I promise to write the next installment of “How to be creative when you don’t have the time” soon. Seriously. As soon as I have finished reading all of the hundreds of blogs I like to read and as soon as I have written my script.
“What?”, you say. Or maybe “WHAT?” What is she doing now? Well, when she read that there would be a NaNoWriMo-like event in June called Script Frenzy she, that is to say I, decided to use that as a chance to complete the movie script I had started writing in 1992. Back then I chose to finish my master’s thesis and continue writing a script afterwards. And then it never happened. And I really don’t know why it should since I’m not that much into film and won’t submit it anywhere. It’s just that it was a good idea and I’d like to see how it turns out.
Which is quite optimistic considering that I still haven’t had the heart to read the novel I wrote in November. I printed it out, though, and re-read page one. Then I thought to myself, “This is really crappy.”, labeled a new file with “NANOWRIMO-NOVEL”, put the manuscript in there and decided to read it in August. 2007. Maybe. If I have the time.
With the script I was quite good yesterday, I sat down in the kitchen with my laptop, without wireless, and wrote 1,125 words. This time there won’t be UFOs but witchcraft. And drumming women. And ethnologists. Of course it’s set in Germany. Oh, and it’s supposed to be a thriller. Right now it feels quite boring to me but then I have yet to write something outside this blog that holds my interest. I suspect that this is the same phenomenon as with my late dissertation. In the end I found it completely boring because I had spent so much time with those same ideas. Each time I told somebody about it though they seemed to be genuinely interested. On the other hand maybe I have a distinctly boring writing style when writing fiction (or dissertations). I’ll have to think about this some more because I’m never bored with the short, short pieces of fiction I write as a homework for my writer’s group. I don’t think they’re well written either but then I can’t expect that much when I always write them on the train on my way to the meeting. (That’s about 20 minutes of time.)
So while I don’t like to work under pressure I do quite well with time constraints. Deadlines. And I’ll be writing another 1,000 words on that script today. Somehow.
The only thing that can hinder me will be very sunny and dry weather during the next week. Because then I will be painting the porch, balcony and some windows. I don’t mind the painting that much but I really dislike having to work on a ladder and, um, there I had to go and look up a word, what I meant to say was “Schwingschleifer”. Probably a sander. Anyway, it’s one of those electrical thingies to grind paint from wood. It doesn’t seem to be heavy until you have wielded it for hours at improbable angles. And then you have to get your sandpaper and try to sand all the nooks and crannies. Afterwards you stand in the heat, wield your paintbrush inhaling paint fumes… I’m so looking forward to this. Not. So that’s project #1. Apart from the script.
(Here I have to add that though this reads as if I were painting and sanding the porch single-handedly, in real life – which is much less dramatic than blog-life – my poor and long-suffering husband will be the one doing most of the work while I will meekly wave a tiny paintbrush around and say, “I’m hot. I’m tired. I don’t want to do this. I have to have a break. Shall I bring you something from the kitchen?” Then I’ll vanish inside to emerge about an hour later saying, “Wow. You sure did a good job. Can I help?” (Yes, I know that I’m prone to exaggeration, thank you.)
Project #2 I won’t have to do myself. We’re getting a wood stove for our son’s room. Yesterday somebody re-opened the chimney and made everything ready and on Monday the stove will be installed. You might ask why we install a stove in our son’s bedroom. Well, this once was our living room and it will be again sometime in this century. And it already had a chimney which was sealed up when we installed the new gas heating.
Project #3 is a project in waiting. After sewing my grocery bag some weeks ago I got bitten by the bag sewing bug and so I’m planning to sew a bag for my yoga mat using the free Amy Butler sewing pattern. This will be the test to see if I should ask for a new sewing machine for my birthday. Will my renewed enthusiasm for crafting continue or not? So far I have visited two fabrics stores and then decided to use some leftover fabric from curtains for the exterior bag and bought some cheap fabric for the lining.
fabric on yoga mat(in real life the fabrics match because the red is brown-ish and not pink-ish)
Of course I do need a bag for my yoga mat which travels all the way from the right side of my computer desk to the front side of my computer desk about once a week. But it will be nice to install a hook on the wall and have it hung up instead of falling over every time I need a book or an exercise DVD from one of the lower bookshelves. And one really doesn’t need a big reason for a new bag anyway.
Project #4 has been an ongoing project for some time now, I’m knitting a woolen cardigan. This I do because I couldn’t find something pretty, or even wooly at all, and it makes my almost daily “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” sessions seem more productive. Also I found that my tolerance for family gatherings and such vastly improves when I can take my knitting with me.
chocolate-y cardigan(yes, I’m worried that it looks so small too)
One could say that the watching of all episodes of “Buffy” in chronological order might be a project too. So far I have less than ten episodes to watch. And then I’ll start to watch all of “Angel” in chronological order. Which will take another six months at least.
To close this rambling post I’ll point you towards the just post roundtable again. You have until June, 7th to nominate post or submit one of your own. If you don’t know anything about it just click on the button below.
Your post made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
I’m not sure why but I suspect all the creative projects had something to do with it.
And your post about the pink socks first made me smile with delight and then made me sad.
There is so much stupid prejudice in this world. However, I think you did the right thing. He had all those hours of delight and one day he might remember how happy the pink socks made him despite what everyone else thought. It might make him realise that joy is better than acceptance.
Your post made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
I’m not sure why but I suspect all the creative projects had something to do with it.
And your post about the pink socks first made me smile with delight and then made me sad.
There is so much stupid prejudice in this world. However, I think you did the right thing. He had all those hours of delight and one day he might remember how happy the pink socks made him despite what everyone else thought. It might make him realise that joy is better than acceptance.
isn’t it funny how if an idea sits with you for so long you can’t take it anymore. Well, anyway, sometimes…
You have a lot on the go. Sounds like fun!
isn’t it funny how if an idea sits with you for so long you can’t take it anymore. Well, anyway, sometimes…
You have a lot on the go. Sounds like fun!
How courageous you are to write your script. I wish you success, and I hope that somewhere down the line the characters or plot will grasp you and not let you go until you just HAVE to find out what happens.
i was wondering what the script frenzy button on your blog meant the other day when i was visiting.
i love how you work your creative juices. between you and your husband it must be a joyous home.
“one really doesn’t need a big reason for a new bag anyway”
You speak the truth.
golly, woman, you are a machine! how do you find the hours in the day? take a day off and stop making the rest of us look so lame!
golly, woman, you are a machine! how do you find the hours in the day? take a day off and stop making the rest of us look so lame!
How courageous you are to write your script. I wish you success, and I hope that somewhere down the line the characters or plot will grasp you and not let you go until you just HAVE to find out what happens.
i was wondering what the script frenzy button on your blog meant the other day when i was visiting.
i love how you work your creative juices. between you and your husband it must be a joyous home.
“one really doesn’t need a big reason for a new bag anyway”
You speak the truth.
Actually, I hear your “voice” in my head a lot, and (you probably get tired of hearing this) that’s quite something considering it’s translated.
As always, you’re an inspiration. Sounds like things are going great.
Actually, I hear your “voice” in my head a lot, and (you probably get tired of hearing this) that’s quite something considering it’s translated.
As always, you’re an inspiration. Sounds like things are going great.
Thanks for all your well wishes. Since I’m very good at beginning things and not so good at finishing things it remains to be seen which of the projects actually will be completed.
Liv, I’m not a machine, only I have about ten times the amount of free time to myself than you. And announcing a project doesn’t mean it will get done.
De, no I’m not tired of hearing this. In fact I like the idea of me being a little voice in your head. And this isn’t translated, I’m writing and thinking it in English. Which is a little odd and might turn into a post of its own. It’s only when I want to write about something that I never knew how to say in English when the thinking in English stops and I have to consult a dictionary.
Lia, that would be nice but this time I actually do have an outline. I’m only filling in the blanks so to speak. But it is interesting nonetheless.
Jen, not so much joy more two people saying, “I don’t have time, I want to be alone in my room making things up. Don’t bother me.”
Thanks for all your well wishes. Since I’m very good at beginning things and not so good at finishing things it remains to be seen which of the projects actually will be completed.
Liv, I’m not a machine, only I have about ten times the amount of free time to myself than you. And announcing a project doesn’t mean it will get done.
De, no I’m not tired of hearing this. In fact I like the idea of me being a little voice in your head. And this isn’t translated, I’m writing and thinking it in English. Which is a little odd and might turn into a post of its own. It’s only when I want to write about something that I never knew how to say in English when the thinking in English stops and I have to consult a dictionary.
Lia, that would be nice but this time I actually do have an outline. I’m only filling in the blanks so to speak. But it is interesting nonetheless.
Jen, not so much joy more two people saying, “I don’t have time, I want to be alone in my room making things up. Don’t bother me.”
Oh, I’m so jealous – you have all of Angel still ahead of you. In the end I liked it better than Buffy. (Or are you re-watching? In that case you already know how good it is.)
Oh, I’m so jealous – you have all of Angel still ahead of you. In the end I liked it better than Buffy. (Or are you re-watching? In that case you already know how good it is.)
I have seen Angel up to season 4 I think. I don’t know because I’ve watched it in German TV and they never told us where we were. (In fact they just stopped the series somewhere, then took it up again, never to show all of it. Very frustrating.)
What I’ve seen of it I like as much as Buffy. It isn’t as light and funny, the stories are darker and more for grown-ups. We’ll see.
I never would have paid that much money for DVDs if I weren’t sure it was worth it.
I have seen Angel up to season 4 I think. I don’t know because I’ve watched it in German TV and they never told us where we were. (In fact they just stopped the series somewhere, then took it up again, never to show all of it. Very frustrating.)
What I’ve seen of it I like as much as Buffy. It isn’t as light and funny, the stories are darker and more for grown-ups. We’ll see.
I never would have paid that much money for DVDs if I weren’t sure it was worth it.
Where on earth do you find the time for all these great projects, especially writing a script?
Wow. Just wow.
Where on earth do you find the time for all these great projects, especially writing a script?
Wow. Just wow.
Ooh, I love the cardigan and am intrigued by the script.
And Buffy, I think, will be one of my summer projects, too! I know, I know, I’ve set my sights pretty high, but I think I may just do it.
🙂
Ooh, I love the cardigan and am intrigued by the script.
And Buffy, I think, will be one of my summer projects, too! I know, I know, I’ve set my sights pretty high, but I think I may just do it.
🙂
I have not started writing my script yet but I am glad you are so far along.. I decided to change the subject matter of my script so now it is more of a love story. No Magic or UFOs but I might put in a ghost….
Good luck with the painting, It looks wonderful!