Okay, now I need a bit of Sri Lanka that may be outside my friends’ expertise — might need a geologist? An oceanographer? I’m not even sure what kind of expert would know this kind of thing. I have a character in Negombo, doing a deep dive (with the help of magic). I’d eventually like […]
Might need a geologist? Read More »
Writing accountability. 20 minutes, 555 words. “Humans came from the sea, you know – our bodies remember. Gills to breathe, adaptations to our lungs and their linings, help for your eyes to see without light, better swimming skills and more strength.” It feels like I’m writing in such tiny increments, I can’t possibly be making
The writer in her 50s… Read More »
More Sri Lanka research questions. It’s 2016, and a 12-year-old Negombo girl is going out on the ocean in the early morning with her somewhat unconventional fisherman grandfather, and is expecting to get in the water. What would she wear? I know what I saw at Mt. Lavinia beach when I went swimming with Kavi
Am I stretching the class / caste barriers implausibly far? Read More »
Gah — my mind is a sieve. There’s an author, who writes very short stories mostly (or possibly entirely?) in dialogue. I’m pretty sure he’s male, and I keep wanting to say it’s Donald Barthelme, but I don’t think it is, but maybe it’s a similar name? Help? I’m teaching dialogue in class today, and
Who am I thinking of, here? Read More »
Writing accountability — took FOREVER to get going today, driving Kavi in because it’s so cold, then shoveling the sidewalk with Anand when I got back, then just restless and grumpy about needing to shovel. Finally wrote for 30 minutes, 509 words. Onwards. *** “…most animals aren’t very smart, you know, not the way humans
Writing accountability: 30 minutes, 452 words. I think I would’ve written more today, but I blame the child (see screenshots). Oh well. “If she’d taken the Oath, she’d have more power. That’s what her grandfather had said. Shanthi’s fists clenched at her sides; she could breathe again, but her belly ached. She leaned her forehead
I think I would’ve written more today Read More »
Writing research question — I need a bird with a beautiful song, that’s native to Negombo, Sri Lanka. I found some lovely Sri Lankan singing birds, but am not sure if they would be in Negombo, like the spot-winged thrush. (Link to song in comments.) Help? Current text: “In the tree above, a bird began
I need a bird with a beautiful song Read More »
Writing accountability — kind of harried morning, only had about 20 minutes available, wrote a tiny scene, 438 words. Better than nothing. “When they were little Nandini used to take them for ice cream sometimes, as a special treat. Nandini liked wood-apple, and Genisha usually picked Marmite and caramel, which Shanthi thought sounded so disgusting,
Better than nothing. Read More »
Writing accountability: Met with Lori again, tried for 7:30, got a very slow start, didn’t start actually writing ’til 9. Wrote for 30 minutes, 401 words, and they’re not great words. Still, they can be revised. Moving forward. (‘Chapter Four’ counts as two words, right?) “Shanthi had fallen asleep with her grandfather’s notebook in her
We’ll see how the day goes Read More »
Accountability post: 20 minutes, 570 words. Short writing time because I’m very tired and my eyes want to close; didn’t get enough sleep last night. Might try to write again later today — we’ll see how the day goes. He frowned. “I’m sorry you never saw one of the original scrolls – they were so
Accountability post Read More »
