Welcome back everyone!
The Ole Master Plan has moved and she’s sporting a makeover (work-in-progress) and a new purpose. I’m very excited. In my first blog post last January, I posed the question, “Can I write for 30 minutes a day?” Well, folks, we’ve choo-choo’d right past station. In January, the plot was vague, the characters faceless, and the point of conflict a bit watered down.
I’m now juggling four main characters trying to steal the mike (Points of View in the biz – ha!), three conflicts, and a main theme. In fact, I’m a bit overwhelmed. But there’s nothing like watching a wee little scene in my head turn into four pages on the screen. I’m still facing a lot of research and have two characters who need motivational counseling. Poco a poco. Then come the rewrites, edits, and more rewrites. But I promise to share a snapshot of my progress every now and then.
In the meantime, while working out my novel, I let my blogging get out of hand. She took all my writing time! Not cool. So, we’re going to be more focused and scheduled.
You also know I love photography. I have no great skill at it, but am hoping to learn more. The photos that speak to me are those that make me wonder: What’s going on there? What are they saying? Why do they look happy/upset?
We will now combine the two. Let’s have fun taking a photo and using it as inspiration to answer the above questions. We’ll practice our picture-taking while priming our “what if” imaginations.
Are ya with me?
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The above banner photo shall be our first photo.
The girls collapsed on the stone bench, thankful for the shade, grateful to find space. ”Did your guidebook say anything about 4 o’clock village chat time?” The others shook their head. But every bench was taken, and the village was lined with benches. Men and woman all sat in knots, their voices rising and falling in the Italian pattern I had thought was an American exaggeration of the original. A few locals had broken out their card tables, picking up where they left off from the day before.
An old woman sat down next me, followed quickly by a younger woman. The old woman spoke sharply and the younger answered back. They stared into the distance, speaking quietly, but they did not smile. They definitely did not smile our way, at the obvious Americani on holiday. Why should they smile? Lemon gelato could not fix the pain that arrived with the daily mail.
If you have another great idea, please comment and share!
Sigh… it’s good to be back.
– Girl Parker
Welcome back! I’m glad your novel is coming along, even if your characters are fighting for control. I’m looking forward to your new blog schedule. I’m a schedule person; I couldn’t live without them.
Thanks, Kelly!! It’s good to be back. Starting over on blog setup about rendered me bald, but I’m glad. I need more structure to keep to the real writing. I know you understand. =
ha! fun way to end this posting–your ‘premiere’ with this new format…a ‘choose your own ending!’ The new blog format looks good…happy writing! (who took the banner photo, by the way? and…will the banner photo be changing occasionally for different postings?)
Hey, thanks! Elizabeth took the picture. Ahh, Manarola, Italy. Those were the days! I probably will change it out now and then, but for now that will be holding down the fort for a while.
I love the new home for the blog!
Gracias, chica!!
Beautiful new home! And a fun post. . .
Thank you! I’m hoping to make this a regular thing to keep the creative juices a’flowin. Hope you’re doing well!
Lori, I love the new look! The banner is fantastic! Seriously, it reminds me of beautiful female bonding! I’m looking forward to what lies ahead for this lovely blog of yours!
Girl, you nailed it!! Take a good friend, a good story, and skootch a little closer to share all the details. =) Your blog is looking awfully sporty itself. And nothing compares to Roxy!
Love the new look and the wonderful idea with the photos! As you know, we’re on the same page in regard to our blogs getting more face time than our novels. That ends now, woman (for both of us)! Keep up the great work on the blog.
Thank you! And I’m gunna hold you to it, Melissa. Feel free to give me a swift kick in the pants if my novel takes a back seat ever again. Of course, we all need a cookie break now and then. =)
Dare I suggest that what was actually in the mail was the painful notice that the John Wayne western they are all waiting for has been cancelled? They will cheer up, though, when they hear that the Americani are locked out of their apartment in their bathing suits…
hhahhahaha!!!! You know too much, Nancy! Hilarious. Nothing like entertaining an entire village by creating a ruckus.