WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2009
I should never make broad generalizations like, “I’m going to keep this blog updated from now on,” anymore. Really. As soon as the words appear on the screen and I hit publish it’s like I’ve jinxed myself. This has happened enough times for me to know better. So no more grand proclamations. Wait, was that a proclamation in and of itself?
Never mind. Working on short stories again (finally!). I get so sidetracked by life sometimes, but I need to focus. The TV needs to go off and I need to have my nose buried in a book or my fingers typing furiously. How else do I expect to write something that’s actually palatable for once?
Sci-fi/fantasy novel is on hold for the moment. I need to get back in the storytelling groove (if I was ever in one) before I attempt a lengthy work again. Several stories are out on submission. Got a rejection today that said my story lacked purpose. Yikes. The good news? It was a personal rejection. These small things matter to writers. Trust me. But I sent the story in question right back out again. Another rejection would be number three, so if that time comes I’ll hit revisions again.
In other news, I’m working on calligraphy as a hobby. It’s supposed to be soothing and relaxing but right now it’s just frustrating. And my hand hurts! I hold the pen too hard. Always have. [Makes note to self to work on that].
Wedding planning is moving right along. We have quite a few things to do in August, so that should all be exciting.
Just finished reading “The Girl Next Door” by Jack Ketchum last week. Really disturbing. But I have to say, a gripping story that held my interest all the way through. Going to start “The Blood Canticle” by Anne Rice tonight, I think. Going to wrap that series up, once and for all.
On the movie front, I’ve seen quite a few interesting ones lately. “Lars and The Real Girl” is really wonderful. It’s sweet but not saccharine, funny and poignant. You’ll like it. I promise. Saw “Network,” too (thank god for Netflix) and though it’s a classic, it was a tad lengthy. Good to know where that “I’m mad as hell and not going to take this anymore,” business comes from though.
My fiance bought “Coraline” last weekend and we watched it together again (saw it in the theater when it came out in February). It’s one of my favorite movies. Visually beautiful and disturbing. A really different take on classic themes. And there are points in the film that stand your hair on end. Creepy stuff that stays with you. Now if I could only get the “Other Father’s” song out of my head…
I don’t really have anything brilliant to comment at the moment, but I wanted to say re:
I should never make broad generalizations like, “I’m going to keep this blog updated from now on,” anymore.
Don’t worry: a lot of other people (myself included) suck at this blog stuff, too. There is just too damn much else to take care of all the time.
Congrats on the submission acceptances!
Thanks for the support, Kellie, and for the congratulations. It’s hard to keep a blog up, especially when you haven’t gotten it to a community level yet. Without regular visitors, the incentive isn’t there. Trying to push past that hurdle now. =)
Yeah, it can be hard feeling like you’re talking to yourself. Especially at the beginning when you’re at you’re most self-conscious about it all. People come along slowly, though — or at least, that’s what I tell myself. 🙂 Also doesn’t hurt to have friends who check in now and then.
Plus, I think blogging can be a real drag if you’re not into it. I know that’s an internet-age sacrilege, but while there are lots of people out there who enjoy it and do a kick-ass job at it and do blogging as a Thing, I also know that there are lots of people — myself included — that don’t do any of that. We blog because we feel obliged to. And that’s just no fun. I’d rather use that time and energy writing something I care about. When I have something that I want to say, it’s nice to be able to say it, of course; but posting for posting’s sake because we’re “supposed to” or because of platform-building or SEO whatchamacallit, etc.: bleh.
I get what you mean. And I appreciate you stopping by to give this newly minted version of my blog some love hehe.
I’ve blogged as a part of my job, so it’s always been difficult to separate “blogging for money” from “blogging for fun.” But I’m working on it. And I figure I’ll only blog when I have something to say, or at least something on my mind. SEO be damned! lol
don’t give up. you have a nice writing style. i have a very hard time committing to anything. especially blogging. i just wanted to see what all the fuss was about and learn something new. as an emtpy nester with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia its not like i have the most exciting life to write about. i do what i can and enjoy learning along the way. its a little push that i need.