I'm thinking...

There's such a lot of things I could be writing here. I don't know if I've mentioned, but I was recently accepted into my school of choice, so that's been filling my thoughts quite a lot recently. It's a lovely feeling to know not only where I want to attend, but also that I'm an official student for the Fall of 2013. It's funny, it felt that I was waiting such a very long time and I had so much time to imagine out how I would feel if I got that white envelope with an acceptance letter, that it almost didn't feel real. I felt that I had only to blink and I would be back to the waiting process and realize that I had only been imagining it out again. The powers of an overactive imagination I suppose. Anyhow, I'm so very excited. I still feel a little worried about things, but I'm trying not to dwell on that too much. It's so easy to spend all your time worrying and then find that you wasted that time that was supposed to be filled with peace and happiness. These months are supposed to be months that I get to enjoy all the time of expectancy and excitement. Months of planning. I don't want to waste them in worrying. I know this is the college and I need to trust that everything will work out as it's supposed to.

On another note my head has been brim full with Much Ado About Nothing lines. Apparently my brain would not rest upon having memorized my own lines and is now forcing me to memorize everyone else's as well. Shakespeare lines go flouting through my head all day long and I believe if I'm caught unaware sometime I shall suddenly shout at somebody "BOYS. APES. BRAGGARTS. JACKS. MILKSOPS." or,  as it is more likely, I shall random start muttering dialogues that have nothing to do with my character. "What? My dear Lady Disdain, are you yet living?" "Is it possible that disdain should die when she has such meat food as Signor Benedick?" I'm afraid I've already caught myself at this obvious sign of insanity, and I'm finding it quite hard to keep from chattering to myself as I shelve books at the library. It's always been hard not to drift into dialogues (most often dialogues I'm writing for my own stories) at work, and even harder to keep from repeating things that I've memorized. Once you know the alphabet backwards and forwards and are slipping books and DVDs into their places at top speed you find your mind has far too much room for thoughts pertaining to other things than the job at hand.

On the subject of Shakespeare plays I recently went and saw Love's Labor Lost, which I would almost say is my favorite play now. It was awfully funny and very cleaverly done. They had set it in a 1920s area, a timeperiod I love and it was really fun watching it, especially from the viewpoint of someone who is currently taking part in a Shakespeare play. What I loved most was all the physical humor, at one point they had one of the characters reading a love poem that he had written all over his arms and puzzling how he was to send it.

Outside my window...

Little beads of dew are dripping off the blades of grass. There's something red hidden in the grass but I can't quite make out what it is, perhaps a ball of some sort. I can also see some of those tiny daisies appearing, though they don't seem to be open. Just closed little buds waiting for some sunshine to appear.

I'm listening to...

A CD of piano music called Overcome by David Nevue.

I'm creating...

I don't know if I'm really creating anything at the moment. No continuous project, I mean. Saturday afternoon Ella and I sat on the table and painted pages and pages of green watercolors. I painted a poster with that John Green quote "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations." I think that's my favorite quote, or part out of any of his books. A sentence of brilliance.

Oh but camp NaNoWriMo is coming up! I think that's in June? I haven't read too much about it, except that I know there is one (I get the newsletters, you see.)

Oh and in May I'm going to get to sew! We're going to sew lovely vintage dresses and I'm so excited to think about it.

From the kitchen...

I thought perhaps I would write out a sentence regarding the dinner I wished to make, but having written it out I decided it sounded far too mundane and instantly backspaced.

On a random note we've been discussing what we're going to do for my birthday and I'm really excited now. I think we're maybe going to get dressed up and go to see Jersey Boys which is playing at one of the gorgeous theaters, or perhaps go and listen to the Symphony which would be splendid fun as well.

All in all this has been a rather excitable journaling page. I'm in just an excitable mood. That is, I would be if I weren't so tired. Sleep is good.

Of Writing and The Hobbit

I'm reading...

Perhaps I should begin with what I'm reading, as that is what is on my mind at the moment. Sorcery and Cecelia Or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. Don't you just hate it when you reach the most absorbing and altogether interesting point in a story, and it's just at that point that you have to put it down? Now I don't mean to complain, but really. When you are forced to leave your heroine in the most horrendous of circumstances how are you supposed to put your mind to anything else? You may appear to be thinking about the many things you ought to be thinking about, but really you're just thinking of the book.
This is especially the case if it's a good book such as the one I'm reading right now. At first I was rather put off by the fact that it is written in letter form, which is really a difficult way to tell a story, you know. Because just when you're getting into the telling of the story, and you forget that it really is a story at all, you are reminded by the ending of one letter and starting of the next. So, yes, it's a harder style to write without loosing your reader's attention, but I think the authors of this book succeed at it. Now that I'm reaching the end I'm really hooked (I must admit that the letter styling did bother me till a good six chapters into the story.)
I was also a trifle unsure about the regency setting, considering that it was also a fantasy story (not usually a pairing one finds.) I do think that it sounds a trifle funny to be having references to Lady Jersey and talk of enchanted chocolate pots in the same sentences. It makes me laugh. No wonder the dedication was to Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

I'm creating...

(Or, in other words, NaNoWriMo update!) Dear me, um, I do believe that I may possibly be starting over? *ducks head and hides from all bystanders* I know, I know, remember what I said, what was it two days ago? Keeping on with it and all that rot? Well, you see, I just can't stand my main character. It isn't that she's hate-able (I might be able to stand her if she was) and she isn't likable either. One can't connect with her. Then I started reading an old story of mine, about a character called Mary-Agnes. Honestly, she's probably my favorite character that I've ever written, and yet the story feels rather badly written I wrote it so long ago. So now I'm writing a whole new story about her. Starting NaNoWriMo over again five days into it? Bad done, Emily. Badly done. (Did I really just quote Mr. Knightly, there? Yes, yes I did. Changing Emma for Emily and there we are.) How shall you ever catch up on 8,334 words while still maintaining a consistent 1,667 words a day besides that? I really don't know. All I can say is I better get back to writing.

Also, on a slightly differing creative note, I just restarted my knit dress for my knit doll. (Dear me, that's a lot of starting again on things, isn't it?) but I dropped some stitches and I needed to unravel the whole thing so there we are. I do think it's going to turn out rather cute though.

I'm listening to...

The Brave soundtrack on youtube. I really like it. It's my favorite right now.

Outside my window...

Don't you just love fall? *sentimental sigh*

One of my favorite things...

Holiday coffee cups. They're just lovely. They make me happy.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Having a smashing good week of school, work, and being generally productive (such as writing out some essays for my college application.) Other than that NaNoWriMo takes over.

I'd also rather like to go down to Barnes and Noble since I have a gift card (Is this a yes, Mama? Yes, please?)

I'm wearing...

Jeans, a cream sweater, and a grey vintage looking hat (I'm rather in love with this hat). Also, on the subject of hairstyles I've figured out this way to put my hair up in a bun and it's really quite lovely. You twist it all up with the cuff of a sock (that you have cut down for that purpose) and tie it off with a rubber band or two. It really makes me feel quite happy.

A picture thought I'm sharing...

Did I mention we carved Avenger style pumpkins?

 

Also, (because everyone needs to get as excited for The Hobbit as I am)...

 



EVERYONE. HOBBIT. THE HOBBIT. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS. EVERYONE. THE HOBBIT. ARE YOU EXCITED? I'M EXCITED. SO EXCITED.

MARTIN FREEMAN IS THE PERFECT BILBO. HE IS ADORABLE PERFECTION. AND RICHARD ARMITAGE. MR. THORTON. DO YOU SEE HIM?

Okay, sorry, capslock.

BUT THE HOBBIT, PEOPLE. READ THE BOOK. WATCH THE TRAILER. LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. DRAW LITTLE HOBBITS IN EVERY NOTEBOOK. GAWK AT THE POSTERS. WATCH EVERY MOVIE THE ACTORS PLAYING IN IT WERE EVER IN AND TRY TO ENVISION THEM IN THEIR PARTS AS CHARACTERS IN THE HOBBIT. THE. HOBBIT.

Basically, this is amazing. At the time the Lord of the Rings movies came out I was obviously not old enough to watch, but now I'm going to have that time of waiting for each new movie and properly hyperventilating the whole time. I expect to enjoy tremendously.

Breathe, Emily, breathe.

But, you do realize how amazing this is, right?

Anyhow, must start up on some math and SAT studying. Have a lovely Monday, dear reader!

NANOWRIMO

You may have noticed that it is now the 2nd day of November, and thus the second day of NaNoWriMo!  I have so far written 3,304 words into The Story of Living (I put up a little widget in the side bar where you can keep track of the word amount I am currently at.)

I'm really not sure if I've written anything of quality so far, but that's not the idea of NaNoWriMo. The idea is to write, write, write, for all the month of November. At the end of it we'll all have a first draft of a story, and first drafts are supposed to be bad. (No really, ask any published author and they'll tell you that their first drafts were terrible. It was only after they went about editing and going over their first draft, creating a second and a third draft that the real story began to appear on the page.)

I'm going to continue on with this story, knowing that my characters may change personality several times during the story, that the plot might change into something quite different from what it was to begin with, and I'm not going to edit a bit. Editing is for December. (Did I mention how hard that is?)

I'm going to let my fingers fly across the keyboard without hindering them, and see where I end up.

Now a bit of NaNoWriMo writing music.

Of Knitted Dolls and Carrot Cake

I'm thinking...

At the moment I'm hiding from the morning. You might think this an impossible task, and indeed I have suspicions that while I might be fooling myself, I'm certainly not fooling anyone else, yet, still, I can't really persuade myself that it is a bad plan. I have hidden myself away from the alarm clock's persistent noise, away from the cold cold air and the horrid sunshine (not that I mean to say I dislike sunshine- I just find it entirely too cheerful in such trying times) and I'm feeling rather successful in my attempt at convincing myself that it is not morning. However, I cannot be wholly successful in this attempt, as proven by the mere fact that I am writing this rather than sleeping. As far as plans go I believe this one is as good a one as any to awaken me sufficiently to acknowledge that I must brave the cold air and get out of bed, but for the moment I shall continue to write on and hide myself away from the world under a thick quilt.
I can't quite believe it is Monday morning. How quickly days go, don't they? Really though, yesterday and the day before were just lovely days. We set out adventuring to see what we could see, and found ourselves in a set of lovely rooms looking out and across the bay to Canada. (a quick moment of recognition for the kisses blown across the wind to Canada. Really, we love Canada.) We explored the hotel, avoiding coming across the wedding group in their finery whilst attired in swimming wear. We skipped across the docks outside the hotel and danced under the billowing silken tent. We sprawled out on the couch and floor to watch the new Spider Man movie (which I enjoyed immensely. I've decided that it's now my third favorite superhero movie. I like the Avengers the very most, and then I think I like Iron Man, but after that I would say I liked The Amazing Spider Man.) In the morning we ate eggs and pancakes at a little diner (most notable for the bright yellow seat cushions and vintage signs hung willy nilly about the wall) and suddenly we were on our way home with the weekend over and done. (of course, it didn't happen so quickly as that and we had numberless wails of hunger and boredom to combat, and whist saying the rosary Ella struck up such a wail it was like praying in a hurricane.
Here we are though, safe and sound and ready to start Monday morning! Out of bed one goes and down the stairs to make some coffee.

From the kitchen...

I am fully confident that I could survive a diet of bread, butter and potatoes (just thinking ahead in case the world food supply is demolished and I need a plan. If necessary I could do away with the bread- all right the butter too since that's rather a luxury but GET THE POTATOES. If the potatoes die, I do to. Why am I not Irish?) That is, you see, what I meant to say was "I had bread and butter for breakfast this morning."

Did I mention I'm going to be making carrot cake today? I'm rather excited if you couldn't tell. I've been thinking about carrot cake for days now.

I'm creating...

My knit doll (See This Post)

She's actually almost finished. I have yet to embroider the eyes and mouth, finish knitting half an arm and sew both arms to her torso, but all in all she's almost finished.

The blue/green yarn I'm going to knit into a dress for her. Isn't it lovely? It's also very soft.

 

I've also been working out a synopsis for my NaNoWriMo story (TEN DAYS BEFORE IT STARTS) Perhaps I'll get it worked out and post it in say three days, a week before the actual challenge begins. Yes, that seems like a rather good idea.

 

I'm listening to...

 

A boy whistling, a chair moving across the floor (controlled I presume by the boy who is whistling) and some discussion going on about maps.

 

One of my favorite things...

 

Baking. (Did I mention I was making carrot cake today? Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.) I'm also feeling in the mood to make bread, but I'm not sure if that will happen today.

 

Around the house...

 

I think I need to find some warm socks and a sweater, it's rather cold this morning.

 

Picture thoughts I'm sharing...

 

 

 

 

 

I liked this quote so I wanted to add it to this post

 



 

 (Where I found it)

 

 

 

 



Crafty, Crafty Emily

Outside my window...

A window really is such an interesting thing, you know. It is like a description in a story; revealing the outside world, the scene, and yet limiting sight to a certain dimension. Here we have a window, a rectangle of limited size, and yet it frames a sight that reveals so much to us. We see the corner of a rooftop in one corner, a chimney emitting great billows of smoke that drift out of our sight and down the other side of the house. On the other side of that same window we see a row of trees, their colors bright and vibrant- reminding us that fall has come. Looking to the upper part of the window we have the sky, pale and almost white, a solid mass of cloud, making the entire scene to appear unfinished, as if an artist had left the upper half of their page blank.
If I were writing a description for a story I would be limiting myself to such important details as the window limits. I would be creating a sense of the place, the outside, without going on for pages and pages at a time. A window, a description, framing so much more than we can see, yet even from our limited sight we know it is there.

I'm thinking...

Working at the library I have a tendency to retreat into my thoughts, to create an imaginary world for myself like I always did when I was younger. I remember that even the shortest walk of those days would turn into the weary travels of a shepherd maiden with but a crust of bread to sustain her. Now, those thoughts have turned from a imaginary game, to the creating of a story yet to be written, but when you compare them they are very like. Of course I am much more concerned with the idea of plot and connection of a series of ideas to tie the whole thing together, but is there so very much difference to the creating of story then and now? Then it was a game I played; now it is the catching of ideas and characters to weave into a written story.
Whenever I don't have anything much to occupy my thoughts with, I have at least a half dozen stories that must be thought out and their endings decided.
Right now the story that occupies my mind the most is my Nanowrimo story. Up to this point the main idea has changed so much you would never connect it and my original idea. All I really know right now is that the story is to be focus on a sense of division. A division of self, a character with conflicting personality traits, and then a division in choices, as far as the character's future is concerned. I'm pretty sure that my main character will be named Elise (though this changes from day to day. Yesterday her name was Elaine, but really, I think Elise fits her better) I also have a couple other ideas for things I want to tie into the story, but I don't think I shall write them down here. I need to sort them out in my thoughts some more, and I don't want to write the whole plot out.

I'm listening to...

Bei Mir Bist Du Schon (Means That You're Grand) by the Andrew Sisters. (Yes, my obsession with their music has yet to weaken. They're still my favorite.) That reminds me though of this CD I brought home from the library yesterday, they (supposedly) make an appearance on it. It's actually a radio program with Abbott and Costello from when they (the Andrews Sisters) were very popular. I'm excited to try it out and see what it's like.

I'm creating...

Oh dear. Did I mention that I'm in an extreme crafting mood? Especially knitting. I've been trying out all sorts of different knitting techniques and perfecting them. Originally I was just making little swatches of knitted patterns, but then I decided that I would really love to make little knitted jumpers and things, but before I could do that I would need to make a little knitted doll to wear those jumpers and miniature hats and flowers and things. So I googled for knitted doll patterns and I found the dearest doll ideas. (weefolkart.com)

Look aren't they the dearest things? Can't you just picture with a wee little knitted jumper with a sweet little ruffle at the hem?

And look with those sweet little embroidered eyes and mouth? *squee* (but truthfully I would prefer hair of one colour. Maybe I'm unimaginative. Oh but if it were to be put into braids! Wouldn't that be lovely?)

(*edit* I previously had pictures from their post, but on second thought as I'm not very sure about copyright so I'll just let you all go to the site itself and look at the lovely pictures there. Do go and see. They're adorable. I'll post a picture when it's my own creation to share)

...and now I desperately (yes, my dear, I do know the italics make me sound dramatic, but aren't they just necessary? Okay, I'm going to stop now- but they're just so much fun. Putting undue stress on a certain word in your sentence. Quite.) need to go to a yarn shop and buy a nice large darning needle and and some soft cream yarn.

I can make all my jumpers and things from my "extra" yarn in my knitting bag, but honestly, isn't the cream simply necessary. I see you agree with me. How sensible of you.

I'm reading... Well, I was going to say something about the books I'm actually reading, but then the words "I'm reading" reminded me that I really need to finish this up so I can read the history chapters I'm supposed to read after writing this. So- I'm reading history chapters?

Some picture thoughts I'm sharing...

A picture of Ella and I that Mom took the other day. I rather like it.

 

 

And then I took a picture of the leaves on the ground. I like it because it just focuses up in that one area, which I think is neat.

 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...

 

Not getting distracted? (*cough* riiiiiiight. Somehow after my knitting story that doesn't sound so convincing, does it? Did I mention I woke up in the middle of the night with a knitting needle in my hair? Yes.) I'm very excited for next weekend because I don't work and we're planning on doing something fun. Perhaps I shall write a post on it. (as well as writing up all those letters I'm behind on. YES. THAT IS THE PLAN.)

 

31 Days of October (2012)

 

 

It is a well acknowledged fact that November is the month of Novels. Those with an ambition to write are suddenly taken up in the mad craze to write a full novel of 50,000 words by the end of November. National Novel Writing (or is it writers?) Month I believe the official title is, though most of us simply say NaNoWriMo.

 

...but if November is the month of Novels what does that make October? (Besides being the month where we are "supposedly" busily writing up outlines for our grand novel. That is, if I screw up my courage to come up with an actual plot and outline, both of which happen to be the banes of life.)

 

October is the month of Thirty-One posts on one subject. 31 Days in 2012

 

I was rather taken by Her idea of a daily post in the form of a letter for this challenge. I'm already a day late in starting this, but to my credit I only heard of the idea yesterday and I had to turn it about in my mind a little before I could decide what I wanted to do myself.

 

My letters are to be addressed to various authors. Basically to those authors who I've always wanted to write a letter to, but as they would never receive them, never have. Of course, what I wish is that they could all write me back, but as that is highly unlikely (Unless the Doctor shows up for me in the Tardis) I shall have to content myself with writing to them and dreaming of a response.

 

Wouldn't it be nice to hear from them just when I'm planning out a novel?

 

"Gil: I would like you to read my novel and get your opinion.

 

Ernest Hemingway: I hate it.

Gil: You haven't even read it yet.

Ernest Hemingway: If it's bad, I'll hate it. If it's good, then I'll be envious and hate it even more. You don't want the opinion of another writer."

*happily pretends this conversation from Midnight in Paris is directed to me*