Don't worry, we're not moving. Good lord, that would be horrific. I can't even fathom moving right now. I suppose we moved when I was seven plus months pregnant last time, but why would we voluntarily do that again? No, the only thing that's moving is my location online...
I have created a website. Therein lies my new blog.
Why a whole website? Well, I am I writer sans agent or publisher, so for the time being any publicity must be done by me. What do I know about publicity? Diddly-squat. I've been trolling personal websites of writers and other creative types, getting ideas.
I did once learn html. I made a website and then abandoned DIY html for blogs. I taught Year 11 Information Technology when I first started teaching - sans qualification or experience in the field - and had to teach a unit on writing basic html web pages. I did a lot of work on my own knowledge of the language at the time... but that was five years ago. Fortunately, there are alternatives to writing your own website from scratch. I've used 'wordpress'. Like blogger, wordpress provide a bunch of templates that you can customize. These are primarily suited to blogs. With a little bit of Luuk's help and guidance I've managed to tweak one of these to the point that I like it...
It is not finished, not at all, but it is functional, and so I'm going to be posting to the blog hosted there from now on. Please take a look. I'd love to get some feedback on the pros/cons of the new site. If you have a blog, I'd be interested in exchanging links. Send me a message/comment and I'll take a look at your blog.
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Securite Sociale, here we come.
Again.
More lessons in waiting, for Louis, and in grasping/desperate use of french, for me.
Found this while pottering around online this morning:
James Cameron, on writing process,
"At the beginning of any writing project is the agonizing period of nebulous ideas. Trying to will a world into existence. I circle around it, nibbling at the edges, writing notes [sometimes for years].
- http://writersroutines.tumblr.com/post/15342862090/james-cameron
I relate, though obviously with less world-renown to show for it (as yet). With my current project I'm at the point where characters are just starting to say their own words. I still have to come up with parts of conversations and set up the meeting points, but once they get going, they get going. Love that moment.
Time to get ready to go, much as I'd like to stay here and pretend French bureaucracy has nothing to do with me. But then there's the upcoming medical bills, so off I go. Sun is shining but I'll be taking my jacket today, just in case. What I probably need, more than a jacket, is a fluent french speaker with nothing better to do than save my butt. Volunteers?
More lessons in waiting, for Louis, and in grasping/desperate use of french, for me.
Found this while pottering around online this morning:
James Cameron, on writing process,
"At the beginning of any writing project is the agonizing period of nebulous ideas. Trying to will a world into existence. I circle around it, nibbling at the edges, writing notes [sometimes for years].
Then slowly a change happens. Without warning, it becomes easier to write a scene than to write notes about the scene. I start sticking words in the mouths of characters who are still mannequins, forcing them to move and to walk. Slowly their movements become more human. The characters begin to say things in their own words.
The curve inflects upward. The pace increases. By the end of this period I’m writing ten pages a day. The curve becomes almost vertical as the thing seems to come alive. I become a witness only, a court reporter getting it down as fast as I can."- http://writersroutines.tumblr.com/post/15342862090/james-cameron
I relate, though obviously with less world-renown to show for it (as yet). With my current project I'm at the point where characters are just starting to say their own words. I still have to come up with parts of conversations and set up the meeting points, but once they get going, they get going. Love that moment.
Time to get ready to go, much as I'd like to stay here and pretend French bureaucracy has nothing to do with me. But then there's the upcoming medical bills, so off I go. Sun is shining but I'll be taking my jacket today, just in case. What I probably need, more than a jacket, is a fluent french speaker with nothing better to do than save my butt. Volunteers?
pregnant lady running in a hail storm
I wish I'd gotten someone to take a photo. I know. But I was kind of busy running for cover.
C'est ne pas vrai!
I ran home through hail. Turns out I can still run, given the right inducement. Speaking of inducement... the inevitable contraction didn't hit till we were inside the foyer downstairs. But Ouchy McGouchy! Thank God we have an elevator. Stairs, in a situation like that, are just good as seats really.
It's okay though. No further contractions. Louis ate his lunch happily and now I have mine in front of me.
So I'll finish this post later.
The view out the kitchen window while I made lunch.
Plus tard...
Louis is being my lovely helper today. Most of the time...
He helped me hang up the washing. He does this by passing items from the basket on the floor up to me - I get to stay nearly-upright and the washing all gets put on the line! Yay!
Then he helped by passing me items from the giant pile of clean and dry laundry, which I could then fold and stack in little piles around me on the sofa. Got to love housework that can be done while you sit, comfortably, in one place. Thanks, wee man.
Then I took the piles of clean, dry, folded laundry to their respective homes... and returned for the last pile (my clothes) to find them strewn across the chair.
Nice one babe.
I've been reading a book about french parenting and it mentions baking with kids quite a bit... By 'baking with kids', I mean that they help mix ingredients, not that they are the ingredients. Just to be clear.
I've also been craving the lemon cake I made for my birthday.
Voila: my master plan was to try baking the cake, with Louis' help, this afternoon.
Sugar-coating himself en route, he added the sugar to the jug.
I creamed it with the butter and added the eggs
(and a tiny bit of shell, but can't blame Louis for that at all).
Next step: mix flour and baking soda.
Pouring skills learned at the sandpit. Does it show?
Then I put it all together, plus the yogurt and stirred. Louis did manage a little bit of mixing but kept pulling the spoon out and so I wasn't quite hands-off enough to take a snap.
Last step: add the lemon juice.
It's in the oven and Louis is in bed having his nap. It's my time now. Question is: to write or to work on new website design? I have bought amypaulussen.com and now I just have to turn it into a fantastic, functional and beautiful website. I've been trolling through blogs and author websites, getting ideas and inspiration. I've also scrolled through my own photos for images and bits of images which I could use. But I don't want to rush it and then regret things... so perhaps I'd best let that rest for the afternoon and get on with my novel. Much good a stunning author website will do me unless I can, you know, be an author.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Not as bad as I thought
Another rejection email arrived a couple of days ago. I've been putting off updating my records - crossing another agent off my list of queried agents. My novelling is going well - not quite on a roll but plodding along which is actually better and more maintainable than a rush of inspiration-driven writing. I didn't want to look at my queried-agent list because I didn't want to know exactly how many rejections I've recieved.
Well, I did it, just now, and it wasn't so bad. Seven queries went out into the world (well, the UK actually) and only three have replied. Sure, they're all rejections - nice soft rejections that encourage me to try other agents while explaining that they get a lot of submissions and can only accept a few new authors a year... blah blah blah. One of these agents actually sent me the same rejection letter, word for word, twice - about ten days apart. Now that's just mean.
But there are still four out there, so hope remains. And it's only the first burst of agent queries I've sent out for this, my second, novel. So I shouldn't get too discouraged.
I am a bit impatient, of course, though the rational part of my brain assures me that these things always take a long time. And no news could be good news.
How does the line go? Hope is frail but hard to kill? C'est vrai. (Looked up what it's from... the answer is: 'When you Believe' from The Prince of Egypt.)
I wonder if I should try more agents or just jump straight to the romance genre publishers. Even if I got an offer direct from a publisher I'd still want an agent. Can you do that? Find a publisher and then an agent? It's not as if finding a publisher is all that a Literary Agent does for an author, after all. But the dream is to find an agent who really likes/loves/believes in my writing...
Meanwhile, I slog on, fifty pages into my newest novel draft. My main characters are sitting across from one another, in a booth, at a pub, at a wake. He just knocked their drinks onto her. Or did he? I was rethinking the scene last night after Luuk had gone to sleep.
Yesterday was a good writing day. I felt like I was putting down good words. Not that my feelings on the day have any real relation to the quality of the writing. I can write awful corny collections of cliches and feel like I'm writing thought-provoking nuanced prose. I can feel completely discouraged, ashamed of my self-conscious, dull, poser efforts to impress an audience who'll probably never read my never-to-get-published manuscript... and yet look over those same words later and be surprised at my own insight and the beautiful turn of a phrase. It happens... and I have to remind myself, on a very regular basis, that how I feel about my writing and the actual quality of said writing, are two entirely unrelated things.
What matters as that I keep writing. And since Louis is asleep and Luuk is off in Paris somewhere looking at bikes (assuming the shop is now, finally, open)... I should really take advantage of this alone-time and write write write! Only four weeks until I'm likely to have a new baby. I have been known to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Maybe, if I really get myself in gear, I can finish this first draft before the baby comes.
Louis got a mural. His little sister will be getting a love story that she won't appreciate until her teens, and that's assuming I let her read it (as I'm yet uncertain how adult it'll be). Good thing she can share Louis' mural.
Well, I did it, just now, and it wasn't so bad. Seven queries went out into the world (well, the UK actually) and only three have replied. Sure, they're all rejections - nice soft rejections that encourage me to try other agents while explaining that they get a lot of submissions and can only accept a few new authors a year... blah blah blah. One of these agents actually sent me the same rejection letter, word for word, twice - about ten days apart. Now that's just mean.
But there are still four out there, so hope remains. And it's only the first burst of agent queries I've sent out for this, my second, novel. So I shouldn't get too discouraged.
I am a bit impatient, of course, though the rational part of my brain assures me that these things always take a long time. And no news could be good news.
How does the line go? Hope is frail but hard to kill? C'est vrai. (Looked up what it's from... the answer is: 'When you Believe' from The Prince of Egypt.)
I wonder if I should try more agents or just jump straight to the romance genre publishers. Even if I got an offer direct from a publisher I'd still want an agent. Can you do that? Find a publisher and then an agent? It's not as if finding a publisher is all that a Literary Agent does for an author, after all. But the dream is to find an agent who really likes/loves/believes in my writing...
Meanwhile, I slog on, fifty pages into my newest novel draft. My main characters are sitting across from one another, in a booth, at a pub, at a wake. He just knocked their drinks onto her. Or did he? I was rethinking the scene last night after Luuk had gone to sleep.
Yesterday was a good writing day. I felt like I was putting down good words. Not that my feelings on the day have any real relation to the quality of the writing. I can write awful corny collections of cliches and feel like I'm writing thought-provoking nuanced prose. I can feel completely discouraged, ashamed of my self-conscious, dull, poser efforts to impress an audience who'll probably never read my never-to-get-published manuscript... and yet look over those same words later and be surprised at my own insight and the beautiful turn of a phrase. It happens... and I have to remind myself, on a very regular basis, that how I feel about my writing and the actual quality of said writing, are two entirely unrelated things.
What matters as that I keep writing. And since Louis is asleep and Luuk is off in Paris somewhere looking at bikes (assuming the shop is now, finally, open)... I should really take advantage of this alone-time and write write write! Only four weeks until I'm likely to have a new baby. I have been known to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Maybe, if I really get myself in gear, I can finish this first draft before the baby comes.
Louis got a mural. His little sister will be getting a love story that she won't appreciate until her teens, and that's assuming I let her read it (as I'm yet uncertain how adult it'll be). Good thing she can share Louis' mural.
Personal and/or Professional
By myself
Took the train,
With a toddler,
In the rain.
Woop! Next time we might go all the way to Paris. This time we went to a play group just a few stops away. And I hadn't even had coffee.
What an empowering start to the day. Came home via the bakery and got lunch plus a pastry stash for Saturday morning (and perhaps a little something later this afternoon). Louis was exhausted as didn't quite manage to have a morning nap before we left. My experiment of giving him 'dinner' at lunch time was perhaps foolish today, but I tried. He threw only two or three pieces of omelette on the floor before gave up and ate it myself. In the end he had cheese and fruit for lunch, followed by a piece of dark chocolate.
He's stirring now, though he'll probably go back to sleep. I just hope he's not hungry. I've been getting some writing done, between reading blogs and articles on line, and catching up on my coffee in-take (though I'm not feeling much of its effects.) I'm reading a bit about writing, about character and writing practice, and also about social networking and branding - using blogs, facebook, twitter, etc. to put yourself and your work forward... Feels like swimming in the deep end, with jeans on. I'm not feeling very buoyant. But I'm not drowning.
I have moved my 100 Days Project to a separate blog and it's got me thinking about splitting this blog again - about keeping the personal stuff separate from the professional and creative side of things. In the long run I'd like to use a blog to put myself out there as a writer, to publicize my books, to record progress, to collect ideas and tools, to discuss creative process... all that fun stuff. At the moment it's all woven into my personal narratives - and frankly, the creative process is also woven into my life: I'd hate to see that disentangled.
I'm wary of having so much personal information out there for the world to see, but at the same time I know that the 30-60 hits I get on most of my posts are probably from people who already know me, so I'm safe for now.
Perhaps I should just keep going as I am until there's an actual issue/problem.
Perhaps my mixed up combo of personal life and creative process is what makes this blog any good and I'd be a fool to change it.
Perhaps I just need a better title and a more professional layout... something my marketing-genius sister and computer-genius husband can probably help me with.
Perhaps I should just keep working on my 'real' writing and talk to my agent (when I eventually get one) about all this.
Thoughts? Ideas? Offers of help? Title suggestions?
No more potty photos? Oh, okay.
Took the train,
With a toddler,
In the rain.
Woop! Next time we might go all the way to Paris. This time we went to a play group just a few stops away. And I hadn't even had coffee.
What an empowering start to the day. Came home via the bakery and got lunch plus a pastry stash for Saturday morning (and perhaps a little something later this afternoon). Louis was exhausted as didn't quite manage to have a morning nap before we left. My experiment of giving him 'dinner' at lunch time was perhaps foolish today, but I tried. He threw only two or three pieces of omelette on the floor before gave up and ate it myself. In the end he had cheese and fruit for lunch, followed by a piece of dark chocolate.
He's stirring now, though he'll probably go back to sleep. I just hope he's not hungry. I've been getting some writing done, between reading blogs and articles on line, and catching up on my coffee in-take (though I'm not feeling much of its effects.) I'm reading a bit about writing, about character and writing practice, and also about social networking and branding - using blogs, facebook, twitter, etc. to put yourself and your work forward... Feels like swimming in the deep end, with jeans on. I'm not feeling very buoyant. But I'm not drowning.
I have moved my 100 Days Project to a separate blog and it's got me thinking about splitting this blog again - about keeping the personal stuff separate from the professional and creative side of things. In the long run I'd like to use a blog to put myself out there as a writer, to publicize my books, to record progress, to collect ideas and tools, to discuss creative process... all that fun stuff. At the moment it's all woven into my personal narratives - and frankly, the creative process is also woven into my life: I'd hate to see that disentangled.
I'm wary of having so much personal information out there for the world to see, but at the same time I know that the 30-60 hits I get on most of my posts are probably from people who already know me, so I'm safe for now.
Perhaps I should just keep going as I am until there's an actual issue/problem.
Perhaps my mixed up combo of personal life and creative process is what makes this blog any good and I'd be a fool to change it.
Perhaps I just need a better title and a more professional layout... something my marketing-genius sister and computer-genius husband can probably help me with.
Perhaps I should just keep working on my 'real' writing and talk to my agent (when I eventually get one) about all this.
Thoughts? Ideas? Offers of help? Title suggestions?
No more potty photos? Oh, okay.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Yesterday, Today
Confession: I didn't write this yesterday, pen to paper, or fingers to keys, but I did have this conversation, some time before midnight... with myself...
Day 19: Bedtime blues.
Oh gosh. I didn't write my dialogue today.
You could get up - it's not as if you're asleep yet anyway.
I did write a few lines of conversation in my novel earlier. That'll do.
But it won't. I looked over that bit of the novel draft this morning and it's not succinct or interesting. So this little slice of my internal duologue will do for yesterday's 100 Days effort.
Mum: While you're down there there's lots of other food on the floor.
It doesn't help that most of the day I'm in the company of a toddler who doesn't really speak intelligibly. He has got 'ball' down - says it and means it consistently. Also 'nah!' when he doesn't want to eat the pasta dish I made just for him - a whole giant dish of cheesy pasta spirals with thin carrots and beans that he can manage with his four little teeth. These are all things he likes and eats... but no! Not any more. I made a whole lot of the stuff and voila! He doesn't like it anymore. Happily ate a bit of my quiche crust at lunch. And then some cheese, and strawberries. Well, on the upside, it's strawberry season! On the downside, I got two punnets and about half were either past it or well on their way. Made a smoothie from the ones that were threatening not to make it to this evening. Louis was happy to help me drink/eat my smoothie too. Did very well with a normal cup, though at one point he did start to shake it: very nearly carnage.
Then after lunch he had another go on the potty. I really thought it was going to happen. Photographed the momentous occasion and all, but despite making all the right noises and facial expressions, he saved it all for the nappy.
Went to the market this morning. We are well stocked with fruit and veg, and have a traiteur-made lasagna for dinner. Easy peasy. At two for 10Euro it's tempting to have this meal all the time. Usually, one month out from having a baby is the time to start stocking up the freezer for after the baby's born. I have three meals in there now, but frankly we can probably manage the walk to the market, or even one of the local traiteur's, for dinner-to-go when we need it. Tonight we're trying the spinach lasagna. Got us some canolli as well - like from The Godfather: "Leave the gun, take the canolli." I'm not sure if I've tried them before but I was standing at the Italian traiteur, waiting for the lady to slice up the salami, and I thought, 'hey, dessert! Done.'
Other highlights of the day:
Got a big box of pressies from a friend in the USA, including some baby girl clothes her little girl has grown out of - so cute! Minnie mouse, pink and purple, frilly in places... perfect!
Gorgeous hot afternoon so after our naps we went to the 'aire de jeux' - so did every other child in Antony. Good thing there are lots of other playgrounds in Antony.
At one point he started walking around without a clear destination - just wandering, in circles or after the ball - this is progress! Kept falling and getting right back up again without pause. I'm so proud.
Oh, I should report back on last night's dinner - I tried out two new recipes.
Day 19: Bedtime blues.
Oh gosh. I didn't write my dialogue today.
You could get up - it's not as if you're asleep yet anyway.
I did write a few lines of conversation in my novel earlier. That'll do.
But it won't. I looked over that bit of the novel draft this morning and it's not succinct or interesting. So this little slice of my internal duologue will do for yesterday's 100 Days effort.
Today's effort, from a dry sandpit of inspiration... (not enough moisture to hold together a castle - did I take the metaphor too far?)
Day 20: Dinner Theater
Dad: Do you want to try this?
Toddler: puts out hand and takes slice of salami. After a moment's consideration throws it on the floor.Mum: While you're down there there's lots of other food on the floor.
It doesn't help that most of the day I'm in the company of a toddler who doesn't really speak intelligibly. He has got 'ball' down - says it and means it consistently. Also 'nah!' when he doesn't want to eat the pasta dish I made just for him - a whole giant dish of cheesy pasta spirals with thin carrots and beans that he can manage with his four little teeth. These are all things he likes and eats... but no! Not any more. I made a whole lot of the stuff and voila! He doesn't like it anymore. Happily ate a bit of my quiche crust at lunch. And then some cheese, and strawberries. Well, on the upside, it's strawberry season! On the downside, I got two punnets and about half were either past it or well on their way. Made a smoothie from the ones that were threatening not to make it to this evening. Louis was happy to help me drink/eat my smoothie too. Did very well with a normal cup, though at one point he did start to shake it: very nearly carnage.
Strawberry smoothie went down a treat: strawberries, milk, yogurt, cream cheese and berry coulis.
What's not to love?
Then after lunch he had another go on the potty. I really thought it was going to happen. Photographed the momentous occasion and all, but despite making all the right noises and facial expressions, he saved it all for the nappy.
The potty remains unscathed.
Went to the market this morning. We are well stocked with fruit and veg, and have a traiteur-made lasagna for dinner. Easy peasy. At two for 10Euro it's tempting to have this meal all the time. Usually, one month out from having a baby is the time to start stocking up the freezer for after the baby's born. I have three meals in there now, but frankly we can probably manage the walk to the market, or even one of the local traiteur's, for dinner-to-go when we need it. Tonight we're trying the spinach lasagna. Got us some canolli as well - like from The Godfather: "Leave the gun, take the canolli." I'm not sure if I've tried them before but I was standing at the Italian traiteur, waiting for the lady to slice up the salami, and I thought, 'hey, dessert! Done.'
Other highlights of the day:
Got a big box of pressies from a friend in the USA, including some baby girl clothes her little girl has grown out of - so cute! Minnie mouse, pink and purple, frilly in places... perfect!
Gorgeous hot afternoon so after our naps we went to the 'aire de jeux' - so did every other child in Antony. Good thing there are lots of other playgrounds in Antony.
Louis had a blast and seems to have escaped sans sunburn.
At one point he started walking around without a clear destination - just wandering, in circles or after the ball - this is progress! Kept falling and getting right back up again without pause. I'm so proud.
Oh, I should report back on last night's dinner - I tried out two new recipes.
Both were successful but probably not going on the regular roster.
It was the first time I cooked duck and I'll definitely do it again.
The cheesey puff was yummy but really a lot like a puffy cheese omelette. Too much work and too many dishes for an omelette.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Day 7: an excerpt
I've been home, alone, with a grumpy and not-very-well baby all day. No surprise, I'm short on bright ideas for fresh material... but I did write a few lines of my novel draft. And this is part of it.
"Are you free to work the day after tomorrow?" Thomas got to the point.
"Yeah, sure, of course." I hoped I didn't sound too desperate, too available, though perhaps the impression, if he got it, would be accurate. I laughed, from nerves or something, and then felt the need to keep talking, to explain my laugh. And it was odd that another teacher had called me to arrange relief work. I said, "I'm beginning to think this principal is a figment of your communal imagination."
"He'd have called you himself but something's come up."
"Are you free to work the day after tomorrow?" Thomas got to the point.
"Yeah, sure, of course." I hoped I didn't sound too desperate, too available, though perhaps the impression, if he got it, would be accurate. I laughed, from nerves or something, and then felt the need to keep talking, to explain my laugh. And it was odd that another teacher had called me to arrange relief work. I said, "I'm beginning to think this principal is a figment of your communal imagination."
"He'd have called you himself but something's come up."
Friday, April 27, 2012
Day 6: Lest we forget
- Oh, hey, by the way, happy Anzac day.
- What? That's not a thing. What's happy about Anzac day?
- Oh right. What do you say then?
- Lest we forget.
- Good thing we remembered then.
Note: Anzac day was yesterday and is celebrated, or perhaps remembered is more accurate, in Australia and New Zealand, each 25th of April, to commemorate all the troops who've died in action around the world. The date is that of a massive defeat of our troops at a disasterous battle in Turkey during WW1.
- What? That's not a thing. What's happy about Anzac day?
- Oh right. What do you say then?
- Lest we forget.
- Good thing we remembered then.
Note: Anzac day was yesterday and is celebrated, or perhaps remembered is more accurate, in Australia and New Zealand, each 25th of April, to commemorate all the troops who've died in action around the world. The date is that of a massive defeat of our troops at a disasterous battle in Turkey during WW1.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Making plans
I'm a planner. Chronic. Following through, I have gotten better at (perhaps as my guilt complex has developed), but starting off with grand intentions - that comes so very naturally! And so I tend to jump at the opportunity to embark on a new challenge or project. Last year I took up the 100 Days challenge, along with a whole lot of others - to complete some kind of creative or design-based task every day for 100 days (this link goes to the Facebook page).
The trick is: it has to be the same task. My sister in law wrote haiku, I did 'images of Louis' (and so started this blog, in fact), others altered car number plates to say funny/rude things, designed dresses, all sorts!
This year I am up for it again (surprise surprise) and will be writing a short script every day. These snippets of dialogue will, I hope, be entertaining, revealing, interesting or at least very very short.
Person 1 speaks
Person 2 speaks
Person 1 or 3 speaks
Or something like that. It will be hard for me to keep it to that. This is going to be a challenge in culling for me! My inner editor needs the work-out. Nanowrimo-ers will have heard of the inner editor - that's the little monster that sits in your brain, or on your shoulder, or on your keyboard, and makes you feel rubbish when you're writing a first draft... usually stopping the unsuspecting would-be-writer from getting very far at all. Actually, inner editors don't just kill off writers. Any creative venture looks like dinner to them.
They're not usually very nice.
But they do have their place and purpose: editing!
I am currently working on the draft of a new novel and I'd very much like for my inner editor to have something else to focus on. So, here you go you nasty little coughandsplutter: edit the faff off of these little hardly hatched morsels. They're nice and juicy and fresh from my brain/life.
Yes, I will definitely be drawing on conversations I hear around me and probably even some that I participate in. Living in France, of course, I don't understand so many of the conversations around me as I used to. So I won't be able to steal all my short scripts from eaves-dropping.
Yes, some of these little scripts will probably have a word or two in french. I used to really hate this: In novels, when writers use french for no good reason (story not set in france and no characters are french) as if everyone did high school (at least) french, and just assume we all understand. I would refuse to look up the translation, just to show them. Hah! (Yes, I'm aware the writer would never know and as I'm already reading the book at this point, they got their cut and probably don't care much.) So... I will include translations if/when I do delve into my new foreign vocab. Promise.
Timing, being what it is (and Murphy having his hand in things again), we are of course off on holiday the very day after this exciting creative venture begins. On Friday I will write my first 100 Days script, and also pack five days worth of gear for Louis and myself (and Luuk... we'll see) into one suitcase, and I have an ultrasound in the morning. On Saturday we're off at the crack of dawn to catch a train... to a train, to a train, to the South of France! Hopefully the weather will be so amazing I'll have difficulty finding any time when I'm far enough out of direct sunlight, and splashing water, that I'm able to put pen to paper, or finger to smartphone as the case may be.
Thinking up brilliant creative things to do.
The trick is: it has to be the same task. My sister in law wrote haiku, I did 'images of Louis' (and so started this blog, in fact), others altered car number plates to say funny/rude things, designed dresses, all sorts!
This year I am up for it again (surprise surprise) and will be writing a short script every day. These snippets of dialogue will, I hope, be entertaining, revealing, interesting or at least very very short.
Person 1 speaks
Person 2 speaks
Person 1 or 3 speaks
Or something like that. It will be hard for me to keep it to that. This is going to be a challenge in culling for me! My inner editor needs the work-out. Nanowrimo-ers will have heard of the inner editor - that's the little monster that sits in your brain, or on your shoulder, or on your keyboard, and makes you feel rubbish when you're writing a first draft... usually stopping the unsuspecting would-be-writer from getting very far at all. Actually, inner editors don't just kill off writers. Any creative venture looks like dinner to them.
They're not usually very nice.
But they do have their place and purpose: editing!
I am currently working on the draft of a new novel and I'd very much like for my inner editor to have something else to focus on. So, here you go you nasty little coughandsplutter: edit the faff off of these little hardly hatched morsels. They're nice and juicy and fresh from my brain/life.
Yes, I will definitely be drawing on conversations I hear around me and probably even some that I participate in. Living in France, of course, I don't understand so many of the conversations around me as I used to. So I won't be able to steal all my short scripts from eaves-dropping.
Yes, some of these little scripts will probably have a word or two in french. I used to really hate this: In novels, when writers use french for no good reason (story not set in france and no characters are french) as if everyone did high school (at least) french, and just assume we all understand. I would refuse to look up the translation, just to show them. Hah! (Yes, I'm aware the writer would never know and as I'm already reading the book at this point, they got their cut and probably don't care much.) So... I will include translations if/when I do delve into my new foreign vocab. Promise.
Timing, being what it is (and Murphy having his hand in things again), we are of course off on holiday the very day after this exciting creative venture begins. On Friday I will write my first 100 Days script, and also pack five days worth of gear for Louis and myself (and Luuk... we'll see) into one suitcase, and I have an ultrasound in the morning. On Saturday we're off at the crack of dawn to catch a train... to a train, to a train, to the South of France! Hopefully the weather will be so amazing I'll have difficulty finding any time when I'm far enough out of direct sunlight, and splashing water, that I'm able to put pen to paper, or finger to smartphone as the case may be.
The victims/beneficiaries of my creative ventures.
(This is what they are doing while I finish this post.)
Orphaned by my writing, again.
Louis, in his special place, his reading spot - with all the junk mail, under the table.
Sometimes a man needs to be alone. Good thing too... ah, the neglected child.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Plodding on
I like to do small things. Doing a big thing is more impressive; more worthy of a blog post, certainly. But if I do a little thing every day it soon adds up to a lot more. For example, I think it'd be better to journal just a little every day than to write ten pages in a go on occasion. A habit of creativity is going to add up to a lot more progress than a whole day at the easel every few months.
A few times in the past, I have written hard-out for a month and finished a novel draft, but at the moment I'm trying to plod away at a more maintainable pace for a lot longer than month. It is harder work. It is less thrilling. It is less disruptive to the rest of my life and I don't get to be a martyr for art or anything so dramatic and exciting. I reward myself with usually edible treats and well-earned naps. The next day, or several days later, I open that document and try not to read over any more than one paragraph, inevitably edit a few typos and grammatical errors, then plod on, hoping to God that there are fewer errors in all the other paragraphs I didn't just read over.
It's slow going, and six weeks from now I won't be fine-tuning my query letter to literary agents or editors. Six months from now I'll probably be reading over a drafted manuscript, horrified at the sheer quantity of inconsistencies in tense.
(I am finding it hard to keep it in the past tense while I maintain this candid, chatty 1st person narrative - something new to me. I usually stick with 3rd person voice - simpler to keep grammatically in-check, but harder to convey so much of character...)
This morning I went out on the patio to water my Basil plant (which is faring better than any other non-cactus I've ever owned) and noticed that the tree outside has burst to life. When we moved in, less than six weeks ago, it looked like a dead twig of a thing. But it was just plodding away, behind the scenes, getting ready to bud. And now...
So here's hoping for some of that bright green life-spark, creatively, in the long run. Meanwhile, on I plod.
A few times in the past, I have written hard-out for a month and finished a novel draft, but at the moment I'm trying to plod away at a more maintainable pace for a lot longer than month. It is harder work. It is less thrilling. It is less disruptive to the rest of my life and I don't get to be a martyr for art or anything so dramatic and exciting. I reward myself with usually edible treats and well-earned naps. The next day, or several days later, I open that document and try not to read over any more than one paragraph, inevitably edit a few typos and grammatical errors, then plod on, hoping to God that there are fewer errors in all the other paragraphs I didn't just read over.
It's slow going, and six weeks from now I won't be fine-tuning my query letter to literary agents or editors. Six months from now I'll probably be reading over a drafted manuscript, horrified at the sheer quantity of inconsistencies in tense.
(I am finding it hard to keep it in the past tense while I maintain this candid, chatty 1st person narrative - something new to me. I usually stick with 3rd person voice - simpler to keep grammatically in-check, but harder to convey so much of character...)
This morning I went out on the patio to water my Basil plant (which is faring better than any other non-cactus I've ever owned) and noticed that the tree outside has burst to life. When we moved in, less than six weeks ago, it looked like a dead twig of a thing. But it was just plodding away, behind the scenes, getting ready to bud. And now...
Friday, March 9, 2012
QUERY: Why do I do this to myself?
Well, simple really. To get published. I've wanted to be a writer - no - I have been a writer since I was four years old.
The tools of my trade (no longer often crayons), and the scale of my finished work (almost always more than one complete sentence these days), have changed somewhat, but there it is. I wouldn't say it is my life's dream, to be a published author, but it's certainly one of them.
I've written a few finished (as in, has an ending/resolution) novel drafts, and a couple have been Finished... capital-F, which means they're re-written and edited until I am entirely sick of them.
I'm in the process of querying literary agents about the second of these. This involves emailing and snail-mailing awkward letters of introduction, along with a slightly corny synopsis and the first three chapters of my manuscript.
I sent queries for novel #1 to agents and publishers in NZ last year. I got a few requests for partials (3 chapters) and fulls (the whole shebang), but no takers. In other words my query was pretty good but the actual manuscript lacked somethingorother.
I've decided to put novel #1 in a drawer for a while, until I can bear to look at it again, as I suspect it actually needs a bit more work. My newest novel, #3, the barely-started draft I'm pottering away on every writing-Tuesday/Wednesday, has so much more of my voice and, I think, spunk. The feedback about novel #1 suggested that my writing lacked that magical quality... so perhaps I'll be able to magic-it-up in a few months/years time. Meanwhile, there are other fish to fry, plots to pedal, books to brain-child...
So, novel #2, which I finished drafting in November 2011, is ready (fingers crossed) to be sent out into the world. First step: query agents. This is the recommended starting point because an agent is so much better qualified to represent me to publishers than I am. If this fails, then I'll go straight to publishers, but I'm less likely to get a deal, and certainly less likely to get a good one, un-agented.
At some point, I might consider self publishing. But not yet. There are some tempting success stories, of course, but I guess I really believe that if my writing is ready for the world, and the world is ready for it, then an agent or publisher will pick it up. Also, I fear my skills at marketing are really limited to teaching teenagers to think critically about advertising and the media.
So that is what I'm doing this morning: putting together emails and printing off pages, hitting send and then sculling back my coffee as if it'll calm my nerves, clenching my jaw and wondering if this kind of stress can be good for my unborn child.
On the pregnancy front: I'm over it. My skin is all itchy where I'm stretching... I won't list the specific places. You don't want to know. I still have 3 months to go, and I'm in no hurry... not ready yet. Not at all. But I'm sick of being pregnant.
I'm really looking forward to being able to eat all the yummy cheeses and half-cooked meats they serve up in France. It'd be handy if I could lift furniture and walk for ages without risking mine, and another's, health. I'd get so much more done if I didn't have to nap for two hours every day... although I do quite like the excuse. How in the world did I teach teenagers, on my feet, with vigor!, for several hours every day, when I was this pregnant with Louis??
The tools of my trade (no longer often crayons), and the scale of my finished work (almost always more than one complete sentence these days), have changed somewhat, but there it is. I wouldn't say it is my life's dream, to be a published author, but it's certainly one of them.
I've written a few finished (as in, has an ending/resolution) novel drafts, and a couple have been Finished... capital-F, which means they're re-written and edited until I am entirely sick of them.
I'm in the process of querying literary agents about the second of these. This involves emailing and snail-mailing awkward letters of introduction, along with a slightly corny synopsis and the first three chapters of my manuscript.
I sent queries for novel #1 to agents and publishers in NZ last year. I got a few requests for partials (3 chapters) and fulls (the whole shebang), but no takers. In other words my query was pretty good but the actual manuscript lacked somethingorother.
I've decided to put novel #1 in a drawer for a while, until I can bear to look at it again, as I suspect it actually needs a bit more work. My newest novel, #3, the barely-started draft I'm pottering away on every writing-Tuesday/Wednesday, has so much more of my voice and, I think, spunk. The feedback about novel #1 suggested that my writing lacked that magical quality... so perhaps I'll be able to magic-it-up in a few months/years time. Meanwhile, there are other fish to fry, plots to pedal, books to brain-child...
So, novel #2, which I finished drafting in November 2011, is ready (fingers crossed) to be sent out into the world. First step: query agents. This is the recommended starting point because an agent is so much better qualified to represent me to publishers than I am. If this fails, then I'll go straight to publishers, but I'm less likely to get a deal, and certainly less likely to get a good one, un-agented.
At some point, I might consider self publishing. But not yet. There are some tempting success stories, of course, but I guess I really believe that if my writing is ready for the world, and the world is ready for it, then an agent or publisher will pick it up. Also, I fear my skills at marketing are really limited to teaching teenagers to think critically about advertising and the media.
So that is what I'm doing this morning: putting together emails and printing off pages, hitting send and then sculling back my coffee as if it'll calm my nerves, clenching my jaw and wondering if this kind of stress can be good for my unborn child.
On the pregnancy front: I'm over it. My skin is all itchy where I'm stretching... I won't list the specific places. You don't want to know. I still have 3 months to go, and I'm in no hurry... not ready yet. Not at all. But I'm sick of being pregnant.
I'm really looking forward to being able to eat all the yummy cheeses and half-cooked meats they serve up in France. It'd be handy if I could lift furniture and walk for ages without risking mine, and another's, health. I'd get so much more done if I didn't have to nap for two hours every day... although I do quite like the excuse. How in the world did I teach teenagers, on my feet, with vigor!, for several hours every day, when I was this pregnant with Louis??
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
R&R (reading and relaxation)
I have found it hard to rest, to relax and enjoy a break, since we arrived in Paris... because we're in Paris! So much to see, so much to do, and so much pressure to make the most of our short time here.
But then I got sick. And then I tried to do a bit much, a bit too soon.
Yesterday, somehow, I managed to give myself permission to waste time. I put Louis to bed in the morning, made myself a coffee and nibbled through a Pain au Chocolat (still enjoying some perks of locale), and read the day away.
Was lovely.
When Louis was up, in the middle of the day, we went and got bread, some treats for Valentines, and a few other groceries, then came straight home to play. A little while later, Louis went down for his afternoon nap and I... read. Yep. That's it. Was great.
Have a ginormous hunk of steak for dinner and I think I'll do simple buttery potatoes and a salad to go with - wouldn't want to distract from the main event. Although, a little blue cheese stuffed mushroom would be pretty good as far as distractions go. Also have Haagen dazs and chocolate, so it won't be anything flashy, despite our proximity to the Eiffel tower, but we will enjoy a little Valentines repast this evening.
Today I think I'll continue in my vegetable-like state. But I might do a french lesson first. It is writing-tuesday... but maybe this afternoon. My week plan really got blown out of the water last week. Not sure if feeling unmotivated right now is a good thing (helps me to rest and recoup from cold/cough) or is the beginning of a downward spiral. Haven't been doing my journal, which is usually motivating, but more importantly is good for self-knowledge... ie. would keep me from that downward spiral or at least reveal the pattern, equipping me to do something about it.
So, the plan:
- journal
- french lesson
- coffee and pastry
- reading and relaxing
when Louis is up:
- lunch
- laundry
when Louis goes back to sleep:
- read
- or write.
But then I got sick. And then I tried to do a bit much, a bit too soon.
Yesterday, somehow, I managed to give myself permission to waste time. I put Louis to bed in the morning, made myself a coffee and nibbled through a Pain au Chocolat (still enjoying some perks of locale), and read the day away.
Was lovely.
When Louis was up, in the middle of the day, we went and got bread, some treats for Valentines, and a few other groceries, then came straight home to play. A little while later, Louis went down for his afternoon nap and I... read. Yep. That's it. Was great.
Have a ginormous hunk of steak for dinner and I think I'll do simple buttery potatoes and a salad to go with - wouldn't want to distract from the main event. Although, a little blue cheese stuffed mushroom would be pretty good as far as distractions go. Also have Haagen dazs and chocolate, so it won't be anything flashy, despite our proximity to the Eiffel tower, but we will enjoy a little Valentines repast this evening.
Today I think I'll continue in my vegetable-like state. But I might do a french lesson first. It is writing-tuesday... but maybe this afternoon. My week plan really got blown out of the water last week. Not sure if feeling unmotivated right now is a good thing (helps me to rest and recoup from cold/cough) or is the beginning of a downward spiral. Haven't been doing my journal, which is usually motivating, but more importantly is good for self-knowledge... ie. would keep me from that downward spiral or at least reveal the pattern, equipping me to do something about it.
So, the plan:
- journal
- french lesson
- coffee and pastry
- reading and relaxing
when Louis is up:
- lunch
- laundry
when Louis goes back to sleep:
- read
- or write.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Getting in the groove
I'm a great fan of routines and plans. And yet I'm a creative type, or I aspire to be one. Saw this on facebook and I think I'm a total mish-mash of the two sides of the brain. (In an un-drugged-up kind of way).
Anyway, in a very left-brained kind of way I like making resolutions and setting structures and routines for myself. Today started very well, in part because I had a shower before Luuk left for work. It's before he leaves or after Louis goes down for his morning nap - which feels like a very slow start to the day. We got the pushchair out of the car (might venture down to the Les Ulis town centre after lunch) and then Louis ate his morning tea - that biscuit lasted him at least half an hour - while I had my coffee. I think this might be a good routine to get into: sitting down together and having a chat (of sorts) before he has his morning nap.
Then I did a little tidy-up, but just enough so that I could sit still, un-harrangued by the chaos around me, and do some french. Looked at comparatives and superlatives for adjectives, and looked up a few useful phrases...
It's true! - Vrai(e)! or Exact(e)! I suspect the equivalent phrase here is 'Vraiment' which means 'really' and would work in most contexts I can think of, but then I'm a bit of a novice. French-speakers feel free to correct me. All help would be much appreciated.
It depends on the price. - Il dépend du prix. This would have been a good one to know when asked if I wanted unlimited internet on my cell phone.
What a good idea. - Ce une bonne idée. As Sabrina said, Paris is always a good idea.
In my opinon - à mon avis. If only I knew how to then voice my opinion in intelligible French.
In a moment - tout à l'heure. Useful because I need a moment to figure out how to say something in French!
I also did some more research into living in Paris - found a few blogs written by American expats, who all seem to have just left... Actually, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed looking at all the info online, and partly/mostly because I can't yet do much. We are staying quite a long way from the city, and it is difficult to get to the train station. Navigating the trains with Louis in a pram, on my own, is going to be challenging, especially being 5 months pregnant, which limits my ability to lift the pram. One of the blogs I looked at, American Mom in Paris, posted this image, which reassures me that I'm not missing the elevators, but in fact there are none.
Until we have moved into our apartment, it is difficult to set up an obstetrician, which is a top priority, and get Louis into a playcentre or something similar, which is not quite so urgent but would be good, I think. If I took him to an outdoor playground I fear he'd stick to the ice on the slide.
Was feeling overwhelmed and helpless so I gave up on the Paris research for today and picked up my writing folder. Was also starving, all of a sudden, so I made myself a croissant, avec fromage et jambon, and another cup of coffee. Fortified, I did a quick edit of my query letter and then started reading over my notes/plans for a new novel. Got quite excited about it, so I think I will keep working on that - filling out the details about some of the minor characters and writing some more of the first draft. Back home I had a week plan that went something like:
Monday - housework day
Tuesday - writing day
Wednesday - reading day
Thursday - art day
Friday - whatever you like day
See what I mean about left and right brained. Might pick this up again, for now. I do have a bit of a plan for Friday - a friend is in Paris! So Louis and I will be taking the metro rail, by ourselves (sans husband), to go and meet her. Pushchair or backpack? That is the question. Pushchair is leisurely - no weight on my shoulders and even my purse goes underneath in the basket-bit. Backpack will be much easier on the train, but then I'm stuck carrying King Louis and all our bits and bobs around Paris. Plus he'll sleep in the pushchair. Tres important.
Hm... may have to give the push-chair a go. It might take me half an hour to get up and down some of those stairs, but I suppose I could practice my french by asking strangers for help.
Pourriez-vous m'aider à porter la poussette, s'il vous plaît?
Louis woke up while the housekeeping ladies were here - it was time anyway - so I'd better go attend to him. He is playing rather contentedly with russian-doll style eggs and some stacking cups. I managed to communicate to the housekeepers that I only wanted one sheet on the bed, and that I didn't need the baby pillow for Louis' cot.
Time to go: he's starting to bang his head on things.
Anyway, in a very left-brained kind of way I like making resolutions and setting structures and routines for myself. Today started very well, in part because I had a shower before Luuk left for work. It's before he leaves or after Louis goes down for his morning nap - which feels like a very slow start to the day. We got the pushchair out of the car (might venture down to the Les Ulis town centre after lunch) and then Louis ate his morning tea - that biscuit lasted him at least half an hour - while I had my coffee. I think this might be a good routine to get into: sitting down together and having a chat (of sorts) before he has his morning nap.
Louis' morning tea time.
Then I did a little tidy-up, but just enough so that I could sit still, un-harrangued by the chaos around me, and do some french. Looked at comparatives and superlatives for adjectives, and looked up a few useful phrases...
It's true! - Vrai(e)! or Exact(e)! I suspect the equivalent phrase here is 'Vraiment' which means 'really' and would work in most contexts I can think of, but then I'm a bit of a novice. French-speakers feel free to correct me. All help would be much appreciated.
It depends on the price. - Il dépend du prix. This would have been a good one to know when asked if I wanted unlimited internet on my cell phone.
What a good idea. - Ce une bonne idée. As Sabrina said, Paris is always a good idea.
In my opinon - à mon avis. If only I knew how to then voice my opinion in intelligible French.
In a moment - tout à l'heure. Useful because I need a moment to figure out how to say something in French!
I also did some more research into living in Paris - found a few blogs written by American expats, who all seem to have just left... Actually, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed looking at all the info online, and partly/mostly because I can't yet do much. We are staying quite a long way from the city, and it is difficult to get to the train station. Navigating the trains with Louis in a pram, on my own, is going to be challenging, especially being 5 months pregnant, which limits my ability to lift the pram. One of the blogs I looked at, American Mom in Paris, posted this image, which reassures me that I'm not missing the elevators, but in fact there are none.
Until we have moved into our apartment, it is difficult to set up an obstetrician, which is a top priority, and get Louis into a playcentre or something similar, which is not quite so urgent but would be good, I think. If I took him to an outdoor playground I fear he'd stick to the ice on the slide.
Was feeling overwhelmed and helpless so I gave up on the Paris research for today and picked up my writing folder. Was also starving, all of a sudden, so I made myself a croissant, avec fromage et jambon, and another cup of coffee. Fortified, I did a quick edit of my query letter and then started reading over my notes/plans for a new novel. Got quite excited about it, so I think I will keep working on that - filling out the details about some of the minor characters and writing some more of the first draft. Back home I had a week plan that went something like:
Monday - housework day
Tuesday - writing day
Wednesday - reading day
Thursday - art day
Friday - whatever you like day
See what I mean about left and right brained. Might pick this up again, for now. I do have a bit of a plan for Friday - a friend is in Paris! So Louis and I will be taking the metro rail, by ourselves (sans husband), to go and meet her. Pushchair or backpack? That is the question. Pushchair is leisurely - no weight on my shoulders and even my purse goes underneath in the basket-bit. Backpack will be much easier on the train, but then I'm stuck carrying King Louis and all our bits and bobs around Paris. Plus he'll sleep in the pushchair. Tres important.
Hm... may have to give the push-chair a go. It might take me half an hour to get up and down some of those stairs, but I suppose I could practice my french by asking strangers for help.
Pourriez-vous m'aider à porter la poussette, s'il vous plaît?
Louis woke up while the housekeeping ladies were here - it was time anyway - so I'd better go attend to him. He is playing rather contentedly with russian-doll style eggs and some stacking cups. I managed to communicate to the housekeepers that I only wanted one sheet on the bed, and that I didn't need the baby pillow for Louis' cot.
Time to go: he's starting to bang his head on things.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
1st day of normal life
Today is Luuk's first day of work. He even wore a shirt (as opposed to a tee-shirt).
He drove very carefully out of the icy car-park and safely made his way, through snowy Paris, to work. Hurrah! Success.
Unfortunately, the buggy is in the back of the car, so Louis and I were a bit stranded. Stranded and out of bread. So I loaded up the backpack with all the necessities for going anywhere with a baby: wipes, a nappy, sipper cup, snack, bib. And then I added all my bits and bobs: money, inhaler, tissues, lippy, phrasebook, passports, shopping bags. And finally, a well-wrapped up little Louis.
I zipped up my boots, wishing they had less heel, or none at all, and put on my new hat, my old jacket, and tied up my scarf. I hoisted the backpack onto my back, and we made our way downstairs and out into the snow and ice. Fortunately, it wasn't too cold, there being no wind.
The shopping was successful, and involved less walking-in-circles than it has other times. Couldn't find the pegs, or think of an intelligible way to ask anyone where they would be. But got everything else on the list. Haven't found Louis some thicker, warmer, possibly woollen socks.
Next stop McDonalds, in hope of a playground. But they don't have one! So I was saved from eating McDonalds, but too hungry to walk home without something. We stopped and I had a coffee and a 4 fromage panini (actually a toasted mini-baguette). Louis ate the biscuit that came with my coffee. Then I loaded up the bag, then myself, and we headed home.
Figured out how to use the camera timer, just so you could all see how spiffing Louis and I look in our winter woollies, on our adventures...
It was great to get outside after yesterday. We weren't actually snowed in, but I suppose we were voluntarily so. It was a nice relaxing day, though I did feel a bit cabin-feverish by mid afternoon. We read and watched some 'How I met your Mother' in french (figured out how to get the french subtitles to show - very helpful!) on the tv. We ate quite a lot of our food stash. Luuk made a fantastic dinner of yummy pasta and this fabulously rich sausage:
For tonight, I have salmon, and I think I'll make risotto. This afternoon I think I'll have a nap, while Louis is sleeping, and perhaps look up info on obstetricians. Need to get that sorted pretty smartly. Unfortunately, it's hard to sort out anything when you don't have a bank account, permanent address, or resident card.
If Louis has a long sleep I might even take another look at my query letter draft. As soon as we have found a way of printing and a return address, I'll be sending off my romance novel to Mills & Boon. As always, sending queries is exciting and scary at once. But I think it's important that I keep working away as if I were in NZ, otherwise I'll get down. Especially while we're staying out near Luuk's work, and a long way from the trains. I'm not completely stuck at home, but going out, especially with the weather the way it's been, is hard work. It will be good for me to have things to do at home. If only there was a playground nearby, where Louis could play and I could write.
He drove very carefully out of the icy car-park and safely made his way, through snowy Paris, to work. Hurrah! Success.
Unfortunately, the buggy is in the back of the car, so Louis and I were a bit stranded. Stranded and out of bread. So I loaded up the backpack with all the necessities for going anywhere with a baby: wipes, a nappy, sipper cup, snack, bib. And then I added all my bits and bobs: money, inhaler, tissues, lippy, phrasebook, passports, shopping bags. And finally, a well-wrapped up little Louis.
I zipped up my boots, wishing they had less heel, or none at all, and put on my new hat, my old jacket, and tied up my scarf. I hoisted the backpack onto my back, and we made our way downstairs and out into the snow and ice. Fortunately, it wasn't too cold, there being no wind.
The shopping was successful, and involved less walking-in-circles than it has other times. Couldn't find the pegs, or think of an intelligible way to ask anyone where they would be. But got everything else on the list. Haven't found Louis some thicker, warmer, possibly woollen socks.
Next stop McDonalds, in hope of a playground. But they don't have one! So I was saved from eating McDonalds, but too hungry to walk home without something. We stopped and I had a coffee and a 4 fromage panini (actually a toasted mini-baguette). Louis ate the biscuit that came with my coffee. Then I loaded up the bag, then myself, and we headed home.
Figured out how to use the camera timer, just so you could all see how spiffing Louis and I look in our winter woollies, on our adventures...
It was great to get outside after yesterday. We weren't actually snowed in, but I suppose we were voluntarily so. It was a nice relaxing day, though I did feel a bit cabin-feverish by mid afternoon. We read and watched some 'How I met your Mother' in french (figured out how to get the french subtitles to show - very helpful!) on the tv. We ate quite a lot of our food stash. Luuk made a fantastic dinner of yummy pasta and this fabulously rich sausage:
which Louis discovered he liked! Finally, a meat he'll eat un-pureed!
For tonight, I have salmon, and I think I'll make risotto. This afternoon I think I'll have a nap, while Louis is sleeping, and perhaps look up info on obstetricians. Need to get that sorted pretty smartly. Unfortunately, it's hard to sort out anything when you don't have a bank account, permanent address, or resident card.
If Louis has a long sleep I might even take another look at my query letter draft. As soon as we have found a way of printing and a return address, I'll be sending off my romance novel to Mills & Boon. As always, sending queries is exciting and scary at once. But I think it's important that I keep working away as if I were in NZ, otherwise I'll get down. Especially while we're staying out near Luuk's work, and a long way from the trains. I'm not completely stuck at home, but going out, especially with the weather the way it's been, is hard work. It will be good for me to have things to do at home. If only there was a playground nearby, where Louis could play and I could write.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Cover and Pseudonym...
Ah, writing procrastination... and shameless use of google image search photos without permission. But it's just a rough idea.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Spooky? Not at all
Yes, it is halloween. And I have nothing else to say about that, except perhaps I should add 'candy' to my grocery shopping list.
Quite a to-do list today. Tomorrow begins Nanowrimo and I will disappear into novelling madness. My romance novel is all planned out and ready to be written.
Writing a blog post (possibly the last for some time) was on the to do list, along with...
- phone Nana (check)
- phone rest home to organise kids' visit (half-check... I phoned & someone will call me back)
- phone and organise to pick up unpainted blackboard... save the painting of it for another day - a good nanowrimo break activity, in aid of avoiding RSIs.
- email booking to hotel in wellington
- book flights to wellington
- remind Luuk to book car for weekend in wellington
- fold laundry
- touch up paintings for Delta
- add a layer to mum and dad's christmas present painting
- walk to do groceries, unless the weather packs in
- finish up other stories (only 2 or 3 chapters to go) before focussing my fiction-crafting energy on bigger fish
- email celia awesome recipe, affectionately nicknamed 'breast milk pork' because it makes your milk AWESOME and your baby sleep for longer at night. Did I mention it was awesome? It's actual name: Dong Po Pork. And it's awesome.
- make a stack of baby food - apples/pears mix for Louis' breakfasts, and some of mum's awesome chicken and vege soup, which he likes, and which has vegetables in it, and no jam! These are all things in its favour. Louis is being a right pain with food at the moment, decorating the room in general and making a lot of fuss, being contrary as ever - loving cheese one minute and screaming about it, flinging it across the room, the next. Frustrating.
Sigh. Better get on with it all then.
Quite a to-do list today. Tomorrow begins Nanowrimo and I will disappear into novelling madness. My romance novel is all planned out and ready to be written.
Writing a blog post (possibly the last for some time) was on the to do list, along with...
- phone Nana (check)
- phone rest home to organise kids' visit (half-check... I phoned & someone will call me back)
- phone and organise to pick up unpainted blackboard... save the painting of it for another day - a good nanowrimo break activity, in aid of avoiding RSIs.
- email booking to hotel in wellington
- book flights to wellington
- remind Luuk to book car for weekend in wellington
- fold laundry
- touch up paintings for Delta
- add a layer to mum and dad's christmas present painting
- walk to do groceries, unless the weather packs in
- finish up other stories (only 2 or 3 chapters to go) before focussing my fiction-crafting energy on bigger fish
- email celia awesome recipe, affectionately nicknamed 'breast milk pork' because it makes your milk AWESOME and your baby sleep for longer at night. Did I mention it was awesome? It's actual name: Dong Po Pork. And it's awesome.
- make a stack of baby food - apples/pears mix for Louis' breakfasts, and some of mum's awesome chicken and vege soup, which he likes, and which has vegetables in it, and no jam! These are all things in its favour. Louis is being a right pain with food at the moment, decorating the room in general and making a lot of fuss, being contrary as ever - loving cheese one minute and screaming about it, flinging it across the room, the next. Frustrating.
Sigh. Better get on with it all then.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Long weekend, short week
I haven't mentioned it in a while, but in interest of representing life more accurately, Louis still loves to jolly-jump!
Had a lovely long weekend. Luuk home means I can nap while Louis is awake! Also, he constructed greater child-proof capabilities for the computer/stereo cabinet/desk thing. Meanwhile, I constructed a novel outline...
Louis completely lost interest in the increased-security computer desk, of course.
I made fish pie. Yum.
And today I did as little as really possible. So tired at the moment. Went back to bed when Louis went down for his morning nap, then took my time getting going after that. Went into office then did groceries.
Louis has been in an adventurous mood, which means exhausting but good for photos...
and video...
Guess I'm re-stacking the nappy liners this evening during 'Castle'.
Had a lovely long weekend. Luuk home means I can nap while Louis is awake! Also, he constructed greater child-proof capabilities for the computer/stereo cabinet/desk thing. Meanwhile, I constructed a novel outline...
Louis completely lost interest in the increased-security computer desk, of course.
I made fish pie. Yum.
And today I did as little as really possible. So tired at the moment. Went back to bed when Louis went down for his morning nap, then took my time getting going after that. Went into office then did groceries.
Louis has been in an adventurous mood, which means exhausting but good for photos...
and video...
He can be determined... but didn't quite pull down every magnet before terrorizing the plants on the windowsill became the more appealing option.
Guess I'm re-stacking the nappy liners this evening during 'Castle'.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Creating Characters
The first thing you have to do when writing the first draft of a novel is creating your characters. I put together this questionnaire that I do for all my main characters. Feel free to use it, edit it, whatever! It's a lot of work to do but pays off when you're writing. The characters drive the plot, or else you're in trouble. So, in light of the nanowrimo coundown, start hashing out those characters!
Characterisation Work-up
| Full Name, nickname and preferred name | |
| DOB/Age/sign | |
| Sex/Gender/Sexuality | |
| Temperament/ personality type | |
| Strengths/Abilities/ skills | |
| Negative Traits | |
| Quirks/eccentricities | |
| Insecurities/Fears | |
| Upset/embarrassed/ irritated by | |
| Opinionated about | |
| Made happy by | |
| Amused by | |
| Fight style | |
| What others think of them | |
| Philosophy is... | |
| Bedroom is... | |
| Carries with them... | |
| Theme | |
| Challenges to face | |
| Career/ dreams goals/desires | |
| Motivations/values/ vows/promises | |
| Ethnicity/Nationality | |
| Current abode | |
| Physicality | |
| Height/Weight | |
| Hair | |
| Eyes | |
| Distinguishing Ft.s | |
| Clothing style/ make-up/ careful?/ cost/ fashionable/ comfort/ accessories | |
| Movements/walk/ hands/greetings/ posture/nervous habit | |
| Dis/Likes about appearance | |
| Health | |
| Smell/scent | |
| Voice/pitch/pauses/ fav. words/ greetings/ grammar/accent | |
| Habits and Behaviour | |
| Daily/weekly routine | |
| Bad habits | |
| Eating habits | |
| Exercise habits | |
| Relational habits | |
| Neuroses | |
| Desired behaviour | |
| Preferences and Favourites | |
| Music | |
| Movies/TV | |
| Sports/games | |
| Colours | |
| Political groups | |
| Religious groups | |
| Holiday activities | |
| Time of year/season/ weather -best &worst | |
| Decor/environment | |
| Animals | |
| Books | |
| Foods/drinks | |
| Pet Peeves | |
| Hobbies/interests/ obsessions | |
| Keeps/throws away | |
| Relationships | |
| Closest friend/s | |
| Closest family members | |
| Lover/s | |
| People they dislike | |
| Friendships they'd like to invest in | |
| Relationships they'd like to limit/end | |
| Views of kids/marriage, etc. | |
| History | |
| Fondest memory | |
| Family | |
| Secrets | |
| Relationships/sexual history | |
| Socio-economic bg. | |
| Education | |
| Employment | |
| Past abodes | |
| Worst memory/ regrets | |
| Greatest sin | |
| Rebel against | |
| Aspire to be like... | |
| Major events in life | |
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