Musing on March, Hailing April
1:01 PM
Lantern light is flickering in the early light. Not many sounds dare to break the silence as the Readers's eyes scan the horizon. They are looking - looking for a lost cave.
A lucky beam of light steals across a vine - it barely covers the void. The reader shouts and they find the outline of a door in a rock. After much shoving and groans, it gives into the pressure and falls away. The Readers scramble down - anxious that they may not be too late.
Down, down the passages they run - the lights dancing to meet the walls. They continue for a way until they come to the main chamber. They stop - the openness awes them.
Then, the Readers become aware of loud clicking noises coming from the other side of the chamber. They creep around cautiously and catch the gleam of a screen.
There in front of it, sits the object of their search.
As they all reach her, she catches the light in her eyes and turns to face them. Blinking, she faces the worried faces.
Dear me, is it the end of March already?
Then again, it is very difficult to tell time in this very dark and damp cave. *shivers*
I do apologize for somewhat disappearing again - this month is being bookended by huge writing streaks, so the middle was a bit slumped.
Anyway, much has happened and it won't tell itself. So settle yourselves down and let me ramble my way....
🙞 In the Realms of Fiction 🙜
1. As part of Camp NaNo Prep, I made some headway on developing Fair Winds (which contributed to Project Blueprint). During this month, I transferred all the notes, created character avatars, and started working on character sheets and the Shaxpir backup. Also during my vacation at the end of the month, I did a lot of stewing on the plot and added in some rather interesting stuff....
2. My brother Matthew came home from college for Spring Break. Our highlight was going to see Captain Marvel one and a half times. Yes, that is one and a half. We went to go see it Friday afternoon and made it to the plane crash scene before the audio speaker blew. I mean, it was perfect sound of electrical shock failure - we originally thought it was part of the sound effects. And then, we saw lips moving with no talking for at least 10 minutes before someone finally explained what happened. What made it even stranger was that the music speaker was fine. So we either had the option of sitting through until they fixed it and rewound it, or we could get re-admit tickets. Matthew and I chose the latter and went on a Saturday night evening showing. It was well worth it and both of us thought the movie was decent. It sure explained a few things about MCU, anyway. (Would anyone be interested in a movie review from me?)
3. While on vacation at the end of the month, I went thrift store shopping and got a decent book haul: Black Beauty, Divine Comedy, The Passion of Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Hound of the Baskervilles, How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Chrystalina Evert, A Brush with Shadow by Anna Lee Huber (more on that in a second), as well as a reference book called Inside the Victorian Home and an Italian cookbook.
4. In the above book haul, I came across this new Historical Mystery series called Lady Darby Mysteries by Ann Lee Huber. The particular novel that I came across is A Brush with Shadows. It's book 6 of the series - nothing like starting at the wrong end right? I have more details in my Goodreads review, but suffice it to say that it was an interesting concept for a mystery series.
5. I bought the 1995 Pride and Prejudice mini-series on DVD at a thrift store too. I plan on watching it this week for the first time - be interesting to see how it stacks up against the 2005 version.
3. While on vacation at the end of the month, I went thrift store shopping and got a decent book haul: Black Beauty, Divine Comedy, The Passion of Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Hound of the Baskervilles, How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Chrystalina Evert, A Brush with Shadow by Anna Lee Huber (more on that in a second), as well as a reference book called Inside the Victorian Home and an Italian cookbook.
4. In the above book haul, I came across this new Historical Mystery series called Lady Darby Mysteries by Ann Lee Huber. The particular novel that I came across is A Brush with Shadows. It's book 6 of the series - nothing like starting at the wrong end right? I have more details in my Goodreads review, but suffice it to say that it was an interesting concept for a mystery series.
5. I bought the 1995 Pride and Prejudice mini-series on DVD at a thrift store too. I plan on watching it this week for the first time - be interesting to see how it stacks up against the 2005 version.
🙞 Blog Happenings 🙜
1. I wrote 3 posts on The Rebelling Muse this month: The Nameless Tag of Doom, The Get to Know Me Writer's Edition Tag, and Dairy Cow Shenanigans for Fantasy/Historical Writers.
2. On my personal blog Working by Candlelight, I wrote 5 posts: My Lenten Sacrifices 2019, Apple Butter Day, Operation Vintage Makeover: Cleaning, Operation Vintage Makeover: Paint, part 1, and The Catholic Tag. This is what happens when I get a week of house-sitting alone - I write like crazy to keep the boredom bunnies away.
3. For other blog writing, I wrote 1 post for RW (A Defense of Non-Committal Writers), contributed to an RW team post (Magic in YA) and wrote nothing for Maidens for Mary. That, however, will be reversed next month. Team blog scheduling is weird sometimes....
4. I ditched the winter scene (finally) and replaced it with a magnolia picture as my background. I much needed to see a spring-y picture...and oh yeah, I also kept the naming pattern for last month's wrap-up for this month (and now beyond). I quite like it after all!
🙞 Goal Checklist 🙜
This month, I managed to get some discernible progress on some of my yearly goals, so I'll be outlining the results of the monthly goals and then go into the yearly goals - similar to the setup that I have in Working by Candlelight.
"A lot" is not a satisfactory answer to the question of what progress I've made. So let us look in more detail here at the monthly goals....
March Goals:
"A lot" is not a satisfactory answer to the question of what progress I've made. So let us look in more detail here at the monthly goals....
March Goals:
1. Re-plot Fair Winds
If the goal was to create a cohesive plot, than I fell short. However, I did get a few ideas on what the plot is supposed to be like, and I have a few things to play with.
If the goal was to create a cohesive plot, than I fell short. However, I did get a few ideas on what the plot is supposed to be like, and I have a few things to play with.
2. Upload 2nd part of Ask Us Anything before March 14
Due to logistic issues, this never happened. I ran into some issues with the audio and it took longer to format than the first part. Right now, it's sitting at 40 minutes formatted with almost 20 to do yet. And then it must be split and uploaded. Hopefully, that will be finished this week :).
Due to logistic issues, this never happened. I ran into some issues with the audio and it took longer to format than the first part. Right now, it's sitting at 40 minutes formatted with almost 20 to do yet. And then it must be split and uploaded. Hopefully, that will be finished this week :).
3. Prep for Camp NaNo
I spent the entire month prepping for this Camp. Because of the earlier goal of re-plotting Fair Winds, I decided to put The White Rose aside for now and work strictly on Fair Winds for this month. I spent quite a lot of time working on avatars, getting the notes all uploaded, sending the old draft for alphas, and then playing with the plot while I was at the beach. Since I'm well into the world, I might as well keep plugging away at it!
I spent the entire month prepping for this Camp. Because of the earlier goal of re-plotting Fair Winds, I decided to put The White Rose aside for now and work strictly on Fair Winds for this month. I spent quite a lot of time working on avatars, getting the notes all uploaded, sending the old draft for alphas, and then playing with the plot while I was at the beach. Since I'm well into the world, I might as well keep plugging away at it!
4. Write at least two more Taggy Tuesday posts.
I finally cleared two tags off of my To-Do list that have been sitting on my blog for an entire year....now to clear some of the more recent ones!
I finally cleared two tags off of my To-Do list that have been sitting on my blog for an entire year....now to clear some of the more recent ones!
Bonus: Write M4M and RW posts.
Well yes, this got done.
And now, introducing the yearly goals section! I'm so happy that I can actually report something now - it was so bare and lonely before!
2. Finish Project Blueprint
I picked up this project again the first time since July to work on stuff for Fair Winds. Now, most of the notes have been uploaded, character sheets have been started and avatars have been finished! I'd say the Fair Winds section is about 70% done.
3. Get more Print Books
While on vacation at the end of the month, I went thrift store shopping and got a decent book haul: Black Beauty, Divine Comedy, The Passion of Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Hound of the Baskervilles, How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Chrystalina Evert, A Brush with Shadow by Anna Lee Huber, as well as a reference book called Inside the Victorian Home and an Italian cookbook.
6. Finish the Draft Posts
Finished the Nameless Tag, and The Get to Know Me Tag this month. I have 4 tags to catch up on, and several linkups posts that will be going out soon. And then there are those 3 draft posts that insist on hanging around...*sigh*
Well yes, this got done.
And now, introducing the yearly goals section! I'm so happy that I can actually report something now - it was so bare and lonely before!
2. Finish Project Blueprint
I picked up this project again the first time since July to work on stuff for Fair Winds. Now, most of the notes have been uploaded, character sheets have been started and avatars have been finished! I'd say the Fair Winds section is about 70% done.
3. Get more Print Books
While on vacation at the end of the month, I went thrift store shopping and got a decent book haul: Black Beauty, Divine Comedy, The Passion of Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Hound of the Baskervilles, How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Chrystalina Evert, A Brush with Shadow by Anna Lee Huber, as well as a reference book called Inside the Victorian Home and an Italian cookbook.
6. Finish the Draft Posts
Finished the Nameless Tag, and The Get to Know Me Tag this month. I have 4 tags to catch up on, and several linkups posts that will be going out soon. And then there are those 3 draft posts that insist on hanging around...*sigh*
Well. I can see that staying inside did do some wonders...then again, being outside also was rather productive. Whatever the case, the progress has a forward direction rather than a sinking direction, and that's a relief.
With that, what shall we encounter in April?
April Goals:
1. Write 20k on Fair Winds for Camp NaNo
Since Camp NaNo is now in session, it's now time to actually WRITE SOMETHING. My goal is 20k, which is about twice the size of the current draft for Fair Winds. I feel confident that I can achieve it!
Since Camp NaNo is now in session, it's now time to actually WRITE SOMETHING. My goal is 20k, which is about twice the size of the current draft for Fair Winds. I feel confident that I can achieve it!
2. Participate in Julian's Shared WIP tag
Yes indeed - I'm participating in this tag again! I'm so excited because this time around, it's focusing on Writing Goals - something that I love very much *nods*.
3. Write M4M posts
I have a much larger posting schedule than usual - a total of 4 posts when usually I do 2. Frankly, I'm a little nervous that I won't be able to make this goal - ya know, between my offline life craziness and Camp NaNo. But, we'll see!
4. Finish Fair Wind's section on Project Blueprint.
This is about 70% of the way done now, but I'd like to bulk it up just a tad. Hope that it gets done this month so I don't have to deal with it anymore....
5. Finish uploading Part 2 of Vlog!
No excuses, no whining. It is overdue, and Catherine needs to get her head in the game and get it done. Like....now.
And now, I shall hush my rambling mouth and let someone else fill the silence. What adventures have been your way this March? What new books or movies have you been introduced to? If you're participating in Camp, what are you working on?? Tell me all!
Scribbingly yours,
Catherine
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5 comments
Oh yes, I would enjoy your review on Captain Marvel! (Sorry, just had to get that out there before I forgot).
ReplyDelete*screams* YES!!!! I'm so glad that you finally found a copy of P&P '95!!! It is so much better than '05. Please do a post on it when you have finished watching!
Have fun with Camp NaNo!! You can do it!!
I echo MovieCritic: a review of Captain Marvel would be very interesting! (I enjoyed it a lot - with a few small issues - and it would be interesting to see your thoughts on it!)
ReplyDeleteWhoo-HOO, Camp NaNo and the Shared Tag!!! Good luck on both of those! (I know at least for me, it’s going to be difficult to do both simultaneously. XD)
I would love to read your review of Captain Marvel, Catherine. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd it looks as if you had an amazing March. :D Also it will be so exciting to do Camp NaNo with you, and I hope your wriitng for Fair Winds goes well. :)
-Quinley
THE 1995 BBC VERSION IS THE BEST VERSION!
ReplyDeleteExcited to see the vlog and read what you get done for Camp NaNo!
I hope you have an AWESOME April. <33
ReplyDeleteAND YES. CAMP NANO IS THE BEST!!!