To plot, to plan, to outline…

It’s a lovely Sunday morning, and I’m writing on my patio.  My kitties are roaming throughout the backyard while I am impatiently waiting for the coffeemaker to HURRY UP AND BREW THE COFFEE!!!

As you may be able to tell, I’m not a particularly patient person – I tend to just do things (especially when it comes to writing), versus planning, plotting, researching……which leads to a question I have for you.  Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I am a pantser – I typically get an idea, sit down, and let fly my fingers across the keys of my laptop.  Unfortunately, I discovered in November of last year (while participating in NANOWRIMO) that this process doesn’t work when it came to the novel I attempted to work on then!

The basic premise of the story is fantastic – the problem is the setting.  You see, the story needs to be set in Dublin, Ireland……and I’ve never been to Dublin, Ireland.  I don’t know the names of the roads, or any of the interesting buildings/sights one might see as they are being pursued (and need to duck into, etc.).  So, I will try my hand at outlining (and researching) for this particular novel.

I have a book to help guide me through the process…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A book to show me some visuals of Dublin…..

And a fantastic map that shows the roads, historic buildings, pubs, etc. of Dublin…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m off to begin my journey through this new “land of Oz”.  Any suggestions   you might have for me would be GREATLY appreciated!

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Friday Fictioneers – Rainbow

Good morning!  I’m running behind this week – a case of too many things to do, and not enough time in which to accomplish them!  LOL  I would love critique on this short – not my best work – I knew what I wanted to say, but the words had a difficult time going down on paper.

Upon opening his eyes, Stanley looked in awe at the rainbow that arched itself over the other end of the forest and ran down into the very trees themselves.  The forest was beautiful, and he felt so lucky to live there!

Stanley stretched his limbs, yawned, and gave himself a good shake all over.  The air was cool, and the sky a vivid blue after last night’s storm.

For one brief moment the thought occurred to Stanley that he wished he could paint the picture in front of him, wished he could capture that moment in time forever.  Then Stanley gave a small laugh.  Whoever heard of a tree being able to paint like those odd creatures called humans!

A Patio to Write In

Good morning to everyone! I am so proud of myself today. You see, I’m writing this entry from my newly cleaned, organized, and “beautified” backyard patio. I’ve always wanted a place where I could sit outside and write – and now I have one! Now, I’m not done, but I wanted to share with you what I did (and how a little planning, shopping at second hand stores, flowers, bricks, and spray paint can really help).
I live in sunny Arizona – in the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert. We get A LOT of sun – it’s something like 300 + days of sun a year. Now granted, it’s too hot in the summer to be out on the patio during the heat of the day. But I get up early enough when it’s still cool in the mornings during June, July, August, September and October to be able to take my kitties out and let them wander around the backyard while being “supervised”.

There’s always been a vague idea in the back of my mind as to what I wanted my patio to look like. Over the past six years of living in my rental house, I’ve purchased items to help me achieve the look I was going for. Unfortunately though, I don’t make a lot of money, and things seem to progress so slowly for me. Couple this lack of $$ with dealing with depression and fatigue for the past four years, being a packrat, and just generally being lazy – and what you get is a patio that is messy, cluttered (old fish tank that hasn’t been used in four years anyone?) and just plain an embarrassment!

Now, don’t call the TV show “Hoarders” on me! I’m working on getting rid of the clutter, organizing, and making my house a home I can truly be proud of.
I’ve had four of my metal chairs for literally YEARS – try about nine! I got them one at a time from different second hand and “antique” stores and paid about $75 dollars altogether for them. The bench and this chair are actually from Target. I got them on clearance at the end of the season (I think it was two years ago), and spray painted them white to go with the rest of the furniture. The two small end tables were picked up at a yard sale about ten years ago. I finally put them altogether last weekend, along with the plants & bricks I’ve bought over the past couple of years and this is the look I know have (I’m not anywhere near being finished with the patio – I still want to add more flowers, repaint the small wooden end tables, make some new outdoor pillows, and add some lighting)!

                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love my “new” patio, and am looking forward to spending mornings this summer outside while I write! It’s so soothing, and tranquil – just the thing to help me continue this journey I’m on to improve my quality of life.
What type of project have you started that makes you proud? I would love to hear about it!

100 Word Friday Fictioneer – A Poem

I actually wrote a poem this time – odd, since I can count on one hand the number of poems I’ve written in my life!  The Muse woke me up at 3am yesterday to write this.  Needless to say, I wish she would learn to TELL TIME!!!  LOL  🙂

 

In the depths of these ancient woods

While its animals are sleeping

Comes a softly lilting sound

Floating on the gentle breezes.

 

 

If your eyesight is very keen

And your step silent as the night.

You may see him in the clearing

The young man who plays his pipe.

 

 

He won’t be tall, this man in green

And looks so very young

Make no mistake though, who he is

This creature known as Puck.

Dreaming and fear

Last Sunday I talked about courage, and I had a couple of really great responses (thank you SO MUCH for responding!) Littlewonder2 said, “(I) didn’t even let people read my writing in the past, or tell them about it, so I’ve already improved”.  Yes Littlewonder2 – you have DEFINITELY improved!!!  J  One of my FB friends sent me a private message, and strongly encouraged me to follow my dreams.  She told me of the things that she had learned from me, and the things that she had witnessed my teaching to my sixth graders that went far beyond the “traditional three Rs”.  I REALLY appreciated what she said, because sometimes (at least for me) it’s hard to give myself permission to go for what I want.  Do you ever have that problem?

I grew up poor – there were times when my mother had to take commodity food just to have something for us to eat, and as a teacher I don’t make a lot of money now.  Every time I read about a teacher who makes $50,000 – $75,000 a year, I always think ‘What state do THEY work in?!?!?!’ (Obviously NOT where I live!)  The thought of not having that paycheck coming in every two weeks is frightening, but there are times when I think my current job is killing my soul.  Which is NOT a position I want to be in!

There’s a book I read this past week, it’s called “The Dip.  A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (And When To Stick)”, by the Seth Goodin.  Now it’s a little book (80 pages), and since it came out in 2007 I bought it off of Ebay.  Yes, I was looking for the cheapest price!  LOL  In a nutshell, this is a book that says there are three types of “curves” that we go through in everything during our lives.  They are:  the “dip”, the “cliff”, and the “cul-de-sac”.  Both the cliff and the cul-de-sac are dead-ends, and we need to quit them when we are able to recognize them.  The “Dip” is that lull – you know, the time after beginning to learn something new (so much fun!), but before you’ve actually mastered that thing.  According to Seth Goodin, the dip is when we need to continue on, to NOT quit, but to push on through.

After pondering the messages of the writer, and looking at my own life, I decided to go ahead and spend the money (which was SO HARD to do) to take a copywriting class.  I’ll be learning a new skill that involves writing – which I love – and might help me to come to the point where I have enough income to quit my “cul-de-sac” and, as Robert Frost says, “…take the road less traveled…”

What about you?  Are you looking to make any changes in your own life, to begin the process of following your dreams (whatever they may be)?  I would love to hear about them!  Have a wonderful Sunday.

100 Word Friday Fictioneers

A sigh was heard throughout the house.  Annabelle had seen the comings and goings of generations of the family.  She had thought she would live to see many more.  But she was old, and tired (or so they said), and no one wanted her around.  It was funny though, because Annabelle didn’t feel tired or old.  She felt like she had in 1936.

Annabelle sighed again.  Life was moving on, and she wasn’t going with it.  She had overheard Robert Junior talking to his wife (oh, how Annabelle hated that pushy woman!), and she knew that the wrecking ball would be coming for her.  Life as she knew it was over.