Filling the Well #2

EXCERPT: "Just a minute," Kotter said addressing the hood. "I can understand your concern. But Lousy Louie's name was not used in the paper. So as far as
your complaint is concerned I don't think you have a leg to stand on."
"Funny you should mention not having a leg to stand on," the hood replied.
"Because if Lousy Louie is put in dis paper again, dat's what everybody on da paper is gonna have--not a leg to stand on."
"Are you saying..." Kotter began defiantly.
"Yeah, I'm saying," the hood told him. "If Lousy Louie is in da paper again, da guys on da paper is gonna get da wrong end of da pencil."
"The eraser end?" Wahington guessed.
"You got it. Rubbed out."

Nanowrimo: Filling the Well #1

I did The Artist's Way a few years back and what has stayed with me is the idea of "filling the well". Creative people need to give themselves fuel for their fire so to speak and since I am getting into writing I took a look around the house and will be posting some of the novels that serve to fill the well for me in this moment.

Here's the first:

Excerpt: The pause was longer than usual; long enough for Donald to finish his martini and order another.

"Two at lunch?" Ann asked with raised eyebrows.
"Don't change the subject."
"But it's such a marvelous opportunity!"
"What did your dad say?"
"I haven't told him yet."
"And there," Donald said, looking like a judge too young for the bench, "is what we have to contend with. The psychological slip."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Your use of words. You said, 'I haven't told him yet.' You didn't say: I haven't asked him yet."
Ann put on her near-tears look. "You're trying to make me sound like a stubborn person! One who achieves her ends regardless of what it entails!"
Donald eyed her serenely. "What else is new?" ...
And ...

November Begins

Once again I will try to reach the magic mark of 50,000 words by the 30th of November. This year, along with my writing buddies groovypencil, tin sandwich and BaroneSpumone, I welcome Vandal Savage into our creative tidal pool. I have a plan for myself this year. Last year I just wanted to make the word count but with being in school full time and having homework I never got to the 50K mark. We'll see how it goes this time round.

End of Term - One More to Go

Franklin - As seen on the last day of my fall 2008 term.

I've never had a name for this guy and it just came to me, Franklin. So here's to Franklin in all his glory, braving the wint'ry weather on the last day of class for me in the year 2008.

As hard as this weather seems, my term was harder. I worked very hard and produced many things. I think I did good.

And besides school projects I submitted to a few "call for artists" for charity fundraisers and I managed to get my AMACO friendly plastic challenge off in time, did two craft shows and submitted work to the school's Christmas show and sale as well as make an edition of 6 etchings for the Year of the Ox exhibition at Proof Gallery in Toronto. I also joined the Nanowrimo "write a novel in a month" challenge (this means write 50,000 words) and while I had to stop by the end of the first week at 5,000 words, with a real story just beginning, my 3 other cohorts completed their word counts. Here's to Karen and Tim and Mike! Salut! I was drowning in 3 seas of work: school, ceramic studio duties and my business. Just barely stayed afloat.

At the end of all this I am burnt out.

And now, with all this time on my hands, I can't go nowheres anyway. Our local bus system is at a full stop. They are striking and without a car and without $ I'm not going anywhere. So that's how that is. I hope they return to work soon but don't expect it to happen until after the holidays. Ah well. Time to relax anyway.