Life, Fannishness, and Thespic Infatuation

scionofgrace, I thought you might be interested in this.

Geo really likes using fountain pens. Me, not so much. I don't have an even enough pressure to keep it from glooping and blotching. But today he brought home a Pilot Plumix Classic fountain pen. It writes really easily and has almost a calligraphy look to it. It's actually kind of fun.

Happy December, everyone. If you plan on reading my year in review, be sure to buckle your seatbelt. It's been a weird, weird year.

Appropriated from izhilzha:

If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body in the coach.
— Alfred Hitchcock

When I write a story, what do readers immediately look for?

I was feeling a little nostalgic today (wishing words would come so I could put an idea or two on the blank screen), and this fic came to mind. For those who knew me in my TS days, you might recognize this. I never archived it because it never felt quite finished. But I thought I'd share.

( On Staying Present )

Okay, so Musey is telling me she wants to write something. And she's kinda giving me an idea (which I'm not completely on board with; I don't trust her execution), but I always get caught up in the details.

I can't decide how to describe where this little ditty takes place. Is there anywhere in the US where HEAVY snow is unusual but not unheard of? The area needs to be sparsely populated (like, you can drive onwards of an hour and not see anyone, which means it can't be Ohio *g*), and spotty cell service is a plus but not necessary.

I'd originally thought Midwest, but then I started thinking of some of the rural routes (which I think were old moonshine routes) through West Virginia. Mountains get snow, but the switchbacks could be fun to play with. Then I got to thinking about the western landscape and wondering if anything out there would fit.

Any suggestions?

This is something of a stylistic experiment. And the aquatic muse creating angst in the shower.

Title: End of Message
Word Count: 930-ish
Summary: Even telling people he's unavailable does not keep them from calling.

( End of Message )

I want to write. I really kinda do. But the conversations aren't coming clear, and it's getting close to Christmas, so even if I did get what I want to write written, it would be kinda late. *sigh*

So instead, I pulled out a . . . crack-like? . . . something I was putting together this summer. I think it was the result of too much cliche-ish h/c. It's in no way near any sort of resolution, and probably won't get finished. But if you're interested in some random first-draft amusement, give a holler.

I haven't decided if I'm going to create a writing filter, so if you'd like to be included in such a filter, give a holler for that, too.

I . . . I just don't have the energy to do a full-blown rant. My brain is so tired right now, and there's no end in sight. Why, why, WHY can't people learn the basics of proofreading--or having someone proofread for them--before they post a story to the internet?

" . . . he needed his families help."

" . . . he was avoiding his fathers eyes . . . "

I don't think anyone recognizes the word led anymore. "She lead the way down the hall."

And since when is an apostrophe the standard for showing pluralization? "Well aren't the FBI and math community lucky to have you two genius's."

Forget capitalizing where it should be, and do capitalize when it's not needed. "We'd find a way father." "He looked at his Dad."

Commas? What are those?

I just . . . okay, yes. Everyone makes mistakes. I know that. I've posted things that have had typos I didn't find until later. But stories and essays are supposed to be thought through, presented with a certain amount of quality and literacy. Grammar *is* important. Spelling *does* matter.

And when I'm taking a college level writing class wherein the teacher has to specifically state that incorrect grammar and formatting (e.g., placement of paragraph breaks) are unacceptable . . . That's just . . .

*sigh*

One of my cousins is an aspiring writer. Though we don't keep in touch as much as we used to, we still bounce writing ideas off each other. I clued her in to my LJ, and she read my dilemma regarding what the actor character in my screenplay should play. And the girl is ( brilliant )

If anyone has any other suggestions, please keep them coming.

And I still need to start in on the Vancouver research. Or maybe Toronto. But probably Vancouver.

Indecisive? Who, me?

Okay, so tonight I finished converting the third scene of my story. I've also come to what I consider the end of Act I. Fifteen pages (give or take). Now comes the part that has been perplexing me for months. My characters are on their way so see a play, and I don't know what play they're going to see. It needs to be something that's in public domain (Shakespeare would be good), something that has a really good role for a man in his mid-30s to early-40s.

I also need to start researching tourist and residential information for Vancouver. Help? Suggestions?