Category: Writing

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Books Travel Writing

Nature of Magic

IT IS FINALLY OUT! (Get it here. Unless you haven’t read the first two. In which case, start here.)

Okay, now that’s out of the way…

Preptember…?

In October, I will be traveling to the location where my next book takes place, and I’m going to do my best to get 50k words that month, and half of those while I’m abroad. Again, an ambitious goal that I’m unlikely to meet, but even if I fail to reach 50k, I’ll still get lots of work done, touch wood, and visit a lovely part of the world. I do appreciate it when people take me on vacations, I get to go places I wouldn’t be able to afford on my own.

But since October is going to be my NaNoWriMo, September is my Preptober… Preptember? Plantember? Anyway, the month is almost over and I’ve hardly started planning. I’ve been trying to get NoM done. But now it is, so I can happily shift to my next project.

(A hint as to the location for the next book: I have been studying Portuguese in preparation.)

Thoughts on “Autumn vibes” 

I love the cosy autumn aesthetic. Truly. I want it to be my life. I could watch videos on loop of women with perfectly manicured hands slowly making cup of tea or coffee and lighting a candle next to a pillow for their morning routine.

I want that.

But I’m not that.  I need to hit the ground running first thing and try to get as much done as I can until I run out of momentum. If I have a beautiful slow morning, that’s it for the day. I’m so at peace and relaxed, I just ride that vibe. Today is a great example. I woke up, made tea, and went outside to appreciate the cooler morning and sat and read a book that I’ll be discussing in a book club tomorrow. It was glorious.

But I didn’t do anything for the rest of the day, despite having plenty on the to-do list.

It was a lovely morning. I didn’t achieve the beautiful instagram aesthetic, though. I’m not effortlessly beautiful. Not even with tons of secret effort to look effortlessly beautiful. Nothing can alter that. (That is not a cry for compliments. I know what I look like and I like that my face is a bit villainous.) 

I want a peaceful, beautiful clean home and workspace, minimalist and appealing and all hygge-y.

But that’s not who I am. I am a chaos person. Things do not stay tidy (if they were ever tidy to begin with.) So I will have to satisfied with cosy chaos and being effortlessly average.

Imposter Syndrome

I’m glad I can finally share this blog post. I started it last week, but I didn’t want to post anything until I actually published Nature of Magic. It is more expensive than the other two, but it’s also more than twice as long as the first. Ugh. It makes no sense. I feel like a fraud trying to trick people into spending money on something I’ve written, but, isn’t that the goal? To be a semi-self-supporting author? To make a living by writing? And how am I supposed to do that if I do not charge for my work?

I want to get paid for it. I just don’t want to charge for it. It makes it seem like I think I’m worthy, when I don’t think I am. The audacity, to make people pay money to read my work. $5? Who do I think I am? (I spent almost $20 on a book today, but it was Ray effing Bradbury. And I am not even close to Ray effing Bradbury.)

Moving on…

I will try to keep up with the blog while I’m abroad. Posts might be shorter. Or longer, who knows! I already write more when I’m away.

Nope, moving back to autumn vibes. Still not over it.

How are you celebrating the coming of autumn? Or, if you’re in the southern hemisphere, the coming of spring? Both the start of spring and autumn seem like much better places to start anew than January first. So arbitrary. It should definitely be at the change of seasons, and that change should be splendid and awe-inspiring. We should do autumn and spring resolutions. 

Yes. Boom. Doing it. 

My autumn resolution, or mantra, I suppose, is to always be writing. Fiction, blog, journal, letters, nonsense. I want to entertain myself more with my writing. I want to always be running out of ink, for my fingertips to be forever stained. (That’s an exaggeration, of course, but I want to think of writing in more than just in terms of work, but as solace, comfort, entertainment too.)

If I were to set a measurable goal, it would be to publish this next story by the end of the season. 

What about you? Any autumnal (or vernal) resolutions or mantras? What do you want to remind yourself going forward this season?

Categories
Books Travel Writing

NoM, EoM, MoA, and the pluperfect tense

Having read the first draft, my mother remarked that I’d overused the ‘had + past participle’ construction. 

I reminded her that she had only herself to blame by sending me to a school that required Latin. The pluperfect should be used if one event happened further in the past than a more recent one.  Straightforward. And as the narrative is already in the simple past, there will be many uses of the pluperfect tense. Just a fact. 

I know that I could use the simple past for both, but the pluperfect (pluscuamperfecto, le plusqueparfait, plusquamperfekt) is used freely in so many languages that I’ve studied that I don’t actively think about it. But this might be a time where studying so many other languages has made me sound less like a native English speaker. And I don’t want my book to sound stilted (or more stilted than it probably already does.) I will go back and change some of them to simple past, if it sounds more natural, colloquial. English is not Latin. It’s not even a Romance language. The rules are not so set in stone.

 She (herself a student of Greek, which also employs the pluperfect, or ὑπερσυντέλικος, which, like all other words for pluperfect, means ‘more than completed’) agreed to look again, but now I’m self-conscious about it. Self-conscious enough to begin my blogpost with grammar—never a good sign. 

The rewrites are nearly done (apart from the reread to specifically look for the pluperfect), and ready to pass back like a hot potato to the copyeditor. Before it is published, or at least soon after, I was thinking of another chapter for EOM, which is more than half done. But so few people are still reading, it hardly seems worth it to continue, the only reason to keep working on it would be if those readers actually bought by other stuff. A few have, but a very few. Not sure it makes all the time and effort writing EOM would require worth it, financially, emotionally, creatively.

I have so many other projects I want to be working on once I finish the Nature of Magic. The travel adventure series, my dark academia duology, a Persuasion retelling (with swords) and numerous little magical or romcom novellas. 

I met with a brand specialist yesterday. I won an hour of her time by making a fool of myself on stage. A bargain! I make a fool of myself for free all the time. So I have some steps to follow to get more satisfaction out of my writing, and more money. Sigh.

Both are important.

In a few hours, I am going to refill the well, as they say, by going to the Museum of Art. I will come back here later to report. 

~

It’s now Saturday. These were some of my favourite exhibits.

This is a ceiling. I just lay on the floor and gazed for a while.

Take care, everyone.

Categories
Books Writing

I shouldn’t have gotten too excited

I was, perhaps, premature in gifting myself this LamyAL-Star in Tourmaline to celebrate my finishing Nature of Magic.

I sent the draft to my editor, promptly got sick and collapsed for a few days. (I am waiting for at-home covid test results as I write this post.)

Then this morning, I received both my lovely lovely pen and an email from said editor entitled “DON’T HATE ME”.

I haven’t read her comments yet, but I think it’s fair to say that I am not as close to publication as I’d hoped. 

Still aiming for a September publish date, even if there are still many rewrites in my future.

But let’s talk about something else, like… my favourite time of year.

BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING!

(You thought I was going to say autumn. And yes, I do love autumn, but it has the unfair advantage of being associated with back-to-school-ness.)

It should be a holiday, in my opinion, celebrating learning, presents (or school supplies if you like—same thing) and anticipation of new beginnings! I’m not in school anymore, but I still love shopping for school supplies. I’ve already bought my planner for 2023 (I’ve boarded the hobonichi techo train, and got myself the weeks version) a set of midliners, and, of course, the new Lamy and a pretty bottle of ink in amazonite, which I managed to dunk my thumb in the moment I opened it and now under my nail is a lovely shade of green.

In other news, I ordered a bike online a few months ago and it FINALLY CAME! I’ve been riding it everywhere, even though my city is not the most accommodating for cyclists. Still, I love it. I rode every day to where I would write, got my work done, rode back, and boom, work and exercise done before noon. If I accomplish nothing else with my day, still pleased. (I’ve even ridden it throughout this rainy week we’ve been fortunate enough to have.)

And speaking of rain, it has been lovely reading weather.

And just what am I reading? 

BABEL!

So so so so so so good. I have been waiting for this book to come out for MONTHS and yes, I did go to Barnes and Noble the morning it came out. I’m really enjoying it. Taking my time to savor it, because I know I’ll only get to read this for the first time once.
All the the vibes. Seriously, it puts my own dark academia resistance story to shame and I LOVE IT.

(I took that photo in my car after just having left the bookstore, considering maybe I should just read a chapter or two in the truck before I went home.)

Anyway, one last plug to please buy or read on Kindle Unlimited my Relearning Magic series. I’m told that I should not make any post without plugging my stuff. 

Sounds tedious, but I’ll try it this time, just to see. 

That’s all for today.

Oh, wait. An update! Both my partner and I tested negative for Covid! We’re just… sick with something else that is also miserable. Hurrah!

Categories
Books Writing

Hodgepodge

This post will be a an assortment of what’s been on my mind lately.

This.

  https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473

And this.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/28/us/oklahoma-abortion-legislature.html

Currently reading these:

(Friend me on Goodreads so we can book-stalk each other.) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15019355.Kathryn_Amonett

My partner and I are talking about selling his car (though it’s 20 years old, so not sure how much we’ll get for it) and getting an e-vehicle.  I already have an e-motorcycle, but it’s not always safely ridable in Oklahoma wind and weather. But I’m not prepared to empty my savings, such as it is. I’m trying to think of ways I can live even greener. I am going to start a vegetable garden, but alas, I am not a greed thumb. 28th time’s the charm? I love love love the idea of eat fruit and veg fresh from my own garden, but the things I grow are not edible, let alone appetizing.  But I had a really blue few weeks and plants make me feel better, so giving gardening another go! I just let my own yard grow wild, but I’ll cultivate in a raised bed (which is a first. Maybe this is the key to success!)

Unsurprisingly, having two e-books on amazon does not make for a full time income. Can’t even buy groceries with it. So I’ve been giving plasma for money. Apart from the disastrous first attempt when I passed out, it’s been going well! It’s not the most glamorous life-style, but hey, it helps. It pays for groceries and books, at least! (Life’s two necessities.)

Actually, I can’t do blood, but I can do plasmapheresis!

I have a writer’s conference this weekend, so I have an opportunity to make local writer friends and network some! I’m half excited, half worried that I will be the only one wearing a mask.

Anyway, if you haven’t already, you can get books from my series here.

And my Creativity Planner here.

Please give them a read and a review!

Until next time, keep reading and keep trying to make the world a bit better.

Categories
Books Writing

Familiar Magic

Familiar Magic, the second in the Relearning Magic series is (finally) out! Hurrah!

Of course it is now April, which means it is Camp NaNo again, and yes, I’m working on the next in the series. My hope is to have the third and final one out by May’s end. Finger’s crossed.

Where Power Lies, the full length novel I’ve been working on for over two years should be out in the summer. (On for over. Three prepositions in a row!) If I had any business sense I would already be promoting it. There is a whole process for an indie author’s book launch; you should be doing blog or podcast interviews, there should be a cover reveal, a pre-order date, a big hoopla.

I’m terrible at hoopla. I’m still trying to get my head around the finishing the work and the posting the work. Advertising and release schedules are advanced level.

So for now, here is my new book. Please leave reviews, and recommend it to friends (you think will enjoy it.) It helps others see it. 

I’m still sort of in denial that this is what I do now. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Can’t wait to write out the novels that have been in my head and heart for so long once this little trilogy is done.

(Along with the writing, I’m finally getting proper medical treatment for my heart condition and it has made my life so much better. I don’t know why I went so long not taking care of myself!)

Anyone else hold off on doing something for so long? What made you finally do it? Or what’s still holding you back?

Categories
Writing

Phantasia

I have many weaknesses as a writer—too numerous to mention. But one, I realise, is probably more off-putting to readers than the rest.

My descriptions, especially of people.

“I want to know what happens in the story. Who cares what they look like?” I ask myself.

Well, a lot of people, it turns out. People who have a better imagination than I. 

I can’t remember the faces of people I know in real life. Can’t conjure their image even if I’ve known them since I was a child. When I think of them, appearance isn’t something my brain provides. When I try, the image it conjurers is unusually their profile photo from social media. (I can recognise them when I see them. Usually. If I know them well. Voices I remember.)

It’s one of those things that you don’t realise about yourself until you learn that others aren’t like that. Some people, when reading, apparently have a full technicolour film running through their head. When I read, I can follow the action, gestures, thoughts. But unless it’s somehow part of the story, (he had a vicious scar from his vicious past, or only one eye that unnerved people when it fixed on them…) the face just doesn’t appear. It’s blurred out.  Many times, their body is a blur, too. Clothing almost never distinguishes itself unless minutely portrayed by the author. 

There is a word for not being able to imagine anything.

Aphantasia. 

I can bring fuzzy images to mind, so I’m at least somewhat phantasic, I just can’t help but feel that a writer ought to be vividly phantasic. (I keep wanting to spell it, phantasTic.)

I’m not going to give up on writing, of course. I love stories and storytelling. But this is something that I will have to be more mindful of, and take care to practice going forward.

Do you also imagine vaguely? Or do you have the full movie going all the time? Let me know in the comments, I’d really like to know how many people are vivid imaginers and how many aren’t.

Categories
Books Writing

Back and Planning!

I arrived home from Spain and almost immediately had major surgery (planned and desired, nothing scary). Now I’m at a point in recovery where I can start getting back to my normal routine, such as it is. 

But I can continue NaNoWriMo in earnest, especially now that I have my planner! I created this  organiser because, frankly, I did not have the patience keep creating my own bullet journal pages every single day; it took up to much time that I could have been spending on writing. So I created this as a bullet journal for the daily artist (or for the days when you’re able to do your work.) It is a place to give your mind direction when you sit down to do your art, track your progress (in words, scenes, stanzas, frames, photos, sketches, or just time spent creatively) and keep a record of what you’ve accomplished.

My designer friend did the cover and the layout, and I must say, I’m quite pleased. She got it exactly the way I asked. I’m quite lucky to have artistic friends and family, because I have absolutely zero talent when it comes to visual arts.

Okay, this update is both untimely and too brief, but I really want to get writing!!!

Later!

Categories
Travel Writing

El fin del Camino

Friday 8 October

Today we walked the final 11 miles to Santiago. I am a dreadful guide, because I said you only need one stamp a day, when you really need two. So they will not get their compostela certificate that proves they did the pilgrimage. They will have nothing to show for their efforts but blisters, bruises, sore muscles, photos and memories.

(Another thing to note: while I get along in Spanish quite comfortably, I have the hardest time speaking to elderly Gallegos— their wispy voices and unfamiliar accents sound more Portuguese to me.)

We couldn’t get into the accommodation we booked, because the ap through with we booked wasn’t sending messages to the host, so we had to improvise. It all worked out in the end. But after sorting out where we would be sleeping for the night, we went to the train station to book tickets for Madrid the following day. Only all the trains were full, but tomorrow and the following day, and my sister needed to be in Madrid to catch her flight. So I checked the bus station. They were no longer open. I was told to come back tomorrow. But checking online, I saw that the bus for the following day was also completely booked (to my immense relief; I do not do well on busses and it would have been a 10-hour trip.. So we ended up flying from Santiago to Madrid. 

October 11

H and I made it to Toledo yesterday, where we will spend the final days of our trip. 

And after an army of shouting/singing girls marched down the street, a kindly pigeon serenaded us to sleep. 

(The view from our room is actually a wall, but if you lean out of the tiny balcony and look down the street, you can see the cathedral.)

Writing on the camino…. Barely happened.  We would arrive at our day’s final destination at 6 or so in the evening, utterly exhausted, and barely had the energy and brain power to eat, let alone write. 

Now I have 4 days here to finish the next in the Relearning Magic series. Toledo seems like a place where locals come on vacation. Really a charming little spot just a 30-minute train from Madrid. Like Cordoba, it is a city of three cultures, where Jewish, Christian, and Muslim culture all played important roles in its history, which is reflected in the architecture. Suits of armour seem to be a very popular decorative element. And I’ve never seen so many shops that sell weapons. If I bothered to learn a bit more about the city/fortress’s embattled  history, no doubt I would discover all sorts of interesting details. And as I pass through the town’s narrow streets, I keep seeing various signs for brujería, or witchy-ness. I saw a storefront with witchy night tours, and that was an element of the town I hadn’t heard of. Apparently as well as the three major abrahamic religions, there is also a history of the occult, magic, and necromancy. Who knew! 

But I’m not here to be a tourist. I’ve come to rest my knee (which decided to give out on the final 10 kilometres, and has been troubling me ever since) and write. So I intend to get a thorough tour of the city’s cafes, but not much else.

Lazy of body and active of mind is the intended programme. Perhaps if I’ve made my word count for the day, I’ll take a night tour of Magic Toledo. 

So, better get to it!

Categories
Travel Uncategorized Writing

Hello, from Madrid

It is Friday! Which means writing for the blog and should be working on EOM… but it is also my last day before beginning the Camino de Santiago. (Which I have actually blogged about before if you care to scroll back far enough.

I wanted to fill this blog with beautiful descriptions of my travels. I used to do that wish so much pleasure. But this time I’ve been working so consistently on fiction that I’ve barely had time to reflect on the amazing things I’ve seen, like Alhambra, Sacromonte, cathedrals of Cordoba and its towers, the old quarter patios… When I travelled alone, I had no one to make my remarks to, so I wrote everything down. But now that I’m travelling with someone, there seems to be much less time for reflection.

Writing is, at its heart, a solitary business.

Whenever and wherever my next trip will be, I think I should like to take it alone. Else, not expect myself to get much writing done.

During our days in Madrid, the highlight would have to be a string quartet of old men who were playing  on Calle de Alcalá. They played so beautifully that I sat there and listened the entire time they played, applauding obnoxiously every time the finished a piece and singing along to both version of Ave Maria they played. It truly made my day (which was looking pretty grim, as our hostel didn’t give us access to a kettle and we were having a dreadful time trying to find one. But! We ended up finding a little water warmer right after they packed up and we started to head back.)

Things I probably shouldn’t love, but still do and won’t apologise for

Pigeons. I love them and I revel when they triumph. They make lovely sounds and people are only disgusted by them because they eat all the rubbish on the ground. Well, that’s OUR FAULT for leaving rubbish everywhere and not leaving them room to find good stuff. Seeing someone who is being mean to birds getting pooed on by one feels like righteous justice. I’m team pigeon all the way. Also team crow. And even, though they are a bit scarier, team seagull.

Seeing people pick their noses in their cars. It feels like a private space, but we can all see you. This tickles me every time. 

When dogs inconvenience their owners by stopping to smell a pole or bench. 

Fountain pens. This merits its own blog post. It’s not bad to like fountain pens, but my love borders on addiction. 

*

What is something you love that is weird but don’t care?

Categories
Travel Uncategorized Writing

Another small moment

Tragic day.

I had been so productive the last 36 hours. Writing every spare minute. The story was flying.

Then, when I went to save it to the cloud, the draft–half of my current work in progress–simply blipped out of existence, disappeared from the flash memory storage right before my eyes. 

Gutted. I’m absolutely gutted. I have to rewrite over 12,000 words. 

After staring at the wall for a quarter of an hour, I remembered that it is Friday. The day I write the blog and EOM. I’m not sure if I will write for EOM today or if I will attempt to redraft everything while it is fresh-ish in my memory.

But for now, I want to get away from the sadness and relate a lovely little thing that happened to me yesterday while visiting the gardens of Alhambra.

I saw a beautiful fountain framed by tall bushes, the sun was at just the right angle. I lined up the shot and just as I took the photo, a couple walked into the frame. T first I was annoyed, and waited from them to move on so I could get my photo. Then, looking at the pictures I had just taken, I realised that the one with the couple in it was so much better. I chased them down and awkwardly told them how I had accidentally taken their photo. I showed it to them and asked if they would like me to send it to them. 

They did. And what started out as just an awkward exchange became a pleasantly awkward exchange.