In Which the Black Dragon Comes South, and Havoc Ensues
Actually, spanokopita and scarecrows ensued, but that doesn't sound nearly as impressive (though it does have a nice alliterative ring to it). And this post is not primarily about the Black Dragon. (So far, I'm not sure it's about much of anything, besides unnecessary parentheticals.) I just wanted to use that as a title of something, because I like the way it sounds. She did come south, though. This was a good and joyful thing, and is well-documented on facebook. Her visit was notable for many reasons, including the afore-mentioned spanokopita and scarecrows (as well as the unmentioned and decidedly unimpressive Macaroni-Masquerading-as-Exotic-Greek-Cuisine), and its only fault* (besides the macaroni) was its unavoidable brevity.
A few weeks later, I'm rejoicing in almost-autumn weather (the leaves have changed, finally, but I'm still wearing short sleeves), and trying to hatch plots to visit all my scattered friends: the Black Dragon's visit has reminded me how much I miss them. So far, these plots are insubstantial and hypothetical, but hopefully some of them will materialize. (I'm also trying to come up with a scenario which would allow me to be in Oxford and Santa Fe simultaneously. Pretty sure that's an exercise in fruitlessness . . . but right now it seems easier than choosing between an amazing three-week study-abroad opportunity and the Glen Workshop. Besides, it would be a fascinating cultural experience.)
I thought about trying NaNoWriMo this year; I have a new novel idea, which is mostly outlined. But unfortunately I sketched out a few scenes back in September, when the idea struck--which means I would have had to come up with another idea. So instead I'm resolving to spend November seriously revising the novel I finished** back in May.
Of course, I'm starting almost a week into November, which is not ideal--but I need some kind of deadline. The whole thing is kind of a tangled mess right now, and if I let it sit much longer I'll never be able to untangle it. I'm thinking I'll try for a minimum of 1,000 words a day . . . which would get me through 24,000 words by the end of the month. It's half the word-count for official NaNoWriMo (am I spelling that right?)--but revising/rewriting is an inherently slower process than the intitial writing. (For me, anyway; others may write more slowly to begin with, and have less of a mess on their hands afterwards.)
Anyhow, that's the goal. I'll try to post on my progress; should help me stick to it, and also breathe some life back into this poor neglected blog of mine.
*(The visit's faults are not to be confused with my faults--the worst of which, at the moment, appears to be the overuse of parentheses. I find them terribly addictive.)
**I use this word pretty loosely (there's so much more to life than words . . .)
A few weeks later, I'm rejoicing in almost-autumn weather (the leaves have changed, finally, but I'm still wearing short sleeves), and trying to hatch plots to visit all my scattered friends: the Black Dragon's visit has reminded me how much I miss them. So far, these plots are insubstantial and hypothetical, but hopefully some of them will materialize. (I'm also trying to come up with a scenario which would allow me to be in Oxford and Santa Fe simultaneously. Pretty sure that's an exercise in fruitlessness . . . but right now it seems easier than choosing between an amazing three-week study-abroad opportunity and the Glen Workshop. Besides, it would be a fascinating cultural experience.)
I thought about trying NaNoWriMo this year; I have a new novel idea, which is mostly outlined. But unfortunately I sketched out a few scenes back in September, when the idea struck--which means I would have had to come up with another idea. So instead I'm resolving to spend November seriously revising the novel I finished** back in May.
Of course, I'm starting almost a week into November, which is not ideal--but I need some kind of deadline. The whole thing is kind of a tangled mess right now, and if I let it sit much longer I'll never be able to untangle it. I'm thinking I'll try for a minimum of 1,000 words a day . . . which would get me through 24,000 words by the end of the month. It's half the word-count for official NaNoWriMo (am I spelling that right?)--but revising/rewriting is an inherently slower process than the intitial writing. (For me, anyway; others may write more slowly to begin with, and have less of a mess on their hands afterwards.)
Anyhow, that's the goal. I'll try to post on my progress; should help me stick to it, and also breathe some life back into this poor neglected blog of mine.
*(The visit's faults are not to be confused with my faults--the worst of which, at the moment, appears to be the overuse of parentheses. I find them terribly addictive.)
**I use this word pretty loosely (there's so much more to life than words . . .)
Labels: Dragons, novel-writing, parentheticals, resolutions, spanokopita
posted by erendis nasard at 10:08 PM
8 Comments:
Aww, lookit you blogging again. :) I'm a regular again, you should be too! PS who came to visit you and what the HAYELL is spanikopita?
sounds like fun times. I agree with Alice, blog more more more more. I might even start up again. maybe. if I take my blog *off* facebook (and the eyes of the freakin' world) and figure out how summarize, like, this entire year.
also, lookin' forward to you coming to visit, assuming you still are!!
She lives! She blogs! She's living, blogging fiend!
Sorry. That was random and odd...
I need to go back and look for your paper on what's-his-name, thinking of your need for editing...
Almost fall weather... hahaha... we had a snow day! In October! That is highly unsual, but it did destroy most of the fall leaves up on the mountain. Down in the valleys it still looks like fall.
Wow, lots of comments. I shall attempt to respond in an orderly fashion.
entorin: Spanakopita is a Greek pastry with spinach and feta cheese inside. Quite tasty. (Also fun to say.) And my visitor, as I believe I mentioned, was the one-and-only Black Dragon.
prof. glim: Yes, still visiting.
wileyman: It's quite all right--I expect you to be randomly odd. ;-)
gratia: Abelard?
ros: Sigh. I miss snow days . . . But I like still having leaves. :-)
I really enjoy reading your posts from here in Italy and I've been happy, today, to find something new...so blog again and often :-)
By the way: I love food, but the spanikopita was still missing on my table.
Havoc could ensue with former Darkforest Denizens too... (more alliteration!). Gabi and I are right next to each other in Arlington and Alexandria, respectively. If you ever feel like popping up north for a spell....
I have fond memories of the night you wrote the Abelard paper as we bemoaned our paper-less fate. Once Ken resurrects my recalcitrant lappy I'll have to read it again. It might ALMOST make me sort of wish that I was kind of still in school, but it's more likely just to make me miss you.
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