Welcome to my Migraine - Free Writing Exercise.

More Free Writing exercises: 10 minutes.
Subject: How I feel  (just as I start having a migraine).
Twist: write in present tense (not my favourite)

In the depths of my stomach, something stirs.  At first a constant throbbing, then the feeling of weightlessness; my internal organs defy gravity, slowly turn in space then fall with a decisive jolt. All the while I resist the urge to relieve it of its contents.

My ears decide that they want to participate. Any slight movement results in the inner ear canal swishing. I hear a rush of fluid then the nausea returns –  a wave slowly encompassing my entire body.

Not to be outdone, my tongue conspires to betray me – my favourite food takes on the most peculiar of tastes. Strange phantom smells parade through my consciousness. My husband is slowly getting more frustrated as I ask him, yet again, to check for smoke, ‘that strange rubber smell’ or dead ‘somethings’.

Rounding off the senses, are vision and touch. They all clamour to be part of a discordant symphony. Light is now painful and the all too familiar (but beautiful) electric blue spots invade my peripheral vision. With it comes a most excruciating headache. This is an not unfamiliar migraine. The pain cuts into my head, accompanied by swollen sinuses, both working in unison to try to split my head open – ever so slowly. (at least that would relieve the pressure!)

Fortunately touch is less effected by this onslaught of hay-wired senses.  My tongue, now feeling thick and clumsy, finds everything difficult to pronounce. My brain searches for the appropriate word, and fails. Tea is either too hot or too cold, even when it is just right.

If I lean too heavily on my forearms, my tendons complain and the muscles ache.  My fingers still can feels and they, at least, will respond to my commands to write – as long as it does not involve changing posture.

Welcome to my migraine.

Art/Photography: Made some jewelry for a friend. (similar set available for sale on request. $30 + postage)

Costume: Preview pics from the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special and an interesting costume.

Reading/Writing: currently trying to stave off procrastination and finish Chapter 3.

Welcome to my Migraine - Free Writing Exercise.

Lamentations and Reflections

I have given it a few days to sink in. Nelson Mandela died. I cried.

Almost daily we hear of the passing of personalities or influential people. In these days of social media the news spreads fast. When I hear a familiar name, I get sad. Sometimes I am shocked. I don’t always cry. This time I did.

As a child of 70s and 80s, I remember first hearing about South Africa when the protests and boycotts involving the cricket and rugby. I was in primary school and did not really understand what the fuss was all about. All I knew was that the news was full of pictures of what I thought were armies of police at sports events.

I remember in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Only the year before the Berlin Wall had been torn down. These were miraculous things that I thought I would never see in my lifetime. They changed the way we think. They changed the world. They gave me hope in my fellow human beings.

That is the big picture. Look more closely and it is the changes, at a personal level, that are even more inspiring. History (if it is not rewritten) documents that Nelson Mandela went to prison, convicted for treason.  In his fight to stop anti-apartheid, he felt he had to use armed resistance.

During his time in prison, this man learnt to forgive. He learned peace. We have heard the stories of him teaching both fellow prisoners and his prison guards, to read. We have witnessed his work for a united South Africa. For me, the most inspiring part of his life was the fact that this man chose peace over violence, love over hate. As a result he made so much more of a profound statement. He did not only bring a country and its divided peoples together, he allowed this message to reach the entire world.

When we remember Nelson Mandela, let us not gloss over his past. Let it not be expunged from history. Let it serve as an example of how any person can change their attitude towards their fellow humans. Let him be our example. Let us attempt the same metamorphosis. Then the world would be a better place.

Lamentations and Reflections

Costume Capers - The Mayflowers

Last night we attended a friend’s birthday party. The theme was the ’90s’. I had so many ideas but no time or spare money to do it justice. My Babylon 5 costumes no longer fit so I looked through the cupboards to find what materials I had.  Lots of purple linen. Hmmm… an excuse to make a fun costume. I just needed some bits for the hat.

I did not have time to recreate the desired costume accurately, so I decided to cheat. I used a retro pattern 1609 by Simplicity – actually a 60s dress but had the correct shape for the basic dress. I adjusted the neckline to echo the ‘V’ in the orginal movie costume. I will be able to wear  the dress again. (that is the cheat).

Earrings: tacky gold and large. I used some 1990s plastic buttons (3cm diameter) and hotglued them to an earring base.

Creative Milinery: All I needed to purchase was some wire and some plastic tubing (as a cheat as I did not have time to do major gluing or sewing of ribbon around the wire). Saved, yet again, by my trusty hot glue gun! (more waxing lyrical In Praise of the Hot Glue Gun.)

In the flesh:  ”Bunny, ball ball.” Hello Darwin and Minerva Mayflower! (in 30 deg C!)

(thanks to Emmanuel Photakis for the final photo)

Costume Capers - The Mayflowers

Of Rewrites, Research and Demises.

As mentioned last week (On Writing, Tea and Aching Fingers), I have finished the draft and first rewrite of chapter 2.  A copy has now gone off to my fellow writers in my writers’ group. I have already had some feedback and am now eagerly awaiting more comments and suggestions and have already started final (hopefully) rewrites. 

This week’s plan was to sort out the plot order for chapter 3 and I was planning on starting the rough draft of chapter 3 yesterday. Notice the - was?  Indecision, procrastination and last minute inspiration all colluded to prevent me from these specific plans.

Where should I place a Secret Headquarters? I kept moving it around on the map, not happy with any of the potential addresses. (No doubt I will suffer the same fate for the next HQ.) I grabbed my Boots Poverty map of the 1880s, logged onto Google Maps and a hot cup of tea then prepared to make a final decision so that I could start writing. The ‘research’ lasted all day.

For me, knowing where everything happens is essential. It effects what and how I write. Now that I have a specific setting (and back up settings), I can coherently describe the area, the building and be consistent with travel times and directions. I also know which way our heroes have to flee to avoid (boom, boom, boom) certain death. (sorry to those who are not Labyrinth fans.)

Then there was ‘the procrastination’.  Avoidance will not get my manuscript draft written. Bad Karen!  In my defense I did tinker with the plot outline, arranging it in a more satisfactory order, slot in some hints/clues for a later plot points and devices and came up with some cool steampunky gadgets to play with – all last minute inspirations.

Now I face one of my most difficult decisions; part of the plot requires a certain level of destruction. With destruction, comes the possible demise of some characters. Some authors seem to relish killing off characters, whether they be beloved main character, sidekicks or members of the unnamed citizenry that populate their literary worlds. I am currently wrestling with this issue, as this will provide further conflict and further the plot… but then…

ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Of Rewrites, Research and Demises.

Donna Noble is Saved!

For months ‘Donna’ has been hiding in the cupboard, waiting to be allowed to come out and play. Twice there was been excitement in the air.

First there was Oz Comic Con in March this year. The outfit was complete bar a wig. I had searched for months and finally fund one, on the internet, in my allotted budget range. It was ordered, with over a month to spare. Then I played the waiting game. I should have known better. A word of advice: never rely on a quoted postage time when an item is required for a specific date. It arrived one week late.

Costume plans were hurriedly reassessed and backup costumes were chosen- my Hobbittess and Tia Dalma. Donna remained in the closet.

Now that I finally had a wig, I excitedly planned Donna Noble’s debut for Supanova, last month. One week til ‘showtime’ and I cracked open the costume cupboard to check all was in order. Everything was accounted for. My jeans and blouse had been washed and were almost dry. Accessories: shoes, belt, wig, squishy adipose stress toy and earrings. Tick!

To my utter dismay, I had to forego attending the convention as I was ill with bronchitis. Again Donna was relegated to obscurity and denied attending ‘the ball’ (as it were).

Now, at this point, I was seriously wondering if Donna Noble  was destined to become one of ‘those costumes’ – the ones that doomed to oblivion. I decided to give Donna another chance to come to the party.

Last weekend was the Australian Costumers’ Guild Quiz night. It is our Guild’s annual fundraiser. Everyday my bronchitis improved (though more slowly than I had hoped.) Saturday came and armed with my squishy adipose toy, my camera and my hubby, finally Donna was allowed to shine!

Bonus! Our team came second.

Donna Noble is Saved!

Impromptu Photo Shoot

I am having a ball with my new phone. It has a 20.9M camera! I used to get so frustrated with my old camera.  Often I would find myself thinking That would make a great photo, only to get annoyed that I did not have my SLR with me. I took photos with my old phone (dropped one too many times) with unsatisfactory results. My husband was getting a little annoyed that I kept asking to borrow his phone.

We went to the local shops today and, as usual, I found some ‘art in life’ that I wanted to record. There is a wonderful and beautiful world out there, just ready to discover, if only we would take the time.

my favourite:

The local Haighs chocolate store (locally made chocolate) are readying for Christmas:
 

    

Finally – on the way home and my beautiful old Devon Rex – she is now 20 years old.

Impromptu Photo Shoot

Of Writing, Tea and Aching Fingers

These past few weeks have been both exhausting and exciting. Once I had recovered enough to drag myself out of bed, I tried to get some long awaiting chores done around the house. This was a fruitless exercise. Even going into the garden and pulling out a few carrots was utterly exhausting.

So I sat on the sofa and let my mind wander. I had been researching background for an idea for a steampunk story , then managed to write about 2000 words towards what I thought would be the second chapter; the first being based on a short story I had written a few months ago. After this month’s writers’ group meeting, I had a bucket-load of new ideas. Chapter 2 was no longer chapter 2 but will probably be closer to chapter 4 or 5.

The new chapter 2 is now on it’s second re-write of about 3500 words. Things are finally starting to fall in place. Who would have thought it would take a illness-addled brain to deliver the key for everything to fall into place.

So far I have:

• Chapter 1: Of rivals, surprises and escapes. – approx 2500 – requires final rewrite and some possible additions (according to updated storyline)
• Chapter 2: Of silks, kippers and secrets. -  3500 words – in rewrites
• Chapter 3: The Inventor, The Department and Curiosities. – plan in progress
• Chapter 4?:  Of trains, dirigibles and steamships. -2100 words so far (incomplete)

Summary: Ecstatic about a 8000 word count so far. Fingers feel like they will drop off. Drowning in cups of tea. Love my chiropractor!


Art/Photography Bits: It was suggested I get some recent portrait shots of myself. This is an ‘arty’ one.
Costume Bits: Tomorrow night I am trying to let Donna Noble to come out and play after the Supanova fail.

Writing Bits: What I am reading: The Immersion Book of Steampunk (paperback anthology) Editors: Gareth D Jones & Carmelo Rafala.


Of Writing, Tea and Aching Fingers