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Reading and Writing

I wrote again today.  I’m still writing in a personal, journal style, even though I’m writing poetry.  And I’m writing poetry because I can’t find my way yet to writing narrative.  I need to take more time and brainstorm ideas for short stories.  I’ll do that next weekend.  Brainstorm short story ideas, as well as characters.

I’ll spend time this week talking to my daughter about writing.  She’s got the habit, and knows that the practice is the art.  She and I can brainstorm together to come up with ideas this week as I drive her to school in the mornings.

Reading has been easier.  I’m through two more chapters of The Left Hand of Darkness and I’m finished with chapter one of the book for work.  Reading is always easier.  Sometimes I wonder if I’m not a writer, but just a reader.  And then I remember that I have good ideas for longer form works, I just need to practice writing again and again until I’m ready to write my first, horrible drafts of the projects.

I did more research, reading Eyewitness to History.  So I’m hitting on all thrusters, even if I don’t feel like I’m making much forward motion.

Tomorrow is a busy day.  I won’t get the chance to write.  I probably won’t even get the chance to read, except for work.  But I’ll be back Tuesday, continuing to make incremental progress as I learn the craft by doing it.

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Reading and Writing

Yesterday’s word count: 1,518 (writing: 546, journal: 649, here 323).

Last night we rented Taken.  It was a bit of a letdown.  There was no identifying with the protagonist – he just seemed vengeful and cruel.  I get that he was doing everything to save his daughter, but the writer(s) could have done a better job of making him a little more sympathetic.  Still, it’s good to watch new movies.  I get tired of seeing the old ones over and over, no matter how much the girls enjoy the repetition.

I read a good chapter in Eyewitness to History yesterday, on a peasants revolt against King Richard II.  These first-person accounts of what happened are riveting for the most part.  I’m going to read more of the book today, starting with the battle of Agincourt.

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Reading and Writing

Yesterday’s word count:  595 (554 journal;  41 here ).

Saturday has been off to a slow start.  But it’s noon now, and I’m up and ready to go.  I plan to listen to an episode of Writing Excuses.  I’m still several seasons back, but I’m listening to every episode and taking notes.  I plan to write today, though I haven’t figured out what I’m going to write yet.  It would be good to figure that stuff out a day in advance so I can start thinking about writing overnight.

I’ll write for my Universe project.  I feel most comfortable trying to come up with content for that story.  I have more of an idea of where I’m going with it than with anything else.  And I’ll write on this project tomorrow too.  So now I’ve got my focus set for the weekend’s writing.

As for reading, I’m listening to Columbus Day by Craig Alanson.  I’m a couple hours in and still waiting to get hooked.  While I love science fiction, I do grow tired of wars in space.  The stories aren’t as distinct in my mind as the other, more creative stories.  But I’m hoping that this one ends up being entertaining.  It’s the first in a series, so if I like it, there will be several books for me to read.

I’m also plodding away with Eyewitness to History.  This is for another project I’ll talk about some other time.  But I appreciate the short chapters and enjoy the stories being told.

I managed to get some research writing done today, but it wasn’t particularly creative.  I need to spend more time trying to write if I’m going to get my creativity to flow.  Tomorrow I’ll set aside some serious time to try to writing again.  I’m not disappointed by today, but I’m not where I want to be.  I will keep working, day after day, until I start writing the way I know I can.