Reluctant Writer

May was a very busy month with my sister's wedding and it looks like June will be just as crazy.  Lots of big life upheavals are happening. My folks finally put our house up on the market and we've gone through an Open House this Sunday past. Looks like we have quite the interest going for the property but that also means I need to find an apartment, like pronto.  *sigh * Another move. Again. If I think about it too long I just want to bury my head in the sand * ostrich maneuver. *

A myriad of emotions are coming up for me because I grew up in this house.  I had some crazy notion that I was going to be able to buy this house some day but that's far from reality.  I'm trying to come to terms with that reality. Quite frankly, it's too expensive for me to upkeep anyway.  Hmph.

I haven't been able to write.  I write bits and pieces of things but nothing is gelling yet.  I'm not giving myself space and quiet to let something take hold.  Which is frustrating. I continue to journal in hopes that the act of writing out what's going on in this head will make some room for the creative stuff to come through.  But really the trouble is I'm quite blank.  A bit exhausted to be quite honest. I am turned off, tuned out, disconnected from that inner voice.  Writer's Block: When the voices in your head stop talking.  Yep, that's what's happening right now.  Double Hmph.

I've been reading. A LOT.  One of the few things I still get pleasure from and I can lose myself in the writing.  I've tried to write a blog or two on the books I've been reading but it's been hard to keep up since I seem to be devouring titles at the moment.  I finally finished Kathy Koja's Mercury Waltz.  It was quite the feat to finish that one. Despite the fact that Koja is one my favorite writers...this was by far the hardest book for me to read and follow.  It took me two-thirds way through the novel to finally understand what she was doing, jumping from scene to scene.  I may have to read it again some day but for now it's my least favorite book in her collection.

What else? I received my rejection letter from Carve magazine for my short story, Clara Betta.  I turned it around, worked for two solid days revising the piece and sent the story into a contest.  I had to whittle it down from 8,800 words down to 6,000 words.  It was no easy feat but I managed to get the word count down. I feels like I may have whittled it down too close to the bone but I had C. read the piece to make sure I didn't damage the story too much. With her thumbs up, I sent it out again.  Afterwards, drinks to soothe the sting of rejection. I'm going to keep sending it out to see if I can land it somewhere.  The other option is to put it up in my itty-bitty blog in two-parts.  Hmm.  At the end of the day, I just want folks to read my writing.

I've also seen a few films: Ex-Machina, Gemma Bovery, Far from the Madding Crowd.  All decent flicks.  My favorite of the three was the French film Gemma Bovery.  It was far funnier than I imagined. A film by Anne Fontaine.  The lead actress Gemma Arterton was perfect for this role.  

Yep, so this what I do when I don't write...
That's all I have for now.  
Peace,
L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2015 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.

Forever by Dael Orlandersmith

I went to see this one-woman show Forever by Dael Orlandersmith (playing at New York Theatre Workshop). She calls it a semi-autobiographical play.  If I'm being honest, I usually don't care for one-woman/man shows because I find it hard for one person to sustain my attention for that amount of time.  But Ms. Dael Orlandersmith is an amazing storyteller.  She opened the circle and invoked a passage into her world.  Her past is painful and at times it's difficult to hear her speak her truth.  Her words are powerful and in the darkness of that theater I sobbed. For all the pains and difficulties she experienced but also for some of my own.  It was as if she reached out and touched those hurt places within my own soul.
There was a talk afterwards where Ms. Dael talked about her process and how this work Forever was developed out.  When asked what were some of the positives that she takes away from her past experiences, before she answered I knew exactly what she was going to say and the tears welled up again for me.  She said it was the Art.  The ability to express herself in a creative way.  This show is not for the faint of heart.  Ms. Dael digs way down and exposes truths about her past in a very explicit way.  But at the end of the piece, she inspired me.  I want to write plays again...especially ones that dig deep and move an audience the way Forever moved me.  It's quite the play to take in.

Peace,
L~


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2015 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.

Catch Up Post - 04.18.15

It's been very busy the last couple of weeks both with the day job and on the personal side.  On the day job, my department moved buildings.  Not a small task and really after a long day...I've been going home to decompress which means very little creative time set aside.  Leaving me a bit grumpy away from work. It's trying to find my center again every single day.  Things are finally starting to slow down which means I can focus on the writing.

I spent the morning tweaking a 10-minute play I wrote last month.  Tweaking mean no crazy revision.  It's changing a line or two.  Oh wait, I did delete 3.5 pages so maybe this does count as a revision.  It felt good to get back to my work.

I also managed to clear my desk-FINALLY.  It's amazing how quickly things pile up. And for some reason every scrap of paper I've come to contact seems to naturally gravitate to my desk top. I can think now that I've sorted out the mess in my room. It's been a thorn in my brain looking at it every single day for the past couple of months.

I am still waiting to hear back from Carve Magazine to see if they have accepted my short story Clara Betta.  I made up my mind that if they decide NOT to publish it, I'm going to go ahead and post it on my blog as a three-part entry.  Just need to hear back.  Ergh.  Next month will  be the 6 month mark.  Maybe I'll submit it to The New Yorker.  See if they'll pick up my story. One can dream, no?  Getting published in The New Yorker has been one of my goals since my early 20s.  I think I need to revisit some of my life goals and make some adjustments...The New Yorker will remain until I can tick it off.

What else, what else?  Today, I am throwing my sister's Bridal Shower.  It will be a Spa day and then dinner at Dos Caminos on Park Avenue.  It's a small group of ten women. G*d help me.  I am looking forward to it and I hope my sister enjoys herself.  Wish me love and luck.  Cause I could use a bit of both in equal measure.

I'm off to find myself a bit of lunch...

Peace,

Lily~
 

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2015 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.