20, Pt. 2

Posted on 2013/10/21 by Tonette dela Luna

THE FORTNIGHT EDITION, PART TWO

So, what would Thanksgiving Weekend be without multiple family dinners. Compound that with not seeing most of these family members in many years. Let’s just say the Sisterhood and I didn’t go hungry.

I took a step back in time, seeing the places I used to hang out as a child and teenager. I even remembered how to get to my old house in a midnight drive (thanks to my cousin). The squees that began the journey continued as the floodgates of my memories opened with each familiar sight and sound.

And taste. I did mentioned the good eats, yes? Whether we dined at an awesome restaurant or tucked into a home cooked meal, I felt love.

Honestly, I can’t really get too much into it because a boatload of emotions start welling up again at the thought. It’s safe to say I had a wonderful time with my loved ones. I forgot that my quirks, snarkasm, and overall laughter about everything in life, good and bad, are definitely hereditary.

We laughed until we cried. We ate and laughed some more. I’m so blessed.

I also had an opportunity to visit two castles. One that is, and one that technically isn’t. The former, Casa Loma, was rich in history and even had secret passageways. Who doesn’t love a mini-adventure after a tryptophan-laden meal?

You know how hard it was to take a quasi-decent picture of the castle without a tourist photobombing? Oh, and thanks to the Sisterhood’s Bestie for teaching me how to use the HDR feature on my iPhone to get around lighting limitations.

I’ve got spookier pics of the interior and the secret passageways, but maybe that can wait until Halloween. 🙂

We also visited the castle that wasn’t, Dundurn Castle. The largest building in Canada at the time of its construction, people never saw anything like it, called it a castle and the name stuck.

It was a dreary day, but the rain stopped long enough for us to explore the exterior. There were two separate wedding parties that commandeered various spots on the property, so pictures were also a challenge. The Sisterhood and I agreed that there was such a Downton Abbey vibe to the place.

I actually visited Dundurn Castle many moons ago. I was in my fives and sixes, methinks. A school field trip. I loved field trips.

=8=

Tomorrow, we say goodbye to the time capsule reopened. Ever feel like time moves so slowly and zips by, at the same time? Such was my stint in Ontariario. (I don’t now how many times that song played in my head. Fellow Ontarians will know what I’m talking about.)

Not to worry. I will end this posted trio of new cherished memories with my takeaway as a writer. Stay tuned.

Week in Review – 2013/10/07 – 2013/10/20, Pt. 1

Posted on 2013/10/20 by Tonette dela Luna

THE FORTNIGHT EDITION, PART ONE

Yes, you read that correctly.

My usual Week In Review is going to run a little differently this time around. To avoid any eye bleeds, I’ll split up what’s happened in the last two weeks over three instalments.

=8=

Greetings, gentle readers. Long time, no blog post. When I went back east a couple weeks ago, I didn’t realize that the internet would be an issue. I was all set to continue writing and blogging. However, life–and a full-on vacation–happened.

Let me start with many a mea culpa for the unexpected absence. It was just as unexpected for me, too. But as soon as I missed the first blog post and realized that it was out of my control, I let the tension slip away and for the first time since I began blogging and doing all these writing challenges, I truly went off-grid.

You know what?

I liked it.

I’d almost forgotten what it was like to live away from a notebook or computer screen.

It all began with a Red Eye to Toronto on the 10th. More like Dry Eye. All the moisture sucked out of me in a most uncomfortable four hour plane ride. Still, the Sisterhood and I were chuffed to get on our way. We even had an unplanned twinsies moment with coordinated outfits. No probs. They went with our matching grins and giddiness at the prospect of travel.

We left Vancouver before 2300 PST, Thursday in order to maximize our Friday by arriving in Toronto around 0600 EST. I was excited, bordering antsy. I hadn’t been back to that side of our home and native land in eighteen years.

I decided to mull over what I’d write for my FRIDAY FORAGE post, as I’d been excited to use the trip as inspiration. I also realized that I’d want to experience the day before writing the post (to gain said inspiration) but that was not to be. Instead, I was greeted with a crisp autumnal morning befitting Ontario standards.

The day bloomed into a beautiful climate–as though mocking the dreariness I’d left behind in Vancouver–and I spent every waking moment squeeing at how much and how little things had changed in nearly two decades. We had two hours of non-waking moments for a much needed snooze at the Sisterhood’s Bestie’s house (who was also gracious enough to pick us up at the airport).

The graciousness continued with ahMAHzing food at Canoe Restaurant.

The view wasn’t bad either.

As the sun sank below the horizon, we walked through downtown to get to our next major destination–on DAY ONE, mind you–and the much needed calorie burning trek did little to calm the nerves for what was next to come.

The Sisterhood and I make it a point to see the play whenever it’s in town or whatever town we might find ourselves in. As a storyteller, I’m always keen to see how this masterpiece is interpreted by the various players. While the set has since changed because of the movie, I’m still in awe of live theatre.

I tread the boards, once upon a time, but not in anything so grandiose. I appreciate the hard work that goes into it. Also, I never leave this play without bawling at least three times. I could say it was the exhaustion of travel, but the performances were surreal and I believe I cried harder that night than at any of the previous performances I’ve seen, and I’ve seen it five times. Fortunately, there were new cast members each time so it’s been a real treat.

Was the Red Eye worth it? Yes. Was it a good idea to take the nap midday? Definitely. Was it super fun times jam packed into a single day? Positutely!

We even had a chance to mingle with the cast after the show. By mingle I mean gush at seeing them come out the stage doors behind the theatre and pose for pics and sign autographs.

To cap off the wonderful day, us siblings partook in late night munchies. Awesome nachos via room service.

=8=

I would be remiss if I didn’t put some update into this post, even if I had to divvy up all the deets of my trip. If you’re still reading, big hugs.

WRITING:

Nothing major in the official new output capacity. But I did plenty of brainstorming and exploratory writing for the upcoming Entangled Smackdown over at SavvyAuthors. I also crafted a plethora of new ideas, character sketches, and interesting scenarios for possible use in upcoming stories, as well. It’s hard not to be inspired with such diverse culture all around. Thanks, Toronto.

Despite the delays in my prep work, I’m pleased to say the forums are working for me again and I can make ample use of the well-timed workshops in the two weeks we have left before the writing challenge begins. I’ll be scrambling to catch up due to my time away from technology, but at least this compressed preparation will get the creative juices flowing.

READING:

Due to the off-grid situation, I had to drop the Coursera class Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World. I didn’t want to leave my classmates hanging while I submitted assignments a week after the deadline. Not cool, even if it is for a non-credit class. I’ve added the class to my watchlist and will take it when it becomes available again.

In the meantime, I have plenty of reading material on my endless TBR list to tide me over.

NETWORKING:

I didn’t get a chance to network much while in Toronto, but I’ve recently discovered just how much the Sisterhood posted me or tagged me in various realms of social media to document our travels. So, I suppose we can say I networked by proxy.

LEARNING:

Would you believe I kept up with Duolingo? In those moments before I drifted off to a deep sleep after a long day out, I became a polyglot. My dreams–if I remembered any of them during the vacay–probably took place at the United Nations.

=8=

So, that’s a glimpse of what’s been up in my world, as of late.

Tune in tomorrow, as I recap more highlights of my romp back east.

#ROW80 Mid-Week Check-In 2013/10/09

Posted on 2013/10/09 by Tonette dela Luna

WRITING:

I have not one but three possible ideas for Entangled Smackdown over at SavvyAuthors. Going the novella route, one option is to write five to seven 10K novellas covering a day over the course of a week. I just need to keep in mind that each novella needs to be engaging and self-contained. To do this, I have story ideas that seemed disparate at first but now have the potential to link up in an overall story arc.

EDIT: Thought of a different idea while responding to comments. Perhaps I can tell the same story over the course of twenty-four hours (or a reasonable duration for a novella) but each novella is told from a different POVs. So excited. 🙂

READING:

As part of my Coursera class Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World, I have a boatload to read. Here’s an author list so you get an idea: Grimm, Carroll, Stoker, Shelley, Hawthorne, Poe, Wells, Burroughs, Gilman, Bradbury, LeGuin, and Doctorow.

If you know them just by their last names, you know it’s epic. A feast for the eyeballs, to be sure. That there is plenty of Fantasy and Science Fiction to fill my cranium for the next little while.

Dare I dream that one day you will know the name dela Luna, as well? 🙂

NETWORKING:

I like the forums within the workshops as it lends to peer-teaching and interaction which is pretty neat. I enjoy the discourse and healthy debate over plenty of subjects. That is, of course, when the forums cooperate.

LEARNING:

Three languages. One me. Duolingo offers a lot for a free app. Gotta love free good stuff.

Udemy is offering classes on learning how to learn. It might sound kooky but I’m finding it enlightening. We’re taught what to learn in school but not how to learn it. These classes help you approach new topics and pretty much takes the formation of new thoughts and ideas from a completely new and fresh perspective.

Yeah, I’m a nerd, but learning just got more fun. Bonus? No exam pressure. That was probably the worst thing about my tenure in the educational realm.

Tomorrow, I’m going on a sisterly excursion to Toronto. Haven’t been back in almost twenty years. Seeing places of old that become new again has given me an idea for my next FRIDAY FORAGE post. Stay tuned.

Week in Review – 2013/09/30 – 2013/10/06

Posted on 2013/10/06 by Tonette dela Luna

WRITING:

I’m storming the brain for possible contingency plans for Entangled Smackdown over at SavvyAuthors. Meanwhile I’ve come up with new ideas–too many–and have even distracted myself with some fangirl ideas. I came up with a fanfic story for a 13th Doctor, a girl!

Downside, I haven’t narrowed down my plethora of ideas. Upside, I have a plethora of ideas. haha

READING:

Finished a beta read and have to sink my teeth into book reviews and critiques. And also the many workshops I’m taking now and from before. Ugh. Any word on that speed reading course yet, people?

NETWORKING:

There’s a new check-in for #wipmadness and #ROW80 this week. Maybe I can tap other creative minds on upcoming project idea whittling.

LEARNING:

Thankfully, an area that is never lacking is my edification. Along with Spanish and French, I’ve now taken up German on Duolingo. Good thing, too, my sister’s joined up and is taking French and German, as well.

Udemy has taught me in the ways of time management, writing, and new ways of thinking. I love soaking in all the innovation.

At Savvy Authors I’m taking Character Development with Mary McCall and Putting the Suspense in Romantic Suspense with Dee Lloyd. They run through to the end of the month and I hope they’ll help sort out my current Entangled entanglement.

I have a class starting on Coursera tomorrow. It’s called Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World. How awesome is it that universities all over the map offer free and intriguing courses? Score one for perpetual learning!

Busy week ahead including a little romp back east. It’s going to be weird returning to places I haven’t seen in half my life. Seriously.

Excited for the zaniness ahead. How goes it for you?

FRIDAY FORAGE – 2013/10/04

Posted on 2013/10/04 by Tonette dela Luna

5 BITS OF HARD & SOFTWARE TO HELP UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY

We’re a few days shy of a month away from the annual global writing phenom known as NaNoWriMo. Perhaps it’s time to get crackin’, yes?

1) MIND MAPS

( via the24hourtala )

There are loads of software programs and apps out there that can help you create mind maps. A mind map is an outflowing of ideas that can begin with a single word. Using simple word association, new ideas can be formed. This process can be used in fiction writing or in other projects, as well. I haven’t tried any apps yet, though when I do, I’ll be sure to review them.

In the meantime, there are old school ways to create a mind map. The easiest way is pen to paper (or get creative with colored pens!). Other options are whiteboards, blackboards, etc.

What I’ve used for mind mapping and brainstorming are my mirrored closet doors. It was a delayed realization of a convenient resource after I’d already purchased two rolls of now still unused whiteboard adhesive stickers. It’s a great way to get the ideas flowing no matter how you like to map them. 🙂

2) INDEX CARDS

( via Sarah Ockler )

Much like mind maps, these can be tangible or found as software applications. An app I’ve used that syncs between devices is Noti and it’s great in a pinch. There’s also a section within the Scrivener app wherein you can index card your brains out–more on that later.

Of course, as we reminisce fondly on our school days, ahem, if that’s something we do, there are also the beloved 3×5 or 4×6 beauties that come lined, unlined, or in an array of colors for your organizational convenience.

What can you do with them? Throw out ideas, character names, settings, story prompts. Shuffle them and draw one out to get you going.

If you’re already in the prep stages of novel creation, you can use index cards to plan out your scenes. Short sentences and phrases helps you create a path from beginning to end and the ease of portability allows you to reorganize ideas to avoid a sagging middle.

Regardless of the method, index cards (or post-its for the sticky loving writers) do wonders.

3) GOOGLE IMAGES

( via Fox News )

Remember how I said previously that a picture’s worth a thousand words? Well, I didn’t come up with that notion nor did I come up with this next nifty trick.

I love to dream cast my books. To do that, I tap into the wonderful world of Hollywood and look up faces to go with my names. I base these choices on the actor’s work as well as their appearance. Oh, and it’s not limited to people. It’s a great way to look for settings, as well.

Case in point, most of the images I come up with for posts are from sites like Google Images.

While we’re at it, let’s give shout outs to Tumblr and Pinterest, as well. When it comes to visuals, you get the idea and with these sites, you may actually get ideas.

4) TIMERS

( via Contest Timer )

Online, offline, your watch, your stove. Anything that ticks and anything that dings will do the trick. Timers can help you unleash hidden gems and really tap into your creative core. Use timers to do free writing. You can set the time to whatever you want and it forces yourself to churn out the words before the timer buzzes.

Writing sprints are always great to get those word counts and knowing that you’ve got a deadline ticking away is a great motivator. (For more insane motivation try Write Or Die.)

Another use for a timer is to let yourself and those around you know that for that entire time, YOU ARE WRITING AND MUST NOT BE DISTURBED. Common writing courtesy, yo!

5) SCRIVENER

( via Literature & Latte )

Last but certainly not least, Scrivener. It’s your one-stop writing shop. You can go from conceptualization to fruition with this program. In the drafting stage they have sections for research, brainstorms, index cards, and even pictures. There are different templates to use and subsections to organize all your work. There’s even an export feature that can help you instantly convert your novel into an ebook format.

There’s so much to talk about with Scrivener that it needs it’s own post. Suffice it to say, considering I have a handful of the top writing programs already at my fingertips, Scrivener is the one I keep coming back to for my writing.

=8=

So, hope this FRIDAY FORAGE has whet your writing appetite, if you haven’t already begun. I’m using these posts to psych myself up. Otherwise, my procrastinating self will end up scrambling the night before while handing out candy to strangers.

Happy writing… and planning… and brainstorming… and dreaming. NaNoWriMo is coming.