The Best Laid Plans of a Writer

I had big plans this week. It was earmarked for a major writing spree on my short story Doctor Jack as my CampNaNoWriMo attempt.
That was the plan…

For the past week, I have had cranium-splitting headache. I did what I tell my patients to do and saw my doctor and optometrist colleague.  My biggest fear was my blood pressure. It was acceptable. Phew! I am now waiting for blood test results and am armed with a retinal digital scan (photo), and am off to my ophthalmologist tomorrow. ( I was due anyway.)

This has been a big shake up for me. I just don’t want to admit that I am getting older. Strangely I am feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I am ready to grab life by the b…..s

The most annoying aspect of this saga is the grinding halt to my writing. I have spent some time researching today (my excuse for procrastinating). However I must admit my word count is only 400 – no increase from last week’s post. To get back on track I will need to write 2600 words today. Realistically that may not happen but I am preparing to pull myself together and aim for 4000 words by the end of the week.

Now that I have admitted it to the world, it will give me more incentive to soldier on and get back into my daily writing schedule – and feel more like a real writer. I am sure this week’s writers’ group will also give me a gentle nudge.

Wish me luck.

Art/Photography: Artwork published in Published Art – I33 Fencing in the Style of the Walpurgis Manuscript by Andrew Kenner.

Costume Bit: Next on the list is another corset of British flavour.

Manuscript Word Progress:
Total Words:  
Revised Words: At 1st draft only:


The Best Laid Plans of a Writer

Costumes, Conventions and Steampunky hijinks

Sorry if the timing is off. I got to sleep in one hour this morning. Daylight savings finished last night.

This month I have been making a new Victorian Corset. My original one was made many years ago. It was an experiment. I had no one to help me with the fitting. Its time has passed.

Over four weeks, Lynne – from the Australian Costumers’ Guild – ran corset making workshops. At last I had help with fitting!  A godsend!

I planned to use some pinstripe suiting (snaffooed at a Spotlight sale). This can be used for both steampunk and dieselpunk outfits. I have 8m (one of those ‘half price if you buy to the end of the roll’ deals).

For the costumers out there, I have photos of the ‘corset on the go’ on my FB page – The Florence Files/The Purple Files – Steampunk Creations photo album. For those without FB, here is a quick rundown.

      
 

I highly recommend having your corset custom fitted – making them much more comfortable than an off the rack corset. Make your own or buy one. It is up to you.

Saturday was Day 1 of the local Oz ComicCon. I had planned to wear my steampunk Scout Mistress. This was quickly sidelined when the weather unexpectedly heated up earlier in the week. I spent yesterday sewing (rather than writing) and managed to finish! This meant I could wear my new airship crew costume (which is much cooler with a linen blouse and cotton skirt). 

The accessories were sourced from opshops, garage sales and ‘cheap’ shops. At 11 o’clock on Friday night, I decided that I needed an airship badge. A quick delve into my ‘findings box’ and I whipped one up.  Here is the final outfit. Very comfortable and hands free!

Manuscript Word Progress:
Total Words:  
Revised Words: 
At 1st draft only:

Camp NaNoWriMo: 400 words and almost 1500 in research notes. (now the sewing has finished, the writing will renew in earnest).

Costumes, Conventions and Steampunky hijinks

Of Doctors, Incentives and Writing Camps.

Introducing Doctor Jack for Camp NaNoWriMo:

One of my biggest problems is procrastination and discipline. Over the past two months, my writing output has slowed down due to irregularities in my writing schedule.  Last year I was concentrating on short stories. Competition deadlines proved a very effective incentive for establishing a daily writing schedule. I was on a roll.

This gave me the confidence to finally start writing my manuscript The Department of Curiosities - but it has been a two-edged sword. Over the past (almost) two months, my writing schedule has become more erratic. I have managed to complete 30% of my manuscript (which I am extremely happy with) but the barreling pace for my ‘stream of consciousness’ first draft has slowed down.

I started looking for something to give me a kick up my butt. I had discovered NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month – last year. It was tempting; deadlines have always worked for me. But, due to my health situation, I decided the added stress would not be advisable.

It is now almost six months later and I have discovered Camp NaNoWriMo – a less stressful and more flexible version. Like NaNoWriMo, Camp NaNoWriMo is held over 30 days. Instead of a 50,000 word target, there is a flexible 10,000- 999,000 word target, which also allows for short stories and work on other projects (NaNoWriMo in November is aimed at starting and finishing a single manuscript project).

I have decided to dip my toes in and get a feel for how intense November may be. My April limit is 10,000 words – towards a new short story – Doctor Jack – featuring my two Victorian doctors – Viola Stewart and John Collins.  Any shortfall will be directed at continuing my manuscript. I am hoping a short break will give my creative brain time to bubble away and sort out two plot points that have been bugging me for The Department of Curiosities, while I write another Viola Stewart Adventure (and stop my friend Sue from bugging me for a new story!)

I was hoping to put pen to paper and start writing the actual story today but, alas, I was sidetracked by necessary research. I should have done this earlier but my headspace was still immersed in The Department of Curiosities.  I did manage about four hours of reading research, up to 1000 words on background research and a really cool map (yes, I did need the map for times and reasons for travel).

I now have a basic outline for the plot with one or two motive/plot holes I am trying to plug. My creative brain is feeling really hinky right now. Welcome to the world of Doctor Jack.

Of Doctors, Incentives and Writing Camps.

Published Art - I33 Fencing in the Style of the Walpurgis Manuscript

For those who love period fencing (as I do) and want to try something a little different, a new book is now available for purchase:   I33 Fencing in the Style of the Walpurgis Manuscript. Last year my friend Andrew Kenner asked me to do some illustrations for this book. It is based on a 13th-14th century German fencing manuscript, the world’s oldest known fencing manual. During 2013, I posted some of my artwork (based on the period style) as it was being created. You can see more here:  Book Artwork Commission, Commissioned Art and Book Artwork – Mischief Managed. 

Andrew travelled to Europe to study the original manuscript then wrote the discussion and rapier exercises, based on the early period text. Andrew is a Provost for period fencing in the Society for Creative Anachronism (where he is known as William Forrester de Blacwode). He has been studying and teaching from the I33 manual for some years now.

In February 2013, we took a drive up to Gawler and did a photoshoot for the manual. Cathy Spencer and Steve Hancock took photos of our fencers in action, offering a more realistic interpretation of the early style of artwork. I did a photo shoot of the photo shoot, and of the lovely church (we had permission to photograph at.)

    

The book is now complete and available for purchase at Lulu:  I33 Fencing in the Style of the Walpurgis Manuscript by Andrew Kenner. The black and white version is $24.94 + postage.

I am now eagerly waiting my copy!

Art/Photography: I had not realised that I had not posted photos from this photoshoot before.

Costume Bit: I am working on my pinstriped Victorian corset for steampunk and dieselpunk costumes.

Writing: Chapter 6 is on the go. I have hit the 30% mark on the projected word count. Next month I am ‘attending’ Camp NaNoWriMo.

Manuscript Word Progress:
Total Words:  
Revised Words: 
At 1st draft only:


Published Art - I33 Fencing in the Style of the Walpurgis Manuscript

Gardening Adelaide / Full Circle

Regular readers will know how much I love my garden. It calms me and keeps me centred. I love digging in the dirt, getting my hands dirty and watching things grow. The seeds of my passion were sewn in my childhood.  I lived on a dairy farm. We used to milk the goats before school, then again when we got home. We had self-sufficient water supplies and a generator for when the power went out.  My grandmother lived in town and grew vegetables and fruit.

As an adult, I lived in the city. I lived in flats, apartments and units – all of which had gardens you could barely park a car in. As they were rentals, little could be done other than growing potted plants. Mind you, I was too busy to think much about gardening or my time on the farm.

Twenty-two years ago I bought a house with a generous front and back yard. It wasn’t ninety acres – but it was mine. I had plans of self-sufficiency, one or two animals and an overflowing kitchen garden.  Though I did not have a lot of time to bring my grand plans to fruition, I was spurred on by the newly created Gardening Australia on the ABC. They explained and demonstrated ecological friendly gardening methods. I was hooked – as little chemicals as possible.

Over the years, my growing desire became a passion. I love pretty flowers but, above all, I had to grow things – to fill the gardens with edible plants.  Bit by bit, I started filling up the nooks and crannies in the garden. My pride and joy is my ‘monk’s garden’ design. Instead of herbs, I use it as a four bed rotating scheme for vegetables.

This summer was one of the hottest Adelaide summers on record – twelve days of temperatures above 40 degrees (Celcius), in a row. This singed my apples, shriveled my tomatoes, lettuce and silverbeet. Two of my potted lavenders did not survive the heat and our first crop of oranges and lemons dropped off the tree.

Now Autumn is here I am able to venture out into the garden again. My fingers have been itching to get out there and dig the soil.  Armed with my updated crop bed rotation scheme for this year, I have now dug the first bed for the season. Round one of carrot seeds are sewn. (Round two goes in on the right in 3 weeks).

Our first apple harvest is beginning. We did lose a few to the birds (which finally found them). I will have to acquire bird netting before next season. In the mean time recycle, reuse and make do – I have upcycled some old shiny CDs, adding grumpy eyes on them. There have been a lot less birds in the past few days (until they work it out).

Last week I scored some rhubarb crowns for only $2 each! The big decision is where to fit them as they will be residing there for at least three to four years.

Best of all – Gardening Australia has now returned to our television screens. This year is its 25th year anniversary. I cannot believe I have been watching it for that long. I already have more ideas, more challenges and planting hopes. For now, back to the planning…

 

Gardening Adelaide / Full Circle

Of Lessons, Practice and Satisfaction.

I often say – “I learn something every day.”

In fact if I don’t learn something new, I sometimes get disappointed. There is a wonderful world out there – so much knowledge, so many talents and skills that are to be found in our Earth’s inhabitants. If I can but glean just a miniscule amount from any of them, then I am happy.

Though our writing group only officially meets once a month, it is one place where I always learn something (and not always about writing). Last month, I had very useful constructive feedback on Chapter 3 – of The Department of Curiosities.

1. on dialogue, setting out dialogue and associated action
2. building tension, plot and storyline – specifically within a chapter.
3. culling, minimising or spreading around ‘information/background dump’

I finished the rewrite to both chapter 2 and 3, spreading out background where it was more appropriate – and to reduce boredom.

This month, I proffered the first part of chapter 4 - Of Diaries, Ghostmen and Despicable Acts. I steeled myself for another long list of rewrites. In the end I had less than 1/4 of the rewrites as last month.   I was complimented on the improvement in dialogue and pace of the story.  I came home and finished the rewrites on the same afternoon.

It is extremely gratifying when I get constructive feedback. Without it I could not learn more of the craft of writing. Without it I could not gain the confidence to try new things. There is a comforting sense of satisfaction when I realise that I have actually learnt something – and even more when I have put it into practice.

Tomorrow I look forward to writing more – and learning more. I love this writing gig!

Manuscript Word Progress:
Total Words:  
Revised Words: 
At 1st draft only:


Of Lessons, Practice and Satisfaction.

The Penultimate Penumbra

I am in mourning for our old gum tree. When I bought my house twenty years ago, it was already a large gum, spreading its branches and shade over our driveway. It was a significant tree. It has shaded our front yard, house and was an effective natural carport for our car. It has been home to possums, koalas, galahs, cockatoos, crows, magpies and rosellas.

The gum tree made our house easily identifiable to visitors – just look out for the large tree and streetlight. It blocked much of the streetlight from glaring in our bedroom window at night.

On the weekend we drove home – and drove straight past our house. We did not recognise it. Two-thirds of our tree was gone! Gone was the shade for the garden. Gone was the shade where we park our car. Hello to extra heat in summer!  (It was the major shade on the north side of the house.) The migraine-inducing reflections from cars now pierce the front window into our lounge room.

Had I known the council was about to destroy most of our major oxygen producer, I could have enjoyed its penultimate penumbra and celebrated it appropriately. But… No warning. No letter from the council. Not happy Jan.

This is our poor tree now. I can understand trimming the tree on the side of the footpath – for safety. This has been done before. But this is just butchery. You can see where the two main branches were removed. They were not diseased. They were not encroaching the power lines; they had been given a short trim only a month ago (by either the council or the power company).

 We used to be able to open our front curtains and have no worry about the neighbours or passing drivers observing us. I now feel naked. The road noise has increased. I have contacted our local council. They said they did not have to inform us (even though it may have come under ‘a significant tree’ ruling.) I now await any reply. I won’t be holding my breath.

I mourn for my tree.  I now have more noise, less privacy and more migraines unless we avoid our front room. I now hug my tree everyday.

The Penultimate Penumbra