Ola! I'm back from my little break. In case you're wondering what I've been up to, here we go!
First, I'm checking Facebook all the time, which I never do, because I'm anticipating the birth of my new nephew! He's the second grand-baby and in my case, nephew, in the family and I'm so excited. And I'm trying to finish crocheting his baby blanket too.
I've been trying to take better care of my vessel -wake earlier, work out more consistently, eat better. My poor body has been getting short shrift due to my always ambitious goals and busy life.
I have not been writing two hours a night, since I needed space from my current manuscript. There is a new story that's toying with me, but I'm not ready to jump into it yet. Now I've started doing one last round of eagle eye before sending out a couple of queries and I'm experiencing huge internal resistance. More on that later!
And of course I've been lurking on Tumblr when I get melancholy. Which happens when I'm getting ready to query. If you're good at reading between the lines you can read me like a book on my Tumblr.
I've been reading (or half-reading) a few books but I've been disappointed. I'm reading too critically. I think I'm turning into an agent. This is not good. But you know me - I'm still out there looking for my next read. Just downloaded five samples on my Kindle last night.
And of course I've been watching way too many summer movies...
The new X-Men. Felt a little cheesy at times, but this is the X-Men franchise after all. But points for a killer cast, especially the two lead actors, and the early 1960s vibe.
Super 8. Ah nostalgia. My favorite part of this film were the scenes where the kids were together just being kids in a late 70s small town. I'm a huge JJ Abrams fan since the days of Alias. If his name is attached I'll go. His stuff isn't perfect, but he knows how to work his audience and he's not afraid to go big.
And speaking of nostalgia and movies, you must go see Midnight in Paris right now! I saw it this weekend and it was brilliant. I wasn't expecting brilliance. I just went because (duh) I have this thing for Paris. I went into the movie knowing little about it and that made it even better. It so resonated with me - a writer working on a novel and he's not sure if it's any good and afraid to let people read it. He idealizes the past and dreams about life being better then, and when his fantasies come true he learns it wasn't all he thought it would be. Ah, this movie played me like a violin. The people in my movie theater clapped at the end and I felt a little bit like clapping myself.
p.s. Here's a terrific article on NYT about the real art scene in Paris in the 1920s that inspires much of the movie.
Again, it feels like you are writing my artistic life, just in a different medium! I recently went through a phase where all of the pictures I looked at bored me. I went through an "It's all been done, what's the point?" phase and it was awful. Best advice I read was to stop looking for awhile and do. It may not have worked me all the through the slump, but it gave me a boost.
ReplyDeletei want to see midnight in paris! i love woody allen films. These days, i am just trying to take it easy. i am having a time staying with books. these days, i am really into just writing and keeping it simple.
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie! I missed your hiatus while I was on mine! I've missed a lot! I try to post now and then, but, Gosh! After doing this for a little while, sometimes what I think I want to say seems so trite. I have an awful lot of drafts. :) I think Facebook receives a lot of the short posts that might have made it to blogs, too . . . do you see that, too? On that note, I think I'll go blog something that I just posted on FB! ;)
ReplyDeleteCongratualtions on your new little nephew! I pray everything is textbook perfect!
Hugs!
~Debbi
Maybe I chickened out. :) I thought I might email you, but . . . I thought I should tell you that the email link on your 'About Me' page takes one to your Goodreads. So I'll send you a Goodreads friend request, but I thought you might like to know. :)
ReplyDelete~Debbi
Oh my gosh! I saw this movie last weekend and during it I totally thought of you and your journey as you write your novel. Isn't that crazy?! I think it is, especially since we have never met. But I swear when I was watching this I was thinking, "she should really see this movie. she would love it."
ReplyDeleteAnd then I read this post, and I no longer doubt my thought. I am so glad you liked it. I loved it and catch myself still thinking about it.
Oh, now I really want to see Midnight in Paris ... it sounds like just the movie for me too! :)
ReplyDelete