Lots of foot prints in the sand–must mean lots of people on the beach. It is almost September.
Did around 1500 words today on SOMETIMES (new book) and as I tend to do when I get into a character and start developing them, I look into all places to tell me who they are. Callie-one of the main characters, is in love. (well, the book is a love story) anyway-watched a movie, listened to some music, checked out the net–pondered her. She is taking shape and I like her. All the above help develop Callie. The movie led me to Oscar Wilde, the music to sexy Pink Floyd, the net-all kinds of stuff.
QUOTE: You don’t fall in love with someone for their looks, or their cloths, or their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear-Oscar Wilde

WRITING TIP: Your characters are everywhere-in the past, the present, the future and in all your experiences.

Working on SOMETIMES A BOOK IS JUST A BOOK.  I know it is a long title, but believe me it is very appropriate. Also meeting with a few people (who know a whole lot more than I do about things)to discuss certain changes on the island–should be interesting. Getting your facts straight is very important and expressing a character’s point of view should be backed up with facts. I’m shooting for a January date to release my newest novel. FINGERS CROSSED.

QUOTE: Once you make it to your point of making it, you’ll appreciate the struggle.

QUOTE: I have sea foam in my veins, I understand the language of the waves.

WRITING TIP: even if it sounds stupid, write it down. Somebody is going to relate. Or–keep working on the thought until it no longer sounds that way.

                     
                                                                                            MONSTER

                         You lean in to me
                         So close that I
                         Can feel your
                         Warm breath on my                                neck

                         You stroke my arm
                         As if you have
                         To know the
                         Touch of my skin

                         You say the words
                         That tell me
                         So many lies
                         That sound like truth

                         Your stare
                         Wants me
                         Your movement
                         Disturbs me

                         Until I cede
                         All my strength
                        Then you turn
                        And walk away.

Sometimes, more often than not, characters get in my head and all kinds of things spring from them. This is a poem that my character Callie would write. Callie is from the new book- bouncing around titles in my head. geez, they all sound so good at the time–

QUOTE: Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for-Bob Marley.

WRITING TIP: It’s okay to be confused-just write the ambivalence into one of your characters.

Local lobsters–notice they have no claws, but man are they tasty. You have to go pretty far off shore to find these.
Still working on the new book, the love story, and have come up with a new title.
SOMETIMES A BOOK IS JUST A BOOK– okay, you have to read the book to get the title. But so far this is top contender for the title.
I’ll begin teaching another writing class at CFCC next month, be sure to sign up or have a friend sign up. Trying some new things this time. It will be 8 weeks instead of 6 and there will be more class interaction.

QUOTE: Scenery is fine, but human nature is better–John Keats

WRITING TIP: experiment with dialect, it can be fun and add a different dimension to your story.

Hurricane Donna Sept. 12, 1960 –winds at 100 mph. Only a cat 2 but a strong cat 2.  The fishing piers got blasted then, winds came and knocked the center or ends of most off the 8 piers that were on the island at the time.

QUOTE: When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm is all about–Haruki Murakami

WRITING TIP: The storm inside you  needs to be on paper.

I’ve never professed to be a painter-an artist in that medium-but as I stared at the plain blank walls of my abode i was compelled to do this. Hope you enjoy – would welcome any criticism–she can always be improved. A name? any suggestions there?

We all have stories. Stories happen to us all the time. Someone asked me the other day if one of my characters was a particular person. Of course, my characters are composites of the people whom I have met, those who have impressed upon me their lives, loves–their character. I’m sure I’m a character in someone else’s story. I hope I’m a kind, pleasant one. Thank you to those interesting people who have come into my story.

QUOTE: “I had as yet no notion that life every now and then becomes literature”-Norman McLean (A River Runs Through It)

WRITING TIP: If you truly love writing, nothing or no one can ever stop you.

                                                                In the broad and silky morn
                                             
QUOTE AND TIP: A writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world, And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true–John Steinbeck

Oh, don’t we look so excited (really?) geez–why didn’t we smile more back in the day?

QUOTE: How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were? – Satchel Paige

WRITING TIP: When I write about youth, from a youthful perspective, I remember how I felt–all the insecurities, the doubts. Time or fashion does not change those things.