ff The Cottage of Blog: October 2005

Sunday, October 30, 2005

The Cottage of Blog

Good evening everyone. I'm back home to The Cottage of Blog, where there isn't any coffee, and I'm fresh out of food. It will be grocery shopping day on the way home from school tomorrow.

Back from Brooklyn Roads. I'll have some words about Brooklyn in my blog tomorrow night.

Tomorrow is Halloween. Trick-or-treat day. Keep your kids safe. Make sure they go out with others--in small groups, large groups or, even better, with you. There are many organizations that have Halloween parties and many malls will open their doors to trick-or-treaters. Not a bad plan.

School should be interesting. I've found that the kids stay away from school in droves on Halloween, because they're afraid that other kids will "egg" them. Should be an interesting day.

I've been away for almost 2 weeks and I will look forward to playing "catch up." Grades go in for the first quarter on Thursday, the new rosters are in and, I'll have to catch up on attendance.

It will be a long, hard week.

Take care. It's bed time from the Cottage of Blog.

Pat

posted by Unknown at 10:14 PM 1 comments

Sunday, October 16, 2005

The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Reporting in from The Cottage of Blog. It's Sunday evening, and I'm winding down. I've made a few changes in my character casting. Found some wonderful pictures of my leads. And, found my setting for Julia's log cabin--more like a log mansion. I really have to buy more decorating magazines.

Pat

posted by Unknown at 6:22 PM 3 comments

The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Good Sunday morning from The Cottage of Blog, where breakfast this morning is pancakes with walnuts and real maple syrup, coffee and cranberry juice.

I'm happy with what I accomplished yesterday. Today I'll tackle outfits and settings.

and then, I'll struggle with changing my sections into the new plot line, checking for MRU's, personifications, cliche's while I write. Maybe I'll start self editing, and it will become so automatic I won't have to think about it.

I'm still not sure that the conflict between H/H is strong enough, but maybe I could build up a stronger protective shell around the hero that could inflame his being asked to see a psychologist. We'll see.

Happy reading, writing and revising from

the Cottage of Blog

Pat

posted by Unknown at 8:17 AM 0 comments

Saturday, October 15, 2005

The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Good evening everbody from The Cottage of Blog where the creative juices are really flowing tonight.

I had the most beautiful day--figuratively and literally. The day was gorgeous in the 70's, sunny bright and optomistic. I rode Socks out in the field with a few others. What a great old horse. He's 23 years old. Hasn't been ridden in a long time and still knows all his basic commands. He pivots, side passes, does figure 8s, backs and turns with little directional signals. Way to go Socks!

When he was younger, Socks was a dark dapple gray with four white socks and a blaze. A very flashy animal. Today he's pure white. I use him, somewhere, in almost all my stories. He has a place in this latest work too.

Speaking of work, I'm working on my character chart, but now am putting together the Vogler stages (yes I'm done) and now am working on Goal Motivation and Conflicts. I use Pam McCutcheon and Debra Dixon for those. I can chart them out. And now looking at Vogler, I can see where they fit with the plot. Also, I'm planning on exposing the archetype characters and how they fit into the plot. That's a lot of fun.

In fact, I hate to say this, but plotting is more fun than actually writing it. Maybe that's why so many writers say don't plot just write. If you plot it out you won't want to write. Hmm. I can see their point. Why should I write it if I know what's going to happen at the end?????? LOL

But, my main problem is with content. And if I don't do this, I'll have a mess somewhere along the line. So, it really is the way for me to go.

Well, back to goals, motivations and conflicts. As I think I know what they are for everyone, this should be easy. (hah hah hah)

Happy reading, writing and revising from

The Cottage of Blog
Pat

posted by Unknown at 6:54 PM 0 comments

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Thursday evening from The Cottage of Blog--FINALLY

The Cottage of Blog

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Sunday. This is the longest stretch I've gone without writing someone in here.

Monday I went to Turkey Run sTate Park with friends and dogs. It would have been great if we hadn't been going straight up fifty foot step cliff-like rocks. They kept going up and up and up and up and up . . . We did have a great time. Visited friends--all dog friends, collie breeders. Our dogs are all related, so it was old-home week. Zuri got to meet her real mommy (Cheyanne) plus her first human mommy (Donna) Cheyanne was more interested in Bruce's male, Mr. Cooper, I'm afraid. LOL

Halloween decorations are up all over. Donna had a ghost that ran from one end of a clothesline to the other screeching "boo."
Did it even phase the dogs? Not!

Writing has been a chore this week. Since I've decided I need to make some content changes in the plot, I've lost my -- something. Not desire, not drive, something I can't put my finger on.
Fortunately, I have a lot of preliminary work I can still do to fill in until the writing lust gets back. I need a stronger conflict between hero and heroine in the beginning, so I'm placing her in another situation. A job change. But by doing that, it will alter almost everthing that happens in the next 8 sections or so.
No wonder, I'm going nuts!

No writing tonight, except for getting my assignment ready for tomorrow. I've desiginated Thursdays for "exhaustion day." Because? It is. For some reason Thursdays is the hardest day for me. Maybe because it's the end of the week. Friday I'm rejuvenated just because it is Friday and I'll be "free" for two days.

But the story is still bubbling inside my head. Won't go away.

I think Motivation-Reaction Units (MRU) are fun. Srange sense of fun, huh?

Happy reading, writing and revising from

The Cottage of Blog

Pat

posted by Unknown at 6:47 PM 2 comments

Sunday, October 09, 2005

The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

I'm not sure why my Friday and Saturday blogs didn't come out. They might be posted on ANOTHER blog somewhere.

This has been quite a weekend. I took off Friday because I wasn't feeling well, ended up writing my little heart out. Revising a paragraph "blurb" and working on an intense characterization sheet. It's fascinating and I've even worked out a calendar of events.

But, those pesky grades are getting in the way of my plans. Whine.

I'll finish and hope that I'll have more time.

Tomorrow, I'm taking the day off from everything and going back packing with dogs, backpacks, water, biscuits for dogs, snacks for us and a whole lot of gemutlichkeit for all of us.

Take care
Happy reading, writing and revising from
The Cottage of Blog

posted by Unknown at 4:13 PM 1 comments

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Not feeling well from The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

The subject title says it all. I'm on the way to bed. Before I go though, I'm wondering if someone can point me in the direction of some really great children's books. Yes, I know about the Harry Potter books--have all the DVD's have all the books and am getting the latest one for my birthday. I have Black Beauty, Smoky, My Friend Flicka, Lassie etc. I mean today's books.

I've realized my education in childrens books is lacking and I'd love to read some really good ones. I'm going to the library tomorrow -- so I was wondering--

Oh dear, Ireally do have to get to bed.

Pat

posted by Unknown at 9:53 PM 3 comments

Thursday morning from: The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Yesterday was a very tiring day. Would you believe my neediest class, in terms of wanting my attention and clammering like two-year-olds to get it, just happens to be my nineth period? Yep. Close of the day. If I wasn't wrecked already--- LOL Oh well. I guess that's part of teenager's job descriptions.

Got all my assignments in. I hope they're right. Correct formats, perfect writing, exciting and snappy content etc etc etc. Yeah, right. One can always dream.


I'm looking for some research in the field of psychology Annie might be doing that her ex-wants badly. Something that will give her higher stakes to stay alive. The stakes must ever be raised.
So must the urgency of time. I'm still working that out.

I'm amazed at how long PDJames takes to set up her mysteries. I think it wasn't until chapter 7 they had their first murder. She's fascinating and drafts wonderful characters, settings and situations, and you suspect for 7 chapters who will be killed, but aren't actually sure until he gets burned to a crisp in his Jaguar.
And the murder is exactly the same as one of the discplay murders in "The Murder Room." I'm reading it on CD. Great way to spend my time travelling to and from work.

There's been no movement on my WIP word counter. That's because I've been busy working on preliminaries. I'm sure once I get back to it, the novel will change again and the word count I have will change. Maybe even lessen if I tighten that which I've already written.

Have a great day.
Happy reading, writing and revising from:

The Cottage of Blog
Pat

posted by Unknown at 6:06 AM 2 comments

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Wednesday morning from: The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Good morning all. We're having oatmeal for breakfast with black coffee. We're also running out of food. I keep meaning to go, but I always seem to find an excuse to drive right by that grocery store.
Because you're too tired? Maybe. I'm am pretty exhausted by the end of my day, even though I get home from that "work day" around 5 o'clock. I remember back in the office type jobs, I might not get home until seven or eight o'clock. Don't see how I could write on that schedule. So, yes, I am writing, or at least doing writing related activities. You'll notice my blogs are now once a day instead of twice.
that's because of homework assignments. Is that a complaint?
No. Not really. It's a goal. Something tangible to accomplish.

So why are you not writing more words? Have you looked at your word counter lately? Well, no. Spare me the agony. I'm doing my assignments. Funny thing about assignments. Maybe my word count isn't getting better, nor is it getting worse (although it might during revisions) but I THINK there might be less likelihood for major revisions. Like finding a high motivation concept for getting out of a crisis.

Like it isn't enough that the heroine's life is a risk. No---there has to be something ELSE-someone ELSE'S life at stake, your country's top secret papers, a thesis that can heal cancer, Leukemia, schizophrenia and diffuse sociopathic behaviors all over the world. I exaggerate. Yeah, afraid so. But, you've got the idea.

So, my high minded conflict idea is more than her life at risk. It's preventing other's lives to be lost through her and one other thing I haven't thought of yet. I'll think it over while I teach classes today.

Hate to kick you out, but have to work for a bit before going to my own high-minded and motivated classrooms (hah)

Happy reading, writing and revising

From
The Cottage of Blog
Pat

posted by Unknown at 6:18 AM 1 comments

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Color Tuesday "Testing" day: The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Tuesday is testing day for the kids at the CPS board of ed. From 8 to 12 our students are going to be taking the Explore test for Freshmen, Plan test for Sophomore and ACT's for Juniors. Then, they're making the kids go to their 4, 5, 6 and 7th periods. Yeah right. I wonder how many will actually show up. That's a lot of mental activity in 4 hours. I can't imagine they would do something so mean to those kids. Ah well. I word for the Chicago Public Schools. They're trying to be political or something.

Got quite a bit done yesterday on my on paragraph blurb. Joely suggested I didn't have enough hook or story question at the end, so I'll change the ending before I post. Story question of course is, will heroine succeed before she falls into the clutches of trecherous villian and he kills her, hero and all those near and dear.
Ah dear. And it's not a serial so we don't find out what happens in the next episode.

Had a really bad nineth period yesterday. (class that is) I'm having a hard time keeping it together. First off, I have 53 students in a classroom half the physical size of the normal classrooms and the kids who are in there seem to be dumped there. The student they put in there yesterday was from another nineth period music class. Dud! Why they would do THAT is beyond my wildest comprehension. This year is getting out of hand.

Have to go. No writing this morning. It's getting to school early day.

Happy reading, writing and revising from

The Cottage of Blog
Pat

posted by Unknown at 6:04 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 03, 2005

Monday morning: On the way to school from The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Quick note: I worked from 5:30 to 6:30 this morning on redoing the one paragraph synopsis.

That's all there is. I'm taking a bath and getting ready for school. I have observations today. The kids will be playing different rhythm patterns on: the keyboard, instruments and a clapping "chorus."

Happy reading, writing and revising from

The Cottage of Blog
Pat

posted by Unknown at 6:39 AM 2 comments

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Sunday Morning and Writing Schedule: The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

It's 10 on Sunday morning. I'm starting late this morning. I went to a play "On Top of the Tavern," and I'm ashamed to say I can't remember the exact title. All I know it was a play I'd never heard of and one of the funniest plays I've ever seen. But funny in a "oh yes, I recognized this, Oh yes that happened in our family, and Oh yes, that was the kid down the block, at our church, at our school."

It was about growing up in the 50's in a Polish-catholic household.
The friends (except Bruce and myself) were all polish catholic and related to EVERYTHING. I related to everything because I taught in a catholic school for a year and grew up in a catholic neighborhood. I was one of two protestant familys and on Jewish family on the block. So, that made one Episcopalian, one Lutheran and one Jewish. Out little melting pot.

The play was a little frightening too. Not only did it deal with kids frustrations of "coming of age" in a rigid society, but it dealt with child abuse and alcohol abuse and how the old ruler on the knuckles when expanded from the school into the old school household turned from ruler to broomhandle and ruined a youngster's baseball career. (the father in the play) You could see the growth of the characters--and how one youngster (the lead) was the questioner of the family. And he questioned EVERYBODY, INCLUDING HIS 80 year old nun. In one scene, he visits her in the hospital and wears a yamika (I know I spelled that wrong) and greeted her with "Shalom." Then gave her a rosary he created himself out of "Tricks" a breakfast cerial.

So much for that. I'm trying to figure out how to created a calendar on my sidebar to show my writing schedule. I know what it is, but seeing it blaring out at me everytime I hit this blog, will provide me with my own version of the ruler over the knuckles.

Happy reading, writing and revising from:

The Cottage of Blog
pat

posted by Unknown at 10:12 AM 0 comments

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Saturday evening and the week's exhaustions from: The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

I think I've hit about 11-12 hours of writing this week. I consider my work week from Monday morning to Sunday evening.

I usually work an hour in the morning before school, an hour in the evening. It's all I physically and mentally can do and that includes blogging, researching, plotting, character sketches, well you get the picture. this morning I worked on my blurb.

It's just this simple: Teaching school is exhausting and sometimes (more than not) a frustrating business. I plot on the way to school and on the way home. Sometimes I listen to books on tape.
Saturday and Sunday are my big writing days, but somehow this morning, the whole week caught up to me.

I think I've got a sinus infection. Maybe that's what's slowing me down.

So, feel sorry for me! I've earned it. (Yeah, right. Sort of like, if you feel sorry for me, I'll feel sorry for you.)

Happy reading, writing and revising from

The Cottage of Blog

Pat

posted by Unknown at 4:57 PM 1 comments

Saturday from The Cottage of Blog

The Cottage of Blog

Good morning from The Cottage of Blog. Actually it's really afternoon. Twelve twenty to be precise.

I've just finished a back cover "blurb" for my WIP. Interesting thing about the blurb is -- I'm totally positive it won't change. It's got the premise and underlying themes (three kinds of love colliding) what the story's about and goals, motivations and conflicts.

The synopis itself might change quite a few times. I'm sure the "blurb" won't.

But so much to do with the blocks and the sections. I've discovered (I think) that the ordinary world actually goes up to the time the H/H decide to leave the bar together.

So on to work. I'm leaving the blurb in my own group site, until I'm sure I don't want to change it before reposting it onto the main workshop site.

Take care everyone.

Happy reading, writing and revising from
The Cottage of Blog

Pat

posted by Unknown at 12:28 PM 4 comments