How was your fiction writing/reading week?
The last week, for me, has been busy! I imagine some of you know the feeling. Fall is starting to pick up its pace. Wow. My creative writing and reading has fallen by the wayside and I didn't meet my 30 minute of each per day goal. But I'll try, try again! I did read part of Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Check out a description of the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Chains-The-Seeds-America-Trilogy/dp/1416905863
It's great so far---its historical fiction for young adults. For those who read historical fiction or young adult or both--you may like it. The narrator is a slave girl, the period is right before the Revolutionary War, the setting is colonial New York. I did make a note of the dialogue on one line--- it's very pretty. A character uses a simile that is just beautiful. I'm not sure if people talk that nicely! If you listen closely, people talk in clips, with half-formed thoughts all the time. Maybe in my writing, what will work for me is that I'll try to keep the pretty words for everything outside of the dialogue. Anderson is a very gifted writer and knows the period well. I'm excited to continue reading her work.
Creative writing has been zilch this past week. I have thought about the theme of war a bit (which is a theme in my novel) given the tragic and absolutely horrifying events concerning ISIS and James Foley and also the fighting in Gaza. It's so upsetting. I read about the response of the bishop that spoke at Foley's memorial in Rochester, NY. He quoted St. Francis saying that we must not seek vengeance but that we must try to live into (or something to that effect) the words, "Make me an instrument of your peace..."
I'm really turning this over in my mind a lot and want this theme to be addressed in my Marjorie novel. It really upsets me the violence in our world. I do think art has a place for addressing what upsets us and challenging our responses.
So it's ok that I didn't do the creative writing I keep on keeping on with the goal to creative write. I'll try to squeeze in some time today--maybe fifteen minutes. I can handle that! (Haha-I think.) I start a class this Wednesday evening on world civ. I'm so excited. The books came and the content looks fascinating. I have so much to learn! Yay! I might be able to weave in some facts in my Marjorie novel.
I ordered the book (used) Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan for good advice about descriptive writing---that's something that I've challenged myself to get better at. It will be neat to see what advice she gives.
Fiction readers and writers---hope your week is going well!
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