tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79090607291557505272023-11-16T07:34:26.779-05:00Lesser ApricotsPerrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-27310867749268430592011-10-18T18:05:00.005-04:002011-10-18T20:55:57.107-04:007X7 Link Award!<div><br /></div><div>I have been a very bad blogger lately. </div><div><br /></div><div>The absent, not very engaged kind. I'm sorry about that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Life just went wildly busy as the school year began. I am starting to realize I can't work full-time, commute 12 hours a week, raise 3 children, manage a farm and household (with help from Dan), belong to 2 writing groups, write/revise my 2 1/2 novels AND blog about it all too.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm afraid "Lesser Apricots" has proven easier to ditch than the herd of sheep. At least I didn't have to chase IT all over the yard today and back into the pasture. (grrr!)</div><div><br /></div><div>But look!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4Os-UjFZDjUL5NTsX79laM4QjWAJjigHQ-BAs2pWrUMh_z7Yfe4dJI0Q-VwwAdd2_q6avbG9BT4snlUQmec2aOfoiO_wAjbBXMQRG82w9MTWbE-OGpBJo6ArjeJe1Hw2jwbF-q1A688/s1600/7by7link.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lisa over at the fabulous <a href="http://lisachickos.blogspot.com/">Kicked, Cornered and Bitten</a> has sent an award my way. In this award, bloggers hold their own old posts up to the light-- maybe giving new readers a chance to check out the old gems in certain preordained categories.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So here goes:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Most Beautiful post:</b></span> Perhaps "Beautiful" is not the right descriptor, but I really felt I said something kinda cool and important with "<a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2011/04/work-and-work.html">Work and the Work</a>". It's about how my work with challenging teens relates to my work as a writer. Not exactly beautiful or even profound, but I think I said exactly what I meant to with that one. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Mirror.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Most Popular Post:</b></span> A surprising one. <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2010/09/unknowable.html">"Unknowable"</a> a <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2010/09/unknowable.html">post about a monkey who adopted a kitten</a> (really) but really, there's more to it than that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/8/25/1282748500372/A-long-tailed-macaque-mon-004.jpg" alt="Monkey adopts Kitten: A long tailed macaque monkey adopted a kitten in Bali, Indonesia" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Most Controversial Post:</span></b> A<a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-06-28T09%3A46%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=50"> One Hit Wonder post</a> is the most controversial so far (What that says about me, the blog or my readers I just don't know...). I mistakenly labeled the group "Madness" as a one-hit wonder. ooops. I'm afraid I rely on faulty-- or Americo-centric-- sources.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4p4RWBCEFRo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Most Helpful Post: </b></span>This is a two parter-- a summary of what I learned at <a href="http://grubstreet.org/index.php?id=929">The Muse and The Marketplace</a> last spring (<a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-i-learned-from-muse-part-1.html">Part One</a>/<a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-i-learned-from-muse-part-2.html">Part Two</a>)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Coolest Post? </span></b>Okay, I made this category up. But what about all those one hit wonders? Though they are neither helpful, beautiful or profound, I couldn't leave them off my list! So <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/search/label/One%20Hit%20Wonders">here </a>they are post after post of flash-in-the-pan cool.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Most Surprisingly Successful: </b></span><a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2010/12/random-book-review.html">My review of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"</a>. Hate to say it, but this was probably due to random Google searches. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Post that Didn't Get the Attention it Deserved:</b></span> <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2010/07/going-all-picasso.html">Going All Picasso</a> about how great artists can break the rules. Perhaps even "telling" rather than "showing" when the story calls of it. No one had much to say about this. Perhaps you all just 100% agree?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/LRG/35/3572/C462F00Z.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And the<span class="Apple-style-span" ><b> Post that I am Most Proud of:</b></span> Hmmm. Posts? Proud? It's all a blur. But I do like <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2010/09/unknown-current.html">this one</a>, about the mystery of the creative process, birth and "birth." I'm also pretty proud of my <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-john-henry-means-to-me.html">John Henry post </a>(This one could be called the 'most controversial' too as the folk hero's story can be interpreted in all sorts of ways.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1nWiFd7UHiEfHa5hA1IMJt5IYhrCJMQujo821-7JFyeo8yYHPzFeeA5A17zaB3hNjEhYX8Onv6jGtq1QRHFCEGM7sX4mTGEhFDuojT5fkEmNrO_0U9KA_lC1hUDWjCEuCks9gApQTUH_/s320/pond.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm sending this award on to a few cool, newly discovered bloggers out there:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To Ashley at <a href="http://www.ashleyelston.blogspot.com/">Ashely Elston</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">PK Hrezo at <a href="http://pk-hrezo.blogspot.com/">My Fiction Addiction</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">C Lee McKenzie at <a href="http://writegame.blogspot.com/">The Write Game</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">and Lea McFalls at <a href="http://wantonredheadwriting.blogspot.com/">Wanton Redhead Writing</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks again, Lisa. You gave me the bloggy push I needed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-91665456025312577872011-09-15T14:29:00.004-04:002011-09-15T14:48:25.577-04:00Your Weekly One Hit Wonder!Well, sort of weekly....<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, its a good one today. "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not only is this 1984 hit one of those timeless tunes everybody (EVERYBODY!) knows, but this the best bad video ever! I especially love the trench coats. </div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bBlbPw7WAqM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>On a whole other (less humorous) note: I love how this video reverses the traditional "average-looking male singer surrounded by beautiful, scantily clad women" dynamic. 1984 never looked so cutting edge-- well, not cutting edge exactly, but... interesting. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-27374584477208487972011-09-08T14:21:00.002-04:002011-09-08T14:52:36.720-04:00Random Book Review: "My Life as a Fake" by Peter Carey<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm101738338/my-life-as-fake-peter-carey-paperback-cover-art.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, I'll just say this straight off: I loved this book. It's a sort of creepy, semi-supernatural, literary mystery with roots in a historic Australian literary hoax. In short, a hard book to sum up, but one that is easy to appreciate. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's what Amazon says about it:</div><div><br /></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: small; ">In Melbourne in the 1950s, an arrogant young Australian poet named Christopher Chubb decides to teach his country a lesson about pretension and authenticity. Choosing as his target the trendiest of the literary magazines, he submits for publication the entire oeuvre of one Bob McCorkle, a working class poet of raw power and sexual frankness, conveniently dead at twenty-four and entirely the product of Chubb’s imagination. Not only does the magazine fall for the hoax, but the local authorities also sue its editor for publishing obscenity. At the trial someone uncannily resembling the faked photograph of the invented McCorkle leaps to his feet. At this moment a horrified Chubb is confronted by the malevolent being he has himself manufactured."</span></div><div><br /></div><div>But this description is all backstory. </div><div><br /></div><div>The "present" of the novel concerns Sarah Wode-Douglass, lover of poetry and editor of the "Modern Review" who, on a sort of whim, accompanies a lecherous old friend of her long-dead parents to Malaysia. There she finds a desperate Australian bicycle repairman reading obscure literature. The man shows her a scrap of poetry of such genius she is desperate to publish it. But in order to read the rest, she must bear witness to the bicycle repairman's strange story.</div><div><br /></div><div>As you might have guessed by these two quite disparate descriptions, the plot of this novel is rather complicated and unconventional. The drama is almost entirely in the backstory with subplots (also involving backstory) and many interesting and not quite so interesting twists. Because of its complexity, the novel doesn't quite deliver that perfect ending I'd hoped for. It feels rushed, and much goes unexplained. </div><div><br /></div><div>"My Life as a Fake" is ambitious beyond reason and yet, for the most part, it works. This is mostly due to Carey's beautiful prose. Although I know little about this part of the world, I felt the humid rain forest morning, the smells and narrow streets, the sense of alienation the characters seemed to cultivate.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a way, this novel was similar to "His illegal Self" <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-review-his-illegal-self-by-peter.html">(which I reviewed a while back</a>). But this novel touches on bigger themes: the meaning of art, identity, guilt and redemption among many other things. And, for me, it was a real page-turner.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy! </div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-47871503476166364372011-09-01T13:37:00.003-04:002011-09-01T14:01:24.958-04:00Your Much Delayed One-Hit WonderWe in Western Mass are still working through the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. For such a "non event," Irene sure made a mess of the Hilltowns. <div>
<br /></div><div>We were fine here on our slopey bit of land. But this is what Shelburne Falls looked like on Sunday:</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.bradblog.com/Images/BucklandMA_HurricaneIrene_082811.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Credit: <a href="http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8699">http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8699</a></span></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Back in 1982, I thought Dexy's Midnight Runners' hit was "Come on Irene." Perfect, right?</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Turns out, it's about some "Eileen" person. But it WAS a One-Hit-Wonder ...and a good one.</div><div>
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<br /></div><div>(To clarify, Dexys Midnight Runners did have several other hits in the UK. But in the US, this was it.)</div><div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-6969246744366105022011-08-27T07:55:00.007-04:002011-08-27T08:36:33.532-04:00Spike Driver's Blues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPQLle56yTksGSLi50Gh_ex9rdxNkDsAVtBADqZjMOYd-RbR649gGUKsmS3KlbLYyKdGItYgqTcOZIyrjKHCWeR5amKO49M_CadtsSOTFBFRG757FIj1ZvBiBOby8UR5KpHVRBUHcZU5v/s1600/rr+workers.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPQLle56yTksGSLi50Gh_ex9rdxNkDsAVtBADqZjMOYd-RbR649gGUKsmS3KlbLYyKdGItYgqTcOZIyrjKHCWeR5amKO49M_CadtsSOTFBFRG757FIj1ZvBiBOby8UR5KpHVRBUHcZU5v/s320/rr+workers.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645511839554510258" /></a>
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<br /></div>I'm back from the extended break of August. Thanks, everyone, for sticking with me through all that empty space. I do appreciate it, as what started out as a family vacation blogging break grew into a plain old blogging (and writing) break. A long one.<div>
<br /></div><div>Partly, I just needed a little downtime with the kids. Partly, I needed to attend to work-work in preparation for the new school year. And partly, well, I've been a little detached from my novels lately.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>You may recall <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-john-henry-means-to-me.html">my post about John Henry</a>, the folk hero. Henry was born to drive steel and went down swinging when the team drill made him obsolete.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Mid-revisions, I felt quite a bit like Mr. Henry. I was in love with the practice of writing and with my work. I found value in it regardless of what the larger world might ultimately think of it-- whether it it was published or not. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>And I do still feel that way.
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<br /></div><div>Often.</div><div>
<br /></div></div><div>But then, there are the "Spike Driver's Blues" kinds of days (or months!). Spike Driver's Blues, by Mississippi John Hurt, is sort of "the flipside" of John Henry, about a more sensible man who decides to turn in his hammer before it kills him and go back home. </div><div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.hsp.org/sites/www.hsp.org/files/migrated/italiansonprrupahe2791p.3681a25v.jpg" /></div><div>
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<br /></div><div>This is the hammer that killed John Henry</div><div>But it won't kill me</div><div>No, it won't kill me</div><div>No, it won't kill me</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Take this hammer and carry it to the captain</div><div>and tell him I'm gone</div><div>Won't you tell him I'm gone </div><div>Won't you tell him I'm gone </div><div>
<br /></div><div>John Henry, he left his hammer</div><div>Laying inside the road</div><div>Laying inside the road</div><div>all covered in blood</div><div>
<br /></div><div>John Henry, he left his hammer</div><div>All painted in red</div><div>All painted in red</div><div>All painted in red</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It's a long way to East Colorado</div><div>Honey, that's my home</div><div>Honey, that's my home</div><div>Honey, that's my home</div><div>
<br /></div><div><div>Take this hammer and carry it to the captain</div><div>and tell him I'm gone</div><div>Won't you tell him I'm gone </div><div>Won't you tell him I'm gone </div></div><div>
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<br /></div><div>Here's Mississippi John Hurt:</div><div>
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<br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pxAXM4LGnHQ?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pxAXM4LGnHQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div>
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<br /></div><div>Writing--any art-- is a cyclical sort of enterprise. One day you're John Henry, the next, a lowly spike driver heading home. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>What are your experiences with the your work?</div><div>
<br /></div><div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-91437308475613111312011-08-08T18:33:00.003-04:002011-08-08T18:51:17.806-04:00Slight Blogging Break<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PnqSX12Gl4v0vzeSE7Qtv46y9K-PaPMaumDjpe9WH1TIdXqo6aySXw-d30qTsnul9280dI5Jo4LzO-xSg-VGVPXfLsFuCB0DDmCFyTLIG4sb2CQE3CKOoWegsTTp8LH6phlxkWwRhZsU/s1600/Ami%2527s+Birhday+in+Maine+121.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">
<br /></a></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z9LPcJWXuAVxIk2DX7bK5Eqg88h9ojoewXylUDgknKrt_MWJX20gvIuVd5vb5jl8ioz0hdjnqTkFdUcd3ChGv5Nh6lw4TlnN6xQ26QzGXTp4WIO_opHyhROWHYG321jTURkrVlmM7aj7/s320/Ami%2527s+Birhday+in+Maine+237.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638619203511663250" />
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<br /><div>As you might have noticed, I've been away. Vacation. Maine. Family Birthday. Lots of fun. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PnqSX12Gl4v0vzeSE7Qtv46y9K-PaPMaumDjpe9WH1TIdXqo6aySXw-d30qTsnul9280dI5Jo4LzO-xSg-VGVPXfLsFuCB0DDmCFyTLIG4sb2CQE3CKOoWegsTTp8LH6phlxkWwRhZsU/s320/Ami%2527s+Birhday+in+Maine+121.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638619213303566514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
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<br /></div><div>I thought I'd have to pry myself way from my keyboard, but it turns out, I am really enjoying the short break. I'll be back in a bit. Promise.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tQASRI33vegfFCKmbfn9flkL0p_Dsgr3smailNfTwLxaZ746RpZLW1XeJukXdWCHN_FtNI9c2h67DQw52LrKKauC_tGx4M-Mwo8ukXvX8Et2ViHSthe6Ws9z-Euo3GE6KSfW4l1ji1Dj/s320/Ami%2527s+Birhday+in+Maine+307.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638619208139781410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-29712171964703203002011-07-26T12:09:00.002-04:002011-07-26T12:11:38.341-04:00Your Weekly One Hit Wonder!<div><br /></div><div>"Montego Bay" by Bobby Bloom</div><div><br /></div><div>It's summertime, and this, friends, is a sunny little hit from 1970.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gXjVd0TeOX0?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gXjVd0TeOX0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-56935732160600705422011-07-26T11:00:00.002-04:002011-07-26T11:31:58.996-04:00Random Book Review: "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GlQaJjCs7Aw/SiBDT-LKg9I/AAAAAAAALjs/1I0l8q9LNg4/s400/still-alice-final.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Still-Alice-Lisa-Genova/dp/0595440096">Still Alice</a></b> is the story of Alice Howland, a brilliant Harvard Psychology professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease as she enters middle age.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I read this book a few weeks ago, and to tell you the truth, it's taken me a while to frame my opinion of it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On one hand, the <i>snark</i> in me railed against the flat dialogue and lackluster writing. At one point, I actually hollered "Please, just, please, don't go and describe the new snowfall as 'A true winter wonderland'!" I actually turned off the audiobook at "the baby's pudgy, blotchy, pink cheek," had my little temper tantrum and turned it back on. (Maybe this is not so much <i>snark</i> as <i>snob</i>. I'll admit it. As a developing writer, I work so hard to give each sentence its due. This kind of thing just.... grrr.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Beyond this, the novel had a<i> Lifetime Special</i> sort of feel that also ticked me off. It bothered me that Alice was a brilliant, happily married person before the Alzheimer's. This seemed too pat, too expected. Why not write about a more complicated, interestingly shaded person? I griped.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >But, here's the thing; Still Alice does what it does brilliantly. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As the novel progressed, and Alice's internal language begins to disintegrate, looping and repeating and leaching precision, <b>Still Alice </b>gave me the sort of intimate experience that makes this book totally worthwhile. I swear, my own internal thought process began to echo Alice's (!) I didn't just read about the terror at being lost in one's own house, I <b><i>felt</i> </b>it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I can't deny the simple power of my experience in reading-- and living-- this book. And so, despite its flaws, I sort of recommend it. Check it out... if you dare.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-69755787638718756062011-07-21T12:33:00.005-04:002011-07-21T15:32:50.167-04:00So Now You Know<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I have a somewhat obsessive personality, at least where writing is concerned. I’d like to say I’m that way about housework too, but for the last week or so, I’ve been kvetching about how my kitchen floor—all of them really—needing mopping in the worst way. But have I mopped? Um, nope. Do I plan to? Maybe today. We’ll see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://photos3.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CLT/CLT003/hc00125.jpg" /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">One of the obsessive writerly things I’m been doing is reading interviews from agents and writers. And there’s a lot of contrasting advice there, especially when it concerns the possible conflict between the “art” part of writing and the business part.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">People say to write what you love, regardless of “market forces”, that if for example, you write a teenaged vampire story, you might find the trend has moved on to say, historical thrillers or something. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">But then they also say that serious writers must know the markets and how their work fits into it, that they must consider this brand from the very first sentence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Some lucky writers find their tastes dovetail nicely with the trends market. They love YA paranormal, write YA paranormal and look here, the market for YA paranormal is ginormous! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">But my own reading tastes are all over the map. I like some fantasy (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Strange-Mr-Norrell-Novel/dp/1582344167">Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell</a> is one of my all-time favorites) and literary (Ditto with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Corrections-Novel-Recent-Picador-Highlights/dp/B0013TFBLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311266431&sr=1-1">The Corrections</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Teeth-Novel-Zadie-Smith/dp/0375703861/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311266470&sr=1-1">White Teeth</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lolita-Vladimir-Nabokov/dp/0679723161/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311266499&sr=1-1">Lolita</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Middlesex-Novel-Oprahs-Book-Club/dp/0312427735/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311266523&sr=1-1">Middlesex</a>). I like some sci fi (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sparrow-Mary-Doria-Russell/dp/0449912558/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311266549&sr=1-1">The Sparrow</a> rocked!) and some women’s fic, and historical too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">As a writer, I am all over the map too. When something—a character, a scene, an idea—grabs me, I go with it… whether it takes me to lit fic or sci fi or Toledo. I follow that aimless little muse (My actual muse is Julius Caesar, but that is a story best saved for some other time) and I don’t ever regret it. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><img 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KQl1uke0+KQqECEITAF9BXxCQGtbrcra6jbRTcKdSiwVbr2EtqyOTfBGcwB1SeCutWgTY6TOTLDea647GCCXZ6jgVQfRna6loZTo8vyYszg+nTuyXukl7S/9FMtOIOBK2F5p22C03WgCSMCwjpRPyXC47aO+EtWZa7ajhaq9obMMptYDndc45dRwWk+jPZ9Gls+nVbHK1wX1nnpueScycoyhdrbu1ZQxlMMikCXljcHVXwRylR2ZAk96d2FvMuNpkxlENAAwAMJwjxeyZe0bGW9DaT2OBBcYwHSBnRwOCrG5+x32dwfTcA0Xr7XAkNxMNpO0EZhXi07IF29WMNH6W4CfEqIfSmQ3ojQZAKZp3bNocWtD2hTJYXaGT/dZ3vzAqNaJg4mdSVpdGq3ku6Pos039/Pbwu58exLKvUL7I/dyyllVrmiQ0zOuGMytasdamxhbRYG3yXkt5v8AMdi5zhqTxWc7nkGpjrotGZZDAdgIGAyx60Yb+CcVWyLtlqtDZIph8jUjDuVWtthtdU3eTutPBwnvIgrRnbREXbnO9oZfNMngF0knz/ZVOF/RqTfaM0G5z2SKhDcMA04jqM5rrZ9hENI5S9Ojmx8irptWkKhhgnryPX2KEtVnLSRmMuz7rOWilBFStdiuVAQMAcVG1q/PLZ6R/wBlL7VqFpwJIGGOvYoa0Al1MiMI+ZKmLtmclRCCwxJxww7y7D6LnarKcJF5zzgyM26OMdeikeUJiNHODuycFK7Psk1HVGxeDYBOTGAYnqM5FdXNo5+Nkcd2JDeUrNp1SMG81pjQFuo6iqnt+xOpV3Me2CI7HA/qHUVpDtlUbW2Cy654lr/1tcNb2ZBKqm/AmhYnuM1LlRjjxFN91viVpjnbJyRpFQQhC3MBS+QvqFYGoehr8u0fEzwctx3f086FYd6Gvy7R8TPBy3Hd/TzoVi+xnj+t0j2nxSEut0j2nxSFQgQhCYAhCEAbL6H/AEfuNmdb3Vn03EOFJjcnBpILqgPSaXYAdSvG6NQ8kRdN6+7veTM/D1rLLA6u2hs6tSNS7ApgskgltZ19haM8DK2nd4tb2jDAYDEyuKXtM7saqDJShYi2qC/nXszpKlHFrRMAdiH05hcLTTnDTx7Vuo10c7lyexra28qQcYGQjNRm0HFtM3RieaO0mFKMqkktMNAGaY1rbTNoYyRA53fkPqs5I3g2tDimxraYaBkAJIxntWe79Wa+4Y4jJaTaXNGoyWa712gOq4GYzUZui4dMgN27UadVodkHRjwK1lte8wNbiTEgarHq7X377BIGY6+IWi7m7fFWjgRfGB4yssTp0V2iyua1gN7A8B4woO0WuXi7IPDiBxXe31S5xJzI7O9Vi2Wh7ahJy49SrJMuEa2yftFpDTeOE6dar217aHOwF0DSfrKZ2jaznZ5BRVrtpdjOGXaVnKVjtHK34kTESZChqlEghs8c+rGexSNareJ68+qNFGPdfqkcGx8804Ixm7GmyKTnOJLboaDAmZJ1PanFHaNWgA//AJNV1x4jFrm5A9RTmgLpwBjDBuJOmHEyu+8lIU7G4PEOJDi3ryHeFunbMqpEy2oKnIupYQ8YcBr9FRt/Y5CyHVzrSf8At5UAHvhWjd1xpbPbUdM3S7HsIb3kkKmb/WocrSoDH+HosY7/AKh59T6uTxJ8hZH6lXQhErrOUUhfJQrA1L0N/l2j4meDluG7+nnQrD/Q30LR8TP/ABctw3f086FYy7GeP63SPafFIS63SPafFIVCBCEJgCEISA3j0E1+UsN0/wDJtYI6hUp6d4VwpO5Gu8kkse8uEmQ0zi1sZNHDrWU+gbbnJ2mvZyca1MPYONSkb0DrLS75K97z21zLYAOhUAc34onDtHguTN6uzswbRfW7TmIT6+Ikqg7L22cZzbn2cSrVVts0ZboJ4haQnyQTxr4cNsbVaGmMs1TN6LVUslhNpLZfVe2DoxoPNngDxU1s2wPtNfn9Bsl3XwHerFtaxNqMuuaCxwulrhLS2MoWdOfsXaj6owqr6U61TAQDliYjuUT67r1JuESTnE92C0rbnomsNSkRRpclU/S5rjdngWnSVnlPZzrJUNOoMjAIy61lJJMT5fRzsrblZpu1qYwi6W4gqa2BtF9K1E0xg6A5ujuvqKjKUGAcvqntgcW1W4xGWs6rNytlR0aFStzHS+cRIA165CrtttxdzYAzJ/wFJ0YrU70XH4yM5HdqonadKNMVpJGtkTVadcce/wCSbWynMAT2dSf1GSMUh1mGJPBBiRNwhnAE6LqLOG5DHzinFuZF0DADTrRanHKIlUSRFd5kFsiDmMDhwXMbPNZhFYPfiCH35ETIwTyz1G8qWcWuwPXkpfZ+zKbbNUOV7E8ABj/ZUk7EyP2htljKIqn8ql0RpWrtEU6beLGHnOPUsrr1y9xc4y5xJJ4kmSpHeHeGpaql50BrRdYxuDWM4AcTmSopdEIcTnnPkCEIWpmC+hfF9CEBqXob6Fo+Jn/i5bhu/p50Kw/0N9C0fEz/AMXLcN39POhUS7GeP63SPafFIS63SPafFIVCBCEJgCEIQA/2Dth9ltNK0U+lSeHDgYOIPURI716BtFcWltnr2eHULU1xvGC+i4CTSPfI6oXm9bF6Ddss/h7VZ3OHKNIrU2uOBaGltS5ORiJhY5YckbYp8ZFzds6abKzBmIeOOhKkadpdyGH6RHbil7EqX6JGQg/XEKQsrQ2mdSMY4rCMTsbHNgbyFNoJuudznRxjJN3bz0ybs/fuVQ3r3jcGODDziSqxsXZ21nuc6jQe4VAAKjy1jWcSC77IeR3xiRUVuRpdvtEkAFrAdSQ2FAUt1KZpPdWqtbJMueQGtx5pB1PYmlD0P2msL1ptxa92lJpqfNzj4BcbZ6ILQOYNoNLRpUpuJHYA6FLxye2g8sekQO0dnMpuinVp1G49E/dRzapvyTllGisr/Q68YDaBLv8ApAN8VX9p7nWyzdGtQqN45acFm8dDt/hN7u7yAOLSecMp+qlbf/MggdLQaFZg2z1qTr5hw4jCD2cFb9l7VdUgSZVL8BSHNdpbIOi4ucImc8u1dLa6Qcc/mkBkx1GUxAGy8AjQ9eK+2lpd1Af7rm2pzp4Ax2TikW61xE6/3TQmZ9tu2vZaXuaYuENA44Su20N/61WgaN1rbwhzhMkf2UPty2ipWeRlePf1qPXYlo5JS2CEIVkAhCEAC+hfEIQGp+hvoWj4meDluG7+nnQrD/Q30LR8TPBy3Dd/TzoVEuxnj+t0j2nxSEut0j2nxSFQgQhCYAhCEACXSrOaZaS08QSDj1hIQkB6V3Mt1+zUHj9dFh/7myx31apyzWoa6kiOpZp6Idu37KKRPOovc0fBU5wPZeBHerlZ7ZFQzlPyPFcj9Wd8XcR7adiUX1Q+6CGjLr61IPaSBDiLgLRBu3ZSH0uaHjEadcprXLny1jTicSMBwMqWkjRbIDa+8Fvs4/lFr2+cFX62/wDbznTZ2wT/AHWi0NzeUANV93iBiSE/G41kI6BPWXEJeObMpZIxejG6u9VsqZvLZ9gQulha92L7xB1JWsW7cawtaSWuZGMhx/uq9aN3aUnkXz8Qzw84qHja7KjLn0QLrKx1LIQMO0LpsrZQawOhdG2KrfLSII06uPWpk0LlBt4RAOBTjspoqVvgF3bh90i/3rhbq954aOMz1Lhaa11pcSO3qTbMhFS2c4uHYBwA1UBtjbN2m45OOA7cUi12w5DXH5qJ3io3GUmnpOlx6tAFeOFvZE5UiBQhC7DlBCEJgCEIQAIQhAGpehr8u0fEzwctx3f086FYd6Gvy7R8TPBy3Hd/TzoVD7GeP63SPafFIS63SPafFIVCBCEJgCEIQAIQhAExutvC6x2gVBi04Pb7TJn5jMLZqe1Wu5Oo03mPGekHEY8dFgK1ndrZdRmyKNekC4lz+UYTg5l4hpbwcIKwzLVm+KT6NVsNuAA7BgfOCmaLmgzhgFkuyd7GkXScRiJwkcO1WB29bQAQ6e+YPWsozOiky6VbfD7wzgfLj2LjU25zSQccpOU/5VMtm+DRje0yw8VGWnfCjEB4OWE9+ah5X8LUYIu1faTHMIqS4DEiTnp9dFWtq7Uc3LXhqe1Vqrvix2DTrOP3Ubb9rGqLs4T57FjKTkVyiuiz0d4nguLsXaTjkm9q3ndUp87MT8gqxZa8A3j2BcrVasIGquKfRlKdjuhbDi92ajLftG/zc+H2SalQuEBd7FYYOUnVaUvplbEbO2bzg5/+FCb7O/4gDg0fXFW9jA0TjhxVG3pq3rS7qAH0/wArXE7ZGTSIhCELpMAQhCABCEIAEIQgDUvQ1+XaPiZ4OW47v6edCsO9DX5do+Jng5bju/p50KhjPH9bpHtPikL2Jb91LJdkWWzz/wBGn9lVLVuvQnCz0f22fZOwPMyF6T/C9L3FL9tn2R+F6XuKX7bPsiwPNiF6T/C9L3FL9tn2R+F6XuKX7bPsiwPNiF6T/C9L3FL9tn2R+F6XuKX7bPsiwPNi9J+jaxj1ZZ2kZ0mnsvEmevEo/C9H3FL9tn2T+hZqjAGsloAgBuAAGgAyCiSsuEuJS969xiKj30ebzsafX7TOAKpNoY6m6HX2HjjB7Vtb7PUJkkk8SZKb1tjh/TY13xNDvFYvDu0aeRfhh9aykk/zD3kpNOyluv8Adbd+H2e6p/0N+yPw+z3VP+hv2R4n+i8hh9SnH6on5fRd2vfABjuW0Hd5nuqf9Dfsvo2Az3TP6G/ZPxi8hj1Om9+A7F3ZYMcZJ1WuDYjfds/pb9l99Sj3bf6R9keIfkRmLLHAwXenSyAWkepx7Df6QgbI/wBDfkEPFYeQz+0URyWM5R9Vl+1ak1nn/UfpgvSJ2TP6G/IJud2KXuKX7bPstIR4kTlyPNaF6T/C9L3FL9tn2R+F6XuKX7bPstLIPNiF6T/C9L3FL9tn2R+F6XuKX7bPsiwPNiF6T/C9L3FL9tn2R+F6XuKX7bPsiwPNiF6T/C9L3FL9tn2R+F6XuKX7bPsiwM+9DX5do+Jng5bju/p50Kq9k2I2meZTayc7jQ2e27mrbsKgR3KQJkhN37PYdEIQAn1azzCPVrPMIQgA9Ws8wj1azzCEIAPVrPMI9Ws8whCAD1azzCPVrPMIQgA9Ws8wj1azzCEIAPVrPMI9Ws8whCAD1azzCPVrPMIQgA9Ws8wj1azzCEIAPVrPMI9Ws8whCAD1azzCPVrPMIQgA9Ws8wj1azzCEIAPVrPMI9Ws8whCAD1azzCPVrPMIQgA9Ws8wj1azzCEIA+jZrOC706QaMAhCAP/2Q==" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">But as a consequence, I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire (Wow! In this heat wave, this analogy feels more literal than planned!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span><img src="http://schoolzen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/too-many-irons-in-the-fire-150x150.jpg" /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I’ve been struggling to settle down and focus on one of the projects on my back and front burners, my oven, toaster oven and campstove. So I thought, I’d list the projects for you and perhaps get a few nods in one direction or another. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Also, if you are a newer reader and wonder why the heck I have a gibbon on my header, a picture of a live oak draped in Spanish moss and keep posting all these durn One-Hit Wonders , now you know.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">So, kind readers, what do you think? Which of these projects seems a good place to put all this summer energy? Comments of any kind are soooo appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVInYR3_h9LnJK2eYuElCQBgsqFL_zExnv485AU3G1hPa7HnKR" /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">ORANGE LAKE (Literary Fiction) </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">As children, Claudette and Leanne Taskett built houses of palmetto fronds and played at being “swamp girls” in the sulfur-smelling muck of North Florida’s Orange Lake, but as young adults they can’t hold a civil conversation. Twenty-one year old Claudette careens from one redneck boy to another. Leanne, determined to be her misfit family’s one success story is headed for college. After their father drowns and Claudette—despite all evidence to the contrary—</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "> claims responsibility and then disappears down the highway, </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Leanne must track down her sister, untangle the facts behind her father’s death and salvage what’s left of her tattered family. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">A southern sister story with a mystery at its heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">STATUS: Complete with constant, slight tweaks<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtkXmeo57q5m4VuCUTMFoiKUg3AcCYu5tLkoKWOV3isPRna2QBRQ" /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">FAMILY, GENIUS, SPECIES (Quirky Literary Fiction) After a near-death experience in a motel bathtub, Rocker Roger "Zorro" Weitz, author of 1976's most forgettable One-Hit Wonder, stopped aging. Eternally 22, he’s slummed through almost three decades before a second brush with death prompts him to dedicate himself (and his prodigious, though now decades-old cool) to helping his girlfriend’s lonely, zoology-obsessed eleven year old find her own way in the world. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Cool is </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"">beyond her, but the kid, a certified genius, has no trouble mastering the art of blackmail. Her quest to find and rescue a long-lost gibbon drags Zorro into theft, kidnapping, an actual car chase, and another, possibly permanent, brush with death. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">A rock-n-roll Peter Pan story with a touch of Pygmalion<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">STATUS: <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Complete. 3<sup>rd</sup> draft, undergoing substantial revision<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPOMNYFN4tnD_qkFGMcikcOBsuTBF62goqkCdtINKGY-915bLUIg" /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">FACE MOUNTAIN (Dystopian) Less than three generations into the collapse of civilization, people live in terror of The Bloom, a deadly fungus, and other new diseases. Mercenary "doctors" travel the remaining roads dispensing vaccines to those who can pay for them. Thompson Winter, a doctor, is on a mission to restore the last good place, the Face Mountain compound lost in a coup 10 years before. But Edward Whitingham, a mysteriously old man who remembers the long sunken cities of the east coast and doubts the power of The Bloom, is stranded with his family at the most tactical location. While trying to ascertain Whitingham’s questionable allegiances, Winter falls in love with the old man’s desperate young wife, Mary. With his life’s work in jeopardy, Winter must choose between love and honor in a world without much of either. FM is a bit of a sci-fi western, though based on an obscure Joseph Conrad novel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">STATUS: Working on first draft with—rare thing for this pantser--<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a detailed outline!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span><img 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" /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">ROADSIDE MEMORIALS (Literary Fiction/Magical Realism) Hillary Cohn, middle aged, between jobs and in the midst of an unwelcome divorce, witnesses the kidnapping of a strange baby with almost translucent skin and a touch that causes objects to briefly glow. What’s stranger, the woman Hillary assumes to be the child’s mother, denies it is hers. When Hill tracks the child, he is drawn into a strange world of religious zealots, shady detectives… and actual shades. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">STATUS: Begun first draft, but still in planning stage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span><img 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" /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">FEINLAND (Literary Fiction/maybe Literary YA) Teenaged Ruth and her two brothers have grown up in isolation within the bounds of “Feinland”, their father Harry Fein’s “Jewish Amish” attempt at utopia in remote Northern New Hampshire. But when a troubled boy moves into a trailer in the field next door, stirring unexpected feelings in all three Fein children, Harry’s dictum to “protect and defend the family territory” turns deadly as Adam, the favorite and virtually non-verbal autistic eldest, takes this <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to the most literal end. FEINLAND is loosely based on the Yiddish story of “The Golem” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">STATUS: Begun first draft, but still in planning stage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span><img 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" /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">ORCAS:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Literary/Women’s Fiction) Left alone with two young children during her biologist husband’s 4 month fieldwork, Joan grows desperate and heads across the east coast to surprise him. But along with his two specially trained moose turd-sniffing dogs, David has a hip young (female) research partner and no time for her. Stranded at his motel research base in the northwest tip of Newfoundland, Joan develops a dangerous obsession with the pod of Orcas sighted during a family whale watch and….? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Um, no clear plot yet, I’m still working out the details. This is a short story (at present), in early draft stage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">Whew! Now I'll get down to that mopping.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p> What do you think? Where should I invest my few writing hours?</o:p></span></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-61544233003720885162011-07-20T15:11:00.003-04:002011-07-20T15:18:14.494-04:00Your (Long Overdue) One-Hit Wonder<div><br /></div><div>Sorry I've been away. Summer is shaping up to be all about driving kids here there and everywhere, work and terrible crushing heat. It's all sort of fun though. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thin Lizzie's "The Boys are Back in Town" is a great one. Doesn't it just scream long, hot summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the guys in 1976</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1FmPhJkdTwU?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1FmPhJkdTwU?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>....and then some time later, much later</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/97DM-xFBj48?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/97DM-xFBj48?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-37346084835680692202011-07-08T13:03:00.003-04:002011-07-08T13:37:01.823-04:00What John Henry Means to Me<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRoznQzY3CKx9RAV3hXvB_evRp7GibAXY45OkKRNzvnvLcwb8iC&t=1" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><br />John Henry is a folk character, the larger then life railroad man who challenged a steam drill to a race and won <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>... only to die of exhaustion in his moment of victory. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><br /></span></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLYnYwftWYzyTdNmM9JZFBaGowMOjPRjGpdFM3HjdrXtlF_8RyJpLghfj4BoraI4WjdvpCDQI0PJioy2mVxypxstiUQB4pKFqrhG1ZGgCYbToEJsVR4sQtjK9aUtdAc6WYMq1BKNYkg-Z/s320/john-henry-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626979364966064610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">There are many ways to look at this story: John Henry is a low-skilled worker, fighting against automation on the job. John Henry (along with Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan) is one of the last larger-than life American heroes lost in the age of “progress”. You can look at his story through the prism of race, class, masculinity, history. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">Leadbelly sang about him</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cbysqysLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">and Woody Guthrie </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><img src="http://www.soundstagedirect.com/media/this_machine_kills_fascists_woody_guthrie.jpg" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Here's Mississippi Fred McDowell:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/54GNI2K3-ec?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/54GNI2K3-ec?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span >and Bruce Springsteen:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span ><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gQXJt2cE-8c?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gQXJt2cE-8c?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">You can also look at John Henry from the writer's perspective. Here is a man who kept at it, who discovered what he loved, what he was born to do (heck, he was born with a hammer in his hand, after all) and he engaged to the fullest. He didn't just drive steel he WAS a steel driving man. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">Did he succeed? Not exactly. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Even in the most hopeful of versions, it's understood that in the future, steam drills will supplant spike drivers. So, then, is John Henry's life an example of futility?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">I don't think so.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">John Henry died satisfied. He died doing what he loved. Here's one version of his death scene: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >"They took his hammer and wrapped it in gold <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >And gave it to Julia Ann; <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >And the last word John Hardy said to her was <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >Julia, do the best you can."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >"If I die a railroad man,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >Go bury me under the tie,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >So I can hear old Number Four,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; " >As she goes rolling by."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">As I slog through one revision after another, I find myself thinking about John Henry. And though I don't always succeed, I try to approach my work</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "> with this sort of despite-everything joy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">Here's a lovely song-- one of my true favorites (and not even a one hit wonder!) about John Henry.... well actually about Elvis, who as Gillian Welch implies is sort of a sad counter point, a man who lost his love for his work and died "in long decline."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFsFw-aw1wkNWPdbHMlp8yHbub0G7lyJA-5FW-G6nU2GZszaxM4Q" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span >It's about John Henry, too, if tangentially.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span ><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ilWOyfzeAOY?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ilWOyfzeAOY?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">When it comes to work-- both the paid and the aspiring variety—I would rather go out like John Henry, a hammer in my hand, satisfaction rather than success as my life's measure.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: black; ">What about you?<span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-57809613869323715732011-07-02T11:29:00.005-04:002011-07-04T10:26:36.853-04:00Your Weekly One Hit Wonder!<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.rightsaidfred.com/global/frontpage?cmdr=ip2country/detected">Right Said Fred</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, Right Said Fred is a more than a one-hit-wonder in Britain (those people are Crrraaazy) but in the US, this is their one and only. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/39YUXIKrOFk?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/39YUXIKrOFk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And what a good one it is, too. 1992 never looked so, well.... 1992.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-62947843326567348862011-06-28T09:46:00.005-04:002011-07-02T12:59:13.521-04:00Random Book Review: "What the Dead Know" by Laura Lippman<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSG_Wo23Tm9FOoPvgBYZpuU1Cv0xejhUkdWzbV3miT31m_7ZBEoeA" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color: black; "><b>I came across this novel my accident. I'd seen Eleanor Lippman on an author panel at The <a href="http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=173">"Muse and Marketplace"</a> Conference and had it in mind to read at least something from every author that presented there. So when I saw this audiobook on the library’s scant shelves, I snatched it right up.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color: black; "><b>But I got the wrong Lippman.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color: black; "><b>This turned out to be a happy mistake as "What the Dead Know" is crime fiction, a genre I rarely, well-- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">never</i>-- read and one my plot-challenged little self could learn quite a bit from.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Here's the novel's back of the book blurb:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"</span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Thirty years ago two sisters disappeared from a shopping mall. Their bodies were never found and those familiar with the case have always been tortured by these questions: How do you kidnap <i>two girls</i>? Who—or what—could have lured the two sisters away from a busy mall on a Saturday afternoon without leaving behind a single clue or witness?</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Now a clearly disoriented woman involved in a rush-hour hit-and-run claims to be the younger of the long-gone Bethany sisters. But her involuntary admission and subsequent attempt to stonewall investigators only deepens the mystery. Where has she been? Why has she waited so long to come forward? Could her abductor truly be a beloved Baltimore cop? There isn't a shred of evidence to support her story, and every lead she gives the police seems to be another dead end—a dying, incoherent man, a razed house, a missing grave, and a family that disintegrated long ago, torn apart not only by the crime but by the fissures the tragedy revealed in what appeared to be the perfect household.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">In a story that moves back and forth across the decades, there is only one person who dares to be skeptical of a woman who wants to claim the identity of one Bethany sister without revealing the fate of the other. Will he be able to discover the truth?"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span times="" new="">Intriguing, right? </span><span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt"><span times="" new="" ><b>Even after I realized I had the wrong Lippman, I wanted to read this book. </b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span times="" new="">And I wasn't disappointed. The writing is lovely, clear and detailed. Though not "literary" in its exploration of character, motivation and memory, it did exactly what it needed to do …and with beauty and elegance.</span><span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span times="" new="">Even more, this novel is a lesson in plot design. There are few details that aren't purposeful. Scenes are constructed; they don't just happen or grow organically in every which way. I was conveyed forward from one point to another with scarcely time to stop and reflect. </span><span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span times="" new="">I mean, I wanted to KNOW who that darn woman was, what happened to those girls. </span><span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span times="" new="">Also the setting was marvelous. Lippman’s Baltimore-- in the present and in the 1970's-- is loaded with authentic detail. No doubt she has a strong connection here. To me, Baltimore is the faceless megalopolis we drive through on our way to Florida each winter. But the city, with its quirks and every-changing storefronts is like a another character here. </span><span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span times="" new="">That said, I didn't care much for most of the actual characters. The handsome male "lead" annoyed the heck out of me. The meek goody-two-shoes social worker and barracuda lawyer where pretty much how you'd expect them. The mystery woman (I won't reveal anything about her) was not particularly likable. But this hardly mattered. </span><span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span times="" new="" ><b>The novel did just what it set out to-- build an intriguing mystery, force the reader to turn pages (or, in my case, drive extra slow to get to the end before I pulled into the driveway at the end of the day.)<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span times="" new="" ><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span times="" new="">Check this one out. </span><span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span times="" new="" ><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span times="" new="" >(Please excuse all these crazy font changes. I just can't seem to get Blogger to cooperate!)</span></span></b></p></div><p style="font-size: 11px; font-family: verdana; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left; "><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-82749303920890546282011-06-25T11:48:00.005-04:002011-06-25T11:54:32.962-04:00Your Weekly One Hit Wonder!<div><br /></div><div>Steve Martin is a pretty cool guy-- an expert banjo player, a<a href="http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Steve-Martin/1306500"> writer</a>, comedian, actor, playwright, art collector and, most importantly, a one-hit-wonder. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This here might have been the best thing about 1978.</div><div><br /></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" id="dmlkZW9faWQ9MTAzNzI2MQ==" width="512" height="354" align="middle"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0/swf/DirectWidget.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&configXML=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbc.com%2Fservice%2Fvideowidget%2Fparams%2FdmlkZW9faWQ9MTAzNzI2MQ%3D%3D%2F"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <embed src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0/swf/DirectWidget.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&configXML=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbc.com%2Fservice%2Fvideowidget%2Fparams%2FdmlkZW9faWQ9MTAzNzI2MQ%3D%3D%2F" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" width="512" height="354" align="middle" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-29778399383862671702011-06-16T16:18:00.002-04:002011-06-16T16:54:28.991-04:00Lessons from the 99th page<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Quite a while ago, I submitted my 99th page <a href="http://page99test.com/">here</a>, the 99 Page Test Website, which asks you to submit your 99th page for feedback. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'd just finished up the awesome <a href="http://aliciagregoire.blogspot.com/2011/01/99th-page.html">99th page blogfest</a>, and so this seemed like a swell idea. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although it was mostly dialogue, I felt relatively confident in LOU's 99th page. I read a few of the other pages on the website and wrote detailed critiques for them, the kind of thing I try to do for my critique buddies: what seemed to be working and not, if I'd read further and why. And then I sat back and waited.</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought I'd learn a little about my page-- the sort of feedback you'd get from a mini writing group. But mostly what I got was one or two word comments, some random, some hurtful, some enthusiastic. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were many conflicting opinions:</div><div><br /></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "> it's really beautifully written."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Is this a 'Bonny & Clyde' story? Then perhaps, but it didn't come across like that. Not too badly written, though."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Very good, crisp writing"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">this style is difficult to follow"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">I enjoyed the style and the characters made sense quickly."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">I liked this, it had an interesting voice to it and seemed well written."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >And some rather blunt ones:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">The simile, "airtight as a laundry basket" seems like a pathetic attempt at humor in a scene that doesn't even require it."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">"Horrible people having a rotten time doesn't fulfil my needs for literature – I can get that in real life, thanks!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >About 1/3were thumbs up/down without comment.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>At first I was sort of appalled. But then I realized my 99th page taught me something important... not about how to improve ol' #99 or whatever else, but how to take criticism. </div><div><br /></div><div>At first, each offhand comment landed like a haymaker. I mulled over what to fix on my page, maybe I should take out that damn laundry basket simile. But then I'd get the opposite reaction from the next reader, and some random thing from a third and in this way I began to learn to let it just roll off, to know my own heart and make sure the critiques I accept are either</div><div><br /></div><div>a. From those I trust and respect </div><div><br /></div><div>or</div><div><br /></div><div>b. Common criticisms from many different people. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe I could have learned all this from Rick Nelson: "You can't please everyone so you got to please yourself"</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vnnylCWn33Y?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vnnylCWn33Y?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Not a One-Hit-Wonder, by the way)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-57271701181756742052011-06-09T08:20:00.003-04:002011-06-09T08:32:01.936-04:00Your Weekly One Hit Wonder!Mungo Jerry with "Summertime"<div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zc9wIzi96_E?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zc9wIzi96_E?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><div><br /></div><div>Oh, I totally love this song-- and the hair. There's something so cool about the unassuming vibe of 1970. No glitz, just muttonchops and a jug. According to my research, Mungo Jerry made millions on this song.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, he didn't rest on his laurels. Here's Jerry in 2008 with a totally creepy performance. </div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S8EQmEWI4DE?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S8EQmEWI4DE?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-7064689178690420352011-06-05T10:16:00.003-04:002011-06-05T11:05:57.602-04:00Random Book Review: "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcStEU8k4u90F_A1v6ONgxZf9pM5-4dn9-pzrhQhRd_AsVhEIKaqNw" /></div><div><br /></div>Okay, I am probably the one and only person on Earth who didn't adore "The Time Traveler's Wife." I liked it alright-- interesting idea, love story with a unique hook, etc. Also, the last scene was worth the 200 pages of build-up (Interesting side note: I believe I read once that the last scene was Niffenegger's first. She built her whole book around it.)<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I didn't expect a all that much of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Her-Fearful-Symmetry-Audrey-Niffenegger/dp/1439165394">Her Fearful Symmetry</a>," a ghost story, with a sort of twist-- part of it is from the ghost's point of view. It was on the scant shelf of audiobooks at the local library and so I picked it up. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" /></div><div><br /></div><div>There are a lot of interesting characters in the book. I really enjoyed Martin, the upstairs neighbor who suffers from seriously debilitating OCD, and his wife Marjike. The author also introduces an interesting pair of codependent "mirror twins", Julia and Valentina, who--aside from their fearful co-dependence-- seem to be suffering from a sort of prolonged adolescence and more than a touch of ennui. Valentina put me in mind of this:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSx8mKw6dIhOR8D6eHKr37H2_GP045GzOrokV6Z2pqd8v38TTQteA" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gashlycrumb_Tinies">Edward Gorey's Gashlycrumb Tinies</a> FYI)</div><div><br /></div><div>There are many other characters as well, mostly well drawn and interesting. </div><div><br /></div><div>The setting, in London outside of Highgate Cemetery, prompted me to look up actual pictures of the place. It's pretty amazing. See:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGUaPlesfUZOmr5EOGqIhGzmCOr70-g-fjHt_IUg6iWVszAIBEow" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMzfXaF8GIzUdPAwNV9rRRwqfMHUl7olIdFwOf9FCPqz47y8eqWA" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTb04N2czZSrGbiu0p4Ts66B1ay75JMYOkS8lxJf2ZjB_QVfspa" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>But--as you might already know-- I am working hard at teaching myself how to write the most engaging and twisty and interesting plot and "Her Fearful Symmetry" sort of fits into the 'what not to do' category.</div><div><br /></div><div>First off, as <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/lynnebarrett/">Lynne Barrett</a> said during one of the seminars I took at "<a href="http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=173">The Muse</a>" conference in April, all plot is by nature contrived. The trick is to come up with the most engaging and spectacular and naturally-right contrivance. The reader only notices the contrivance if it doesn't really work (I am paraphrasing here). Well, I definitely noticed in this novel. The plot feels forced-- characters doing things that seem quite out of character to move the mechanics of the plot forward. If Niffenegger hadn't done such a wonderful job of portraying the characters, perhaps I wouldn't have noticed this ...or if she hadn't swung for the fences in the stretching-the-bounds-of-realism category. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the book moves toward its conclusion, it feels so rushed. Stuff happens and happens and happens but there is no time to get to the root or make sense of the seemingly extraneous twists. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is almost no way to write about this book without giving up some monumental spoiler, so suffice to say: Engaging but with holes big enough to drive a Mini Cooper through.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img 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" /></div><div><br /></div><div>There are some amazing moments though. I especially like the scene where James, a 90 some year old, describes waking in his room and seeing the ghosts of trees, or their shadows anyway, cast onto his bedsheets.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is no doubt Niffenegger has a crazy-fertile imagination. It takes a certain fearlessness to come up with "Time Traveler" or "Symmetry," books that set about their own rules for the universe and stick to them. And she is clearly a talented writer. But in the end, the plot feels rushed and a bit um, contrived (and not in a good way). </div><div><br /></div><div>Did you read this one? What did you think?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-63863618845659653932011-06-03T19:22:00.007-04:002011-06-03T21:22:57.773-04:00Being True<div style="text-align: left;">You know how there are some books that just resonate? Ones that long after the details have receded leave behind this <i>feeling</i>, like a long wake in the water, a sort of emotional imprint that you never really shake?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(99, 67, 32); font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; line-height: 18px; font-size: small; "><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ87h0aCiWnrERMrseyrUb4nA5ZtN5jfSODYhVSFjHIGQjOew8v" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>That's what I'm going for-- what most of us are going for, I imagine. Isn't this the very definition of art? </div><div><br /></div><div>But the price for this sort of thing is steep.</div><div><br /></div><div>An interviewer once made the mistake of telling Bob Dylan she really enjoyed his deeply personal and utterly wrenching album "Blood on the Tracks" his response was "Yeah, people tell me that all the time and I've never understood that, enjoying that kind of pain."</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHy1dFVrJeE56rMGKc15I2IqTYFnFyLbE3OXkeX58fdm-HtUt_5Q" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and here's Ernest Hemingway: "There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed."</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWLGMpzQNX5J2id63v57IAsryM5tmdwveOATLeBrBRaiLvupptAg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>What are we to make of this? Is it essential to bleed and heart-wrench and get sort of personal?</div><div><br /></div><div>Um, yeah. Maybe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that I've been re-revising my first novel, I've been thinking about this sort of thing, the way my own hard and often personal truths shake out onto my pages, whether they express too much-- or perhaps not enough-- to create the true experience I am going for.</div><div><br /></div><div>You see, my first novel (which is tentatively titled "Left of Unsaid" and which I will--with thanks to "Bob" over at <a href="http://motherwrite.blogspot.com/">Mother. Write. (Repeat.)</a>-- hereafter call "Lou" and is about two newly adult sisters struggling to reconcile after the sudden death of their father, has a pretty damn big kernel of truth in it:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQo01BlgjUrrKnHbYnKeQIxxOso-wKYnwFa8TiRLoQ3-OMK3T8S" /></div><div><br /></div><div>My own father died in an accident during a family vacation. We were all there. We saw it happen. </div><div><br /></div><div>For almost two years after, I didn't write a word. I couldn't fathom letting all that blood (as Hemingway so aptly describes it) gush out onto my pages, couldn't reconcile fiction with the hard truth of this thing that had happened. I grieved and cast about in a hundred non-writing related ways. </div><div><br /></div><div>But the truth stayed put. Pardon the psychobabble here but, it needed to be expressed. Or anyway, <i>I</i> needed to express<i> it</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, on a cross-country motorcycle journey with my now-husband, with little more to do but watch the scenery speed past and listen to the constant BLAAAAATTTT of his '79 Yamaha's iffy engine, Lou was born. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTqipLqMUQ-5NnBvRYaq4-Y6w7XXVpZc6Tevc1UeQiiwjAJPTIs" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://destination-adrenaline.com/6-necessities-for-a-motorcycle-road-trip/">Credit</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Lou had it all: a sudden death, two nearly adult sisters, a Florida setting. By the time I arrived, I was primed to let 'er rip!</div><div><br /></div><div>And I did. </div><div><br /></div><div>At first, the pages captured little more than my own personal experience. The father in the story was a good man--a lot like my own-- he did his best at parenting, he was funny and sort of a square peg kinda guy, and the grief his girls felt was my own pure grief. I could not imagine writing even a mildly disapproving word about this "fictional" father.</div><div><br /></div><div>And because of that, my first draft(ssss) pretty well sucked.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTUkQ8sPDAYlSggSv1mIyr1PUZwnlHgB_A9etEuFLIR5tzRQkSZ1Q" /></div><div><br /></div><div>When I'd gained some distance, I did what had to be done: the father in my novel was no longer a saint. He was edgy and somewhat stingy with his love. (Of course, I fretted that people might think I was writing about my <i>own</i> father, but by then, I'd gotten the distance I needed to separate art and life... at least a titch.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, however, the novel was lacking what it needed to be "true." (Also a working plot, but that's a whole other matter.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I put it aside. And when I returned after a visit with Zorro and the gang (second novel "Family, Genius, Species" that perhaps I'll now call--what? <i>Fargus?</i>) I had the distance I needed and the father character became edgy, stingy, selfish, the sort of difficult man that keeps secrets-- big ones that will affect the people he left behind. In short, he's much more of an all-around bastard.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But this isn't a memoir I'm writing. It is a novel. And, as it turned out, it's not even <i>about</i> the father's death. It is about the lives the sisters lead after-- lives complicated by the circumstances of his death, the secrets he kept, the challenging sort of love they have for him and each other. It is THEIR story now.</div><div><br /></div><div>And while it might not be as masterful as "Blood on the Tracks" or "The Old Man and the Sea", I think it's a true one.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>How do you use "the truth" in your own work?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-69328795639700552152011-06-02T09:19:00.005-04:002011-06-02T16:18:03.099-04:00Your Weekly One Hit Wonder!Okay, so last time I'm afraid I hit a nerve with <a href="http://lesserapricots.blogspot.com/2011/05/your-weekly-one-hit-wonder.html">Madness and "Our House."</a> Who knew Madness had so many fans? (Well, evidently A LOT of people knew. I heard about it at work, home, online, etc)<div><br /></div><div>So I feel like maybe I'm sticking out my neck once again putting up Argent's "Hold Your Head Up" from 1972. </div><div><br /></div><div>Don't tell me these guys are, like, superstars in on the international scene or something. (Well, actually, if this is the case, It'd probably be good for me to know.)</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-L6qjwbklAQ?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-L6qjwbklAQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-42843545526511818182011-05-31T12:33:00.003-04:002011-05-31T12:37:49.585-04:00Birds of Paradise<div><br /></div><div>Check out my friend <a href="http://www.kathyhandley.com/">Kathy's</a> new book! </div><div><br /></div><div>We were in a writing group way back when in Plymouth, and I remember when this full fledged and amazing novel was a collection of intriguing vignettes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now look at it:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/archive/x31874070/g12c0000000000000005b88aa45a41df54a77605b8d4d791221fe907ca9.jpg" alt="handley01_0525" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's a great article about Kathy <a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/lifestyle/arts/x31874082/Storytelling-s-in-her-blood#axzz1Nws1TlGm">here</a>. Check it out!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-41943351356821721642011-05-28T13:01:00.007-04:002011-05-29T10:42:56.565-04:00Irresistibly Sweet (and whiny)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPt1j5Cxf8cefUmyO_mLEdTUZNNHVrzZrcwH92VmFhfBZAnOTyeIpgHP8b-8AeriY8zZ4gTs9MtGRIJZusGdDFqErC_NBX_mMuhMpdMoVQjDkaoj5vZx3sYHW_Xm1RB8NjrpAjx6Uy8E/s150/sweetblogaward.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My thanks go out to <a href="http://gardengatewares.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth</a>, for this sweet award.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> She could somehow tell I had a lot to deal with these days and though I might appreciate it (which I do). Although I did my best to avoid "the whiny," I guess it leached out anyway. So maybe I'll just go with it and let my seven things tilt in this direction.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here they are:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) Having lost all perspective on my manuscripts, I seem to be stuck in a stage of constant revisions. Perhaps this is because I am stalling (and stalling and stalling) before plunging into the disheartening query pool or perhaps its because my manuscript is just not quite good enough (yet) Sigh.....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img 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" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2) I have a <a href="http://maggiesfarmicelandics.blogspot.com/">farm</a>-- sheep, chickens, turkeys.-- and lately this feels like more responsibility than I can muster... especially when the sheep are sick (with mastitis and the chickens are being picked off by foxes.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3) My kids are heavily into baseball these days-- we have "little league" baseball games three times a week. Which is a lot of fun, but also very much a time-sink. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv5C0ZUmTYfn7XM0hRdkFfReGqdAv9iTPePBBM-Wi2BkewfE5aQVjXfLS81g5Uxhg-EchOahR9uHLEziU5Bv9so80_op0D3rU-Vzd6FNID1sSBoSyleNmxBWyqa67KfqCp2d9yjmxxckB/s320/Untitled.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612147452746624114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 167px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4) My kids take hip hop dance lessons out here in rural New England which is pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself). Their big recital is coming up in a few weeks.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5) I have a bunch of exciting new novel ideas just simmering away in the back of my mind but can't seem to get to them because of all these revisions and query attempts (see fact #1)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6) There are 7 orphaned chicks in a brooder on my porch (see fact #2) and because I brought them into work for a few weeks and my students became attached to them, I worry about them a lot more than I ought to.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBzS1zSYZqQpuhfyWP3p1HM3I8oYJGOe1KrCbh9Vs9FfyeLeWax8UR97H_GVWi2Zo2QPQska-UYA3WjRftuc6WYB2bqIPkvKmo7CdYQlqW0vPqPf4lUvq94bifRk4gIRa9VuZLB8hu9jw/s320/chicks.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612147674865607570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">7) I really will get back to a somewhat regular blogging schedule soon-- promise.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'd like to send this award out to...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Krista V at <a href="http://www.motherwrite.blogspot.com/">Mother. Write. (Repeat.) </a>which is a fabulous blog. I especially love all the agent interviews</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Macy at <a href="http://www.macybeckett.blogspot.com/">The Unrepentant Escapis</a>t, another super helpful blog</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.stephanie-thornton.com/">Stephanie Thornton</a> who has an admirable interest and WIP set in ancient Egypt</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Robert at <a href="http://onehundredonebooks.wordpress.com/">101 Books</a> who is reading and blogging about all 100 of Time Magazine's "Greatest English-Speaking Novels"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://sierragodfrey.blogspot.com/">Sierra Godfrey</a> whose blog is both informative and terrifically stylish</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And Lea at <a href="http://wantonredheadwriting.blogspot.com/">Wanton Redhead Writing</a>, which is a lot of fun.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Check them out!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-6951127905238263512011-05-22T16:57:00.003-04:002011-05-22T17:00:17.692-04:00Your Weekly One Hit Wonder!(well, monthly.....) Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to these.<div><br /></div><div>Here's a dose of 1982-- Madness with "Our House"</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4p4RWBCEFRo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yet another horribly-annoying-stick-in-your-head hit.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-36229552414637182972011-05-19T15:10:00.003-04:002011-05-19T16:27:40.963-04:00What I Learned from the Muse (Part 2)<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; "><b>Revision</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>While at the <a href="http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=173">Muse and the Marketplace</a>, I went to a few seminars on Revision because of course, this is where the rubber hits the road as far as writing is concerned. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRkgsSsnUtYCeF1BMqBs-T7deec7PN588khaRX5HLm_TYrxrMck" /></div><div><br /></div><div>And it's also where things can get awfully muddled... especially if your original vision (see plot post) is a bit murky. It's hard to revise the big stuff, to hold the whole manuscript in mind once you are so firmly-- and emotionally-- attached to it. So I figured I could use a few pointers.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I attended <a href="http://www.annhood.us/">Ann Hood</a>'s wonderful seminar (Aptly titled "Revision"). Ms Hood is so charming and witty, I swear I could sit and listen to her describing how paint dries. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxSC3qnAe823R0pWxcSwIx7--QHF5lvvE7_LYfDkjsMkEGcgbv6A" /></div><div><br /></div><div>But her advice was wonderful, and refreshingly specific. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's her technique:</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span">Quit worrying about TIME. Stop rushing to get the revision over with and just figure it will be a long process. </span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><img 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IcSlEqW2awozSBxGgOiCy7F7P8ABxGvFaVSUwaAExwagEbQOamWNQReKUtiHjzUhhkuZovxC7vhDhYpdPThqg7AKG2to3Pp3Ftw5vpC3UahTYCKaHM1zTzBCxtXmiYbMV+S8W9KViG2BiomytBc4NFwON7LLdoNrKqruH5ms6WPzWp7PYdH29RSyi4DszQeh1T/AGl2bpmU0hDGizTyHRYYra1jVt4rHFMkxHad4+VI3MM/bSnw+i0rbOvkgpJJIr5w02sCTe3RZ/ucj9OY/jK1x0LXizgCOhWxzPNeI1mIVP8Ai9u8HlkcG+6yPY6InEKVpGolFwe4FejpKCINd6DeB5DosLwVgdjosNBUP0Hc0oN9YNB5LzFtDT9nWVcfs1M7f/K63yXp8Bec949PkxWuHWUP+ONrv1VFy2TlzUtG7pHk+F7m/otNwl12BZNsNLejj/BPM33kO/qWqYG67QglgEUrrNcejSfcLpS4Yg60Mx6Qyn3RuKg8rYIzNUUo9qoph75WBeodpsbbRUtTVvAIhY54afvvJysZ5vLR5rzLsm29bh461dEP/PGth38YgWUNNAD/AI9Tmd3tijJt8T2HyCoyXA8KnxSuZDmLpamVz5pTrlaSXyzHwGY262HNem8HweGkgjpqdmSKJtmjiTzLnHm4m5J5krzjsLtkcKmlnbTsqHyRiIF8ro+zbnzOtZpvchnw96t0m/2r+7RUrfGWZ2nyQbajWESb98RPqw0bf4JnfWRNZN9uLHgaZvhB8tXFNB6BRqt7vcZnrMPgqagh0shkuWtDRYSECw8AFZbICshZGjQJshZKsggSiSrIkBIIIKjyPFEXuDRzK1TY7BAxrSR0VN2PwkyPDyPDwWvYdShjQO5BwqZCw/RSdFOHtBXOqpQ9pHPkuGGQuadUEu0Lo0ImhdAEBgJYCJoSwFBTNoG/Z62CoGjXnI7z4KS2xm/c5CObCfkl7Z4f2tM4j1mek3xGqr2K4n2uFF19Qwg+IC0V6b2r73d2X6mCl/Nemf4jNzLPQlPVzlq0azDcy39i8/id9VpzFvcQVPqP/KfosH2QGbHL/wCtMfqt3rjaKQ/gd9Fhe7pubGb/AIpz/wByDe7LBd8dNlxR7v8AMggf5hpZ/Qt9ssW3609qukk9umc34JSf60DLd7Lennb7E7HeT4x/+FrOzz/RCxrdxJrVs6xwv+Fzmn+YLXdmn6BVFmAXDEoHPgnYzV74ZmNFwLudG4AXPDUhOQEdlBhGyu6PFYayjmmihZHDUU8rz9oiccscjXGwaSSfRVz3tbGVuImiFIxj2wioz55WR5S8xWPpcdGHgtFQBQYBFuPxc8fsjPzVBNu/0WFPIdwuIH1qiib1s6d9u/8Awwt1CNBisW4Cf79bANdcsMjtPNwT2H/h/bpnriddctOBp5vK14I0ETsvgDaGlipGvMgizWe4AF13F2oHipayNBASNBGgJBGgqEoilIkCbI0EEGQbI4UI2NJHJXCKyjoaXLEA3iAuVBiBDrO8FkJ1oXVjAuca7sCg6NCW0JLQuoCgMBHZAJQCo5TwhzXNPAghY9j1Q6mZV0rvVOfL3XFwtmIWa7zcI9MSAaSMIP5hr/dc2fp0vHh6PA6X58M/fG35grc6z92J6l31WktVA3TwZaSx6u/mV/Yujw4NNNpcsUdaCU/gd9FiW6hubFSfwyn3uW0Y261LOf8ATd9Fjm5pl8RcekTj73KI3ZZRv4p/QoJOjqmM+bY3D+UrWbLOt+FNfD4X/wCXVs9z4pB9bIM23eSWq3t9unlHm1zHfQFa/s0/gsV2Iky19P8AiMrPiheB87LZNnnWdbvVF2alJMXAI5HhoLibBoJJ6AC5PuRETj+0VPRsD6iaOEG4bndYuI5Nbxd5AqOwbaqGqu+CZkzQQHZbgtvwzNNiPMLz5tLj8tfUy1UpJMjjkaTcRRfcib0AHvNzxJTzYbF30tbA8E5HOEUg5OjebWPgbHyQenYZMwBXVMcJmD4w4cCn4QBGgjQEjQRoCsjsgggFkSNBASJGiQEgjQVFMYEzqcMu8Pb5pzTTh4uE6aFQdK2zQCnbVyYF3aEC2roAkNXQIDASwETQloCVO3jPaIW39oW8bq52UbjOBRVTckguP1WF681Zj23Ycn+eSt/UoHd/G0U/o9SD3G6tbFSNjnmnqqijd1Jb4t/9EK7ha8Fuake42b+NpyZradrbx8o/ad9qOoP+m/6LKtyLL1sp6Qj6lbFXUTJo3RP9V4LXeBUfs5sPR0L3SU7C1zmhpOZxuB4lbXIsNlTt7dNnwmpPsOp5PdOwH5OKuagdvKbtMMxBv/SzOHixvaD+VEeddnZslZSOOgFTBfwMgafkVteD6SEd6wVsuU5xxaQ8fwm/6LeaN37ckcCbjwOqsC9U/qhcMZdamqT0p5z7onLrRm7Qme1DstDXHpR1R90D0R5WbwHgPonVAf2jPztPzTZOsOH7Rn5mqD0lsXIXU7b9ArEq9sS21MzwCsQCsgI7II1ASNBHZASCCCAIkaJAESNBUJRoIIMG3fbUSS+g4G40J5FabEbgFBBZQHDF1aggg6tSwggg6NSgjQQGAgQggiqFtaPs9fBUN4vylw65SGn3h3yV4BuAe66CC5cW2TJHjZ6PE74MFp76TH6l0au8RRoLoeeWmuL04kp6iM8HwTM+KJw/VEgojyha7fFv1atvwWbMylk5vp6dx8TE0/qggrCNDw4+gEw22fbDcRP/AEVV84XD9UEFR5dPEp5hg/aR/mCCCg9K7Ht/dmeAU8EEEBoIIKA0EEFAEEEEBIIIKgkEEFQSCCCo/9k=" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><span style="mso-list:Ignore"></span><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Put your manuscript away for a month or more. Write something else.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in">Print out whole thing and take it on a "date"—somewhere like a coffee shop where you can work without interruption.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS26Ek9aWzAvZPSBz7IqH78C7ZB5obZ3SmnK4cvKUTfJcYHuKyH" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><br /></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Read as if you've never read it before. Mark your manuscript using a <span class="Apple-style-span">Fix/Cut/Add</span> strategy: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">On your first pass through the manuscript, focus on the<b> <span class="Apple-style-span">fix </span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTcX3ImP-UrEMb4gNeIqgMyRJyh7wQXDNbmJeq7uxIJDiFEJHBe9g" /></span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Here's what to mark:</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Word or meanings that are off: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Awk</i>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Underwritten passages: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">More</i><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Passages that get off track<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">: No<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Passages that are working but not done to the best of your ability: <i>close</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3"><i>Cliches</i></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Oft-repeated words (She says you can only use the word "cocoon" once per manuscript)</p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXTsWX6Kr6hFpGo5DP3Qqw46YkWXppYHHZQgkUrK0Wr7MumapceUKBKijSIA" /></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://growingwithscience.com/cocoon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blog.growingwithscience.com/tag/caterpillar/&usg=__CtvN9KKVBYAefDV3X8hwrwF_sxw=&h=285&w=320&sz=18&hl=en&start=40&sig2=M1Spuj_P210CxdHPdPYdQA&zoom=1&tbnid=uuyCY_8p1yARhM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=143&ei=0XfVTb_6CcTI0QG9veWlDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcocoon%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1202%26bih%3D600%26tbm%3Disch0%2C700&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=990&vpy=374&dur=7394&hovh=152&hovw=171&tx=128&ty=28&sqi=2&page=3&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:40&biw=1202&bih=600">credit</a></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Restructuring: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">move</i><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3"><i>Check facts</i>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Inconsistencies, e.g. changes made halfway through.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">On the second Pass through, <span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Cut</b></span> ruthlessly</p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTSuMsQC7bv_wesUM2-Wk8k3yhxd98zRYMtCWoHUwojT2YTaS4Lkw" /></p> Here's what to focus on:<br /><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Repetition: The reader will get it the first time<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Stage directions: Just get them into the car, already!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">If your mss started in the wrong place, cut the beginning</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">Adjectives, adverbs, extra words.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Then focus on <b><span class="Apple-style-span">Adding</span></b></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-align: center;"><img 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/></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="text-align: left;">For depth—layers of meaning</p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">For clarity<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3"><br /></p> <div><br /></div>Sounds like a lot of work, right? But that's not all....<br /><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .25in"><b>Then you focus on the big stuff:</b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">1) Look at how the <b>beginning and ending </b>relate to each other. The last scene should be sort of opposite of the first 1<sup>st </sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">(I thought his was a really interesting idea.) </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">2) <b>Setting</b>. List settings as you read. they should reflect the main character's arc and should NOT be monotonous (10 scenes in a coffee shop are baaaad)</p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">3) List the main characters. And develop an "Emotional timeline" for each. Look at each scene to make sure there is internal movement. You shouldn't hit the same emotional note in every scene. Mark each scene with a + or - to indicate emotional state. Each scene should move character from + to - (or - to +) </p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Then..</b></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> <span class="Apple-style-span">Check Grammar, Spelling Paragraphs, sentence variety etc. Use a highlighter to mark low level language glitches.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in">Find 3 beta readers who are not writers but big readers. Send them the manuscript. Buy them dinner. Listen to them talk about your manuscript and do not speak. Take notes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><img 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" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><span class="Apple-style-span">Based on what they have to say, </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Revise all over again...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in">Whew!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in">What do you think? What sort of revision techniques do you use?</p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-25652635602811049172011-05-12T11:33:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:37:43.816-04:00What I Learned from the Muse (Part 1)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for hanging in there everybody. Life and <a href="http://maggiesfarmicelandics.blogspot.com/">farm</a> sort of got in the way this week. But perhaps that's a good thing, because I think I've finally gotten enough distance/perspective to put together a sort of Muse and the Marketplace recap.</div><div><br /></div><div>First off, I want to thank <a href="http://www.grubstreet.org/">Grub Street Writers</a> for putting together an awesome conference. The thing that distinguishes "the Muse" is the combination of craft (muse) and publishing stuff (marketplace) and also the quality of the presenters and participants. And I got to hang out here:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vLznFhxaf3KPNt_MXuT0dW4eM3ZemwwNP86FEsaAUSs-dTePhoo5tY_NEYgDUCXNNi1hnr2WYmihNwYtE41Bqz9WB_Warh2zVbmDjdazyQnRdv2KJEmR5MEEq4e98-IYqejShdZL0rd4/s320/hotel.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605881382497133810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 178px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This time around (my 3rd) I wanted to focus on plot (my big struggle) and revision. So I signed up for 3 plot related seminars and 3 revision/critique related events. I also attended an agents' Q&A panel and a face to face meeting with an agent, met a bunch of old friends and a few new ones and totally (totally!) exhausted myself because really I am sort of an introvert and schmoozing is HARD work.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/pha0930l.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, where to begin? </div><div><br /></div><div>With plot, I guess. </div><div><br /></div><div>I attended <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/lynnebarrett/home">Lynne Barrett's</a> "Understanding Plot: The Fundamentals." Lynne was wonderful. I'd met her at Saturday's breakfast, and despite all my first day jitters, I think I managed to be coherent. Lynne talked about plot in context, using Cinderella as a model because, as she said, fairy tales are narrative in their most basic form. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzOQEOUusN9r3t-EO7utVFf5kj8vekfXdEKfkKTWjOrhdJdjUI" /></div><div><br /></div><div>We graphed the action in the familiar story and among other things, assessed when the "situation" became a plot and which characters acted on the plot. Expendable characters were those who did not "plot" or act to influence the events of the story. (An interesting aside: In some versions of the story, Cinderella has a father. But because he never "plots" he is expendable and dropped from most versions)</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a great first dip into the intricacies of plot (Thanks, Lynne!) </div><div><br /></div><div>I also attended <a href="http://hallieephron.com/">Hallie Ephron'</a>s "Plotting a Page Turner." At first, I felt like I might be in the wrong class for this one, because we kept talking about "The DaVinci Code" and "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (my novels are more literary-ish). </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkUgeMcT06YQbNyygvD8gDk9oK-zixPFayVHlbJJ27sOyk9tDc" /></div><div><br /></div><div>But although Ms Ephron IS a suspense writer, she used these books as examples because most of the audience had read them. The class was not about a certain genre so much as using good plot technique to keep your readers engaged. We reviewed Aristotle's three act structure </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSijqunYSvy1rHHdw4nUWmw996NwEpdvpAdH90B7SYAm79sqcIffQ" /></div><div><br /></div><div>and how it might apply to our own work. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ms Ephron talked about "penny drop" moments when reader sort of get a small surprise or thickening of plot and how scattering these moments throughout the story makes it more engaging. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRI4eP2YlNQT0N8kIOcjIDNxVJRhAMwvi4o8PxldwE01urqhm03VQ" /></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the practical things suggested in this seminar was to revise/assess plot by highlighting <span class="Apple-style-span">action in green</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span">exposition in red</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span">building suspense in yellow</span>. You should have more green as the story progresses and more red in the beginning. (I'm going to have to give this a try!)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCDqznl3XYeJ0jbMzpmwJaZCfIT9sZbSnCrJ6BOLvjekhsN1hV" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also attended <a href="http://micahnathan.com/">Micah Nathan's</a> "The Essentials of Plot." Now, I must confess that when Mr. Nathan pulled out his own fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, I gave a little inward groan, expecting the same sort of information as in Lynne Barrett's seminar (Which had been wonderful; I just didn't want the same info twice). When he started talking about the three act structure like Hallie Ephron, my groan may have become audible. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR1gWyKkKWo7JmGVWJd7v5FLkU4JDGfpFC86MClC-YfNV9EmNS4" /></div><div><br /></div><div>But then Mr. Nathan did something awesome: he talked about the way plot and character are linked and that really we can't talk about one without the other. (I really needed to hear that I think, because I approach writing in just this way and I'd begun to get the sense that I was just plain wrong.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of recapping "Hansel and Gretel", we developed it-- asking ourselves a series of what ifs and why ifs and connecting the actions to "conflicts of noble ideals" and bigger moments of decision. In our Hansel and Gretel, for example, the children were abandoned by their father during a famine. (Backstory: Their mother was hung for stealing food while the father did nothing and is now wracked with guilt. He believes they have a better chance with the old lady in the forest.) But although Hansel is happy to live in the forest with the nice old lady, adolescent Gretel doesn't trust the old woman who she believes may be a witch and she conspires to trap the old lady in the basement and escape, only things go horribly wrong and... etc etc. You get the idea. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPctr6MEMJnKeCmR9hB2xVfpDzwPFtyLvxF3hUenjhE2LQnEPl" /></div><div><br /></div><div>What was so cool about this plot stuff was that it was, as Mr Nathan said, "like playing in the sandbox." I can't tell you how freeing it felt to just try stuff out and see where it might take me. Usually, once I establish my characters, it's hard for me to see anything else but my original plot idea. </div><div> </div><div>I spent the last session of that day playing in the sandbox, building (and wrecking) castles of what ifs. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4u61PVxR7wK6qBP5fYAisriVkqNuubkweWceRZ_PxR-ivK-Fw" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are a few more random gleanings from the seminars on plot:</div><div><br /></div><div>Micah Nathan said that basically stories are about getting your characters stuck in a tree (a metaphorical tree, of course) and throwing stones at them. This image has helped me think about how all the little twists and troubles (the metaphorical stones) help the narrative.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/1trup.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/2009/03/pickup-truck-stuck-up-a-treeyo.html">credit</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Lynne Barrett talked about how all fiction is "contrived" but that readers hunger for interesting contrivance and are willing to suspend disbelief for it.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Ms Ephron talked about how each scene contains its own story arc. Even at the scene level, characters move from one state to another, never staying static.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">In a discussion of outlining. Mr Nathan talked about how outlining the major events of plot shouldn't stifle creativity. He talked about the plot as being like a road map for a cross-country trip. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7QuwkqZstdL1uS3T9PYa9K3R-uBno-O4Q3zh17H5WIGa3pvU_MJ82qI0e" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">It doesn't describe the sights along the way, the conversations and music, cool diners and seedy motels. It just keeps you from getting lost. There's lots of room for creativity and you can always choose a new route when necessary. I found this really helpful as I am trying to evolve from being a "pantser" to a more careful plotter.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Okay-- Whew!There's lots more I could say, but this is probably already a bit much. I will talk about the revision stuff next and then the "Marketplace stuff" which was.... wow, intense!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909060729155750527.post-52432800308158615472011-05-03T12:11:00.004-04:002011-05-03T14:11:07.146-04:00Whew and Woo-hooo!<div><br /></div><div>Ah, <a href="http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=173">The Muse</a>! I have a looong post coming about the conference, how wonderful and horrible, exhausting and energizing it all was. I will even try to decipher my handwritten notes and put up a bit of what I learned about plot and editing and the world of publishing. But I am not quite there yet: back in my work week and seriously dragging.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's something that put a little more pep in my tired typing fingers:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmwFySnac8kUjP9RLJJ4JL6eXwRjAxvtr_4E7CuAs4QCpVsXiusLUqVnjTIGSXN6KNYmNRtnK4x1q2wlZchTy4QnSD56ynxTbPmIceMsjhe8PrkhsHn4UjVZwiLdqWHqIwoYWI5VdSEoP/s1600/blog+on+fire+award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(186, 36, 44); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmwFySnac8kUjP9RLJJ4JL6eXwRjAxvtr_4E7CuAs4QCpVsXiusLUqVnjTIGSXN6KNYmNRtnK4x1q2wlZchTy4QnSD56ynxTbPmIceMsjhe8PrkhsHn4UjVZwiLdqWHqIwoYWI5VdSEoP/s1600/blog+on+fire+award.jpg" style="border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(198, 198, 198); border-right-color: rgb(198, 198, 198); border-bottom-color: rgb(198, 198, 198); border-left-color: rgb(198, 198, 198); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.199219) 0px 0px 20px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.199219) 0px 0px 20px; border-top-left-radius: 5px 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px 5px; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got this brand new shiny blog award-- twice! Thanks, <a href="http://thepartypony.blogspot.com/">Jenny Phresh</a> and <a href="http://katharineowens.blogspot.com/">KO</a>. This was just what I needed today. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This award's only requirement is that you pass it on to some other fiery folks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So here goes:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nina Badzin at <a href="http://ninabadzin.com/">Nina Badzin: The Writing Life, Married Life and Motherhood </a>This blog may literally catch fire thanks to a kind (and well-deserved) mention by <a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/">Janet Reid</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mary Frame at <a href="http://marewolf.blogspot.com/">It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets an Agent</a> (Great title, huh? This blog is new and lots of fun.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Amie Kaufman at <a href="http://amiekaufman.com/">Amie Kaufman, Writer, Buccaneer, Etc</a> (Tremendously helpful, this one)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">France Rants at <a href="http://francerants.blogspot.com/">FranceRants</a> (Who doesn't enjoy a good rant now and then?)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">and...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Saumya at <a href="http://saumyadave.blogspot.com/">Left and Write Brained</a> (Love the variety over there!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LesserApricots</div>Perrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08485133856416996635noreply@blogger.com15