Monday, January 22, 2018

Feeling Grateful

Last weekend I attended an in-person workshop with Ariel Gore, right here in Portland Oregon, It was a wonderful group a writers. We gathered in one participant's home, where we shared pieces of our projects and new writing. We played with editing in Ariel's useful, magical, inspiring "editing stations." We shared drinks and food provided by our kind and generous host. We talked about our writing and our process, about publishing and keeping on writing even when it gets difficult.


Two of the days were a little early for me; but I know that I'm the one with a non-traditional schedule and it was all fine. I survived. Now I'm getting back to my regularly scheduled schedule.


And I feel refreshed and rejuvenated.


I am still in the online three-month manuscript workshop with Ariel, which is also going really well. I am making some amazing progress on editing this draft, with a new deadline to get this thing done. To get it to where I can take it to the next level, meaning earnestly working on getting the book out into the world.


All this while working on a couple of wonderful productions: "Weaving Women Together" at Portland Playhouse (interpreted performance is this Wednesday 1/24 at 7:30 pm) and "2.5 Minute Ride" at Profile Theatre (interpreted performance will be Friday 2/2 at 7:30 pm). Both of these have strong scripts and strong, skilled actors to match.


Writing is happening every day, which was another goal with the manuscript workshop. It feels good.

Friday, January 12, 2018

Collage for my WIP

This is another assignment from the manuscript workshop with Ariel Gore.

Oh, first. My WIP has a new title. This change feels so right and it has injected the project and me with new energy. This is just what it needed. I'm not going to share here, yet, but I will. For now, the title I've been using has served me well and gotten the project to this point, but I have officially changed the name.

I also have the beginning and end of the book. It's not as easy as it sounds and has been one of the struggles for me. Where to start and where to stop. I've had all these pieces and possibilities. But now I know how it's going to go. Not the exact order of everything, but I do have the main thread and which stories belong in that.

This is what I made for the optional (but not really) assignment. This is a collage showing the feel of the project right now. This is radically different than the one I made last summer with the old title.

I am excited to be making movement in the project.


Friday, January 5, 2018

Pre-workshop Assignment

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The manuscript workshop officially starts today. We've had a few things to do, including an assignment, before the workshop begins - which I love. To me it feels like "priming the pump" and these things do help to be ready to jump into the work we're doing: which is our manuscripts.

One of the tasks was to write an introduction.

I know! I feel like I should be able to sit down and write one up in a couple of minutes. As often as I have to do it - as an author/writer, as an interpreter, especially as a sign language interpreter. But it is almost always a difficult task for me. Being a shy introvert, putting myself - especially who-I-really-am - out there is not easy. I also like to make each bio, each introduction, relevant to the place or event needing it and to where I am in that moment of time in relation to that event.

I did write my introduction, which included a realization about me and writing. And, honestly, it's the first time in a long time I've felt this; I mean that I feel this through the core of who I am and there  is no hesitation.

I've been writing a long time, most of my life, with a few dry years sprinkled here and there. But this is a permanent thing and I no longer doubt that I am a writer. 
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