The first Wednesday of the month has been flipped forward, either on your virtual calendar or literally for those of you still sporting old-school wall calendars. You have cats, don’t you? Admit it. Twelve months of cats tumbling, hanging, and just plain being cute. There’s a reason they’re are all over the internet.
Man, I’m easy to distract.
Anyway, it is that time once again, and whether you are inconsolable because you lost your cat calendar, or your writing has been zinging you with anxieties over character, plot, aliens, or the complexities of microscopic sword battles, come release it with us. We’ll be your cats. My thanks to our co-hosts for this month’s: Tamara Narayan,Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, and Julie Flanders!
What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?
Hmm…
My first piece of writing as an aspiring writer was more of a character sketch than anything else. It was something that sprang to mind as I was walking around my neighborhood one day. This little girl popped into my head during that walk, replete with a simple storyline and background that wouldn’t shake loose. It was around seven summers ago, and the idea continued to follow me around as I went about my summer business, climbing onto a ladder with me as I painted the main level of my house. And it was during that painting session, while listening to an interview with J.K. Rowling, that I sought out the online writing support which would eventually lead me to the path I’m now following.
The story is still just a vignette, and I haven’t looked at it for years, but it is that character and tiny nugget of an idea which has been responsible for me having finished one novel (which is looking for an agent at the moment) and beginning the first book of a series. Quite a productive walk, huh?
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Time for some news.I promise to be good. I will not talk politics, will not…
It’s so hard. So many temptations. No. I will snap my mental rubber band around my wrist and resist. It would be so funny if I could, but I won’t. Snap. Snap. Snap.
The best part of this news tidbit is the video of New Zealand dogs completing a driver’s test. Better drivers than many people I’ve encountered.
Bad weather. Too soon.
In science this week, another gift for my writer friends. I bet you guys can come up with all kinds of ideas about that pod. *Giggle*
http://www.livescience.com/55574-mysterious-purple-sea-orb-near-channel-islands.html
That’s all for me this week. Until next time, enjoy the news. 🙂
kimlajevardi 
I hope the little girl and her vignette blossom into a full-fledged story some day. It’ll be interesting to see where she goes.
I wish the scientists hadn’t found the purple blob. Now it’s undergoing the equivalent of being kidnapped by aliens and being experimented on. They should have left it alone.
Someone else was talking about the productivity of “thinking” and how often we discount that aspect of the writing process. I love that the nugget led you to where you’re at. Here’s hoping you find an awesome home for your book!
I put a lot of stock in thinking. I used to berate myself for unproductive days where I couldn’t get butt-in-seat for more than a little online surfing, but now I’ve noticed that those days tend to precede upticks in productivity. It’s a s if I need a few days of not intensely focusing to allow the ideas to steep sufficiently to become something interesting.
Thanks for the well wishes.
What a great writing “origin” story. I wonder if you’ll ever get that piece out to work on it some more?
I might pull that original piece out at some point. You never know. 🙂
Wow… look at that hail. Scary. Keep striving for your dream.. you’ll get it:)
I will. Thanks, T.F.
Why do people leave their pets in cars? That’ll teach her.
I have a cat calendar. And a cat. And I’m addicted to cats on Pinterest. Can’t help it, they’re cute.
I think people who leave their pets in hot cars are selfish. They want to take their pets with them everywhere without considering if it’s actually feasible or in the interest of their animal.
A lot of people love cats–that’s why they’re everywhere online. 🙂
It’s pretty hard not to talk about politics during this election cycle. I’d much rather watch dogs from New Zealand 🙂
I’d rather watch dogs as well. This cycle would be comical if the stakes weren’t so high. *Sigh*
Hi,
I hope you find an agent for your book. I’m going to start agent seeking in September. So good luck.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
Shalom aleichem to you as well, Pat.
Thanks for the well wishes on the agent hunt. I hope you find one during your search too.
That is a LOT of hail!! I love that purple orb – it’s so pretty! You’d think with all the stories on the news that people would stop leaving dogs (or small children) in hot cars. But no. People are just stuck in their old ways of doing things, sure that they have nothing to learn coz they know it all. Good luck with the querying and with the new series!
I agree about dog owners who leave animals in hot cars. They always have an excuse which blatantly ignores fact.
Thanks for the well wishes. I hope you have a good week, Lex!
That was a heck of a hail storm.
Don’t give up on that nugget of an idea. You never know where it may lead.
I haven’t given up on the nugget, but it needs to grow legs if I’m going to take it out and develop it. The early version didn’t have much more than short-story length plot to it.