Books on the night stand

Where have I been lately? I’ve been reading, that’s where I’ve been. Last week I read That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis and this week I read Father Elijah by Michael D. O’Brien. I’ve also been reading Theology of the Body: What it is and Why it Matters by Fr. Richard Hogan and Love and Responsibility by Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla).

This is not a review but I can tell you this: I am definitely a new fan of O’Brien’s work. Now I need to collect the rest of the Children of the Last Days series. And, no, it’s not the Catholic version of Left Behind. Far from it. Anyone alarmed at the direction our world is headed in should read O’Brien. Anyone interested in spiritual combat should read it too. I’m going to read it again and take notes this time. Check out the artwork, interviews and articles on O’Brien’s site too.

Writing software, a brief excursion

Been working on the (still unnamed) novel this week. Not just doing research but writing. (Yes, writing!) Exploring characters and the impact that the events of the time would have had on them personally. Every time I sit down to write I learn oodles more about the story and my main character, his life and background. It’s amazing what things will percolate up from unknown and unsuspected depths to delight and amaze me if I will just sit down and write. Sometimes that’s the hardest thing to do. Or at least it was until I discovered (and re-discovered) some fun writing helps.

Ah, the beauty (and horror) of nature

I sat my poinsettia out a while back. The one I bought at Christmas when some kid in the neighborhood was selling them door to door. The plant was thriving, seemed to enjoy the warmth and humidity and the indirect sunlight. I thought it added a little pleasant color to what is, in my opinion, a rather ugly colorless wooden deck. Apparently a couple of birds agreed with me. They built a lovely nest right smack dab in the middle of it and mama bird commenced to lay four little eggs inside it. I watched her sit patiently on those eggs for days (I don’t remember how many). Then one morning I went out to check on her (and her charges)

When people really become spiritual, reflecting on the words of a master

After weeks of reading history and learning about politics, and writing the novel in a month, and reading other people’s novels and their writing about writing, I thought my head was going to explode. So yesterday I picked up one of my favorite spiritual books and settled down with the dogs to steep my soul in the deep waters flowing from the fountain of the great Carmelite masters of the Christian life. I opened the book to a quote that I want to share with you.

Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which is the sign of the Cross, in token that they have given Him their freedom. Then He can sell them as slaves to the whole world, as He Himself was sold.

Done, request permission to pass out now, cap’n, sir

My back hurts, my neck and shoulders are stuck, making me look like a turtle who can’t decide whether or not to come out of his shell, my fingers—oy! my fingers—good thing I’ve got plenty of pain reliever in my laptop bag. Gonna need it tonight when I finally drag my victorious and more than slightly delirious self to the car and drive home. Thank you, Bear McCreary for your wonderful soundtracks for the greatest TV show ever, BSG. Your music makes all the difference when I write dramatic scenes.

I’m going to celebrate with one more snack, haven’t decided what yet, and then I’m off to buy treats for doggies before I head home to fall into bed and into an exhausted sleep, perchance to dream, aye, there’s the hope, to dream of more scenes for the re-writes which begin tomorrow or Monday, depending upon whether or not the dogs mutiny tomorrow and tie me to the steering wheel in the car and force me to drive them to the park so they can play outside for a while and maybe even go for a swim in the creek. It’s been, after all, more than a week!

Peace! I’m pooped!

50,098 / 50K words = 100% done!

Fingers, don’t fail me now!

I can’t believe it. Here it is, June 25th, I’ve got until the last minute of June 30th to write the 50,000th word of this novel and right now as of this very moment, I have 47,509 words. The story has changed so many times it’s made my head spin, I don’t know have any idea where it’s going, I’m hanging on by the tips of my aching cramping fingers, hoping I don’t get thrown out of the chariot, er, chair, but I’m nearly at the end of the challenge. The challenge of writing a novel in 30 days, that is. The challenge of actually turning this mess into a real novel will take much longer. But what a ride it’s been! Woot!

47,509 word s= 95% done!!

Now at just under 43k, that’s the way to start the day

I went to bed thinking about the novel, dreamed about the novel, woke up thinking about the novel, daydreamed about the novel through breakfast (okay, brunch), thought about the novel on the way to the coffee shop, got settled thinking about the novel. Read a quick article about the three act structure in a magazine, made notes as it would apply to the novel. Then popped on here to post a quick update before I dive back into the novel again. Seven more days, including today, and then it’s over. Over. Then I can begin the re-writes and that excites me. It does! I’ve used this time to plumb the depths for a story I didn’t even know was there. And found several. During the re-writes I’ll have to focus on one or two and leave the others for another project. And during the re-writes yWriter will really help me with that focus.

42,948 / 50K words = 85% done!