Happy Old Year!

New Year’s Eve. I’ll soon be slipping into a party dress and bidding farewell to 2006 at the Larsens’ house with alcohol and some mocha meringues, which are currently meringueing in the oven. They have zero fat and cholesterol, which is important these days.

My 2007 should provide some interesting experiences. Inspired by a member of my writing group, I’ve decided to spent the first part of the year being open to opportunities that present themselves. My Great Opportunity Experiment has some guidelines, but it’s basically an increased awareness of and openness to whatever comes along. I told my writing group that I’d blog about it. This isn’t really a New Year’s resolution; Jan. 1 was just a convenient time to start it.

Speaking of things that come along, one opportunity I don’t expect this evening is that elusive New Year’s Eve Kiss. It’s a great tradition if you have someone to lock lips with, but the lockless ones are again reminded of their single status. I’m of the opinion that it really only counts if you go into the night with someone by your side, as sharing a smacking wish for a year’s worth of luck with a guy you’ve just met doesn’t quite carry the romance I’m seeking. There’s no sense that the guy will be around to see whether the good luck actually happens in the coming year. I’d make an exception if I should run into that even more elusive Soul Mate, if he exists. Which is really what “The Unintended Mongrel” is about. So, in honor of those who will stand awkwardly and pretend to be OK with not smooching following shouts of “Happy New Year,” I’m posting an excerpt from the draft of Chapter 5. I’ve now written 18,493 words. That’s about 61 pages, double-spaced.

"The Unintended Mongrel" excerpt

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NoNoWriMo

No Novel-Written Month for me

During the month of November, I wrote 15,872 words on “The Unintended Mongrel.” National Novel Writing Month’s challenge is 50,000 words. However, I don’t feel bad about not making that goal.

I haven’t worked on the novel since I learned of the death of my sister, Mary. I will get back to it, probably later this month, but I needed a break. Considering death’s emotional toll, the legal aspects of it shouldn’t be this difficult, especially since her estate seems to be comparatively simple. I’m planning to incorporate some of this into another novel I’ve been working on, one that is untitled and that has proven to be an emotional challenge. It’s inspired by my mother’s death from lung cancer, when I was 25. As the main character faces the loss of her own mother to cancer, it dredges up her alcoholic father’s death, which involved hitting and killing a family while driving drunk. My own father died when I was 16, from heart failure complicated because of respiratory illness brought on by smoking. Like my sister, who was just 50.

Looking back over the month, I realistically probably wouldn’t have made the NaNoWriMo goal, regardless. To my surprise, I’m not that fast of a writer. Also, I had too many demands on my time and energy this year. I generally like such challenges, sometimes to the point that I push myself too hard. I have a fresh understanding now of the need to enjoy life. I don’t want to negate what I’ve done simply because I didn’t reach the NaNoWriMo goal. Nearly 16,000 words is a very good start on a novel, and I like what I’ve written. I’m glad I attempted the challenge, as it got me started. I’m enthusiastic about this book, and I’ll probably post more excerpts as I continue to work on it. I’m averaging about 1,000 words per scene card, and I have 63 scene cards left to work from, but that will likely increase. I’ve added a few as I’ve written and come to understand the story better through that process. I’m sure I’ll also expand when I get to the editing stages and spot any holes or weaknesses. The book will likely end up as a shorter novel rather than an opus. I hope to finish it by the end of 2007.

"The Unintended Mongrel" is born

I've launched into National Novel Writing Month. It's been difficult to be fast and creative after work, but I'm making pretty good progress this weekend. I've posted the beginning of the first chapter of "The Unintended Mongrel" on the National Novel Writing Month page, and I thought I'd also post it here. Keep in mind that this is a draft, written quickly.

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I've built the spine of "The Unintended Mongrel," and I'm working on fleshing out the story as much as possible in anticipation of my Nov. 1 start date for writing. Add some ribs, a tail, a wet nose. I also need to develop character names. That has been a sticking point for me for writing before, as I want the names to mean something. I've been happily writing along and gotten to a point where I realize I don't have a name for a character, and it stops the flow. So, I want to get the names out of the way before I start writing. I plan to come up with names for the main characters and a list of possible names for other characters that pop up along the way, in the process of writing.

While walking down the street the other day, I thought of an ending to "The Unintended Mongrel," and I started to cry. It was embarrassing. I hope I'm able to write the story well enough that others can feel that reaction. It feels good to have an end in mind, although it's kind of strange to think that my goal is to make people cry.

Commitment

On Saturday, I heard author Laura Whitcomb speak at a Willamette Writers meeting. I found her perseverance and openness inspirational, and she just seems like an enthusiastic and interesting person, in general. I find that it encouraging to be around others who are excited.

I’ve decided to participate in the National Novel Writing Month. It’s intimidating to commit to writing 50,000 words in the month of November, especially not knowing my schedule, but I’m also inspired by the challenge. Novels offer a different and more in-depth exploration and enjoyment of language and character, and I’ve missed that. I also like the idea of bringing something to completion on my own.

I plan to work on a literary fiction novel tentatively titled “The Unintended Mongrel.” In it, a 33-year-old single woman finally meets the man she believes is her true love, but when he is killed, it causes her to question her understanding of love and faith. I intend it to be an exploration of big questions like “Is there such a thing as true love?” and “Is there someone for everyone and, if so, why are people alone?” I hope can I write up to the expectations of my vision. I’ve been working on scene cards and pondering the who of my main character and the whys of her world.

NaNoWriMo or NoNoWriMo?

I’m debating whether to participate in National Novel Writing Month. I’ve never done it, although I did do the short-lived Screenplay In A Month. The idea is to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. It’s a pretty short novel, but the emphasis is simply on completing it, not on quality. That works out to nearly 1,700 words a day, a fair chunk of time. Part of me wants to do it simply to have the experience. I’ve been working on and off on a novel, in between screenplays, and it would be nice to pour some effort into book writing again. I’d have to work on an entirely new one, per the rules, but I do have a basic idea and a month to work on an outline. On the other hand, I don’t know what the horror script production schedule might be like. I don’t want to start something I would have to strain myself to finish because of other obligations. I have a month before the contest with myself starts, but I’d like to choose sooner rather than later and dedicate myself to the project or to something else.

Sixes at Secret City

"Sixes and the One Eyed King" is scheduled to show at the
Secret City Film Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Oct. 13 at 10:15 p.m.

I'm so glad we've been accepted into another film festival. I wish I could attend.

The long, slow march of progress

Scene cards for the horror script I’m working on are done, and I’ve typed each scene into the computer with a description of what is done and said. I used this process with the based-on-a-true-story screenplay, my most recently completed script, and it seemed to work fairly well. It helps me to think through the story without a waste of time on crafted dialogue and action descriptions that change when I alter the story as the process of writing reveals insights. Writing basic descriptions also helps me to explore motivation and theme. I’m looking forward to getting some feedback on the story, especially its viability as ultra-low-budget horror. I’ve been operating under the advice that writers should ignore the budget and write what they want, then try to sell it, so I haven’t developed a good sense of what is possible in relation to the budget.

I think it’s important to try different writing techniques and discover what is both efficient and supportive of creativity. I’ve read debates, such as the effectiveness of freewriting vs. detailed outlining, and I think each writer should explore what methods produce the best results. Since I view writing as a long-term pursuit, I feel comfortable that I have the time to develop my craft so that it suits my own personality and style. I’m discovering strengths and weaknesses as I go along. For example, having to prepare this horror story on a timeline, for production, has shown me that I need to do more script writing to deadline. It’s easy to linger over spec scripts because I‘m not facing a pressing demand, but I think that doesn’t teach the ability to quickly develop characters and solve problems. It’s sort of like practicing math problems, only more fun.

I finally have my car back, with a new tie rod and various other parts, and a lighter wallet thanks to the driver’s lack of insurance. My mouth is healing nicely, too. I got “The Little Shop of Horrors” in honor of it. I haven’t yet found a way to make my recent experiences serve my writing, but I’m sure I will. I can feel them simmering in my subconscious.

I got cool news today. “Sixes and the One Eyed King,” won the Audience Appreciation Award at the Bluegrass Independent Film Festival. This is our second festival, and I’m pretty pleased that we were able to win an audience, especially when I compare the experience of our cast and crew to those on some of the other films. It makes me even more excited to work on other projects. Success is a wonderful motivator.

Thought of the day

"Gradually by writing you will learn more and more to be free, to say all you think; and at the same time you will learn never to lie to yourself, never to pretend and attitudinize. But only by writing and by long, patient, serious work will you find your true self. And why find it? Because it is, I think, your immortal soul and the life of the Spirit, and if we can only free it and respect it and not run it down, and let it move and work, it is the way to be happier and greater."

-- Brenda Ueland, "If You Want to Write"

Ouch.

Having a wisdom tooth extracted isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds. Especially when the tooth has a little hook thingy at the end of the root that expresses its dedication to staying in your mouth. Also new on my list of unfun experiences is having your parked car hit by an uninsured driver whose license was already suspended. It's been a rough week. There's some "storytelling using life experience" in there somewhere, but it will take some time and some more painkillers before I find it.

Thought of the day

"It was only when I began to discover the treats and tricks that came with word assocation that I began to find some true way through the minefields of imitation. I finally figured out that if you are going to step on a live mine, make it your own. Be blown up, as it were, by your own delights and despairs." -- Ray Bradbury

A review of “Sixes and the One Eyed King,” and the trailer, is up on the Movie Sharke Deblore Web site. It’s pretty cool to read nice comments. I hope this film will appeal to “Twilight Zone” fans. I loved that show.

Hounded by horror

One technique I’ve used in writing is to think about a story prior to going to sleep. I find that my sleeping mind develops very creative solutions. However, now that I’m writing horror, I’ve found that I can’t do that. I creep myself out and give myself nightmares. It’s silly for a woman my age to hide under the covers, wondering what “that noise” was, but that’s the curse of living with a vivid imagination. I’m excited about writing in the horror genre. I never really considered it “my” genre, especially because of the whole getting-scared-easily issue. However, I’m drawing on my own experiences to see what is frightening and why, and I’m learning a lot as I study other work in the genre.

I hope to finish scene cards this week. I used to really resist the idea of writing scenes on 3X5 cards and then plotting out the story. I thought it made me more creative to just sit down and start writing. Once I gave scene cards a serious try, I saw how valuable they are to help craft the story and not waste time meandering through it. It’s kind of like a cell phone. I resisted getting one for a long time because I didn’t want to be “chained to technology.” Now, I appreciate having it as a tool to keep in touch when I want. If I don’t want to be reachable, I can simply turn it off. It has taken me some time to see these things as tools rather than as burdens. Learning to employ scene cards simply added to my options as a writer. I still freewrite at times, but it, too, is a tool for the process than a mandate for creativity.

Another advantage to scene cards is that they're highly portable. I worked on them while waiting for a Chicago concert this week. It was a great concert, and with amazing guitarist Preston Reed as an opener. Live music provides refreshment to the soul. I’m headed out this afternoon to hear some local performers as well as to hopefully find some new fall clothing. Provided the stores aren’t to crazy with back-to-school shoppers. I might fight my way through them for some cool pens or spiffy notebooks. I still love buying school supplies.

The Bluegrass Independent Film Festival schedule is up. “Sixes and the One Eyed King” will play this coming Saturday in Kentucky. Ray and Scott Ford are headed back for it; I wish I could be there. Who are Ray and Scott Ford? We’re still waiting to hear from other film festivals, but we have distributors showing at least some interest.

A reflection on passing and remembrance
A former writing teacher, an influential writer and artist, died Sunday. I’ve been thinking about legacies, about the impact of work and life. In a way, writing is a search for influence and immortality, for a greatness beyond our limited daily lives and a hope that something of us remains behind to make the world better for having had us in it. How to measure a legacy? Is it in the number of people influenced? How many is enough to create an admirable legacy? Is it in the size of the change affected, or is it enough simply to have caused people to laugh, to think and to dream? Is it even possible for a person to comprehend or engineer her own legacy? Do some, by seeking to secure a legacy, taint its very essence with their own self-aggrandizing? Is a legacy something we give or something that is given to us by others as they reflect our efforts?

Did some research for a low-budget horror film for Bison Motion Pictures today. "Low budget" doesn’t have to mean “low quality,” and I want this to be the best tale we can tell with the resources available.

I like researching, the process of discovery. Crafting a story is also a process of self-exploration. I’m reflecting on what I want to say and how I want to say it through the characters and their experiences.

Finding the journey at the destination

I went to Crater Lake yesterday, planning to do some writing, but I instead ended up just thinking about where I‘m at and where I‘m heading. I couldn’t find a good place to write; so many tourists crowded the turnouts around the rim, and I didn’t feel comfortable writing in front of people. I don’t normally have that problem. The novel I’d planned to work on is too intimate, perhaps, to write where other people can see me pondering. I know that some of my greatest storytelling strengths lie in sharing those observations and experiences that make me feel most vulnerable. I’m to the stage on the novel where I’m exploring those depths. I suppose that’s the way of relationships in general, and writing does feel like a relationship with the reader. We want people to appreciate our authenticity, but that’s where malice, carelessness and rejection do the most damage. So it’s tempting to keep that self safe and unexposed. Along with that, we face the risk of slipping away from this life having never truly been known at all, in squandering the best of us in the name of protecting it.

Before heading to Crater Lake, I met with producer/director/co-writer Ray Robison to discuss current and future projects. This all still seems a bit like a dream, like I wasn‘t really at the “Sixes and the One Eyed King” premiere on July 25 at DancesWithFilms in Los Angeles. I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to go to Kentucky for the Bluegrass Independent Film Festival in September, but it makes sense to not spend the money to fly back just for the weekend. I’ve never been to Kentucky, and going to support Sixes would be a great reason, but I’m short on vacation and cash. One day …

At this point, it feels good just to have some forward progress. It’s nice to know that another feature is in the works, even another ultra-low-budget one. There’s something addictive about making a movie, from idea creation to crew to promotion. I’m excited to have something closer to production, instead of just the more expensive, based-on-a-true-story script that doesn‘t yet have funding. I have some changes to make on that based on the table reading last week, but I’m holding off until Ray and I decide exactly what to do with it. I do have the sense that it is close to being ready. I’m learning more about the fund-raising aspect of this business and all that goes into making a production happen. I like that feeling of bringing things together and moving them forward. Continuing to learn helps to keep me humble and reminds me that this process involves much work and growth.