I really needed a laugh today. 9 hour day at work, and I think I did more talking than the customers, so at the end of it, I thought I'd lose my voice. And the 9 hours crawled...seemed more like 18 hours. So tonight, I decided to visit Miss Snark, and found her post on queries. Oh boy, I laughed! And for more amusement, I might pull out my manuscripts and read pages 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 and 89. In that order. We had a collage poetry workshop on Saturday at my writers' group meeting. I didn't feel very inspired. I don't think I can do the group thing now when it comes to creating collage poems. I like to let the words and phrases sit together, and form interesting combinations - and for me, that has become a solitude activity, and one that my subconscious continues to work on while my thoughts are preoccupied with reality. Our homework for the meeting was to write a 50 word story. I wrote a story about reality TV on Sunday, and the first draft was 86 words. I had to cut more than a third of the story. ON Monday, I took it with me to work and slashed and rewrote, and slashed some more, until eventually I have a 50 word story. I may try some more between now and the next meeting - it is certainly good editing practice.

A hit - a palpable hit!

Sorry, bit of Shakespeare coming out. Must be the R&J post I just posted on Chickollage. Anyway, what did I hit? My manuscript. Today, during my lunch break, I plunged right in from the beginning and made a start on the edit, the revision, the rewrite, the second draft - whatever you want to call it. And I wrote more words. And crossed out many. And I got deeper into the scene, into the description, the setting, into Chloe's head. And I felt that I had accomplished something. I'm going to forget about the overall story edit at the moment, and just do some layering, scene by scene, chapter by chapter. The big structural stuff can come later when I have larger blocks of time to dedicate to it.

The Bitch Club

This image is now available as a T-shirt, mouse pad or tote bag at my new Chickollage store!

This is the collage poem I completed on the public holiday on Monday. I've known some 'crazy bitches in my time - this is dedicated to them. I quite like this one - black, dark and true. My partner finishes his TAFE course this week. Sigh of relief. He's not a writer and doesn't profess to be so each written assignment has been a source of renewed frustration. Much better at the practical stuff - the camera work, the filming. I'll be glad when it's over as well because my editing skills won't be called upon so much. I'm back at work again although a bit in limbo - may have to go back to the permanent position on Monday. Haven't been given the word as yet. Although my permanent team leader was preparing to put my stuff in storage today because he thought I'd be in the temp position a bit longer. I suppose I'll find out tomorrow. Don't particularly like limbo land.

Holiday is over

Well, I was right about the lack of holiday time to myself. I spent most of the week helping my partner with his DVD project on the Glenreagh Mountain Railway. Launch night was Saturday night, and just our luck, it poured all day Saturday. We haven't rain since we moved into this house. In fact, the situation had got so desperate, our rainwater tank ran out, and we had to fill it with town water. So we really, really wanted rain - just not on Saturday. But of course, it's a long weekend here -- and that usually guarantees rain. Part of the evening was to include a ride on the steam train, 'Steaming under the Stars', and that looked in jeopardy. Somehow the rain eased up, over a hundred people turned up to the launch, and enjoyed the film. The rain was light so Betty the steam train, was still able to do complete the planned outing. Sunday morning, we woke up to blue sky and it has been that way since. Murphy's Law! So now it's Monday of the long weekend, the last day of my 'holiday' - so I'm putting together some more collage poems, updating my blogs, and will tackle some of my editing. Then I'll have to work out an 'after work' structure to fulfill my writing goals and not spend all of my time on the net.

Holiday - NOT!

I have this week off work. It's supposed to be a holiday. And I had planned to spend the week editing my novel. As they say, all good plans... Saturday we spent the day running around town, trying to get the final cut for the doco that my partner is releasing next Saturday. Sunday I managed a day of general relaxation and watched the first disc of the Twin Peaks DVD set. Just love Kyle MacLachlan. Yesterday, I drove two hours to do my dad's accounts, a frustrating half hour or so trying to get through to the tax office, and two hours drive back. By 11pm last night, I was stuffed, and not prepared to play games with NBN Television, who for some crazy reason have decided to move the screening of Six Feet Under from 10.30 at night to 12.30 in the morning. As if 10. 30 is such a ratings giant anyway! Guess I'll have to wait for the DVD's of that one. Today, we went to see a diabetes educator, followed by a dietitian - at least I know I'm on the right track food wise. Tomorrow, we drive another hour so that my partner can sit a TAFE exam. Not sure how I will amuse myself while he's doing the exam but I'm sure I'll find something. On Friday, we have yet another doctor's appointment, but at least it's an early one, so then we'll come back home and finish off the work for the DVD release on Saturday. Saturday is the big launch. And then hopefully, Sunday and Monday, we will have some time at home - enjoying our garden, and sunshine. We'll see! So that's my holiday -- as you can tell, I'm getting plenty of R&R before I go back to work on Tuesday. Here's the BEAUTIFUL trophy I won! I remember when Anne first showed us the trophy (the day I took this picture) and we were all coveting it. I never imagined that I would be the one taking it home! Cool! Although I must say, I'm glad we don't have to write with quills anymore. Even typewriters - what tedium to have to type the whole manuscript again when you edit! Speaking of editing, I have to admit that I've been a naughty girl. All I've done so far is coloured in my manuscript - orange or yellow for dialogue (depending on which highlighter was working at the time), green for description or action, and pink for interior monologue. It sure looks purty! But I can also see pages of almost one colour, which immediately indicates that it needs work. I want a good solid block of time to sit down and read the whole thing from start to finish and do a good structural edit before I get into the nitty gritty, but that time is eluding me, and the internet has sucked me once again - oh well, at least I now have cute avatars of my main characters - Chloe and Luke, and their respective cats, Miss Lizzy and Snowball.