plan meals for big occasions like Christmas and my birthday. I have a lot of fun trying new foods, new recipes, and new cuisines. My family was never all that adventurous when it came to meals, due to various dietary restrictions and plain old stubbornness. Now that I’m on my own, I try whatever I want. I experiment with different spices, pasta, and vegetables. Last week I tried a risotto for the first time, and it came out great.
The benefits of cooking for myself are really piling up. I'm saving money and eating healthy food. Plus, I have a great new hobby that will stay with me for years to come. It’s been a very pleasant ride, except for one part: I’ll always regret not being more receptive to my mother's attempts to teach me. I could have learned a lot from her. I wish she were still around so she could see how far I’ve progressed. I think she'd be pleased.
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Post by Hellcat on Mar 30, 2009 0:28:55 GMT -5
A Real Cool Cat I saw something so cute the other day. I was in Manhattan, heading toward the Union Square subway station, when I saw this guy with a black and white cat. The cat was sitting on top of the guy’s head. People stopped and stared, laughing delightedly, some taking pictures. I couldn’t help myself. I stopped and stared too.
Hey, I like to strike the “Cool New Yorker” pose as much as the next person. I like to act as if nothing fazes me. I try to keep my face a blank mask as I go about my business. Sometimes that’s just the safest course of action. But sometimes you have to stop and take a second look, and this was one of those times. It was just such a cute sight, I couldn’t help smiling.
The guy was grinning broadly, clearly enjoying the attention. He didn’t pass the hat, but if he had I would have gladly given him a buck, just for the sheer pleasure this little moment had given me.
As I drew closer I saw that the only restraint on the cat was a leash attached to a collar around his neck. The guy held the leash firmly but not tightly enough to cause the cat any distress. My guess is that he was some kind of animal trainer, and the cat was a performer.
The thing that struck me most was how poised the cat was. The crowds, the traffic, the city noise – none of it bothered him. He even seemed a little bored. His eyes were half-closed, as if he might go to sleep at any moment. His balance was perfect as he maintained his perch on top of the guy’s head. It was as if he’d spent most of his life up there. Maybe he had.
I could have stayed there all day, just staring at these two, but I had to go home. But as I continued on to the subway I couldn’t stop smiling. This little incident really brightened up an otherwise ordinary day. My only regret is that I didn’t have a camera with me. Oh well, I have to go back to Union Square on Wednesday – maybe he and the cat will be back.
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Post by ilmatto on Apr 3, 2009 23:57:35 GMT -5
If I lived in NYC I would carry a camera everywhere, but the few times I have been there I have always been such a tourist, always looking up at the buildings etc. It's so different from every other place I have ever lived.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Apr 4, 2009 0:12:21 GMT -5
I've known a lot of people who move to New York, and, Hellcat, this is no slam against you, but I have to say that I've gotten incredibly irritated by their stories of how self-conscious they are about "street etiquette."
Everyone has to talk about how they learned not to make eye-contact, how they had to learn to be slightly rude to strangers on the subway, how they had to act like they didn't notice odd things around them.
On the one hand, everyone of them seems, individually, to be proud of the fact that they've "toughened up" and learned not to stand out as a transplant or tourist.
But, collectively, I get this image of everyone on the streets of New York as incredibly insecure people, all afraid that the cool kids around them are going to see them as posers, and so they're all acting cool when no one really is cool. It starts to make New York seem like the exact opposite of the "hard city" it's supposed to be.
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Post by Hellcat on Apr 5, 2009 10:48:11 GMT -5
Well, I don't presume to speak for all New Yorkers, so I don't know if they're insecure or not.
My comment about the "pose" was inserted just to emphasize the contrast between two moments. One minute I'm going about my business, just thinking of nothing, the next minute I see something cute and quirky, and it provokes a happy smile from me.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Apr 6, 2009 12:23:48 GMT -5
Well, I don't presume to speak for all New Yorkers, so I don't know if they're insecure or not. My comment about the "pose" was inserted just to emphasize the contrast between two moments. One minute I'm going about my business, just thinking of nothing, the next minute I see something cute and quirky, and it provokes a happy smile from me. No, I thought what you were talking about was really cool. It just reminded me of something else that I ranted about for a second. It was absolutely not directed at you. My bad.
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Post by Hellcat on Apr 6, 2009 18:56:21 GMT -5
No problem. I'm glad we were able to clear things up.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Apr 6, 2009 23:47:12 GMT -5
No problem. I'm glad we were able to clear things up. Yes, indeed. I'm going to try to stop posting in the middle of a meth/coke/mushroom jag.
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