Down the Rabbit Hole

Can we just move past the fact that I haven't written on this blog for over a year? Yes, let's do that...we can come back to what I've been up to after I get some of these thoughts down on the page, as fast as I can possibly type. Forgive any typos/misspellings/terrible grammar mistakes...I'll probably fix them later anyway. 

First off, this week I've been on vacation. After a very stressful, difficult year yours truly has been heading down the path of total annihilation. A bit extreme term I know. I've needed to make some changes in my life. Perhaps what I mean to write is that I've been breaking myself down into smaller manageable parts because the chaos of both the outer world and my interior world have been breaking me wide open. I will not go into a rant on the socio/political/economic turmoil happening out in the world right now. I sincerely can't handle it right now.  My physical body wants to shut down and play dead if I delve into it too deeply tonight.

Instead, I will tell you about the three books that I am currently working through this week.  I am reading a chapter every day and trying to process out what the work brings up through journaling. Three titles:

1. Brene Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection - I started reading this book half-heartedly in the Summer but found myself turning away because it was too difficult to deal with what it was bringing up for me. I came back to it at the end of last month and something clicked. I am further along now and trying to face some of my demons along the way. As always, easier said than done but I'm flexing my courage muscle to see if I can find a new way of approaching my life and those tender, vulnerable places that need some serious healing love.

2. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski - Okay, this book is changing my life right now. I didn't realize how much stuck stress (and stress stew) I was sitting on, and what kind of physical damage it was causing my body. Honestly, the chronic migraines should have been my tip-off.  This book was recommended by my therapist in the Spring but I was too busy and too stressed out to even read it back then. Yes, I see the irony in that last statement. But now that I know and I can't un-know the information that it's given me. 

3. Emotional Agility by Susan David - This is my most recent addition and I'm trying to find some emotional balance in the face of so much uncertainty, stress and life challenges. When I know more I will write more. 

Writing -  In the past month, I've gone back to writing creatively. Working on a new writing project after all this time. It feels good to spend some time creating again. Gosh, I should have known I would spiral out without having some ties to my writing life. The new work-in-progress is called Valentina, this is not the final title. Hopefully, I'll have a first draft done by the end of the year. 

Yoga - I'm back to a daily practice of yoga. I started off as a need to stretch after sitting in front of a computer all day/all year. And now it's a good release to work through some of the stress in my life. 

Meditation - Yep, that's right, I'm meditating twice a day for at least 15 minutes. Once in the morning before I get my day going. I quiet my mind and breathe deeply. Most days, it's trying to shut down the task master and the endless to-do list. Also taking a formal meditation class once a week. It helps to be in community with others who are meditating. It makes me feel a little less alone in the world. 

And meditate as the last thing i do before I got to bed. Helps slow down my over active brain. The last two weeks before vacation I was sleeping less than 4 hours a night because my brain would not turn off. I was barely functioning. The meditation has helped a great deal. I think I would have been worse off if I hadn't been meditating. Oh, a big shout-out to Dan Harris' book 10% Happier. It's part of the reason why I went down this self-empowering rabbit hole. Thanks Dan!!  

Painting - I actually mean painting my apartment. I love listening to musicals  while brightening up my home space. This week, I finally sealed my window ledge and painted it to a lovely light green color. I've been meaning to do this for the past year. It's finally done. Yay! Super pleased that I finally got it done. It's definitely not perfect because I'm not a professional contractor.  But I still get real pleasure for getting things accomplished. When I got this apartment, I made a long list of all the things I needed to fix/improve/work on. I've managed to get quite a bit done so Yay!  

Music- there are two songs that I can't stop playing over and over again. Justin Bieber's Ghost. Now don't hate. This tune made me stop in my tracks. The other song is The Other Side with Zac Efron and Hugh Jackman (from the Greatest Showman soundtrack). I seriously can't stop myself from jumping around my apartment when this story comes on. It actually brings me joy. On  that note, I'll leave it there for now.

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2021 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Monologues, Musicals and Plays, Oh My!

Photo by Marc Brenner

For the past month, I have been going to see pieces on Broadway.  It started with Harold Pinter's Betrayal, directed by Jaime Lloyd. This performance gave me goosebumps.  Tom Hiddleston played Robert, Zawe Ashton played Emma, Charlie Cox played Jerry in a love triangle. Now I know this Pinter play was not one of his strongest pieces but with the direction from Mr. Lloyd and the subtle nuanced work from these amazing actors...it was a devastating piece. Weeks later the play is still reverberating in my writer's soul. Tom Hiddleston has one of the most heartbreaking moments and the scene still chokes me up. There is something about the emotional impact that has me tempted to buy another ticket to go see it again.

Then I went to see Bat Out of Hell playing at City Center on a high recommendation from a co-worker. Lord was that a mistake.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE music by MEATLOAF, which was why it wasn't a hard sell for me to buy a ticket to go see this show. Let me start with the positive...the stagecraft/set design was actually amazing. The performance of the songs was a bit cheesy but I went with it since the performers could hold the notes.  But the choreography was laughable. It was so basic and juvenile that it felt more like a school performance than a Broadway show. I was waiting for "jazz hands" to come out somewhere. The story arc felt forced...trying to fit songs into the story line felt a bit random. I love a good rock opera...hello, rocker chick here...but this did not work for me. The one saving grace was Danielle Steers, who played Zahara; that woman could belt out a song.

Photo by Annie Liebovitz, 2019

On Saturday I finally went to see Sea Wall/A Life....Monologues written by Simon Stephens and Nick Payne. Tom Sturridge played Alex in Sea Wall and Jake Gyllenhaal played Abe in A Life.  Both pieces talked about life, death and loss. Tom Sturridge's staccato performance of Alex was a bit rough. I'm not sure if he forgot lines or if his pauses were on purpose but it really pulled me out of the material. Stephens has some really beautiful transcendent lines that felt a bit butchered by Tom's performance.
Meanwhile, Jake Gyllenhaal's performance was quite captivating. He handled the telling of two stories simultaneously in a seamless manner without losing the meaning of either. It was an hour long monologue and he relayed the material with emotional impact. He made me laugh and also welled me up with tears at some of the more poignant moments. Truly an actor mastering his craft.

Why am I on a theater jag?  I am trying to connect back with my own writing. I want to be inspired, moved, shaken awake...I need "something" to get me going again. I've been dormant for far too long and my inner writer is aching for some creativity. I journal to keep me writing but that's not nearly enough. The writing is slow, thick, molasses-like.  I've put so many years into this craft and the past couple of years there has been so much neglect that I can barely call it up. That might be why I've shown up to my blog again after all this time. Keeps my mind working on short pieces, hoping to spark that ember in my belly, breathe it back to life. I am a bit lost at the moment. 

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2019 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Only Lovers Left Behind

I can't remember when I saw this movie, last week or a lifetime ago but Only Lovers Left Behind- written and directed by Jim Jarmusch starring Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston is gorgeous.  It's a dark romance when two Vampire lovers are reunited and they spend some quality time together after hours.  It's slow paced and decadent at times.  The soundtrack reverberates in the background, discordant but nuanced with each scene. Jarmusch is genius, I think the last movie I saw of his was Night on Earth (1991) but this film reminds me to go check out the rest of his work.  It's the kind of movie that I can disappear into as the characters have long winding conversations about art and music and the state of the world. Tilda Swinton is other-worldly as Eve. This actress can do no wrong, she is invested in Eve and her face is so expressive, she's allows audience members to read her very soul. Beautiful work on her side.  Tom Hiddleston is that tortured musician as Adam. He plays well against Swinton but the funnier moments are played with Ian (played by Anton Yelchin) and Ava (played by Mia Wasikowska).  After watching this movie, I wanted to turn around and go watch it again. There is certain quality to the smaller movies that I go see that keep me enthralled.  The dialogue, the story arc, the soundtrack when they hit these points properly they stay with me long after I have left the theater.  Bravo.  I hope more go to see this one.  It's definitely worth it.  

Peace,

Lily

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Words and Pictures

On Friday afternoon, after an early release from work, I went to see a little indie flick called Words and Pictures starring Clive Owens and Juliette Binoche.  It's a romantic comedy but more importantly it's a dialogue revolving around the creative process.  How creatives use their medium in this case writing and painting to try to convey a point of view through their work.  Owens plays a frustrated writer who drinks to sublimate the suffering of being unable to create.  While Binoche plays a painter who struggles to find a way of new way of being able to work her craft while suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The language is gorgeous when either of them talk about Words or Pictures. They frame the movie under a guise of a war against the other but really it was a chance to challenge and dialogue around the medium in question. As far as the romantic element, it's wonderful to see earthy adults having real dialogues about their pain and how they are able to find a way of relating to one another, at times a bit sideways and odd but refreshing and open.  A woman who sat behind me said to her friend that she thought it was heavy-handed at times. For someone like me who loves language, well let's just say I soaked it in and spent the day writing because I was inspired.  Lovely little film, I hope others get a chance to catch it.  

Peace, 

Lily.  

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Strike a Balance

I'll be honest with you, the last couple of days I've been pretty grumpy.  I have been challenging myself to move past my own complacency.  I've extended some invitations to co-workers to have lunch...folks who I find interesting and who I'd like to get to know better.  You would think...it's socializing 101...but for me it doesn't come easy. Being a creative person, I tend to live in my head and I get VERY comfortable staying in my little shell. For the most part, I don't mind being a loner but I'm trying something new. It's not always comfortable nor is it very easy.

Lately, I miss writing. I've been jotting down notes, zygotes of ideas, barely fully formed that are worming their way to the surface.  I feel a little lost when I am not actively engaged with creative writing in some form every single day.  For me, jotting down lines just doesn't feel like it's ever really enough.  Hmm, that sounds like my Type A personality rearing it's head, excuse me while I put her back in that closet. Yes, still wresting between over-working and under-working.  Where to strike the balance?

Like this for instance...I wrote on the train home one night.

A couple huddles in a dark embrace 

of tongue, teeth and wet lips

who are they but youthful gods

searching for their power 

in the mouth 

in the love 

of an(other)

a reflection of potential being

the city alight with possibilities

future wakefulness.  

Not really sure yet what it needs to become but the words are on the page at least.  

Why am I not writing?  I am still dealing with some health issues that are not fully resolved so after a full day of work all I can really do is crash.  So the tidbits of scrap paper at the bottom of my purse and the notes in my lavender-colored notebook will have to do for now until I can begin again.  Today-Wednesday April 30th, I've completed two months of working at this new job.  It's been an adjustment and I'm still adjusting but more importantly I need to do my own creative work to balance out my day job. All for now will write more soon.  

Peace,

Lily~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

LA is M.I.A in NYC

For the record, I know I have been M.I.A. for quite some time.  I did not fall off the face of the earth although at times it kind of felt that way. My life has been in serious need of some adjustments.

Although, I wanted to start my own editing business...things have detoured a bit from that plan. Instead I landed a full-time permanent gig working as an executive assistant. God! to have decent medical coverage again makes this such a huge relief.  The people I work with are genuinely decent and respectful folks and I'm really grateful for the work and the steady paycheck. It also gives me breathing room to deal with some ongoing health issues as well as time for my creative writing.

I wish I could say that these past few months I have been writing up a storm but alas, I spent a lot of time curled up in the fetal position unable to face making decisions on my novel, on what my next move would be, on what I wanted for myself...you get the picture.  I spent time tutoring (homework duty) with my young nieces (6 year old and 8 year old), binging on two seasons of House of Cards, catching up with my reading, taking care of an ailing body. Basically, trying to sort myself out. Hibernating inside my crabby shell.  

March 3rd I started my new job and my day-to-day changed drastically. I am learning the way this office works, learning new systems, trying to gain adequate access to half a dozen different applications. The stress level is low which is really good. My days are full and by the time I make it home, I've been crashing.  It's been an adjustment but I'm hanging in there. Yay!

Let's see, so much to catch up on but I'm going to pace myself today.  
I'm currently reading an anthology of short sci-fi stories.  It's okay...nothing has excited me quite yet.
The last movie that I saw and that I thoroughly enjoyed was Spike Jonze's HER.  Loved it!!
Just saw the finale to the sc-fi show Helix.  Lots of interesting questions are coming up and I look forward to another season in 2015.
And last week's episode of the Good Wife and Being Human (US ver) left me in a state of shock.  Yes, I am completely hooked.
The three songs that I have on heavy rotation are Pharrell's Happy, Hall & Oates' ManEater, Dawn & Hawkes' cover of I've Just Seen A Face (I've attached the song below in case you wanna listen).
The last play that I went to see was The Architecture of Becoming...it was a collaboratively written piece (never a good idea) Altho' it had some decent moments, what connected the stories was flimsy at best.  I wanted more of the surreal elements they promised at the beginning of the play to play out in a grander way but by the end is was all a big let down.
I know I'm late to the party on this one but I just started watching Game of Thrones, Season 1. Really enjoying the twists and turns...I know there is more to come but I am taking my sweet time with this one.
I've also started writing up a sketch of a monologue. A tiny ember of an idea is surfacing and I wrote what I could of it earlier today.  More to come.
I've also had some groovy dinners with friends: Katt, Yoav, Christine, William, Brenda and skype visits withTony...so glad they are in my life. :-)

Gosh, so that does it for me.  I am going to try to get back on a weekly schedule with these blog entries again but no big promises. In the meantime, I am getting back to work on my writing schedule as well as trying to figure out a decent exercise schedule.  All for now.  

Peace,

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

A New Day

I am starting my own business.  There is much to do but I am working up a business plan and some real workable and substantial goals to make it happen.  By next spring, I am going to open up my very own Editorial Service for Creative Writers.  I have both the education and the work experience in publishing to copyedit, proofread and give creative writers feedback.  [The only genre I won’t be able to work in is science-fiction.  Unfortunately, it’s too close to the genre that I currently write in.] I am still in the early stages of working up a plan but I wanted to get the ball rolling and let folks know what’s coming down the pipeline. 

The next five months will be about writing up my business plan, setting up the website, setting down some standard rates, getting the word out, and test piloting the plan. I’ve been doing research on my down time and making lots of notes for myself.  I am also using a couple of resources to help me plan things out. [I love this part.]  I’m sure I’ll also send some updates via my blog and social media to keep everyone up-to-date on how things are moving along. I am very excited about this new endeavor. 

*****

In the meantime, I am also still writing.  I spent Veteran’s Day working on my novel for about five hours. I enjoyed it and felt some satisfaction on the changes that I have made with this revision. It’s an excruciatingly slow process when in the midst of creating while revising but can't seem to do it any other way.  Mostly, I just want to make sure that the intention of the sentence is in line with the intention of the characters, without trying to be too precious with the language.

I wanted to mention this odd thing that inspired me recently.  Edward Burns has a commercial where he talks about his first movie and how he had a stack of rejections from Hollywood.  He talked to his dad because he was bummed out over the many rejections and his dad reminded Burns that he made the movie because he enjoyed the process. 

For whatever reason, that story gently reminded me that despite all my complaints and whinging in the past that I really do love to write. I write all the time.  In my journal, on my blog, I write to my friends long meandering emails about what’s going on with me and then I write notes to myself reminding me about something that happened in the past, something that bubbles up from the depths of my psyche.  I enjoy the feel of language beneath my pen and under my key strokes, on the page and in my head, always in the midst of trying to transmit and articulate.  I feel incredibly blessed that I have the freedom to do so in this time.  I am loving life on this cold November day.   

Peace,

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Sunday

Sunday. As I type these lines Pandora is lying next to my laptop trying to nudge me into giving her some more treats.  Her thyroid condition is still out of whack so she is HUNGRY ALL-THE-TIME.  She woke me up at five this morning to get her first meal of the day.  And then second breakfast happened 20 minutes ago.  Plus treats and meds. I'm hoping her meds will even her out soon.

Let's see I spent Saturday working on my novel. I didn't even tell myself that I was going to work on it, I just opened up the folder and opened up the document and I started typing. If I had known I was going to work on it, I would have convinced myself to do anything else. In the quiet of my basement room I was able to revise half a chapter.  *sigh* This is such a slow process because I'm realizing, I am a SLOW writer.  My friend Christine calls it SLOGGING.  Hahaha.  What a great word!  And yes, that is what it feels like at times. I sometimes lose the fire for the project.  It's just an ember sometimes waiting for a soft gust of wind to bring the fire back.  Anyway, at least I put in a couple of hours into it yesterday.

After I finish this entry, I am going to face the page again.  Wish me luck!! I'm just going to put a little bit of time and hopefully the story takes over.  I just have to get out of the way of the story to do that.  Ergh!  Easier said than done.

This afternoon, I'm going to a poetry reading at Nuyorican Cafe with a good friend.  That should be fun! Poetry readings always pick me up when language is used in interesting ways.

On Tuesday night I am going to see fun at Pier 26 come rain or shine.  But really I'm going mostly to see their opening act...Tegan and Sara!!  Yay!!! Very excited!!  Hopping around as I listen to their music. It's the only time that I think I'm part rabbit.  I hear their music and it makes me want to hop.  teehee!!

God less than two weeks and the month of July is over. The summer is going by so quickly. And this temp gig will end soon too.  Ergh!  I'm going to have to shift gears again and start sending out some fresh resumes.  But who's going to read them in August?  Most people will be off on vacation.  Okay not the time to panic...back to my writing.

Peace,
L~



All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Pressure Against the Wall

It's Monday and I spent most of the weekend packing.  I did take a break or two but, for the most part, my life has been revolving around boxes and putting things into them for my move on the 22nd.  I have two dozen boxes packed and two bookshelves broken down plus two cd shelves tied together and ready to be hauled.  Also the contents of my filing cabinet have been emptied into a box.  Everything I own in this world is in 24 boxes.  There are still clothes to pack and toiletries to put away and my altar to be packed but that will happen the night before my move.  I haven't included the big pieces of furniture in the tally: t.v. stand, the bed and my desk.  I'm leaving behind my favorite couch, ergh.  I am trying hard not to cling to things but the more I move, the more attached I've become to my stuff. It's the Cancer Crab (astrology) in me.  It's interesting to have packed things away and now living with less stuff around.  It reminds me that I can live simply without having to burden myself with material goods.  Really what's important to me is having pen and paper, my laptop and a good book to read when I've stopped walking around in circles.

I've been reading Ensouling Language: On the Art of NonFiction and the Writer's Life by Stephen Harrod Buhner.  His text inspires me to be a better writer.  He reminds me of the magic that goes into writing.  I sometimes get stuck in the mire of slogging through my own text and think to myself, "Really?  What's the Point?" Buhner's text reminds me that writing is about putting constant pressure on that wall to ensure a breakthrough.  I am reading his book and I feel understood.  The act of writing is such a lonely art.  We sit with our work trying to get the world that is in our heads to come through in coherent passages onto the page.  And there are times when the beauty that is in our brains just doesn't  translate properly onto paper.  It's incredibly frustrating. It takes a tremendous amount of faith to be vigilant with the writing and when I flounder, get stuck in the mire of it's-just-not-good-enough mentality, a book like Ensouling Language helps light a fire with my flagging energy.  At the end of the day, writing is more important than quitting.  Finishing this novel is necessary.  I've invested three years (and counting) into this manuscript and even though I still have a long way to go with it, I can't stop now.

I'm going back to an old routine that worked for me, getting up early mornings (4:30/5:00 am) to start my day writing.  Work for two hours on the novel then get ready for work.  I need a routine in place to keep me active on this story.  This is the only way I can put constant pressure 'til I feel that breakthrough again.  It will also help me through yet another time of transition.  Is it just me or have I gone through quite a few transitions lately?  Goodness!

That's all I have for now....more later.

L~
 

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Falling Off the Grid

I admit, I fell off the grid for awhile.  Been traveling a bit.  Was also looking for a new gig since I have a stack of bills staring me down.  Landed a temp gig down on Wall Street through my agency.  The job is perfect.  It's easy admin work and at the end of the day I can walk out of the building and not give the "work" another thought.  Today I finished out my first full week so a full paycheck by next Friday will come in handy.  I was told the gig is good until the end of August.  I have the next three months to find something a bit more permanent but in this economy a steady paycheck is enough for now.

Where to start?

Moving: In 16 days, I move from my current apartment in the Bronx back to Brooklyn.  Being out of work for two months left me needing to re-evaluate matters. I used up my piddly savings to pay for living expenses.  So I'm moving back in with the folks temporarily while I get this whole job/money deal sorted out.  Which is really kind of odd since they plan on selling their house in the next year or so.   Guess I'll figure that out when it's time.  Anyway, in the meantime I've been packing.  I've got a stack of boxes, comprised mostly of books, against the dining room wall.  It's strange to not have access to them. I know it will only be for a short time but I already miss the ability to grab a book at random just to read a passage.  I've whittled down my library every time I've moved and I'm down to about 10 medium boxes.  It's the object that I still spend money on acquiring. I keep sorting and re-sorting through papers and old journals and I keep wanting to chuck them but then my attachment to them stops me from doing it. Guess they go with me.

This whole transition time has me thinking about moving away from NYC to somewhere more remote. The problem with remote is lack of access to public transportation, 'cause altho' I have a driver's license, I really suck at the whole driving thing.  The idea of having to take care of a car and insurance payments and gasoline and whatever else it might need just does not appeal to me at all. So I guess I'm choosing to stay in a more urban setting. At times, I wouldn't mind living a simpler existence. Have less stuff but I'm not sure I could live out of a backpack tho'.  There are limits to my running away fantasies.  I'm not much of a camper.

Movie: Wednesday night I went to see the movie: The East.  It's another Brit Marling film altho' it was co-written with the director, Zal Batmanglij.  I've been waiting for this one for awhile now.  It's a decent flick but some of the storyline was problematic for me.  Sometimes, the dialogue got caught up in it's own sanctimonious bullshit.  I caught myself rolling my eyes a few times.  HOWEVER, what's underlying the actual story is this call-to-action social activism that I really dig.  I think Marling is still genius and I look forward to her next projects!!

Reading: While on vacation last week, I picked up the book Delirium by Lauren Oliver.  It's a young adult science fiction novel.  It's part of a trilogy: Delirium, Pandemonium & Requiem.  "In Delirium, the government requires that all teenagers be cured of love, a.k.a. deliria, to keep society safe. But 95 days before her treatment, Lena Haloway falls in love--and must face the truth about her own feelings and the world in which she lives." The writing at times has a lyrical quality that really made me savor the story. Oliver really captured that angst that comes with budding love.  I picked up her second book when I got back to the city and then downloaded the last novel onto my Nook.  I have to say the first novel was the best one for me because of the depth of emotion I felt while reading it. The second one was compelling but the writing was uneven for me. I finished the third novel today and hmmm....some of the story was satisfying and some of it was not.   

Writing:  I haven't been writing at all.  I've been trying to start a couple of new short stories but they won't come out.  Unfortunately, Indigo is still my obsession but I haven't been working on it either.  Which reminds me, I want to change the title...the title is starting to bug me.  I can't stop thinking about the story itself and my characters.  I just have to sit and write but I've been too active, too up-rooted, too social and doing everything else other than facing a revision of this novel.  I've been drinking with friends and going to movies instead.  Ergh.  Despite the fact the novel still calls to me.  I feel it constantly in the back of my brain, working, working out some of the problems.  But I need to take pen to paper or sit in front of my laptop and just start pounding on the keys.  I just need to get past my laziness and just take it one chapter at a time.  I can just feel that it's going to be a HUGE undertaking and I'm just not ready.

Play:  I went to see the play Relatively Speaking and I laughed so hard I could barely breathe.  I was up in the balcony section but I actually think the actors heard my hysterics.  I really love comedies based on misunderstandings and in this piece they were able to sustain the misunderstandings almost all the way through.  I want to know the craft behind that piece...perhaps I will break it down one day and figure out how it works.

Publication: I was notified a couple of weeks ago that Applause Books is going to take a monologue from Glass Knives and publish it in Best American Monologues.  How cool is that?!!  When I find out publication date, I'll let folks know.

All righty, I think that's all I have for the moment.  I've been sitting here for an hour trying to fill in all the blank spaces on this page.

Peace,
L~

P.S. Please forgive all typos and grammar problems.  I've realized lately that when I am writing off-the-cuff...the words are coming out before my thoughts have even formed.  It happens.

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Make Good Art

Neil Gaiman gave a commencement speech back in May 2012 and I just listened to it in its entirety and I want to share it with all my creative friends out there. I love Gaiman’s writing, graphic novels, children’s books, etc, etc. In fact, I scare my small nieces with his Wolves in the Wall book…they love to be frightened. My sister hates me just a little for it because then she’s dealing with them waking up in the middle of the night with nightmares. Teehee. Auntie Lily is a bit naughty. Anyway, thought it would be a good inspirational piece for anyone who is having doubts about their creative life.  May this light a fire in your belly. 
Peace,
L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.