Friday's blog entry

The sky is thick with grey clouds today and I’m sleepy from taking allergy medicine early this morning.  I’m ready for a nap and I’ve barely started my day.
Yesterday (Thursday) I did some writing.  Didn’t get very far with it and I’m not sure where to take this section.  I am trying to trust the process but the control freak part of me has a hard time letting go of the white knuckle grip.  Hmmm.  When I just let go the story seems to unfold on its own.  I can see the images and hear the dialogue between the characters.  It’s like getting invited to a party and just sitting there and taking notes of everything that happens.  Listening in on all the conversations and putting it down as fast as I can.  It’s all very exciting.  But when I try to control the forward motion of the story, it’s like playing director and giving the characters instructions on where they should stand and what they should say.  That way of writing gets exhausting and then I don’t want to go back to the page.  Ergh * crooked mouth.* The one thing that has worked is I have to write a little bit every day.  It doesn’t matter how good it is or how much I write, I just have to put some words down.  It’s more important to get something down then to allow myself to flounder too long. 

It reminds me of something Sally Mann said in a documentary about her process and her work.  About how she would take an intensive time to put together a show and when the exhibit was hung and done, she would feel down because she would think to herself, “that’s it.  That’s all I’ve got left.  I’ll never be able to take another photograph again.”  This woman is an amazing photographer and her work is stunning.  But she also talks about the only thing that gets her past that point is to go out and shoot.  It can be anything but it’s about taking just one more photo.  I guess that’s all one can do.  We keep working.  Plodding through it. It’s not very exciting or glamorous but it’s putting the time in.  Tony compares it to putting money in the bank. Eventually it will all pay off.

Peace,

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2011 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.

Quiet before the storm...

I managed to do some writing yesterday (Tuesday). Another page and a half added to the story. It’s moving forward. I’m not sure I’ll have much in the way of giving any pages to my writing group on Friday but we shall see. Tonight I’m attending a reading to support some of my fellow writers. Then home to do some work. It’s going to be a late night.

Today, I feel as if I’m in a holding pattern. There are several projects that I’m going to be involved with in the next couple of months and it’s the quiet before the storm. I’m excited at the opportunities that are arising and a little anxious over how much time/energy will be left over for my creative writing. I guess some juggling skills are in order. Who am I kidding?! I love, love, LOVE being busy…if I’m not doing half a dozen things with hair on fire then I’m bored senseless. And boredom’s not a friend of mine. It keeps me in a constant state of melancholy pining and we need to loosen that strangle hold, don’t we? All for now.

Peace,



L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2011 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.

This is where I’m at…

Last night, I got home made myself a big salad of leafy greens and some crumbly feta cheese and basically inhaled it. I had a very early lunch at 11:30 am…not my idea…and by the time I got home I was hun-gry! By 6:45 pm I was in front of my computer working on my novel. I worked until 8:30 with a few minor phone interruptions.

Writing: it was very slow going but I was mentally ready that it was going to come out like molasses. After not working on the novel for quite awhile it will take time to find my way back into the middle of the story again. It won’t take long if I put some time into the work every night this week. The only way to get through a difficult area is to just write my way out of the corner.

I also managed to do some light stretching and exercise. My poor body has needed some movement. This office work (day job) and then writing life just keeps me seated most of the day. Despite the short 12 minute walk back and forth to the subway, that’s just not enough of a workout. I keep having dreams about running at a flat out run so even my dreams are about movement. I’m a bit sore this morning but I’ll do some yoga tonight to stretch those tight hamstrings. Eeek!

Hmm what else? Oh yes, so I’m down to the last 40 pages of Under the Poppy. It’s so good that I didn’t want to put it down this morning. I managed to get to a good holding point but I want lunch to come around quickly so I can buy a knish and sit out in the middle of Times Square to finish off the rest of this novel. Yep, that’s all I’m worried about at the moment.

Peace,

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2011 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.