A Quixotic Poetry Challenge

Quixotic (adjective)
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.
2. extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
3.impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.

This one is for Morgan Dragonwillow. I wrote a acrostic with rhythm, inspired by Cervantes' own hero Don Quixote. In romantic flair and passions alive, I give to today's challenge. I also used my favourite word ever. It was hard as I had to use Q and X. Love a challenge do I.

Love So Strong, Will Not Bend

Quietly the sun sets upon the long days
Under the shadows that now begin to sway
I find that within expansive minds, enamoured I'm lost within
Xeric lands of Saharan or Kalahari looking  for of that I had sinned.
Of the darkness and the arid winds that have blown
Traveling to the last point known
I can still see you from afar
Crossing the expanses that between us bar.

Post Thanksgiving Progress

Today's been a quiet day and the end of November. NaNoWriMo will be over in 5 hours and I am done. Well, I still have a bit more to write, but I hit 50393 words on Friday. It was the first time that I finished NaNo early.

It was very exciting to hit the 50000+ mark on November 29th! There was much happy dancing and back patting. So, I sat back and enjoyed visiting with my Dad and Aunt. Have some exciting this weekend, see below for greater details.

It'll be December tomorrow, the year is winding down and feeling good. Yet,  I am really surprised that the year has gone as fast as it has. I've been busy, maybe busier than normal. 2014 I keep busy. But, when I look back on it I am pleased with myself and how much I have accomplished. Much more to be done though; writing and editing and then get the writing out there, but it's been a grand ride overall.

Now, I have decorating to do, holiday specials to watch, yuletide cards to make/send, shopping/wrapping to do, and love to spread. It's been a good year.

The holidays used to make me grumpy. I had a few bad years some time ago, but over the last couple I have  found my happy, been inspired, found a good group of people to love and be loved me, and make my life something to be proud of. I spread the love, even when the world hands me lemons, I will persevere.

Get ready to enjoy my tribute to December as I make holiday magic in theatre and with words, Dear Readers. I have some new ideas for blogs and stories. I will find a way to fit them into the month. I always do.


This week:
     *Writing: wrote over 4000 words on Friday. Completed NaNoWriMo, The Real Road Trip. Also this The Real Road Trip. And for a LONG TERM GOAL, I want to work on Tale of Memories and All of Those Goodbyes, my past NaNo novels, 2011 and 2013. Not expecting work on those until Spring at the earliest. 
weekend I met with Allison, my friend from way back, fellow writer, and NaNoWriMo writer angelgal3276 (on twitter) and hashed out some details about my novel that I will work on with my January revisions. In January, between rehearsal for CSCT's spring show, Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap and surviving the winter, I will be revising
      *Reading: plugging through MaddAddam (Margaret Atwood) and The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer). I read Friday for a bit, but nothing else. Will pick back up on reading either before bed tonight or in the morning.

There really wasn't much going on this weekend, just traveling to Fredonia and eating turkey (actually Cornish game hens) at my Dad's with my aunt. It was a quiet and restful weekend.

To work on this week (Now that I have SOME more free time):
       *Editing: working on editing The Audition. Finally. I will have some time to look at this. Felt bad that this got pushed on the back burn, but time weight for no NaNo.
       *Submitting: 3 submissions this week.
       *Visiting: get back into 3 to 4 blog visits per day .
       *Theatre Stuffs: Working on the H'port Xmas show (in 2 weeks), Holiday Improv in Watkins on Friday, and begin to gather my Mousetrap audition materials for auditions in 2 weeks. Whatever doesn't kill me, right? :-)
      *Blogging: once a week (in addition to Round of Words updates). I like the ROW80 check-in, keeps me in line and connects  me to others.

Pile o' Reindeer

The holidays are coming and Xmas is beginning to throw up all over the Scott Household. Come over and visit the Round of Words in 80 Days Blog Hop. Come and meet some new friends and learn about things and stuff. Good times!!

Xmas Mantle

Merry Christmas, Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, and warm wished to all!! 

Almost missed Wednesday...

Yeah, I am writing this at 11:49 pm EST. I seem to have forgotten A Round of Words in 80 Days, a Blog

Hop. Going to get this clocked in before midnight. It's been a week. Yes, a week! I started getting the H'port Xmas Show together with Sara and David (goes up December 13th). I met with my set designer, I have my audition dates for The Mousetrap (December 14th, 15th, and 16th) and show dates now. So happy to do directing another show. Improv show to be built in the coming days (goes up December 5th). Again, this is what I do.

I have been going since the beginning of the year with theatre projects. And then there are the writing projects. Yeah, I'm crazy, but it's what I do.

This week:
     *Writing: been keeping pace with NaNoWriMo. I'm at 43,377 words. The story feels reals and maybe a little autobiographical in parts. I guess that happened sometimes.
     *Reading: I finished The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood) and started MaddAddam (also Margaret Atwood). I am so hooked. The books are good, that is all I can say. There is a realism and a truthfulness to the present world in them that is scary, but intriguing.
   
To work on:
     *Writing: finish NaNo Novel, Road Trip. Write a new short story, one seems to be brewing. Write some for the Xmas Show.
     *Blogging: been slack on these, hoping to dedicate more time to this next week.
     *Reading: Finish MaddAddam before The Mousetrap auditions and The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer).
      *Editing: work on The Audition re-write.
      *Submitting: Get on this for next week.

It's been a busy week, some stuff fell to the back burner, while others were the focal point. I feel good overall. Theatre was created last week, more to be birthed in the coming weeks. A road trip to visit my Dad and Aunt this week (after working Black Friday, it'll be slow, trust me I don't work retail). Christmas is soon! Wow, the year 2014 is over, well almost over. Time to make the lat of it as awesome as the rest of it.

Have a fantastic week, Dear Readers!

Sunday it is...

Having one of those days, really bad headache and feeling generally icky, but still I persevere

Yesterday was the Hammondsport edition of 24 Hour Theatre. We had a great crowd of about twenty people. They are active and engaging, which is a great feeling to hear people who are responsive. The writers wrote some incredible works and the actors made them come to life. A good time for all.

Of course, while writing this I got another rejection letter for some of my poetry. It's a journal I have submitted to before. They give constructive critiques of my submissions. That is good, but I still feel like I am missing something. I thought I was getting better with my poetry. I know, I should take it hard. Most places don't give input on why they didn't choose my work. I am mostly being hard on myself. I just need to keep trying and keep the advise and input in mind when I submit works.

So, that happened.

This week:
      *Theatre: I directed and starred in one show, also hoad a small cameo in anther show for 24 Hour Theatre.
      *Writing: caught up on NaNo Novel, Road Trip Friday, almost 5000 words in one day. I didn't write yesterday because of 24 Hour Threatre, but I have clocked 1721 words today. Will catch up tomorrow morning. Feeling novel swinging into the homestretch. NaNoWriMo: draconicwitch (if you want to add me)
      *Reading: The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood) I can't put it down, will probably have it done by Thanksgiving. The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer), I am enjoying this immensely, with her truths and humour.
       *Submitting: two poems submitted to a local calendar contest for the Friends of the Chemung Watershed. Deadline  is December 1st. I won't know about this until much later, but I am pleased with the poems and myself for trying.

This week To Do:
       *Writing: Continue to catch up and stay caught up with NaNo.
       *H'port Xmas show begins to organize this week, so writing will be on and off for this project based on what idea (there are three working concepts to choose from) is chosen.
       *Submitting: want to keep this at three per week.
       *Reading: finish The Year of the Flood and start MaddAddam (Margaret Atwood).

A Round of Words is a Blog Hop. Come and visit with other writers/bloggers.

Have a great week, Dear Readers! :-)

Quietly Positive and Epic

It's funny how when you finally open yourself up to other writers, it not as painful. I guess I was always worried about receiving criticism, whether constructive or not. OctPoWriMo gave me a chance to share my words, my poetry, and my writing with like minded people. Now it's NaNoWriMo! Writing unleashed.

I have seen a good many ROW80-ers and other fellow blogger posting WIP snippets, and I figured since I am NaNo-ing and ROW80-ing that I would post a snippet. It's nice to get honest criticism on something you are working on. Thank you to Beth Camp, Denise D. Young, and Shan Jeniah Burton for a bit o' insight, go and check them out.

I feel rejuvenated. I think I will be posting more snippets.

Anywhoo, onto the ROW80 update. It's been a fairly  quiet and productive week. The day job is slowing down and my winter theatre projects are not happening yet, just some prep work for the Improv show and Mousetrap auditions. More theatre stuff happening in December. this week is also the 2nd of KLP's 24 Hour Theatre events. Theatre created in 24 hours. I am not writing this time, which is fine, I like a break. Not that NaNo gives me much of a break. It's also what I do! Will be directing and acting this Saturday, in between writing, writing, and more writing. :-)

ALLONS-Y!

This week:
      *Writing: I am please with the progress on Road Trip, although the title is less about the actual road trip, but a new title is being elusive. I am still behind on my word count, but making my way long the path of the writer and NaNo-Land. I did surpass 25,000 words. So, that is something. Last years novel practically wrote itself, this year has not been linear. It has been very Wibbley Wobbley (it's a Whovian thing).
      *Submitting: last night I managed to submit Crying Mascara to 2 journals. I think another edit is do. But, am still trying with the current version.
      *Reading: I am plowing through The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood). I am hooked. Every available time I am devoting to it. Working my way through The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer) as well.
      *Social Media/Visiting: am back to my 3 to 4 blogs visits and keeping up with Twitter/Facebook.

Goals:
      *Writing: get caught up on NaNo word count.
      *Submitting: submit to at least one more journal this week.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a Blog Hop where you can meet other like minded and fun people and their works. Stop by for a visit!

Some working music from my little radio.

One Lovely Blog Award

I do love when when people who have read my blog and have enjoyed the reading of my blog. I love comments on my random commentary, reviews, and interviews. And then sometimes a reader and friend surprises me with an award. I just got nominated for the A Lovely Blog Award, by Jessica Scott a lovely poetess and writer. Thank you, Milady! She challenged me to give 7 unique facts about myself and nominate some fellow bloggers.

Some of you, Dear Readers, might already know some of these facts, but others will not. I will try to fine super, ultra special facts. Here it goes:

      1. My parents named me after Cindy Lou Who. Not joking. My full name is Cynthia Louise. Of course they were also thinking Margaret Marie, Cynthia Marie, or Margaret Louise.

      2.  I love writing poetry in forms, anything from sonnets, pantoums, villianelles, tri-falls. The more obscure the better. I used to prefer free form/free verse in high school, now it's all about the haiku and the sonnets.

      3.  I have read almost all of the Dragonriders of Pern and various other Pern by Anne McCaffrey. Well, I have read all the Anne McCaffrey books, I need to catch up on the Todd McCaffrey books. I have every book, including the hard to fin Atlas of Pern. I am such a big fan that in the Dragon Lovers Guide to Pern I made the recipe for Bubbly Pies.

      4.  I am pagan. I follow a solitary path, but love to interact with fellow pagans, witches, heathens, Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc. I like a good discussion on belief and faith, but I LOATHE just mean rants.

      5.  I have not seen the movie White Christmas and it was only last year that I watched It's a Wonderful Life, but I also watch A Charlie Brown Christmas every year. Other favourite Christmas specials include Olive, the Other Reindeer, A Wish for Wings the Work, and George and the Christmas Star.

       6. My dream roles to play on stage, Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Magenta in A Rocky Horror Show, and Lady MacBeth in MacBeth.

       7.  I enjoy watching My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I am Twilight Sparkle.

I nominate:
        * Through a Butterflies Eyes

        *Julie Anne Lindsay

        *Urban Corning

        *Allison Lawson - Because she need positive reinforcement.

        *Beth Camp

Good Week, Productive Week

Been a pretty great weekend over all! Got to see some friends perform their little hearts out. The students of Corning Community College theatre company, "Muse Afire" did a fantastic production of Jekyll and Hyde. The young man who played Jekyll/Hyde, wow, the dedication and the work on the Confrontation number, it was pretty awesome. Everyone was amazing and I am very proud of my young friends who got to perform is such a show. Also, there was Centre Stage Community Theatre production of A Delicate Balance. While not what I was expecting-I found it a bit wordy-but the cast pulled it off. They were what made the show for me. Very proud of my friend Dale, who has grown since doing the Odd Couple, many moons ago (2009, I think). He has grown as an actor, playing Tobias I was floored by his portrayal. This is why I do and am part of community theatre. I love to get the chance to see people shine and to  help people shine.

Cheers to the casts of Jekyll and Hyde and A Delicate Balance.

Remember to my NaNoWriMo novel...

This week have found me catch up on a lot of things, and after a full weekend last weekend, I really need to.Road Trip. Here's a bit of what I wrote today. Pretty pleased with the stories progress. Was worried that I would run out of story before 50K, but still going strong, just behind. Write  1,854 words today. Road Trip is the working title, that might change.

 I have spend a better part of the day cleaning my house and writing for my NaNoWriMo novel,

“I know we are late Mar.” She was juggling her purse and a plat e of cookies. “I was trying to rush. I had to finish your father his favourite cookies.” Marcie nodded. “I thought I would ask if he could have one tonight, as a treat.”

The two of them struggled out of the elevator and down the hall to the hospice wing. Marcie was carrying some flowers from Martin’s co-workers, they had stopped by earlier to give Sophia and Marcie the flowers. It had sent Marcie’s mother over the edge for twenty minute, adding to their lateness. She was also carrying, her bookbag, and an umbrella. It was a mess and very rainy, also making them late.

Marcie knew what waited for her, while her mother was blissfully unaware. And that made it harder somehow.

“Where are you going?” called a nurse at the nurse’s station. Sophia stopped and turned, no one had stopped her before. They always had let her go back to Martin’s room. She must have been new, her grey hair pinned back, making her wrinkled skin stretch across her face like a shrunken head.

“Just going to Martin LaCroix’s room, we brought him some cookies.” She smiled and held out the tray, offering her a cookie.

“Sorry, but you cannot go back there. Martin has been moved.” The lines on the old nurse face criss-crossed and made her look trollish and mean.

“Moved? Did something happen? Is his in ICU?” The look of worry to panic crossed Sophia’s face.

“No. He passed last night. Sometime after you and your daughter left.” The wrinkles made the word tumble out and fall to the floor of the nurse’s station. “Sorry for your loss…” but the words just blurred together. Sophia started to cry and Marcie just felt numb. Her mother stumbled down the hall to the nearest waiting room chair.

This week:

     *Reading: Finished Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood), started The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood), been working on The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer).

     *Writing: I have hit the daily goal of 1667 words a day since Wednesday. Still behind where I should be, but I am continuing. I am going to hit 50k and by months end, by Hell or High Water. Total word count: 22,179

.    

To continue work on:

     *Editing: since I am getting in a more consistent writing rhythm, I am going to work on The Audition this week. My slightly on the back burner 1 act. Maybe only a little, but I am going to return to it. I want a finished re-draft by rounds end.

     *Blogging: with some more brain power returning, I am going to make this a priority this week. I have a 'One Lovely Blog" award to respond to, complements of the beautiful and talented Jessica Scott.

    *Submitting: this is also on the docket for this week. A solemn promise to get 3 out this week.

I'm participating in A Round of Word sin 80 Days. Check out the Blog Hop to see what us writers/bloggers are up to. I am getting back on the horse, bike, roller skates and getting back on  track. What a ride this Round. How are your goals, Dear Readers (if you are doing AROW80, or not)? What's on the agenda this week?

Been on a Roy Orbison kick lately. One of my favourites. Enjoy!

Amanda Palmer and Adventures with Amy

I had an experience Monday night. It was a vastly good and awesome one.

Road Trip are cool.

I traveled with one of my best friends in college all the way to Cambridge, MA to see Amanda Palmer at her BIG release party of her new book, The Art of Asking. It was a midnight event, starting with the meet-up at Harvard Square and the mini concert she gave, then the march to Porter Square Books, where there was another mini book reading/concert, followed by the wait in line to get and met her in person (with autographs).

Amy and her Ukelele(signed by Amanda and Neil! (SQUEE)

Not having been to something like this before, and only just recently gotten into Amanda music, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleased and surprised. Amanda is awesome. She is someone I would like to sit down and have lunch with, shoot the shit with.

I also didn't know anyone, except Amy. How awkward would I feel? Could I talk to other Amanda fans? I know what your thinking, Dear Readers. Aren't you a Theatre Person, Cindy? Aren't you on stage singing, dancing, acting? Aren't you not afraid to act like a fool onstage?

Yes I am. But I am also originally a shy and quiet wall flower. Sometimes I regress. So, would I be able to fit in? Would I be awkward around the countless strangers there?

Yes and Not at all!

There are fandoms I am quite familiar, Anne McCaffrey and Meatloaf. Others I have grown into like Doctor Who and Sherlock. Others I am new to, as is Amanda Palmer. I know only of her album, Theatre is Evil and that she is married to Neil Gaiman. Amy turned me onto Amanda's work by way of a Mix Tape (remember those days?), and as I get deeper into the Amanda's fandom I am finding it like giant family. I mean, you get hundreds of strangers meeting in the middle of Harvard Square to cheer Amanda Palmer on and suddenly you have old friends who've just met (think Gonzo on that one). That how it was Monday night.

I met fellow Whovians, Sherlockians, hailing from the Rochester area, just to name some of the common grounds while we waiting. The time in line past without notice, the cold didn't seems so cold (for the most part), and new friendships were formed. I got to meet two fantastically sweet people who happen to be celebrities. Neil was handing out calendar pages to the crowd (what a sweet man), so that when we got out of line to watch/listen to the reading and some more music, we could get into the same place in line. We celebrated Amanda's book release, sung songs, hear readings, buy books (after all books are cool), and meet Neil Gaiman. I'm glad I could experience it and be a part such a fandom as well.

See a bit of the fun that was had that night.

Jason Weebly sings of Giraffes

Amanda performing in Harvard Square

Serenading Neil for his Birthday

See if you can find me. I'm wearing a blue zipper hoodie!

Okay, also today is ROW80 check-in. True be told, not a lot of work was accomplished in the last few day.

The road trip to Cambridge has put my NaNoWriMo on hold and my house is a mess. But, it's not a bad thing, sometime you need to take some time. This week is for catching up. With the night creeping in faster, it gets dark by 5:00. Sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours, especially when the days are shorter.

Current Goals:
      *Writing/Editing: get caught up on NaNoWriMo, blog regularly, and edit The Audition to completion.
      *Social Media/Visiting: get back up to visiting 3 blogs a day.
      *Reading: finish reading Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood). Start The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer) and The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood).

This Week:
      *Reading: making excellent work of Oryx and Crake.
      *Theatre: beginning work on The Mousetrap auditions in December.
      *Blogging: with the above blog, getting back on track with weekly blogging.

Such a great week, Dear Readers. I hope yours is equally great. If you are curious, go here to visit with other ROW80-ers. I must go and write  A LOT for Road Trip, my NaNoWriMo.

Mr. Gaiman and me (Fan Girl moment)

Cold Autumn Morning Musings

Dear Readers,  I know that in the last 2 weeks I always say this will be short check-in, but I mean it today. Today is the last performance of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. I'm rushing around getting last minute things don, so today is a quickie update.

Accomplished:
      *Writing: I have written everyday since the 2nd, my NaNoWriMo count is at 13,354 words. The story is building itself. After Santa Claus, I can start to organize my five plus documents of story into one and make the rest of the month organized and smoother (hopefully).
      *Reading: Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood) is over half done. Read through the play version of The Mousetrap (Agatha Christie). Will be directing it this spring, am super excited for that. w00t!
      *Theatre: it's showtime! Santa Claus is going on. I am prepping for H'port's Xmas in the Park, more on that later. Auditions for The Mousetrap in December. KLP's 2nd  24 Hour Theatre in two weeks (not writing, just acting and mayebe directing). Xmas Improv, maybe. Not slowing down....
      *Social Media, Visiting: done some, but time is short...
      *Housework: I did laundry. That counts, right?

This week:
      *Writing, Editing (finally), Submitting, and Cleaning my house!

A Round of Words in 80 days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come visit with the rest of us, here.

"If you really want to do something, no one and stop you; but you really don't want to do something, no one can help you."

~James A. Owen

Back to NaNoWriMo in a bit!

NaNo and theatre: The Crazy Life!

Afternoon, Dear Readers! I am going to make this really short, as I didn't write up my Round of Words check-in this morning. I have my final tech rehearsal tonight and we open Friday! w00t. Some days are like that, not enough time and everything is going on. It's been full week to say the least, even with my swiss cheesed memory (I watched a bit too much Quantum Leap in my youth and had a crush on Scott Bakula in the day. But, who didn't, right?).

NaNoWriMo has been going on for about a week. It's an amazing and frustrating month of highs and lows. The raw passion of writing, the organic flow of the words, concepts, and grey matter. But it is also filled with writer's block, procrastination, and internal character's not speaking. We, as writer's are familiar with this, but we love the craziness, the joy, and exhilaration.

Anyway, this week is proving to be full of challenges. I do like challenges. But, I am running on too little sleep and too much stimuli (or not enough coffee or too much coffee). I am taking one step at a time this week

This week:  
    *Writing: since Sunday I have written over 1000 a day, yesterday's word count was 1745 words, in about 2 hours. I am always surprised when the story starts unraveling.
    *Blogging: submitted 1 blog this week, poetry based.
    *Reading: been digging through Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood). It's a very engaging book. Now I have the whole MaddAddam trilogy, so I can finish the series (which I didn't know existed earlier this year).
   *Social Media/Visiting: A little lax on visiting since Sunday, but I am making it work. Visiting when I can and interacting with my tweets and peeps.

To work on:
     *Submitting: always in work. I have some contests suggested to me that need to get on the list of places to submit. Looking to make this happen after November 9th.
     *Editing : The Audition. This will happen after November 9th, when I get a bit more free time after Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is over.

A Round of Words in 80 Day Blog Hop starts here. Come over for a visit!

A Kyrielle Sonnet: River's Edge

River's Edge

When the waters run clear, My Dear--

From the Blog Corning NY Step by Step

Upon the early dawn's frontier
We walk the worldly view anew
in the crisp of the autumnal queue.

Moments with you by the river--
Sometimes it is known that you were
years before learning what you knew
in the crisp of the autumnal queue.

Stay here upon the river's edge
We can devote a solemn pledge
in our arms we will continue
in the crisp of the autumnal queue.

When the waters run clear, My Dear
Upon the early dawn's frontier.

Sunday Afternoon Breezy and Backlog

Some King of Convenience when I put laundry away and burn a mix CD.

Have you ever Misread something or someone?

A Round of Words in 80 Day, a blog challenge that you have a life. Read progress on fellow bloggers / writers here.

Much is happening. IUt's going to be a roller coaster around here. Come and visit me and see how I do this week. I am stage crew, acting, and doing producey stuffs for Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Yeah, I'm crazy! But....I'm fun!! I ask for it, because it is what I do. :-)

       *This week I have begun NaNoWriMo. 50,000+ words in 30 days. I am taking a previously written
short story, dubbed Road Trip and IT decided it wanted to be a novel. So, while I didn't write yesterday I have a current word count of 3306 word. Actual writing to commence later today.
       *Finished American Gods (Neil Gaiman). A really good read. Makes me want to read and research other gods/*mythologies. Onto Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood) and The Little Prince (Antoine Saint Exupery).
       *Finished OctPoWriMo on a high note. My Dead of the Dead tri-fall: Remember Me. See some of our (all the other poets to participated) here.
     

This Week:
       *Tech Week!! Back drop is in, the set is done (mostly), costumes are finished (again, mostly). A busy week. Dark night Thursday and then 3 performances.
       *NaNoWriMo: writing EVERYDAY! Yeah, a little crazy!!!
       *Editing The Audition and submitting work.
        *Sleeping, eating, and everything else.