inkgrrl's inkblog

Am figuring out my characters. *grunt* Doe once told me that the way to go from a short story to a novel was to throw every damn thing that came to mind, including the kitchen sink, into the story. He likened it to having a nice-sized pile of kindling next to you as you’re starting a fire, as well as plenty of extra tinder to keep said flame alive. All those character-development exercises I’ve always scoffed at are starting to make sense. And I’m still a bit freaked, but what the hell. I can always say that it seemed like a good idea at the time. That’s my all-purpose excuse for all my failures in life.

Had too much excitement over the Fourth, and now I am buckling down. That is, I’m beginning to holler into the abyss. That is, I’m writing a book. Ack. That is scary shit.

I signed up for a Short Story workshop at the local Learning Tree – figuring I’ll back slowly and sideways into a novel-length bit of work. Funny thing is, the universe, er, the teacher of said Short Story class cancelled on us. She thought three doughty if deluded souls weren’t enough raw material for her creative talents to mold, and she flaked. Ah well. The other class in that time slot was Novel Writing I – like once you’ve begun, there’s ever an end. Ha. Cry fury and let fly the hounds of war!

Or something like that. Sheesh.

And no, it really isn’t a totally sucky idea for me to be in a workshop/class thingy – I write best and most often when being flogged. Warm fuzzy encouragement just doesn’t do it for me. Doe, you reading this?

Go read what Ezrael wrote about the Fourth of July. My thanks to kdblog for her own contribution to the holiday and for pointing me that way. I spent yesterday in the company of my husband and a bunch of old friends who all reminded me of what I used to be, both good and bad, as well as made me realize what I’ve become and how far I’ve traveled to get here. kd and Ezrael both expressed a great deal of my feelings about the Fourth, and I can only add that I thank whatever gods might be that I was born in this country and no other. I couldn’t have the life or the possibilities I enjoy anywhere else.