Not only am I a student, housewife, and dog & cat Mommy, but I am a writer. I have had small pieces published in a local paper, a car club magazine, and my college literary magazine. Not much, but it is something. I have yet to finish a couple of larger projects I am working on, but the ideas have been flowing and the writing has been flowing copiously the past few weeks.
Recently I went to the Newburyport Literary Festival. I heard DeLaune Michel and Ellen Meister speak together about their books which are primarily about the friendships between their characters. Both of them talked about the real life experiences that inspired some of the scenes in their books. I left there all abuzz with ideas.
A long time ago I had a friend. His name was Anthony. One wintery day when we were 7 or 8, he fell in the pond behind my house because he just insisted on pushing an iceberg with a stick and...kerplop! I laid on my belly in the snow with a rake in my hand. He grabbed the handle of the rake and I pulled him in. Then his feet got stuck in the mucky sidewall of the pond. I had to help him relax enough to slowly pull his boot out so I could pull him up and out. Then he went running home to him momma as fast as his frozen feet and legs could carry him. I've caught up with him a few times over the years. Last I knew he was doing special effects make-up for Nip Tuck.
After hearing DeLaune and Ellen speak, I knew I had to write a fictional story that spiraled out from this incident. Two friends and how this one incident effects their lives. What if the boy who is saved goes on to commit a heinous act? What if they come back together after many years? What if he is wildly successful and she is struggling? What if they end up all grown up and living in the same neighborhood with spouses and kids of their own?
And the ideas keep flowing, but they are one thing I don't mind drowning in. Ideas and...chocolate and... affection ;-)
Showing posts with label story ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story ideas. Show all posts
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday, July 7, 2008
Vacation
My husband was on vacation last week and I was at my nanny job on Wednesday and Thursday which left me little time for writing. It was wonderful to spend time with my husband though and awfully difficult to say good-bye when he went off to work this morning.
My husband is a "car guy." He loves driving them, changing his own brakes, cleaning his wheels, racing them, and watching other people race them. This brings me to this past week during which we spent three days at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and one evening watching demolition derby at Brockton Fair. Being a writer, no matter where I am, I am always looking for stories and inspiration for stories. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy motorsports, but four days of car activities in one week... a lot. So, I observed people and let my mind wander. At Nascar in New Hampshire there were so many 'characters': a man in a bathingsuit, the Indian couple with their young son all decked out in Dale Jr. merchandise, the two Asian couples, the man with a long red ponytail and a bottle full of a vodka/redbull mix, the ladies with their tanktop and bra straps folded into their tanks so they didn't get tanlines on their shoulders, and all of this within three rows of me! If I can't come up with any material from all of that, how can I call myself a writer? The Brockton Fair was interesting because it is like stepping into a time warp and it brings out all of the kooky people. I was also fascinated by the animals in the petting zoo, for sale, putting on a show (elephants, camels, ponies), to ride (ponies), and racing (pigs). I wanted to set them all free. I think I could write a childrens book with the premise of a little girl or boy wanting to free the animals at the fair and imagining what would happen if she/he did OR write a short story from the perspective of the animals OR write a story where the animals are in charge and the people are racing, in a zoo, for sale, and putting on shows. Inspiration is everywhere.
_________
I officially applied to the Lesley University Writers Conference. It starts on July 27th, so I should be hearing back soon. Waiting is the pits, but I am trying to think positively in the meantime. I appreciate any positive energy you might send my way.
_________
I have been noticing more traffic and returning traffic to my blog the past few weeks. Thank you for reading!
My husband is a "car guy." He loves driving them, changing his own brakes, cleaning his wheels, racing them, and watching other people race them. This brings me to this past week during which we spent three days at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and one evening watching demolition derby at Brockton Fair. Being a writer, no matter where I am, I am always looking for stories and inspiration for stories. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy motorsports, but four days of car activities in one week... a lot. So, I observed people and let my mind wander. At Nascar in New Hampshire there were so many 'characters': a man in a bathingsuit, the Indian couple with their young son all decked out in Dale Jr. merchandise, the two Asian couples, the man with a long red ponytail and a bottle full of a vodka/redbull mix, the ladies with their tanktop and bra straps folded into their tanks so they didn't get tanlines on their shoulders, and all of this within three rows of me! If I can't come up with any material from all of that, how can I call myself a writer? The Brockton Fair was interesting because it is like stepping into a time warp and it brings out all of the kooky people. I was also fascinated by the animals in the petting zoo, for sale, putting on a show (elephants, camels, ponies), to ride (ponies), and racing (pigs). I wanted to set them all free. I think I could write a childrens book with the premise of a little girl or boy wanting to free the animals at the fair and imagining what would happen if she/he did OR write a short story from the perspective of the animals OR write a story where the animals are in charge and the people are racing, in a zoo, for sale, and putting on shows. Inspiration is everywhere.
_________
I officially applied to the Lesley University Writers Conference. It starts on July 27th, so I should be hearing back soon. Waiting is the pits, but I am trying to think positively in the meantime. I appreciate any positive energy you might send my way.
_________
I have been noticing more traffic and returning traffic to my blog the past few weeks. Thank you for reading!
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