Catching up

So I think I've killed my muse... killed it stone dead.

I thought when Autumn came I would start being able to write again... The smell of the air, the rain, and the color of the leaves almost always make me need to write. 

Like right now... I'm forcing myself to write this. I have a cup of warm coffee next to me, a fire going in the fireplace, and my inspirational playlist going. Usually that should be all it takes! Especially since it's raining outside at the moment.

Well, I guess I just need to try and work past this.

Choir started again two weeks ago. It's amazing to think how different this year is from when I first started it. In a good way completely. 

So far the songs we're learning aren't all that interesting though.

The choir will be singing at the Grotto for the second year in a row which means we have to learn about 45 minutes worth or music. Normally I adore starting choir and learning Christmas music straight off. It's like cheating since normally I don't allow myself to indulge in any Christmas music till the day after Thanksgiving. But this year none of the music has that distinct Christmas feel to it... Hopefully some of the stuff we start tonight will be more like it.

So far we've started learning:

And the Glory of the Lord from The Messiah Choruses by Handel
In the Bleak Mid-Winter (but the melody isn't the same as the traditional one)

Shepherd's Star

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach

Ok, that last one is a little more fun. Also it's pretty easy.

We're also learning Sing to the Lord by Vivaldi

We All Believe in One True God

and

Except the Lord Build the House based on Psalm 127

It's kind of a lonely season of choir for me this year since my best friend has moved to Washington for his new job. He comes back most weekends but he can't come back for choir...

Anyways

Today I walked up to Joann's to try and find a gypsy pattern for a costume I'm going to make. I found one but it isn't quite what I was looking for so I'm going to look through the old costumes we've got around here and see if I can find anything I can piece together.  Hopefully I'll be able to finish it before the party which is on the 21st... I'm putting together a costume dance as a fundraiser for the private school that my Church runs. Hoping plenty of people show up!

Last weekend Benny came back from Washington and Wes, Caleb, Forrest, Elisa, Benny, and I went to Portland. It was Wes' first time and Benny's second. We went to Saturday Market, Everyday Music, and ate lunch at Pizzicato. 

Caleb and Wesley's first time on the bus! :D

 The taco plate Benny and I split at Saturday Market :D

Benny bought a hat to keep his ears warm at his job in Washington. :) It's getting pretty cold up there.

 Wesley bought a new hat that is cool.

Benny, Elisa, and Wesley being hypnotized by the spinning porch decorations. 

Elisa is scarred by the singing marionettes...

Trying on cute hats :D

Caleb and Elisa :D

Benny got vinyl albums of the Shins and Wilco. He was pretty pleased with them. :)

Bus ride home

So other than the Doctor Who season ending not much has happened that I can think of... :P

Love!

Shay

80's Tuesday - Naked Eyes

I've decided to start a new thing. Every Tuesday I'll post an 80's song that I like. Because... I love 80's music! :D

Keep Calm and.... EXTERMINATE!!!

You know all those "Keep Calm and..." posters?  Here's the ones I like. :D

So yeah... August 27th is the day that the first episode of the mid season premiere comes out.  Eeeeeeee! !!!!!!

Just a tad excited.

Are you a Whovian?

I AM

Major geeking out going on... Sorry :P

Anyhow... Looking forward to Saturday! I promise to do a real post soon... One last picture to leave you with... 

Writing

I have been staying at my friend Bethany's house since Sunday so that I could do an online writers conference with her. The Next Generation Writer's Conference.

Most of the articles were things that I had already read somewhere else but it's been interesting to read through the comments of all the other people doing it too.

It's also making me a little nervous...  I just have my one novel.  My one several thousand word long novel that is hardly a third of the way done. That I have been working on for ages. Slightly colorless, drab, and I'm pretty sure boring book.

Gah.......

What I really need to do is to stop continuously rewriting the first couple chapters like I have been. I need to go on and continue all the way to the end no matter how sloppy it is. It's just a first draft after all.....

But how? How do you make your writing colorful and interesting? How do you make it so that the people reading it can identify and empathize with your characters? It's so hard... I'm pretty sure right now my main characters are nothing more than puppets moving along mostly obediently from scene to scene. How do I give them a mind of their own?

I feel like Doctor Frankenstein desperately wanting to say "It's aliiive!"

If only I had an old fashioned typewriter! I would turn out 20 brilliant novels a week if I did! :P

Soo... here we go again. Another try at getting a running start. If I hurl myself against the brick blockade of my writers block enough times I know it will crack.