I'm sure many of you follow Janet Reid's blog, so if you've seen this already, good for you.
...I really can't put into words how much I want to pull my light table out of storage and start drawing/animating after viewing that short.
There's a magic and beauty in classical (hand drawn) animation that you just can't find in any other medium.
The short is about longing... and that's certainly what I'm feeling.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Eva and I did it!
We walked all the way around the Stanley Park portion of the Seawall, which we've been building up to.
Well, we actually walked farther because I missed the path from English Bay that cuts around Lost Lagoon and meets up at the off-leash dog park.
So, probably closer to 15-15.5 km, plus several stops on the beach, and two ball-throwing sessions at the dog park. We went out at 9:30am and got back just before 2:00pm.
Eva has been crashed on the sofa ever since. Poor little pooped pup.
I'll make sure walk #2 (in about half an hour) will be on the short side ;)
Oh, I've also been working a little on editing (the recently re-titled) "The Rules of Riding Shotgun".
The biggest problem with the MS, at this point, is the likability (or lack there of) of the two main characters. Well, Triss, mostly.
Which is very tricky editing.
The hardest thing about writing an unreliable narrator is showing what the other characters are *truly* like, despite being seen through the MC's warped lens.
...and while Triss' bravado is mostly just that, there seems to be a very fine line between what the MC believes is true, and what the reader believes is true.
Because there should be a difference.
One of the main components of the MC's growth is recognizing that s/he is viewing Triss through a warped lens, but the reader should clue into that much earlier than the MC.
So, I'm taking it piece by piece, scene by scene, and trying to create a little more dimension/wiggle-room.
...and I suppose I won't even know if I've succeeded until I pass it along to readers :)
This is one of those times where I curse my own brain for making me write something unnecessarily complicated... but at the same time, I know that if I actually manage to succeed, that I'm going to be so damn proud that I was able to pull this off.
Well, we actually walked farther because I missed the path from English Bay that cuts around Lost Lagoon and meets up at the off-leash dog park.
So, probably closer to 15-15.5 km, plus several stops on the beach, and two ball-throwing sessions at the dog park. We went out at 9:30am and got back just before 2:00pm.
Eva has been crashed on the sofa ever since. Poor little pooped pup.
I'll make sure walk #2 (in about half an hour) will be on the short side ;)
Oh, I've also been working a little on editing (the recently re-titled) "The Rules of Riding Shotgun".
The biggest problem with the MS, at this point, is the likability (or lack there of) of the two main characters. Well, Triss, mostly.
Which is very tricky editing.
The hardest thing about writing an unreliable narrator is showing what the other characters are *truly* like, despite being seen through the MC's warped lens.
...and while Triss' bravado is mostly just that, there seems to be a very fine line between what the MC believes is true, and what the reader believes is true.
Because there should be a difference.
One of the main components of the MC's growth is recognizing that s/he is viewing Triss through a warped lens, but the reader should clue into that much earlier than the MC.
So, I'm taking it piece by piece, scene by scene, and trying to create a little more dimension/wiggle-room.
...and I suppose I won't even know if I've succeeded until I pass it along to readers :)
This is one of those times where I curse my own brain for making me write something unnecessarily complicated... but at the same time, I know that if I actually manage to succeed, that I'm going to be so damn proud that I was able to pull this off.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Rules of Riding Shotgun
So, yes, as of today, I'm officially changing the title of "Brake Fluid & Body Bags" to something along the lines of:
"_ Rules of Riding Shotgun"
Notice the "_" in the title? That's 'cause I think I might put a number there, I just haven't decided on how many rules there are.
So far, I have six:
...any other suggestions, or do you think this covers it?
...also, for those grammar nazis out there, should it be "rules OF riding" or "rules FOR riding"? My ear wants it to be 'for', but 'of' seems to be more correct? If it's 'of', my brain wants to add 'the' to the beginning.
Sorry if I'm being confusing... here are the two I'm flipping between:
"The Six Rules of Riding Shotgun"
"Six Rules for Riding Shotgun"
Personally, I like the second one better, I'm just not sure it's grammatically correct
Due to... a number of people suggesting it, the "Rules" are also going to carry through the story better. In my current draft, they were almost secondary, but for the MC, these aren't only the rules of riding shotgun, they are the rules as to how he/she understands relationships with the people around him/her.
Follow the rules, or you get discarded/thrown away.
So, duh. They're pretty important, and I'm an idiot for letting them lapse into the background.
Anyways, would love to hear what you guys think :)
"_ Rules of Riding Shotgun"
Notice the "_" in the title? That's 'cause I think I might put a number there, I just haven't decided on how many rules there are.
So far, I have six:
Don’t ask stupid questions
Don’t talk back
Always obey the driver
Always trust the driver
Always obey the driver
Always trust the driver
Never lie to the driver
Never assume you have the right to ride shotgun
...any other suggestions, or do you think this covers it?
...also, for those grammar nazis out there, should it be "rules OF riding" or "rules FOR riding"? My ear wants it to be 'for', but 'of' seems to be more correct? If it's 'of', my brain wants to add 'the' to the beginning.
Sorry if I'm being confusing... here are the two I'm flipping between:
"The Six Rules of Riding Shotgun"
"Six Rules for Riding Shotgun"
Personally, I like the second one better, I'm just not sure it's grammatically correct
Due to... a number of people suggesting it, the "Rules" are also going to carry through the story better. In my current draft, they were almost secondary, but for the MC, these aren't only the rules of riding shotgun, they are the rules as to how he/she understands relationships with the people around him/her.
Follow the rules, or you get discarded/thrown away.
So, duh. They're pretty important, and I'm an idiot for letting them lapse into the background.
Anyways, would love to hear what you guys think :)
Monday, March 4, 2013
Wow, brain = fried
I literally spent all day today completing that MS critique, and almost turned off the computer when I typed my last in-document-comment around 7:30pm... but then I thought of how nice it would be to send it tonight so the author can have it all with no (further) delay.
So, a little more than two hours later, my summarizing commentary (4 single-spaced pages) is done, and I have sent it off.
I am hoping my in-document-comments will not make her burn me in effigy, as I added somewhere between 20,000-25,000 words to her MS... of just comments.
Yes, I have been told my critiques are overwhelming, which is why I normally do not send that file to people, just my "summary", but she requested it this time... and she had fair warning.
...and that's why I don't often take on beta-reading/critiquing projects, as I am incredibly thorough and it takes a lot out of me. My brain doesn't have the same stamina than non-dyslexic brains have... even small things make it work harder, and I get tired easily. But I still enjoy it. I wouldn't do it if I didn't.
Hopefully my comments will be helpful, as hers (on Brake Fluid), will be helpful when I get back to that story. She was the... third? person to suggest a title change, and I've almost made up my mind to do just that. I don't have any particular sentimentality/attachment to the current one, that was just the first thing that popped into my brain, and the title suggested (by everyone) is so ridiculously obvious I kinda feel like slapping myself on the forehead and saying, "duh."
Funny how the dyslexic brain works (or doesn't work). I've been so focused all day, used every scrap of my incredible powers of singularly-chasing-that-ball, and now that *work* is done, I swear my eyes have been glazed with a thick coating of lime Jello. Typing anything more than email for a couple days will certainly be difficult.
My mind feels floppy.
Does your mind feel floppy after a day like that?
What are your thoughts on critiquing/beta-reading? How in-depth do you usually go? Do you stick with line edits, or go for more of the over-arching things like pacing, character development, etc? Do you like giving critiques, or do you find it a chore?
What do you consider a *good* critique? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by comments, or do you usually hunger for more?
I'm definitely in the "shred it up and feed it back to me in small pieces" camp :) But then, some of you should already know that, as I am a self-proclaimed-masochist when it comes to receiving feedback ;)
So, a little more than two hours later, my summarizing commentary (4 single-spaced pages) is done, and I have sent it off.
I am hoping my in-document-comments will not make her burn me in effigy, as I added somewhere between 20,000-25,000 words to her MS... of just comments.
Yes, I have been told my critiques are overwhelming, which is why I normally do not send that file to people, just my "summary", but she requested it this time... and she had fair warning.
...and that's why I don't often take on beta-reading/critiquing projects, as I am incredibly thorough and it takes a lot out of me. My brain doesn't have the same stamina than non-dyslexic brains have... even small things make it work harder, and I get tired easily. But I still enjoy it. I wouldn't do it if I didn't.
Hopefully my comments will be helpful, as hers (on Brake Fluid), will be helpful when I get back to that story. She was the... third? person to suggest a title change, and I've almost made up my mind to do just that. I don't have any particular sentimentality/attachment to the current one, that was just the first thing that popped into my brain, and the title suggested (by everyone) is so ridiculously obvious I kinda feel like slapping myself on the forehead and saying, "duh."
Funny how the dyslexic brain works (or doesn't work). I've been so focused all day, used every scrap of my incredible powers of singularly-chasing-that-ball, and now that *work* is done, I swear my eyes have been glazed with a thick coating of lime Jello. Typing anything more than email for a couple days will certainly be difficult.
My mind feels floppy.
Does your mind feel floppy after a day like that?
What are your thoughts on critiquing/beta-reading? How in-depth do you usually go? Do you stick with line edits, or go for more of the over-arching things like pacing, character development, etc? Do you like giving critiques, or do you find it a chore?
What do you consider a *good* critique? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by comments, or do you usually hunger for more?
I'm definitely in the "shred it up and feed it back to me in small pieces" camp :) But then, some of you should already know that, as I am a self-proclaimed-masochist when it comes to receiving feedback ;)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Winding down on responsibilities, winding up on writing
I've been in Vancouver for 2.5 weeks, and I've pretty much settled into the place, made it my own, and developed a quiet routine with lots and lots of walking (I even broke a pair of shoes last week on the Seawall).
Because of my back, I was unable to drive out to see my sister on her birthday, so Friday I had lunch with her, our mom, and my nephew.
I've changed my cell phone to a local number, and blind cc'd my entire address book with my new contact information.
Now, the only responsibility hanging over my head is finishing up a MS critique I promised... oh, about 5 minutes before everything blew up in January. Normally I don't take this long. Normally, I can get through an entire MS in a week... but no matter what else is going on, I have pride in the quality of work I provide, and I had no intention of working on it when my brain was all over the place.
I've tried getting into a couple books (I brought a stack of physical books with me from Victoria), but keep putting them down after a couple pages.
...'cause what my brain is really wanting to get back to, is writing.
All the long walks with Eva have been great for mind, body & soul, but when my mind is recharged... it wants to work. Hard. Reading isn't enough. TV or movies aren't enough. I need to submerge myself under a dozen layers of miry character motivation, so when I roll over and look up through the conflicting chaos, I can see the direction of light and movement that makes everything fit together. The order of how it works.
Thankfully nothing has boiled over, to the point where it wakes me up at night, but it's on the edge... that stage where the surface of the water ripples, but doesn't yet bubble.
So far, it's also unfocused. I don't know whether I'll leap into writing or editing, or even into which story.
For now, I'm enjoying that pleasant anticipation of 'good things to come'.
It's a beautifully sunny here today... we've had something like 52 mm of rain in the past three days (someone told me that, so I have no idea if that measure is accurate at all), and every time I've taken Eva out, I've gotten soaked clean through.
I'm looking forward to taking her out on the Seawall today and soaking up some Vitamin D.
Maybe this change in the weather will also push my brain over to the boiling point.
Because of my back, I was unable to drive out to see my sister on her birthday, so Friday I had lunch with her, our mom, and my nephew.
I've changed my cell phone to a local number, and blind cc'd my entire address book with my new contact information.
Now, the only responsibility hanging over my head is finishing up a MS critique I promised... oh, about 5 minutes before everything blew up in January. Normally I don't take this long. Normally, I can get through an entire MS in a week... but no matter what else is going on, I have pride in the quality of work I provide, and I had no intention of working on it when my brain was all over the place.
I've tried getting into a couple books (I brought a stack of physical books with me from Victoria), but keep putting them down after a couple pages.
...'cause what my brain is really wanting to get back to, is writing.
All the long walks with Eva have been great for mind, body & soul, but when my mind is recharged... it wants to work. Hard. Reading isn't enough. TV or movies aren't enough. I need to submerge myself under a dozen layers of miry character motivation, so when I roll over and look up through the conflicting chaos, I can see the direction of light and movement that makes everything fit together. The order of how it works.
Thankfully nothing has boiled over, to the point where it wakes me up at night, but it's on the edge... that stage where the surface of the water ripples, but doesn't yet bubble.
So far, it's also unfocused. I don't know whether I'll leap into writing or editing, or even into which story.
For now, I'm enjoying that pleasant anticipation of 'good things to come'.
It's a beautifully sunny here today... we've had something like 52 mm of rain in the past three days (someone told me that, so I have no idea if that measure is accurate at all), and every time I've taken Eva out, I've gotten soaked clean through.
I'm looking forward to taking her out on the Seawall today and soaking up some Vitamin D.
Maybe this change in the weather will also push my brain over to the boiling point.
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