Much Progress

Today is a mass of hysteria and confusion as I sort out everything I need to do. Bear with me, Dear Readers. I am trying to get caught up on stuff, so this is getting posted on the late side.

This Week:
      *Reading: making slow work of Inkheart (Cornelia Funke). It a good novel and I need to soak it in. I have forgotten much of it since my last read of it.
      *Writing: wrote my OctPoWriMo poems daily (about 100 words each), Tuesday Writing Blitz (700+ words), Wednesday Writing Blitz (713 words), ROW80 post (863 words), and some NaNoWriMo prep work (its coming too fast).
      *Editing: Didn't get to editing Tuesday, but managed to get about an hour on some edits tonight. I wrote this so out of order that getting these edits and re-writes into the script is really going to take a while. But on the upside I feel I am getting a clearer story out of The Real Road Trip. Its becoming a stronger story. I have chapters now, but they feel more like sections while I sort this story out. We will see after I finish with this re-write draft.
      *Theatre Stuffs: scanned the my script (so I can print of a Lighting and Sound Technical Script tomorrow). Making sing-up sheets for make-up, and help for box office and parental guard duty. Typed up stage notes for Act 1. Much more to come....less than three weeks now!
      *House Tending: got plumber to fix leaky pipe in basement, getting a quote on a new furnace (joys of home ownership) as it appears that the furnace is shot, keeping up with laundry. Most of the dishes are now done.
      *Social Media: spending tine on Twitter, visiting 4 blogs daily from ROW80 and OctPoWriMo (at 4 for each since Sunday), and keeping up with my sponsor duties.

This (upcoming) Week:
       *Reading: continue reading Inkheart, read Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey), and start Mrs. McGinty's Body (Agatha Christie). Update my Goodreads Reading Challenge.
       *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. Hoping to make this happen in the latter part of the week this week. Spend a little time getting character sketches done and finish a mock outline for Modern Muses for NaNoWriMo, because that starts on Sunday.
       *Editing: Spend 1 day between now and Sunday editing The Real Road Trip for an hour.
       *Blogging: post Thursday.
       *Social Media:  4 blogs daily, sponsor duties, spend time on Twitter.
       *Theatre Stuffs: report.
       *House Tending: report.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and see what the other ROW80-ers are writing about at the Blog Hop.

HOw are your goals coming? Who is doing NaNoWriMo? Ready for November?

So much stuff and now time for a little WIPpet Wednesday!

The creation of K.L. Schwengel, where writers post a bit of their WIP on Wednesday to a Blog Hop (CLICK HERE) to visit the other WIPpeteers. By using today's date you share a snippet and give a little background on the piece. Today is 10/28 so lets do 2 + 8 = 10 paragraphs from the beginning of Modern Muses (working title). Here we meet Thalos and what was doing at the top of the novel and a little bit of Teri.

A man bounced a tennis ball against the ground as he heard shouts from the field. “That’s fifteen – love, mate.” The guy on the further end of the courts called to his partner. 

“Okay, my serve then,” and he reach up just in time to miss the ball and as he ran to catch it his laces which were now loose and sprawled out across the court. He did a tuck and roll, but still managed to bang his head on the fence.

“You okay mate?” his friend called.

“Yeah, just cracked my head that’s all.” Everyone else on the nearby courts eyes the event unfolding, some even chuckle a bit, but most turned back to what they were doing when the young man slowly stood up.

They were supposed to laugh, Thalos thought. Why didn’t they? He thought it was funny.

What people didn’t see was that the man, Thalos was laughing and moving his pointer finger as the young man had skidded into the concrete, dropping his racket as the ball went out of bounds and bumping his head. Thalos wiped tears of mirth from his eyes, “Oh that’s good…” as he mentally checked off points about the young man’s fall.

“I thought you were in charge of inspiring the lighter side of poetry, comedy, and mirth.”

“I am,” said Thalos who now stood, dropping the tennis ball into his draw string bag. “I am just sitting here minding my own business. Doing some research for one of my…um, charges.”

“Right….Thalos. You think I was born yesterday.” The voice belonged to a short and thin girl, who looked much younger than Thalos. She was certainly clean in appearance. “You’re a bum, Talo.”

He hated that nickname. It made him think of candle, “What’s it to you, Teri?” Thalos said ignoring Teri and walking past a girl who was wearing black yoga pants and a purple spaghetti strap top with some brand name store across her meager chest.

Little Bit of This and That...Labour Day and End of Summer

So much to report....

This Week:
       *Reading: I have been bouncing between my menagerie of books. Haven't finished reading anything new yet, but enjoying the progress. Currently, I am working on Invisible Moon (James A. Owen), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie), and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Douglas Adams). I have recently discovered that I enjoy jumping from book to book, as it suit my mood. This sprang up from a conversation with an old friend from High School two weekends ago now about how we read books. I always marveled at her ability to read books quickly.
       *Writing: wrote Monday (650 words) and Tuesday (953 words), and will be blitzing later today on Modern Muses.
       *Editing: finished the reading through/edit of The Real Road Trip back on Friday. I am reallt please dto have made it the whole way through and even more pleased that the story is still workable. Just need some massive re-writes in the process. Enjoyed a bit of a break during the weekend. Now I start the next phase of the edits.
       *Social Media: keeping up with my sponsor duties and returning to my daily 4 blog visits. Spent a little more time on Twitter with my #writestuff tweet chat yesterday.

In the middle of all this I have to find a schedule to accommodate my upcoming rehearsal schedule. Daunted? Maybe a little. Determined? Heck yeah! I built some good habit over the summer and don't want to lose that. I am also trying to do more challenges, like the WWW Wednesdays:

What are you currently reading?
   -about 5 different novels. The one I am leaning more towards is Invisible Moon (James A. Owen). It the second in his Mythworld series about what happens when Rangarok happens in a little Upstate New York town. I don't think that was too spoilery.

What did you recently finish reading?
     -The Festival of Bones, Mythworld Book 1 (James A. Owen). What happens when ancient literature meets opera?

What do you think you’ll read next?
     -finish one of the other books I have started. Also want to revisit and finish the Inkheart series (Cornelia Finke) . I have a pending review of the movie that is just waiting to happen. I do book to movie review/analysis.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: finish reading Invisible Moon and maybe Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey).
     *Writing: write daily, at  least 300 words.
     *Editing: begin my re-write of The Real Road Trip, trying the edits re-writing all the crap, and finally organizing the chapter, maybe an outline too. To be completed by the end of September.
      *Blogging: missed my Tuesday blog day, so this week will be Thursday. 1 non-ROW80 post. Also blog about goal progress in August and September goals.
      *Submissions: 2 new submissions and report on the progress.
      *Social Media:  visit 4 blogs daily and sponsor goals. Thinking of being a sponsor for Round 4.

Music Man read through is next week. Got to work on a props list. Revise my schedule to account for rehearsals and writing/editing time. Prep for NaNoWriMo in November. Post more spoke word to my YouTube channel (as it hasn't gotten a lot of love in the last year). Prepare for OctPoWriMo in October. Also, enjoy the End of Summer.

How are your goals, Dear Readers? What have you been up to as the summer is winding down?

A Round of Words in 80 Days, a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Stop in the Blog Hop to visit my fellow bloggers/writers.

It's also, WIPpet Wednesday. The day we post a snippet of our WIP. Created by K.L. Schwengel. YOu take today's date and used the NEW MATH to get a snippet of your WIP and share with the interwebs. Visit my fellow WIPpeteers here. Today's date is 9/2/2015. Going to make it simple 9+2=11 lines from
Modern Muses.

We find Thalos calling on Teri and she arrives via a dream form...

“Guess I am hearing things now.”

“No, you’re not,” the voice came again, sounding closer.

“Teri?” Thalos called, but when he looked up he didn’t see anyone or anything.

“You called?” Teri’s voice filled his ears.

“Did I?”

“I heard to whisper my name. Then you said something. I then found myself here” 

“What was that,” he said to the emptiness that was the study and to the direction that Teri voice had come from. He closed his eyes and thought about Teri, her shape, hair colour, her smell.

“Talo, it’s me.” The voice was stronger now and he saw through his closed eyes Teri’ small frame standing near the fire. “Come here, but don’t open your eyes too fast.”

“I how can I do that and not trip over chairs and mediaeval armour?”

“It seems to work better when you close your eyes. Relax . Then slowly open your eyes.” Easier said that done, Thalos thought to himself. “I am glad you called. There seems no way out of this room.”

“Where are you?” Thalos asked, finding that he was suddenly standing.

Thalos and Teri's Song:

Round 2 at a Close

Round 2 is done! I finished on a high note and feeling really good. I will post a final thoughts tomorrow but today, a short check-in on progress.

This week:
     *Reading: Over half way through Wicked (Gregory Maguire). I found my reason for reading it. The story Murder of the Orient Express (Agatha Christie). It's not a long book, but I haven't given it proper time to soak in to my little grey cells.
is unique and brilliant in part, but at least a third of the time I find Maguire's writing either dry or over my head. Writing novels should not always be about writing so people can't understand, but writing so people can understand. I am determined to finish it, but not enjoying his writing style. Another chapter down in
     *Writing: wrote 1200+ words Monday on the Top Secret Project (using writing blitzes). Nothing Tuesday. ROW80 check-in today.
      *Social Media: 4+ blogs daily. I finished visiting all of Sundays posters. This won't always happen, so I am enjoying the fact I  manages to visit everyone this time around.

I feel that I slacked with the editing goals for Sunday and my submissions. Not that it is bad, but I feel I could have used some time more effectively. Last night was the first night in months that I had an improv practice. In a way my brain understood this and can expect that I missed a chance to get some editing done. That's the goal I feel bad about missing the most.

Onto next week...

This (upcoming) Week:
      *Reading: continue with Wicked and Murder on the Orient Express. Try to start The Subtle Knife (Phillip Pullman), maybe a chapter here and chapter there.
       *Writing: write daily. Finish Golden Compass Review and post it. Spend time on the Top Secret Project. Finish and post my #writestuff challenge.
         *Editing: Look at The Real Road Trip. Work on edits of  a 2 page minimum by Saturday. With the end of the Round I am not set specific goals throughout the break, but enough to keep me busy during that time.
         *Social Media: 4 blogs daily and keep up with blogs that I am following.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Check out the Blog Hop and see what everyone else is up to.

I am thinking of trying some new challenge, so that I have picked up from here. More on this in my reflections tomorrow.  How are your goals coming along, Dear Readers? Have a splendid day!

So late...thus begins my Tech Week...and Writing...and Goals...

So pressed for time and it's almost midnight. I am still trying to finish this check-in. I know, not necessarily the priority, but it's the principle. I have made these goals and I will stick by them. Mousetrap rehearsal are beginning to take over. They are running long and the set is mostly erected (still need to be finished and then paint). But it's looking so good, my cast is looking so good, and my life is falling into place. Yes, I am gushing about my show. Well, by Monday, it becomes my cast's show. I leave it in their hands. I trust them. I have guided them to this point, time to take the training wheels off and get the technical stuff ironed out.

Okay, I am gushing now! But, there is something about waking across your set, when it is all still pieces and odd colours and knowing it's going to be amazing. I get goosebumps. Even if I have to write my ROW80 check-ions after midnight or read my fellow bloggers in the few minutes before leaving for work. I shall forego sleep this week and next, but it will be worth it.

Okay, this check-in is going to be short. I don't have full word counts or all the details at the moments so what I can report on, I will report on now.

This Week:

     *Reading: read more of Five Little Pigs (Agatha Christie). PAGES READ: about 50 pages.

     *Writing: wrote a story, using the 30 Song Title Challenge. Not sure it's the actual title. But, borrowed from Fallon Brown (click the link to read more). Wrote a poem after coining the title Don't Anger the Goddess. inspired by Jessica Scott and Rod E. Kok. WORD TOTAL: 1271 and 149 words.

      *Social Media: mostly on track. I did miss Wednesday's daily goal. Plan to visit 8 blogs tomorrow to make up for it.

     *Theatre Stuffs: submitted press release to The Leader, posters, promotions, and getting last minutes props/costumes.

The Rest of the Week:

     *Blogging: 1 new post.

     *Submitting: 1 new submission.

     *Editing/Novels: 10 more pages edited.

     *Reading: finish Five Little Pigs.

     *Writing: write new story in 30 Song Title Challenge and/or new poem. 

     *Theatre Stuff: prepare of Hell Week (Tech Week).

It's Wednesday too, and I am scrambling to find a WIPpet to share. So, let's look at the math first 2/25 is today's date, let's do 25; 2 + 5 = 7 paragraphs. A bit of back stork. This is the other co-protagonist, Marcie. She just woke from a nightmare. Must of it is unclear to her Mother, but like most dreams, there is truth there. Some of this is echoes from Selynee's snippets from previous weeks, if you've been following along.

Elsewhere there was sounds of screaming. It woke up this house and the tuxedo cat darted through the house.

 

Marcie was screaming and her mother rushed into her room. It happened to be one of those rare nights that her mother wasn’t working. Marcie’s was screaming, not aware of her Mother’s arms holding her. She was crying, and then suddenly hiccupped, thus stopping the screaming. Marcie’s mother sat on her bed, , “Oh, Sweetie, what happened? Honey? Hey, you okay?” She kissed the top of Marcie’s bed head hair.

 

No words came from Marcie, just some tears and hiccups. “Breath, Honey. Please.” She rocked Marcie against her body, softly shushing her whimpers and calming her hiccups.

 

Marcie tried to speak, but her vocal chords wouldn’t work. All she could do were soft grunts and sometimes a sigh, as she breathed against her Mother’s chest. “Let it out, Honey,” she said and she at the clock sitting on the night stand. Two o’clock in the morning. “It must have been a nightmare.” Marcie’s mother said, the only conversation occurring in the room. She was used to her daughter being tight lipped about many things and wasn’t expecting Marcie to answer her.

 

“I dreamt of Daddy, Mom.” She looked at her Mother.

 

The words spilled out of Marcie’s mouth before she could stop. Her mother could barely keeping up with the stream of thought. “I dreamt of Daddy, when he was in the hospital, right before he died. After that, Selynee was there, and that old nurse McLean; and then Selynee and I were at the semi-formal, dancing. Garrett Mulvaney he was there too, for some reason and she stole him. I was mad.” The sentences flowed out of Marcie is a mad rush. “Daddy wanted to die,” Marcie fought back some tears. Marcie was onto the next thought, “She asked him to dance. And I saw, Daddy. He wanted to die, Mom. And she promised to let me dance with Garrett.” The words spilled out of Marcie like a confession that her Mother was unaware of. Marcie was crying again.

 

“Oh, Honey. I’m sorry.” She could do nothing but let Marcie cry, would figure the rest out later.

ROW80, A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Visit the Blog Hop to see what we are up to.

WIPpet Wednesday, created by author, K.L. Schwengel. A Linky List where writers can share their WIPs. Also, stop by, read a bit, and make some new friends! :-)

That's it for now. It is quick and I need to sleep. I have prom dresses to pick up and I think I will go into the day job and take Friday off. Always something. I am pleased with my goals, I am doing pretty well. How are you doing, Dear Reader? Tell me about your favourite goal this round? Mine is the writing daily goal (which I am doing more consistently) and my 2015 Goodreads Challenge to read 30 books this year. I'm at 14. Leave me some love! Thanks!!

Been in a Mediaeval Baebes Mood:

Sunny on a Sunday and Lookee Here...

So, yeah, winter blows and blows...but, here I am doing this...

This Week:
   *Reading: finished Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I really good read. Very fairy tale. Started Five Little Pigs (Murder in Retrospect) by Agatha Christie and will be starting Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Trying to shift my reading into other author as I am getting low on Gaiman books to read. I am looking at either the Inkheart or His Dark Material series (both I have read, but am looking to revisit them).
    *Writing: wrote a flash fiction piece called Happy F***in' Valentine's Day: A Story for the #writestuff group (topic Anti-Valentine's Day) and co-wrote a poem with the Hubs on Friday about Quetzalcoatl. WORD TOTAL:  877 and 114.
    *Editing/Novel: made a dent this week in The Real Road Trip. Not the full 20 pages I planned, but really got to the heart of one of my characters. I am going to accept that this revision is going to be a full revision and not just small fixes. It's what is right for this story right now. Need to clear the crap out and flesh out the rest of the bits left after the cut. TOTAL 11+ pages. 
     *Blogging: was busy on the blog, what with the Coraline review happening. I finally watched the movie and the review of the book versus the movie needed to happen. Then I posted Happy F***in' Valentine's Day: A Story. Finally, I was tagged in Ink Dipped Moon's blog for the Liebster Award. The getting to know you blog conversation starter. I had done it before, so I decided to do it again and tag new people.
     *Submitting: 1 new submission: Please Hold
     *Social Media/Visiting: on track. 4+ daily blogs visited. Missed Saturday due to it being an unplugged day.
     *Theatre Stuffs (The Mousetrap): got the armchair, most of the costume pieces from the costumer, move the furniture to the dance floor because of an event that needs the space Monday and set building commences on Wednesday, and chatted with my producer. You know, the getting in line with his stuff and my stuff, so we are both on the same page.

For This Coming Week:
    *Reading: Five Little Pigs (Murder in Retrospect).
    *Writing: write or work on a new flash fiction story and interview my friend about her new Kickstarter: Positive Randomosity podcasts. More on that later (but check it out now)!
    *Blogging: 1 new post, about friend's Kickstarter project (see above).
    *Submitting: 1 new submission.
    *Theatre Stuffs: preparation for costumes parade Wednesday, submit press release to one more newspaper, and not freak out about there being less than 2 week until we open.

This is the second time I type this check-in, as my internet went stupid just prior to hitting publish. Gah! So anyway, it has been a busy week here. The cold isn't helping. Today is at least in the upper 20's (heat wave?) Tomorrow the bitter cold returns. I still have a nasty cough. But, I have the theatre and the writing. It keeps me going. What about you, Dear Readers? How are you surviving you winter of hell 2015? How are the goals coming? Anything exciting, joyous, and beautiful happening in your worlds? Leave me some love below, I do love to hear from you all!!

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. It challenges you to make goals and report on those goal bi-weekly. It is a Blog Hop. Come on in!

WIPpet Wednesday and Thoroughly Enjoying Murder

So, the day got away from me and I wasn't able to focus on writing this check-in earlier today. I have murder on the mind. ~Maniacal Laugh, Maniacal Laugh~ Mousetrap is coming along swimmingly. It is taking more of my time, not a problem, but some stuff has fallen to the back burner. Yet, I am seeing so much good coming from the cast and I still have over a month of rehearsals. w00t, Huzzah, cheers!!

Murder! Yes, murder and mystery!

Okay, because my brain is a little wired and I need to go to sleep soon, the check-in.

This Week:
    *Blogging: completed on Tuesday. A review of fellow author Julie Anne Lindsey.
    *Reading: finished The Story of Martha (Dan Abnett) another Doctor Who adventure and now working on Windhaven (George R. R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle). Windhaven is a longer read, but coming along.
    *Writing: started to work on a story working title Trapped by Dinosaurs. I had posted a bit of it some time ago. Thought it was a random story/scene, but after reviewing it, it could be a longer story. Didn't have the time to devote to it in the last two days.
    *Social Media and Visiting: visited Sunday and Monday, missed Tuesday.
    *Submitting: got two more submitted at the beginning of the week.

For This Week:
    *Edit: print and go over Christmas Trees. Beginning the revision process.
    *Novel: finish reading The Real Road Trip, begin simple fixes.
    *Blogging: 1 day  this week.
    *Submitting: at least two this week.

Been busy with Mousetrap deadlines and getting posters, promotions, props, costumes, etc. Thankfully, I have a good team to keep me in line and I am delegating. I do need to write a director's letter, a bio, and inserts for the program. Then to get promotions out to newspapers and TV stations, press releases and interviews, oh my!

And murder!!

Oooh, I have a poster now! See!!

Oh, and I have another segment from WIPpet Wednesday (28, 2 + 8 = 10 paragraphs):

Bob rubbed his hands together to try and keep them warm. It was snowing again. The small floodlight filled the lot and made the snowflakes glow. He thought about asking for a second light. He thought that maybe Mr. Hanson would give him it. It was Christmas after all, right? 

“You should really just go over to Evergreens R Us, the selections are so much better. Hell, there are artificial trees that are practically life like,” said Mason to the chap in the ski mask.

“I don’t know,” he said. 

Bob watch the interplay between the man and Mason. He felt angry, so he turned away. There was a young woman trying to fight with a scrawny little pine. “Here. Let me help, Miss.” He rushed to her. The tree was caught on the wired it had been leaning on. Bob grabbed the tree and lightly pulled. Some needles tumbled to the ground, but the tree still looked green and full. “Sorry about that. I have fresh pines over by the flood lamp that are losing less needles.”

“No, it just needs some water and it’s the perfect height.” She held the tree by the neck, eyeing it with a smile. “My apartment is small, this is the perfect height. How much?” She looked at Bob and smiled.

“Twenty dollars…” he sounded unsure, afraid she would dump the tree and head to Evergreens R Us.

“That’s all." Eyes the tree and then Bob, "That’s cheap. You having trouble?”

Bob looked down, feeling ashamed, especially at the rather attractive woman holding a pine tree in her right hand. Her blonde hair framed her face by her woolen hat. “Yeah, well I am trying…”

“Here!” the woman placed a fifty dollar bill in Bob hand. “Don’t let them get to you, Bob. You do good work here. Keep fighting,” she smiled.

“I can’t accept this,” said Bob, shaking his head.

“Take it. I got a nice tree and did some good.” She smiled and hefed the tree onto her shoulders and walked down aisle. 

Links and Stuff:

A Round of Words in  80 Days, the blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come in, sit, we have some flax golden tales to spin...Blog Hop!

WIPpet Wednesday Linky. Read some other's stories and enjoy.

Music for Today: