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Oct. 2nd, 2009 05:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
texchanThe concert was great. We had to pick up the kiddo by 11:30, so we didn't get to stay for the encore. Of course, they played two of our favorite songs, so that was kind of a bummer. On the other hand, I kind of didn't mind skipping the encore, since U2 tends to get a bit preachy toward concert's end. Still, it would've been great to hear those two songs live again. Ah well. At least we were on time for picking up the kiddo -- so mission accomplished! They played a lot of stuff from their newest album. Before the concert, I would have said I didn't like that album at all. Now, after having heard the songs live, I decided to give the CD another chance. I found I like most of the songs pretty well, although I don't think it's one of those albums that will be a top favorite of mine. Still, it's good to find new things to like. Er ... or something like that.
The concert was super crowded, as expected -- just me and about 90,000 or so of my "closest friends" packed into the stadium. (LOLz) The set was huge -- and a little creepy, although the rotating rings were pretty neat. And, of course, we ended up sitting three seats down from the one asshole in the stadium who couldn't make it through the show without a smoke. And who couldn't be bothered to leave his seat to light up -- four times. A minor irritation for most people, but a huge irritation for me given my really awful smoke allergy. Luckily, the fact that the stadium was open air worked in my favor; I ended up not getting sick from it. I wonder if that means I've used up all my good luck for the foreseeable future. >.O
I finally managed to get my scorched pot (mostly) clean. I ended up boiling some baking soda in there, followed by using a soft-ish plastic tool for scraping the worst bits back out. There is a tiny bit of staining left, but the surface is smooth again. This is a good thing.
Writing is still the suck. Bleh. For some reason, I'm having a hard time getting back into my school year routine. School starts and ends a bit later this year, so maybe that's why. It's still early in the school year, so hopefully things will start falling into place here soon.
But (!!) I think I'm going to do NaNo again this year. I wasn't going to because November is such a hard time for me, between Thanksgiving, travel for one of hubby's yearly conferences, and my folks visiting. But I've been thinking about it, and it might be a good way to jump-start stuff on Midroc II. I hope. If not, I might end up scrapping the whole first novel, too. Right now, I'm kind of at the mindset where I'm close to doing that. I know it's irrational, and I keep telling myself that. But frustration is running very high for me right now. And no one will read the damn thing, anyhow. Bleh.
Anyhow ... enough of my whining. I think I may spend the evening forcing myself to work on some WK fic. At this point, writing's writing. o_O
The concert was super crowded, as expected -- just me and about 90,000 or so of my "closest friends" packed into the stadium. (LOLz) The set was huge -- and a little creepy, although the rotating rings were pretty neat. And, of course, we ended up sitting three seats down from the one asshole in the stadium who couldn't make it through the show without a smoke. And who couldn't be bothered to leave his seat to light up -- four times. A minor irritation for most people, but a huge irritation for me given my really awful smoke allergy. Luckily, the fact that the stadium was open air worked in my favor; I ended up not getting sick from it. I wonder if that means I've used up all my good luck for the foreseeable future. >.O
I finally managed to get my scorched pot (mostly) clean. I ended up boiling some baking soda in there, followed by using a soft-ish plastic tool for scraping the worst bits back out. There is a tiny bit of staining left, but the surface is smooth again. This is a good thing.
Writing is still the suck. Bleh. For some reason, I'm having a hard time getting back into my school year routine. School starts and ends a bit later this year, so maybe that's why. It's still early in the school year, so hopefully things will start falling into place here soon.
But (!!) I think I'm going to do NaNo again this year. I wasn't going to because November is such a hard time for me, between Thanksgiving, travel for one of hubby's yearly conferences, and my folks visiting. But I've been thinking about it, and it might be a good way to jump-start stuff on Midroc II. I hope. If not, I might end up scrapping the whole first novel, too. Right now, I'm kind of at the mindset where I'm close to doing that. I know it's irrational, and I keep telling myself that. But frustration is running very high for me right now. And no one will read the damn thing, anyhow. Bleh.
Anyhow ... enough of my whining. I think I may spend the evening forcing myself to work on some WK fic. At this point, writing's writing. o_O
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-03 12:03 am (UTC)Another NaNo project sounds like a great idea (I should try it too, I've got to do something to get me off my butt and start writing again...), I nearly fell off my chair when I read that you might scrap your first novel--but then I realized that I am doing the same thing actually. Rather than call it "scrapped", just call it your "second draft" with lots of changes (People will be impressed rather than freak out because of all that work you put into it ^_^). Who are you trying to get to read it? I know that it is very (very very) hard to hand a piece that you've put your whole heart into to another person--and then you want to get some feed-back. When I finally gave mine to my parents (something that I would never ever have done in years past), they were supportive, but I never knew if they actually liked it or not (I don't know if it was a sixth sense or just me being overly self critical and wondering how anyone could actually like my stuff). I have been told by 2 co-workers (years ago, when I made the huge mistake of letting them read something really rough) that I have a really "interesting" sense of humor. I think they were expecting a John Grisham or something.
If you're looking for an audience to let you know that your story is entertaining I'm here for you. As for a professional editor though, I would be lynched in the town square I'm afraid ^_^ You ought to try finding a literary agent, maybe they could help you out as well.
Anyway, take care and enjoy your craft. Write for yourself first :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 09:26 pm (UTC)Yeah ... the NaNo thing is more to get me off my butt and writing again. I've been at a near stand-still ever since summer started. That's a lot of time spent NOT writing. So, I figured maybe it'll jump start the "process" as well as getting me jump started into a workable writing schedule. I'm having trouble getting into a good schedule. It feels like too many things are up in the air and unsettled. -.-"
As for "scrapping" Midroc, I really do mean more of just tossing it out, period. What I have is definitely a rough/first draft. So, editing needs to happen. Lots of editing. But I'm so discouraged about it right now that I can't seem to summon up the energy or desire to do any more work on it. I just feel like I'm wasting my time, and that I should move on to something that will work out better.
It's not necessarily that I feel shy about handing it over to people to read. I mean, I do feel a little shy, but I'm more than willing to overcome that in the interest of finding out if the story even holds water, you know? The problem has been that people I've asked to read it ... just don't come through. They read a little of it, then I never hear from them again. And I'm talking about people who are my friends. I mean, at least I thought they were my friends. The whole thing just really hurts ... and makes me feel like the book must suck. Not just as a rough draft, but on a deeper story/plot level.
Anyhow, mostly I just need to figure out how to overcome my funky funkiness. >.O
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 06:06 pm (UTC)I´m very happy that you had a great time at
U2´s concert. As a production they do
a great job always.
In my personal point of view they
rely too much on the production and
Bono it´s a bit too preachy for mny
taste.
My sister and I went to see them on
the Vertigo tour. It was a good experience
but I can live with out going to see them
on this tour.
That´s not the thing with Depeche Mode.
The concert going and fan part of my soul
aches terribly because I can´t go
to see them this tour. My father is
pretty pissed with my speding habits of late,
so I better lay low until I get a job.
I agree with Angelica. Think of the
story that you have now as a draft.
I´m sure all the writers that you admire
revised and rewrote chunks of their
work until they felt it was ready to be read.
Sometimes we are a bit to overcritical of our
stuff and getting someone else to read it gives
more perpective of your work. I know it´s
very scary to let people read what you write
(I rarely do after my sister mocked one of my
pieces), but how can you know if what you
have is interesting for the large public if you
don´t do it.
I think you are very talented and I´ll keep
waiting to read that story.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-10-05 09:38 pm (UTC)They always put on a good show, I think. And I love their sets -- although I tend to really admire a band that can just walk out onto stage and entertain without all the bells and whistles. I think U2 probably could do that ... but they choose to go the way of the super elaborate sets and such.
I like the band a lot, although they aren't a favorite. We pretty much see them every year, though, because they are my hubby's absolute favorite band. Ever.
As for the writing situation ...
It's not really a factor of me feeling uncomfortable about letting others read my book. Or of me feeling too shy about it. Yes, I do tend to be overcritical of myself and my own work. And I do feel somewhat shy. But I'm more than willing to shove those feelings aside in the interest of finding out if my story even stands up. Granted, this is a rough/first draft. So I know editing needs to happen. Lots and lots of editing. But I would like to know if the story is even worth spending more time on, you know? I mean, if it's a dog of a story ... then I'm better off moving away from it to work on something that has more chance of turning into something one of these days. (Hopefully that makes sense.)
The problem has been that the people I've asked to read it (or, in several cases, who have asked me to read it) just haven't followed through at all. They might read a little of it ... then I hear nothing else from them. Even though I know they are more than happy to read stuff for others. Hence, it feels like it's just me. Or just my story. Which makes me feel my book sucks on some very deep, very basic level. Something I'm not sure I can fix. I mean, if people who are supposed to be my friends can't even get through the stupid thing ... how can I ever expect strangers to do so?
Anyhow, the whole situation really hurts me. I feel pretty bitter over it, although I hate feeling that way. And just ... well, hurt. And discouraged. And like I'm wasting my time with even trying to write as a career.
As I said above, I mostly need to get over my own funky funkiness. (And shove these bad moods away, once and for all! Woot!)
On the positive side, two people have read it -- my hubby (although it took him longer to read it than it took me to write it, which probably doesn't say anything good about the book ... or my "skill" >.O) and his secretary. They both said they liked it. Maybe I should just cling to that small bit of positive reinforcement and tell myself things are fine -- even though my other friends seem to indicate something totally opposite. -.-"