Your Mid-Month Motivation

I have found that I am so motivated to write after our meetings, that even though it is 11 pm when I finally get home, I pull out my pen and paper and get to work. This frenzy usually lasts about a week, and then piddles out. But I have found a few things that keep me going, like this article from NPR's "This I Believe". I have a few excerpts below.

Stitching Sentences Everyday

I believe that when I sit down at my computer, words will come. I believe that writing, like piano playing, like auto mechanics, like drawing, is a skill that can be learned with practice. Art is execution...

I believe that inspiration is as flighty as love and that in creating, like in marriage, you must dedicate yourself to be there everyday, no matter what...When you are not in your chair, stitching sentences everyday, it is impossible to solidify your dream...

It is not work for the timid. I must start again, but not at the beginning. It is in the middle, the gut, the center, where the real meaning emerges, where the work coalesces and rings. When finally finished, I will have cut the same number of words that will appear in the final manuscript. What work is not like this? Would I expect a pianist to play a piece perfectly without hours of misplaced notes?

I believe that you are all wonderful people and amazing writers who inspire me each time we get together. I may be the only one who needs to the extra motivation, but I know we can do this, so start "stitching sentences"!

Kelsey

Write On!!!

Ladies,

I just wanted to say thank you so much for reading my outline and being willing to meet with me outside of our regular meetings. It's been so fun to get to talk with you all on a one on one or two on one basis (Kelsey and Malia, I know it will be just as delightful with you, so you are included in this thank you. ;)). Your feedback has been super helpful and very valid to the sucess of my novel. I guess I just wanted to let you all know that it would've been much harder to pick myself back up again, after realizing how much I had left to do on this manuscript last time, and keep going if it wasn't for all of your encouragement and "cheerleading" as Kristen likes to call it. You are all truly exceptional ladies and I hope I can return the favor in the future.

You're the best!

Your Sista' Imprinter,

Hannah

Pushing Daisies

Hooray! Good news, good news . . . I just found out that Pushing Daisies was renewed! Apparently this happened at the end of October, but the first episode to air in over a month was the night before our last meeting. Silly me! Anyway, ABC renewed the show for another 22 episodes! I happened upon this great news when I decided to watch a little TV tonight, thinking nothing good would be on, and stumbled across a new episode. So, everybody keep watching. You can rent the whole first season through Netflix, and most of the episodes from this season, Season 2, are available at abc.com. Whoopee!!!

-Ash

One-Minute Writer

I found this cool site referenced on one of my friend's blogs and thought I would share. I haven't done it yet, but I think this will be a great resource to get my creative juices flowing each day. Enjoy!

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/

-Ash

"Muse" music for Italy

I write best to music. So, for Kelsey who is writing about Italy, below is the link to the album I told you about. It is a haunting collection of sumptuous music that truly will take you to another time and place.

Enjoy!

Kristen

http://www.chrisbotti.com/

Finally!!!

For those of you who checked our blog before your e-mail,
Cobbogoth is finished!!! Chapter 30 should be in your inbox.

See you tonight!

-Hannah

Almost there...

So I forgot to put a note on the last four chapters I delivered to you all today explaining that I'd be (hopefully) dropping my final chapter, Chapter 30 off to you all by Wednesday at the latest. I apologize that I wasn't able to get that one written, but as I began writing these last few chapters I started to see how important they were and that there were a lot of loose ends being tied up in them. Therefore, chapter 30 will come around to you all a little later than I'd hoped. Sorry for another small cliff hanger. I hope it's not totally obnoxious for you.

Also, I was talking with Ashley on our Friday morning walk, and she was expressing concern about being able to give thorough feedback because you're all only just getting the final chapters a week before our meeting. I really apologize for this, and hope that it's not too big of a problem. (I promise I hurried as fast as I could!) But, for those of you who feel the same way, if you want to hang onto your copy of the manuscript for say, another week so you can give more in depth written feedback, I have no problem-o with that.

I am very excited/nervous for our meeting on Thursday, and to hear what you all think! I'll come ready with questions, and hopefully you'll all come ready with an abundance of suggestions for making it as great as I can. Thanks again for taking the time to read this, and I'll see you all for sure, on Wednesday.

-Hannah

Cobbogoth Suspended...

Alright everyone, please don't "BOO" me for what I'm about to tell you.

I've decided I'm not going to give you the next 2 chapters of Cobbogoth on Saturday the 13th, but instead am going to hand you the rest of the book next Saturday the 20th. I'm doing this for two reasons:

1) I've heard an outpouring of chagrin at the cliff hangers I've left you with the last two times.
2) After re-outlining these last four chapters I've discovered that if I were to give you the next two chapters without the end you'd be left with the worst cliff hanger yet and you'd all probably refuse to speak to me again at our next meeting.

So, to save us all the anguish ;) I'm going to wait to give you all four chapters so that you can have your lingering question answered right away without having to wait (sorry Kelsey, don't read too fast).

I hope this is okay with everyone--I think you'll thank me when you see where I've ended chapter 28--but just the same, I apologize. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement, it's helped more than you know. I can't tell you how excited I am to give you the rest of the book! Yay!!!

-Hannah

I've got it!

First, may I just say that I am thoroughly enjoying Cobbogoth. I won't say anymore, but just that getting a few chapters at a time is a bit torturous, but exciting too. It's a good sign when none of us can wait for the ending, Hannah!

Okay, now for my other exciting news. First, I admit that I have been incredibly frustrated because I just couldn't figure out what to write about. I had an idea for a short story, and decided to run with it until I felt like I had completely hit a dead end, and something about it just wasn't resonating with me. It didn't feel like my story, like that one story I have just been dying to tell. I really feel like we each have that story in us - I was just having quite the struggle finding exactly what mine was.

Well, this is the case no longer! I think I have found it ladies. Really. It just hit me today. It peeked out from behind a corner in my brain last night, and this morning I could see it, just standing there. It's kind of fuzzy right now, of course, but it's there, and it's really exciting to see it! I'm thinking this may be bigger than a short story in scope, but I'm just going to write for now, just let it all come spilling out (whilst utilizing some of the tips Hannah gave on her writing blog so everything isn't in complete disarray), and then I'll just bring what I'm ready to share when it's my turn in November.

I'm not going to share anything too specific about it because, like I said, it's still just a fuzzy outline, but I have chosen a working title: Pianoforte. It never really hit me in all of my years of playing the piano that pianoforte literally means soft and loud. So, there you have it. I'm working on a piece, and it has a name, and it has a beginning, a middle and an end. HOORAY!!!

Ash

Finished!

I just finished the manuscript tonight, but it was like reading a cliffhanger because I didn't have the end. Kelsey said she was waiting for the last chapters to start because she didn't want to be in my current predicament--which I'm now thinking was probably wise! I'm not making any comments about the book (besides the fact that I obviously can't wait to finish it) but I just wanted to encourage you along to the end, Hannah! And soon!

Sarah