Aisley Crosse

Lately I've had more attraction to the thought of writing than the actual process. I'm not sure why but I think it has something to do with all of the distractions (if you see my latest buys (bones, rubicks cube, books and so forth) you'll understand why) but as I sit here tonight, staring at the screen, I find myself fearing the reread and the urge to revise. I think the not typing is my attempt to stave off the inner editor and this makes me frustrated and wanting to write anyways but I fear messing it up... Argh, damn circle.
I'm going to take some time, recoil a bit and worry about Keys tomorrow when I can stress over a word count (right now I'm operating in wordpad) sound good?

I have been doing a lot of longhand writing lately and it's really working out, but once I get going I find myself wishing I was typing rather than writing by hand and next thing you know the rest of the house is sleeping except me who is endevouring to find a working laptop so I don't kill the steam. But in the end I'm deflated and thinking I should have used my voice recording software to keep that oh so perfect sentence structure. Ah well, I'll just have to do it all over again. And so I've spent the morning writing and will continue to do so after some Xmas shopping. 

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Today is a calm day, well, not if you are standing in line waiting for Hedley to show (which I'm not but did briefly consider doing so) but otherwise, it's calm and I'm spending the day prepping to sprint with Keys tonight. I want to work for hours on end, right after I catch up with Glee.

Actually, I also saw two episodes of Dollhouse last night and was really drawn in, no more movies on friday nights thats for sure!

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I had a minor freak out earlier when all of my notes disappeared from my phone. Turned out the app just got moved, and all was well. I've been working on my new short there and to have it gone would have been baaad.

Posting from phone again though the typing is getting better so I am left to presume that any errors are the fault of my spellcheck trying to oppress my genuis, lol.

In the meantime I am working on a new short and it creeps me out, which I take to be a good thing. Also, the Writer's Digest contest has extended it's deadline to the 10th which gives me more tome to consider entering. I wanted to but not if I know the story isn't as strong as it could be. I've come a far way from wanting to enter three.

And now, I return to my venti apple cider (haha, yes laugh away Chris) an my notepad on an attempt to give myself day dream nightmares.

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I was flattered the other day when someone commented on the quality of writing in my blog, then, they compared it to Keys and somehow it's ended up with me choosing to take a different approach - why, you ask? Because, (I agree with them.)

Meet Russtifer, and my copy of the Polar Expressions book (he came with it). That paper there marks my page and while I didn't make the top ten like I hoped, I am filled with this awesome feeling. Scent of Lavender is a huge improvement on the story from the year before, it marks my entry into a specific sort of human relationships and it suits the word count limit. It's a huge leap from Tope, and even if I do have some small edits I'd like to make, I'm proud of those words, however few they are.

Just checking in. I have some short story theory work to complete as well as the drafting for a new scene in the first chapter of Keys. I read an article today, you can find the link on my Twitter, about writers and their processes and I always find these mesmerizing. It's one thing to know what works for you but to see how other people, how successful people work is always something I find interesting. In the end a person's process is as indvidual as they are, but there is just something about the way a person is programmed that always pulls me in.

If there are spelling errors please forgive me today, I'm on my phone and well the screen isn't exactly what I'm used to.

Anyways a little more time for work and then I have to go sort out the food drive boxes. Have a good day everyone!

Today's been a crazy one, I did my "week so far report" this morning then spent the rest of the morning watching Star Trek. People said it was a great movie but I didn't believe them until I was five minutes from the end begging for more. And believe me, watching it again (even with commentary,) just isn't the same. And eventually I returned to my Keys notes (made more, reviewed), played Sudoku, finished TMA (although I took a part out and am wondering if I should have left it in -- will decide after I get some feedback) and am headed now to finish composing a DII crit to be uploaded in the morning, work on Scene three of Keys, read over The Photo Shoot and somehow end up at work on time.

Wish me luck.

Oh, and on top of this all, someone on my UK feminism list has been advocating for the exclusion (and justifying violence against) trans women and sex workers. Way to light a flame! So all morning my phone's been ringing off with email, I even jumped in at one point to support another woman and ... well, it's been fun. Every time I check my email there's ten new messages.

Last night I wrote a great reflection on my current progress with Keys and TMA (which *still* isn't done, aargh. However, it is far closer to being done, and the feedback only gets sweeter) but as you can see *eyes lj suspiciously* it was never posted. And so, I digress.

Keys - I've spent most of the week working on theory, plot notes, character maps and so forth. I've been lucky in my long hand drafting to be able and explore the scene though I would be more comfortable with the words had I been able to transcribe them this morning. Maybe I'll start before I leave and finish tonight.

TMA - I spent Monday working on this, voice recording each section as I revised to a) see how it sounds and flows, b) to find awkward sentences and come up with "on the spot" fixes which are recorded so I can add them in, and c) just because I can. I had an old tape recorder for college but it was never so nicely organized, there is something about digital that I love. I also sent the draft out to some critters who *AHEM* have still to get back to me.

Last night I wrote ten pages long hand, and it would seem, as I flip through them, I can still read the handwriting. Excellent! Well, you know where to find me!

<3

That's the title of my new short story. I say new because it's been completely rewritten, and I think one of my strongest thus far. Stronger perhaps that The Photo Shoot for those who read it. I'm working on edits now, wish me luck.

Today I also found a couple interesting magazines. This month's edition of Poets&Writers look interesting as does WLT (World Literature Today) which has a focus on writers who have fought oppression, been imprisioned and forcibly silenced. So, after edits and a quick read I'm going to take a look at those, read my book and go to bed.

Now, I'm off to find tylenol (eye headaches lately) and get some work done!

<3

I ordered my Polar Expressions books today, missed the free shipping deadline, but that's okay. I'm happy I got that out of the way, now even if I do win a copy of the book I'll have one anyways and it will come before Christmas.

I woke up at 5 today, started writing and since then have alternated between writing and reading. I'm not incredibly happy with the writing though. I have no patience though I am well aware that these scenes should be stretched out, they're moving to fast because I have nothing to day and then when I do have something I jump through it. So yes, that needs work. In the mean time, I'm off. I have a short story to complete today and some new software to try out with it.

:)

This weekend's to-do list;

to do
- 2 500 words (any word counts from any writing, rewriting, editing, etc.)
- at least two rewritten stories for the Dec. 1 deadline


... no more dizziness.

aka_centimetre2 did a meme. Cause and effect, yes? So those are her questions below... and my anwsers!

Leave me a comment saying "Resistance is Futile." (not necessary, and commenters will be pounced upon)
• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity.
• Update your journal with the answers to the questions.
• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions.

1. What are your goals as a writer? Does it already fulfill you personally, or do you want to go serious/professional/published with it?
-- I want to see where I can go with it, and if I can be happy there. I've been writing since I "made up" (by that I mean combined two fairy tales to make a better one) a story in grade two and had it "published" (by that I mean laminated and typed). Otherwise all of those math class spent finishing "novels" for my friends would go to waste -- that was most of my highschool math classes.

2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
-- Somewhere with history, though I'd miss Canada sorely. I want cobblestone streets, houses from the 1800s and the knowledge that something more than my presence has taken place here. (Somewhere in Europe -- to be decided after a tour.)

3. I know that you love learning new things. What was your biggest interest in school, and has it changed over the years?
-- In highschool? It was probably *thinking* my own mind. I went to school for the classes, I just loved learning. One of my favourite was World Religions - which was a new course in my last year. It wasn't until my second year of college that I became so fascinated with history. And even then I didn't want a text book written by the government, we read the biographies, the diaries and memoirs. No, it's not the dates, times and places I want to know, it's the human experience because that is what shapes our world.

4. What's your favorite book in terms of just having a good read, not looking at the writing?
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Loved it, couldn't put it down and when my mind goes back there I'm sucked into a world of wonder. (It was also very well written :P)

5. WHY AREN'T YOU DOING NANO, WOMAN? *G*
Because I need a good kick in the pants, more time, and a jodi picoult kind of plot ;)

You know when you're waiting in the drive through, ready to order a bagel and an ice cap, then suddenly you change your order to a ham and swiss with honey mustard and a bottle of water? Yes? No? Either way, that's me right now, actually, that was me yesterday too. But with Nanowrimo already started I'm still not 100% sure I want to be left on the sidelines, cheering on others. My head is showing me how much of a good thing the 50k dive is, but at the same time I have enough reasons to not participate and complete novel #2 on my own time...

Either way, this much is true: if I don't have a good lit fic. plot you'll be stuck with my short story, essay and Keys revision word counts for the month of November, and with those I make no promises. (Maybe if it gets really low I'll include some crit word counts as well, haha.)

I do recognize that my writing routine has changed, in fact, most of the writing I do now is long hand and waits to be transcribed, but my first day off for two weeks is tomorrow and I need new black pants. Do you see how this works? Writing isn't about finding time, it's about making it, so it's time I got out my magic cauldron.

Happy Nanowrimo kick off day! I hope all the wrimo's on my list are feeling the pressure. I, on the other hand, am still wondering what I'm going to work on. I decided against Mixed Breed and am opting for another Lit Fic if I do decide to attempt the 50k. It's great because you get the words down, you get into the plot, you're moving and you come out with just enough left to do on your own, but do I have a plot? I've yet to decide. So, in the meantime I'm going to collect my word counts to put towards my groups so that I do help out team Erato somehow. 

So here is to a month of intense scribbling, brainstorming and mid-night plotting! Have fun ;)

Yesterday I redid some of Keys chapter two, rearranged an older short story and came out with a better one though the ending needs work. I also found some time to write a narrative essay though I didn't know what I was doing so it could be something else entirely... Anywho, off to work now before my dreams lure me back to sleep.

Oh, and I bought new books, I like buying new books... :)

I caught up on my magazines today -- luckily they were all free (yes, I have my ways). So tonight, if I don't decide to work on expanding scenes in Chapter two of Keys, you know where to find me, and if I'm not there I'm watching Cake Boss. :)