Blog post
1/16/2019I have not written on the ideas illuminated below. Just yet. I plan on it. I really am enjoying my NANO for 2018. It is a story that has long been rolling around in my mind. I must admit though, the story has not been going in the direction I thought it would, which, honestly, may turn that idea or direction into another story.
I am tired and overwhelmed, but am hoping that once I get caught up on some things, a little bit of breathing room will exist in which to write. My goal is to write on Mondays and to try and get through the area wheere I am filling a little backstory. I want to get back to my female character when she arrives on the other side of the spring. I think this part about the male cahracter is being written in too many chunks, and my novel-map is non-existent really. So that means I end up missing details. I'm not sure either, about the canyon, but I think it is a necessary part.
I would like to write at least twice a week and add about 20k words by the end of May (if not April).
Regards,
The pretend author. :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 3/9/16
I am working on setting up my poetry blog. I am hoping that if I set it up, I will actually accomplish writing something. But this remains a hope. This week I did get the design of the blog set up. It is pink. It doesn't have any static pages yet. I think I will have a poetry page, an idea page, and a possible longer writing page. I have 2 ideas floating around in my head regarding poems. The first one is titled "38 things you do for me". (I hope to have this one done by the end of school. But in order to do that I need to make sure it is done by the end of April as May gets crazy.) The second one is based on a news article I saw a while ago. I am sad that they won't be preserved and are being "removed" for a bridge. But such is progress. I am fascinated by this idea. Here is the link: Tucson footprints so old.
 |
| ancient Footprint-- Who was this person? |
Alas it is a good start and I must realize the reasons it is not farther along. First, I am working to get all of my students' work graded as grades for the end of the quarter come out next week. I am working on planning a unit for the juniors around the novel Snow Falling on Cedars, while trying to understand our district's standards and how to adjust them. I am working on trying to keep my Seniors on track and motivated. We just finished the novel 1984 and will complete the summative next week. And I am trying to plan the graduation speech unit in such a way that students who wish to can audition to speak at graduation, and I'm still waiting on the schedule for the testing week after spring break. My creative writing class is just starting to write their scripts and they are panicky because I am not letting them freewrite the scripts, taking it step by step. I am also working on next quarter's ideas: Short stories or The Hobbit, writing basics or hero's journey? And the icing on this busy cake is my family. Next week I hope to have at least one poem written. I will also evaluate whether or not to upload an already written poem.
 |
| 1984 Oceania/BB Slogans |
Blog Post aka "Weekly Reflection"
3/15/16Another week has passed and I still did not write! Arg! This poetry book will not happen unless I set aside time. I wish there was a way to record the poems directly from my head. I did, however, come up with a theme for the "book". I thought about making it semi-autobiographical. Which is confusing. Let me explain. I think this "book" and the poetry within it should follow the natural progression of my life. For instance, it might have sections divided into age groups, or for me it might be divided into moving events. This idea would allow me to include poetry written during my college years as well. And I know that some of them deal with being a new mom, and recent stuff would deal with being an "old" but new mom. HA!
Things that have kept me from completing my project this week. Grades are due this week, so I have a lot of students playing catch-up which takes time but to me is worth it. This past weekend I attended the Tucson Fesitival of Books, which was the best one in the last few years. More stuff to do for the kids and the weather was great. I'm busy trying to decide how to teach and use the novel I mentioned last week, and I'm still deciding between the Hero's Journey and short stories for one class. I am super excited about next quarter with the seniors! GRADUATION SPEECHES!! WHOOOHOO! It is a super awesome unit. Plus we will be moving into finishing up the #PVhasPassion projects as well. And there are softball games! And Free comic book DAY!! And Graduation and an 8th grade promotion to look forward to.
 |
| http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/ |
Blog Post aka "Weekly Reflection"
4/13/16
I haven't worked on the poetry part of this project yet. I'm thinking I should do a couple of things to help me. First, make it a WRITER blog. Second, stop going to sleep when I have ideas. I also need to get back in the habit of carrying a notepad with me, so when I think of something I can jot it down. Tried using my phone notepad ap, but it annoys me. I did however write a beginning--such as it is--to my Story In Progress. It is actually a shoot off of a story I wrote about 10 years ago, but has an element that I have been trying to use/figure out for longer than that. The setting is a place I went once on horseback with my dad and sister. Every spring when I smell the purple desert willow blooms I think of this place and the spring. I'm trying to incorporate the spring as a possible doorway, but I haven't figured out (or the story hasn't shown me yet) where this is supposed to go. I really need to sketch out my character, even though I believe I know her. But I knew her 10 years ago, and I believe she has changed. Maybe change is the wrong word. Grown might be more accurate. But she has grown, or matured, while retaining her inner self...
 |
| The desert willow flower. It is actually a tree. |
Things that have gotten in the way: Quite simply Life. I got new glasses that took 3 weeks to bring in. My babies aren't sleeping so I am really tired when I get home. I planted some of my garden and I need to work on turning the soil in my main garden this weekend. And maybe weed my front yard, I hope! Plus a wedding this weekend, and chores. But I am not complaining. Rather realizing that I have to make the time. And in that "made" time, maybe I can squeeze in a run. Plus grading and planning. Still have 4-5 scripts to grade, which is taking me longer than I thought. And I am beginning the MONSTER unit next week with the seniors! YAY!! WHOOO! Got to make sure all of that is planned. :)
Blog Post aka "Weekly Reflection"
I had a thought today that might advance the story above. But a little background first; if the spring in the oasis is going to be a portal of some sort, maybe my character sees hints of this "other world" in her daily life. For instance, she sits in a meeting or class and looks at a blank index card. Around this index card is a slightly navy blue bright line. The line is not on the index card but as she holds the card away from her above the carpet, she sees the white of the index card, the multi-colored, multipurpose carpet and in between these sights is a blue line. It is there but not there and seems to be a figment of her eyes or imagination? This character also sees this blue shadow around headlights during the day. Might be an option. However, does the blue line appear around the stream or around the entrance to the oasis? Or Both?
So I have accomplished something. Still thinking of this story, which is an accomplishment. I just can't lose this train of thought in the weeks that are coming up. It is the end of the year, with graduation for my seniors right around the corner. This means lots of preparation, writing final exams, calls/letters home, final copies to be made, cleaning, packing up of my room, planning summer PLCs and trainings, and eldest's promotion stuff. Exciting but oh so much work!! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment