The alert and observant among you will have spotted the new badge, top right. This is a magazine blog; it's meant to be busy, varied and fit a variety of moods. Think that brief is pretty much met.
The not so obvious purpose of this bloggy (and very much so over at Aatmaavrajanam), though, is to hone the writing skills. Here I can use a variety of 'voices' as one might require in fiction. At AV-bloggy, the voice is consistent, as would be required from a teacher. Developing narrative, explorative and descriptive, is a skill which can be developed. There are those who make a career out of telling other folk how to write... but in my experience the best lessons come from jumping in and doing it!
A few of you longer-term pals will know that writing is pretty much my main hobby and has even played a part in my professional life over the years. Part of the reason for early retirement and 'withdrawal' to rural parts was to create an atmosphere not only for spiritual practice, but to - finally - come to grips with the life-time desire to make something more of writing.
The Final Friday Fiction series is part of that; but this year, all discipline for personal writing had gone AWOL. Mainly due to matters outwith my control but which have infringed on my personal space and ability to remain disciplined. It was really getting me down about a month ago, as there is so much brewing inside and very little, if any, of it has made it the page. Just as I was starting to think I was a fraud (to myself, if no one else), I came upon a link to the NaNoWriMo page.
I had been aware of this initiative for several years but at no time took seriously the possibility that it would fit my needs. A couple of blogpals have put themselves through the mangle and mayhem that is National Novel Writing Month... it began in the US and thus the 'national' bit - but it is actually fully international and a true phenomenon. If any of you nurture a lust for literature and poetry and need some kind of push, then you should check it out!
Having forgotten all about it, just seven days ago I was thrashing around on matters of writing when that link appeared and it was one of those 'eureka' moments. For the first time I read through properly all that was on offer and how it works and what one might expect to gain from the experience. Before an hour had passed I was signed up and committed.
It's going to be crazy. between 1600 and 2000 words per day is the goal, with 50000 being the month-end hope. We can do some prep between now and Nov 1st, but no actual writing is to be done until - and then it is on for young and old. My prep is mainly going to be around getting AV and MY TAKE bloggies scheduled right up to mid December so that I don't have to factor in time for them. This blog will have to take its chances! Mostly you won't witness the paddling which is going on beneath the surface. However, I suspect this is going to be quite a consuming experience so you might expect a post or two about it along the way.
Anyhoo... was visiting Dora at Peppylady blog and she gave us a prompt a few posts back, which I am going to pick up and run with as a challenge for all of you!!! (hey, I don't want to feel alone, okay?)
Yes, I invite you all to get scribbling and create a poem or short story to be posted on Friday 24th of November. It will be a bloghop. All you have to do...
The not so obvious purpose of this bloggy (and very much so over at Aatmaavrajanam), though, is to hone the writing skills. Here I can use a variety of 'voices' as one might require in fiction. At AV-bloggy, the voice is consistent, as would be required from a teacher. Developing narrative, explorative and descriptive, is a skill which can be developed. There are those who make a career out of telling other folk how to write... but in my experience the best lessons come from jumping in and doing it!
A few of you longer-term pals will know that writing is pretty much my main hobby and has even played a part in my professional life over the years. Part of the reason for early retirement and 'withdrawal' to rural parts was to create an atmosphere not only for spiritual practice, but to - finally - come to grips with the life-time desire to make something more of writing.
The Final Friday Fiction series is part of that; but this year, all discipline for personal writing had gone AWOL. Mainly due to matters outwith my control but which have infringed on my personal space and ability to remain disciplined. It was really getting me down about a month ago, as there is so much brewing inside and very little, if any, of it has made it the page. Just as I was starting to think I was a fraud (to myself, if no one else), I came upon a link to the NaNoWriMo page.
I had been aware of this initiative for several years but at no time took seriously the possibility that it would fit my needs. A couple of blogpals have put themselves through the mangle and mayhem that is National Novel Writing Month... it began in the US and thus the 'national' bit - but it is actually fully international and a true phenomenon. If any of you nurture a lust for literature and poetry and need some kind of push, then you should check it out!
Having forgotten all about it, just seven days ago I was thrashing around on matters of writing when that link appeared and it was one of those 'eureka' moments. For the first time I read through properly all that was on offer and how it works and what one might expect to gain from the experience. Before an hour had passed I was signed up and committed.
It's going to be crazy. between 1600 and 2000 words per day is the goal, with 50000 being the month-end hope. We can do some prep between now and Nov 1st, but no actual writing is to be done until - and then it is on for young and old. My prep is mainly going to be around getting AV and MY TAKE bloggies scheduled right up to mid December so that I don't have to factor in time for them. This blog will have to take its chances! Mostly you won't witness the paddling which is going on beneath the surface. However, I suspect this is going to be quite a consuming experience so you might expect a post or two about it along the way.
Anyhoo... was visiting Dora at Peppylady blog and she gave us a prompt a few posts back, which I am going to pick up and run with as a challenge for all of you!!! (hey, I don't want to feel alone, okay?)
NOVEMBER FINAL FRIDAY FICTION BLOG HOP.
Yes, I invite you all to get scribbling and create a poem or short story to be posted on Friday 24th of November. It will be a bloghop. All you have to do...
- Take a favourite book and go to page 87; take a section from lines 8, 12 and 16.
- using those phrases as a prompt, build a story around them. It can be either prose or poetry.
- Try to keep it to not more than 500 words but at least 150.
- Note the source text, it's author, and the actual phrases taken at the bottom of the post.
- Schedule the post and prepare to link up to the bloghop - again I will be quite strict; only those who have properly entered a fiction post and who place a link-back to this blog will be kept on the hop.
- As an added incentive, YAM will select one which she feels has extra merit and a special badge will be awarded to place on your sidebar.
For all participants - and for those who are willing to promote this bloghop - please take this badge and place a link to this page so that participants can always pop back to read the 'what, where and when'. Happy writing efurrybuddy!!!
YaYa we remain your biggest cheerleaders and we know you can do it....and the wonderful thing is you enjoy it too
ReplyDeleteHugs HiC and Madi
OK, you GO, and I won't bother you for a month.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
DeleteOhhhh nnoooooo... I WANT the bother!!! It will help to keep me grounded!!! Will be posting here, but it all may be even more scattered than normal - menormal that is Yxx
We can hardly wait to read it!! stellie rose
ReplyDeleteWriting challenges can be so rewarding when we are committed to them. I enjoy writing myself but right now if I tried to commit it would be more of a chore than something I love (even though I do love writing). I wish you well in this journey!
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Best of luck with the novel writing challenge. I really hope it goes well, and distractions are at a minimum.
ReplyDeleteAnd who knows, perhaps Bertie and I between us might at least manage a couple of hundred words for the FFF blog hop.
Cheers! Gail.
OMD... such a small world... years back... even before Frankie... I was involved in 3 writer groups... we always ATTEMPTED the November Novel thing. I never got close to a THE END on any of them... but it was so FUN to try. You will love this new bloggy... you are an excellent writer. AND PHOTOGRAPHER... and you could combine your talents. HUGS to YOU... Lana..and the boys.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like fun! I just finished book #4, a novella that's part of an anthology with other authers. I'm going to take a break from book writing (4 in 4 years and I'm ready for a break) and do one about the art of flying (poetical, not "nuts and bolts" when I retire. Til then, this will be LOTS of fun!~
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you with the writing! our mom takes forever just to write the few words on our blog BOL!
ReplyDeletehugs
Hazel & Mabel
Pee es -the snow was gone by later the same day, now we have more fall like temps thank goodness
that sounds good... I will try to find a good one ;o)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read the results. Wouldn't mind joining in, but I have to set some limits: knitting mice and cardies and still having to show up to work for some reason keeps me quite busy!
ReplyDeleteYam, this sounds like excellent motivation for you! I would suggest you need not prepare blog posts. You can put in a message saying 'back in a month.' Lots of people are doing that.
ReplyDeleteI regularly read one person who has decided not to do much else but focus on videos, for health reasons. She's also not visiting people anymore. I've just stopped reading her posts as they are all videos of the same thing.
Anyway, that's my two cents worth. xx
I'm wishing you all the best!
ReplyDeleteYam dear, you never cease to amaze me. Love and admiration from here.
ReplyDeleteKay