Agonies of a Young Author

Like I've said before, I'm trying to really develop the idea of moving forward in my writing, really solidifying some standards that I expect of myself, and a baseline that I can look back on to gauge my progress. I'm also trying to build a resumé, whether for grad school or whatever. Anyways, I think, the biggest thing I can do for this, is obviously, get published, so I'm going to focus on writing contests for the next little while. 

I did some research, and found a nice site that seems to have a fair representation of legitimate contests (I have issues on this subject, but that's another blog post.) Hopefully I can get a few submissions out soon. 

Well, that's all for tonight. Goodnight. 

Right Now:

What I'm listening to: "Move My Heart to Stone" by Adele

Today, I'm happy. 

I'm happy that I have officially completed filled up my backpack scribbles mini-journal, and I have initiated a new one. 20 odd pages, front and back, of scribbles, yay! 

I'm happy that I've been fairly prolific these past two/three days. Without intention. Amazing...

I'm happy that I have new writing goals for myself- and ones that are defined, like "I will write [x,y, and z] instead of my previous goals of "I will publish". Definition is the key my friend. Set goals, constantly reviewed. 

And I'm happy that I have a set plan for school course schedules for the summer and the fall. Surprising no English classes, which makes me- well, happy. I'm hoping that taking away that constant literary stimulus will cause me to seek it in creative writing, and not reading. We'll see!

Right Now:

What I'm listening to: "Call N Return" by Hellogoodbye

What I want most: fruit. I need to make a grocery run.

Ahhhh my life! (*groan*)

So busy! I don't know what happened. But I'm bound and determined to continue posting, even if I can only spare the time for brief ones. 

I went today to look at my website, to see if the technological problems that have been hounding me for a while have dissappeared (they haven't), and I looked at some of the features that I included from the templet page. One was the rudimentary beginnings of a blog, the "Updates" page, and I just really cracked up to see how different a writer I was, even a year or a few months ago. I lamented about how I was supposed to write, when I had nothing to write about, and how on earth did other writers find meaningful subjects, and implant metaphors and motifs into their writing... 

I'm still laughing. I thought that I could revolutionize social thought in my writing, if only I had a subject to start with.... 

I also looked at some of my earlier poems, to see if I could recycle any for an upcoming submission. Again, laughter ensued. I thought that spewing out words that rhymed at the first go was poetry. I was content with my first draft, and just continued on-- wrote and wrote and wrote, without thought. If it rhymed, it went on the page. The rhyme schemes were ridiculous, stream with dream and seem, in a very Dr. Suess-ian way. (Although some of my Dr. Suess-esque writings I'm very proud of.)  I wasn't concerned with revision or placement or word choice or anything. I was streamlining the process, going to the roots, the primal heart of the mind in stream-of-consciousness. 

I wrote a poem the other day that showed how much I've matured. There was no rhyme scheme, just meter. There was several revisions, with addition and subtraction both. There was analysis of content. And after all this, I still stuck it in the back of a drawer because it wasn't "there" yet. I'm very proud of how much I've changed, and I can't wait until the day when I look back on that poem and say, "What was I thinking?"

Right Now: 

What I'm listening to: ADELE "Melt My Heart to Stone"

What I want most: FOOD! I'm hungry. 

Sigh. Back to the salt mines. 

...because the internet is not always your best friend. 

Several posts ago, I went on a bit of a rant about how one blog comment strikingly did offend me, and I've come to rather regretting the instant accessibility to the web and shooting off my mouth without stopping to think about what I'm saying. I could have got into a lot of trouble over it. Or, instead, let's say that their could be serious consequences from such actions. I didn't experience anything this time, but that doesn't mean next time I'll be so lucky. (I have a phobia about consequences, usually because I always have to face them head on in the most unpleasant manner.)

So on the topic of inappropriate blogging habits, here's an article on writer-reader interactions. Lately, this subject has popped up all OVER the place, and I'm really bemused by all the literary-- well, drama (to use a very high school-ish term, but surprisingly, it's very apt.) Writers here and there up in arms over some new Internet controversy. It's funny and ridiculous and sad and so many things going on at once...

Oh, blogging...

Right Now: 

What I'm Listening to: "Memphis" by Old School Freight Train

What I want most: aspirin 

When I was first shopping around, I read reviews that said the Kindle was designed mostly for newspapers and magazines, and I said "Nah, that's not for me," but as we know, my obsession with magazines has grown, and I almost would buy it on that point alone. But what really drives me is the discovery that Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.com DON"T STOCK THE SAME BOOKS!!! (who knew? I was so shocked!) I went on B&N to find a new author I was interested in, and they didn't stock her, at all. I was so confused, until I had the epiphany- two companies, two stocks! Which actually kind of makes me mad, although logically I know it shouldn't be so affecting. So the availability of products is one incentive, and the instantaneous download is another huge one. No more synching, no more searching for cords, no more tangled cords or lost or unknown application cords, no more compatibility issues... just instantaneous downloads, and from the Kindle WiFi. I know I would have a hard time keeping my hands off in class- but on the bus, on the plane? Seriously tempting. 

Plus, I would really like a handheld device again. The plane ride back from Spring Break was a little ridiculous, trying to manipulate the Fictionwise website so that I had access to all the books I wanted, and taking care of the computer and the stow-away tray, and the... yeah. Hand-held would be nice. 

Right Now:

What I'm listening to: "Je cours" by Kyo

What I want most: I think, the Kindle