Category Archives: Writing

Feb 28 2012
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Writing

Expecting Happiness

If you know me, you know that I change my mind a lot.  Here is my new, and hopefully improved, pitch for my book.  I would love to hear whether you like this one or the old one better, (see Better? post for the old version).  So far, the feedback I’ve received is that the first one was better…  I really can’t decide!  I’ve changed the working title from Six Weeks to Expecting Happiness, I also welcome thoughts there, (kind of a play on the pregnancy/family theme).

Expecting Happiness

Desire for Escape.
Desire for Adventure.
Desire for Something More…

Kristen and Jake are much like many couples in their late twenties. They were told that they could be anything they wanted when they grew up. The problem is, beside each other, they cannot figure out what they want. Somehow, they have found themselves stuck in windowless cubes, trudging to meaningless jobs, grasping for purpose. Most nights, they forget to even look at each other. However, after the loss of a pregnancy forces them to reevaluate their priorities, they decide to reclaim their childhood dreams of adventure by embarking on separate journeys. While Jake sets off across country by car, Kristen secretly chases an old flame to Europe. Both searching for something different, they find themselves on surprisingly parallel adventures that may or may not lead them back together.

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Feb 26 2012
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Life, Writing

Dark inspiration.

Before I started writing my book, a picture of a little family enjoying a picnic inspired me.  They were in a grassy field, with the slanting sunlight of late afternoon streaking the shot, shadows creeping in around the edges.  The young mother, father, and baby sat on a little blanket, seemingly happy, but also somehow deeply dissatisfied.

Pictures and music inspire me, make me want to write.
Today, I discovered a photographer whose haunting images are filling my head with new ideas.
Thanks, Mike Shaw.
Courtesy of Mike Shaw Photography
Courtesy of Mike Shaw Photography

Courtesy of Mike Shaw Photography
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Feb 22 2012
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Writing

Blog Advice… Blogvice?

I’m reading a pretty cool book, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published.  When I first heard the title from another aspiring author, I thought that it sounded useful, but bland, the last stop on my journey to finishing my book.  Instead, I’ve discovered it to be much more entertaining than I expected.  And, in exchange for purchasing the book, I now have a twenty minute “consultation” with its authors, the Book Doctors.

You would think that I would be all over this opportunity, but instead I had to talk myself into actually submitting the request.  The voice in my head kept saying, “It’s too early,” “You’re not ready to talk to anyone about your book,” “Is your book even good?” Even in a situation that has very little potential of yielding anything, I find myself afraid of failure, which is why I sucked it up, and made the appointment.  Kind of the story of my life.  Anxiety.  Suck it up and do it anyway.

One of my takeaways so far from their book is that I need to develop some sort of web presence for myself, somewhere to hang my writing hat, so to speak.  So far, my blog has just been a place where I muse about anything and everything, (happiness, travel, writing, teaching…), but they recommend limiting blog subjects to attract and maintain an audience.  I can see what they’re saying, but I also have a hard time devoting myself to just one theme… I love having a space that I can write about anything, audience or not.  And, no, a journal would not serve the same purpose!

What do you think?  You read my blog.  Would you rather I picked one theme and stuck with it?  I know that it’s a bit of a biased sampling since you’re undoubtedly reading this because you actually know me, but I am still curious of your thoughts.  Better if I only wrote about writing, traveling, teaching, or happiness?  Or, keep this blog and start another one that only has one focus for the goal of establishing myself as a writer?

***

On a random side note, and further underlining my inability to focus on just one idea, check out this movie trailer.  I found it extremely thought-provoking about the still-present need for feminism in our society.  Watch for the Fox News guy that says that women should not be president because of PMS.  He should be forced to live on an island without any women!:


Miss Representation 8 min. Trailer 8/23/11 from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

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Feb 11 2012
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Writing

Better?

As I wrote my book, I was pleased that the words poured out so easily.  Now, I feel frustrated that I cannot sum my book up into 200 words that I like!  It kind of reminds me of writing a personal statement for college.  I found that painstakingly difficult too.

Here is my most-current 200 word pitch.  As before, suggestions appreciated!

It began as just a drop.  One smooth drop of red blood running down her pale thigh.  She felt the moisture with her fingers and looked down to see the bright crimson stain emerging on the back edge of her linen skirt.  She felt an immediate wave of horror followed by, to her shock, relief.  

Losing the baby was symbolic of something greater, of letting go of a flailing dream of happiness, a jolt back to reality that something needed to change.  Instead of allowing their discontent to fester, Kristen and Jake decide to say “Fuck it all” to their meaningless jobs and sell their house to embark on individual journeys of self-discovery.  Both aware of the ambiguity of this mission, as well as the risks to their marriage, the late twenty-somethings find themselves experiencing parallel adventures.  While Jake heads off on a road trip across the country, Kristen departs for Europe, secretly intent on visiting an old flame.  Certain that there must be something better, they forsake the predictable for the unknown, escaping on journeys that may or may not bring them back together.
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Feb 09 2012
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Writing

200 Words to Sell Myself!

Oh how I love Nanowrimo… It really has changed my life, pushing me to write copiously and quickly. Today it pushed me into action with its newest challenge: pitch your book in 200 words or less. February is Pitchapolooza month and the winner gets hooked up with an intro to an agent. Now, I realize that my chances of “winning” are slim, but pitching needs to happen regardless, so this afternoon I set to work putting my book into 200 words.
I found this pretty tricky. I don’t know how much to reveal and how much to keep as vague hints about the contents of my book. The pitch that I ended up with below errs more on the vague side and I am curious of opinions. Better to give more actual details? Did I put you to sleep with not enough action and too many esoteric thoughts? Online advice was pretty slim and ranged across the board in suggestions, so I turn to you instead, my sweet little online audience. I welcome any thoughts, emailed, texted, commented, whatever. I’m not fishing for compliments, so real thoughts expressed kindly, please! Writing a pitch feels harder than writing a book! Help!

CAUTION: Before you read the revelation of my book soul, please know that the characters and experiences therein are fictional!

Attempt Numero Uno at a Pitch (And, a transforming work in progress!):
Six Weeks

At first it began as just a drop. One smooth drop of red blood running down her pale thigh. She felt the moisture with her fingers and looked down to see the bright crimson stain emerging on the back edge of her linen skirt. She felt an immediate wave of horror followed by, to her shock, relief.  

Losing the baby was symbolic of something greater, of letting go of a flailing dream of happiness, a jolt back to reality that something needed to change. Instead of allowing their discontent to fester, Kristen and Jake decide to say “Fuck it all” to their meaningless jobs and sell their house to embark on individual journeys of self-discovery. Both aware of the ambiguity of this mission, as well as the risks to their marriage, the late twenty-somethings find themselves in Europe, experiencing parallel adventures that may or may not bring them back together. Intent that there must be something better, they forsake the predictable for the unknown, trusting in themselves to manifest their own destinies on the other side of the world.
***

For some reason, that still feels off to me. Like maybe I need to give more actual pieces of what happens in the book? Or, better yet, maybe I should re-read it when I have not just spent ten hours at school!
Welcome to my brain.
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Jan 22 2012
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Life, Teaching, Writing

The Mixed Emotions of Sunday

Each week, Sunday brings mixed emotions for me.  My job as a teacher can be all-consuming, so Sunday reminds me that it’s time to gear back up and get ready for the week to come.  It requires grading, planning, and refocusing to minimize my stress during the week.  It is also the day that I visit my family and attempt to catch up on my book.  Writing is requiring a lot of patience because I have so little time to do it and so much desire to lose myself in it…  Not to mention grocery shopping or making sure that our house is clean for the week!

In short, Sunday is full.
I know that life is full too, not just Sundays, but for whatever reason Sundays often feel like the fullest day of the week.  I find myself trying to cram everything that I want to accomplish into Sundays because the week days are monopolized by teaching and Saturday is the day that I let myself relax, do less, and generally spend my time with Alex, (since it’s the only day off of the week that we share).
I want to learn how to achieve more balance while also holding onto all of my priorities.  I guess prioritizing is a part of life, I just wish that I had time for everything!  What a lovely world it would be if I could get everything done that I need to be a good teacher, have plenty of time to write my book, keep a clean house, get enough exercise, and still have enough time for my friends, family, and Alex.  I can’t even imagine what it feels like when you add children into the equation.  I guess your priorities shift.  
For now I just want to figure out how to fit all of my priorities into the picture!  I think that is why Sunday is bittersweet for me; I have so many things that I want to do with this one precious day and only 12 hours or so to do them!  I’m sure that there is some Zen teaching that would help me about now, but no time to look– happily off to the next Sunday priority but also sad to be putting my writing away for the day!
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Jan 03 2012
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Writing

I wrote a book! A book, I tell you!

I just finished the first draft of my first book!  Those firsts are important, I have a lot of editing, revising, and augmenting to do, but it’s still a pretty darn cool feeling to have a complete story at my finger tips!  Calling it my first book is also key, because regardless of what happens to this one, I’m determined that it will not be my last attempt.

So, blog world, here is my new goal:  An edited, revised, and slightly longer version ready for marketing by summer 2012!

Btw, do you know any book agents?

Just thought I’d ask.  😉

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Dec 27 2011
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Writing

40,082 Words!

I met my goal for the new year!  Well, my revised goal… Tonight I surpassed 40,000 words!  I’m going to do this– I’m going to finish a book!  Whether or not it is any good, that’s a whole other issue, but, not my current concern!

Only 10,000 to 20,000 more words to go!

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Dec 20 2011
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Writing

31,128 words…

I just hit 31,128 words, which means that I’m more than half way through my book!  Realistically, I expect my finished product to be somewhere around 60,000 words or 200-240 pages.  The more I write, the more I am becoming fascinated with how writing changes the way that I see the world around me.  
Lately, sitting in crowded rooms has left me quietly observing, listening, thinking of how I would describe the scene and people around me with words.  Reading books and watching movies has left me taking notes about how story tellers cut scenes and purposely leave things out.  Looking at pictures and listening to songs have in turn given me unexpected inspiration, helping me to fill in dead ends and set the tone.  It is funny how ideas surround us if we stop to look and listen.
It’s fun to find our passions, I think that I’ve found one of mine, (regardless of how it works out).
On a less-related note, here are three pictures that I want to share of my December so far:
Reluctant Friends

Modern Solitude

Candy Land!
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Nov 30 2011
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Writing

22,222 words

I hit 22,222 words this evening.  Not bad for a month where I still worked pretty darn hard doing my day job.  My goal is now a whole book by 1/1/12, (or at least a whole draft).  Maybe I’ll actually get to cross something cool off of my New Year’s resolutions for 2011!

At some point in my life, it is now my goal to be a full-time writer, (and not one that writes economic reports…been there, done that!).  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

It’s fun to dream and even more fun to take real steps toward achieving that dream.

Thank you for the inspiration nanowrimo.

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Nov 20 2011
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Writing

Abandoned Blogs

When I started blogging back in July, I had trouble finding a blog url that was not taken.  I eventually settled on a truncated version of today is the best day of my life, todaybestlife.  Adequate, but not my first choice, it reminds me more of a segment on Good Morning America than the place where I keep my musings on life.

Tempted to find myself a different url, I tried typing in some of the prefixes that I like and discovered a veritable graveyard of abandoned blogs.  I find this irritating to discover that so many good blog names are wasted, but also fascinating, like stumbling across forgotten time capsules.  The first one I tried had been abandoned for nearly ten years!  I did not even know what a blog was in 2002.  I was a senior in high school.

http://luckylife.blogspot.com/

Amused, I tried two more, which also proved abandoned.  It makes me wonder how many are out there.  Millions, I suspect.  I invite you to try your own favorite prefixes and see what you get.  I was hoping to stumble across like-minded blogs that maybe I’d like to follow.  Instead, I found abandoned blog after abandoned blog, reminding me of how often we start projects and quickly lose interest.

This one was actually the most interesting to me:

http://luckyday.blogspot.com/

Someone started a luckiness experiment involving a crucifix and disappeared from the blog world after merely four days.  Outcome unlucky, perhaps?  I know, I know, my insinuation is creepy and unwarranted, I apologize.

At any rate, peeking into other people’s abandoned blog projects is an interesting reflection on human nature and life in general.  May we all find projects that keep us happy and engaged!

Happy Sunday!

PS.  I think this is becoming an obsession, almost every blog prefix I try is abandoned…

olivia.blogspot.com
(my last name).blogspot.com (trying to protect my identity a little bit 😉
oliviaelizabeth.blogspot.com
wanderlust.blogspot.com
happylife.blogspot.com
happynow.blogspot.com
luckyheart.blogspot.com
The
List
Goes
On
And
On

So far, of all the prefixes I’ve tried, only one has led to an active blog.  Maybe dead blogs should have a shelf life and then be thrown out so that others may claim their names?!

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Nov 05 2011
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Writing

5,827 words…

Wow.  I wish I had more time to write.  This week has forced out more writing than my six weeks of summer vacation.  I really think that the difference is writing without looking back instead of losing my energy worrying about word choice and reviewing each small piece over and over.  Maybe the writing is better that way, but it does not matter if it keeps me from ever finishing.  I’m excited that I’m actually making slow but steady progress forward.

Since I know that you’re enthralled by my progress, you can track me here:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/todaybestlife

If nothing else, holding myself publicly accountable is just one more step toward finishing a whole book.  I may not make it to 50,000 words in a month, but if I make it to 30,000 words, I’ll be more than pleased!

Happy Saturday!

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