Here’s a different perspective. In the hours and days that followed the horrific events of September 11, 2001, radio programmer listserves were jammed with the same single question that prompted similar urgent flurries of e-mails and phone calls among concerned colleagues internationally. We reached out for each other’s suggestions and insights on how to ‘get it right’ for our listeners.

As you listen to the radio in a time of unusual or extreme world events, you may not realize how much furious activity is happening on the working end of your radio to make it the best, most thoughtfully-created experience possible for you and everyone else in the audience. That’s just as it should be. You shouldn’t have to think about those things, that’s why we’re here.

When the world outside is suffering as it was that day in a conflicted mix of disbelief, disenchantment, raging anger, calls for retribution, and utter, inconsolable grief – it does call into question how any communication service can best respond to external events and serve its listeners. Arts-focused organizations, like music radio stations, take that concern a little further to see how they can possibly offer beauty and expressions of human achievement that transcend the awfulness to offer messages of hope and assuage the pain.

The single question on all of our minds that day was, “what are you playing”?

At the time I was working as a classical radio station music director in Southern California, and on September 11th alone – not to mention the many days that followed – I remember talking to friends and fellow programmers in places as far away as Minnesota, North Carolina, London, NY City, Colorado, and Alabama. Amid the more appropriate, if predictable, suggestions like Barber’s Adagio, Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus and Lacrimosa, and Strauss’ Metamorphosen, came more unusual choices like Gorecki’s Symphony #3 (“Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”), Liszt’s ruminating Les Funerailles, and  and Puccini’s somber Crisantememi.

Personally, I always find that Dvorak’s Symphony #9 (“From the New World”) hits all the right chords of hope, solace, and forward-looking optimism that offer comfort in tough times. In fact I went home from work early that afternoon and laid on the floor near the stereo, closed my eyes and listened to all 9 recordings of that piece I owned, one after another. And Coltrane’s A Love Supreme lived in my car stereo for several weeks. That’s all I wanted to hear. It helped.

"In Paradisum" from Fauré's Requiem manuscript

Of all the suggestions and ideas that came from those conversations, only one piece of music was unanimously agreed upon as having just the right sound and feel for an occasion like the aftermath of September 11th. It was the Requiem, by Gabriel Fauré.

In many ways it is a conventional setting of the traditional Latin requiem mass…except that Faure omits the fiery Dies Irae (“Day of Wrath”)/Lacrimosa sequence, and ends the work with the upifting Libera Me and In Paradisum – texts taken from the burial ceremony, not typically incorporated into the Mass itself. This is a Requiem about transcending into the light of afterlife and solace, not dwelling in the dark discontent of grief and loss and unreconciled faith.

This evening the Burlington Choral Society performs Fauré’s serene Requiem as the centerpiece of their annual fall concert, in a program that also includes Bach’s Wachet, auf! Cantata #140 and another of Fauré’s lovely choral favorites, his student composition the Cantique de Jean Racine.

Life is challenging. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to be transported to a place of deep peace and beauty for a couple of hours. In Paridisum, indeed. There is nothing like the Fauré Requiem.

The program starts at 7:30 this evening, at the North Avenue Alliance Church (901 North Avenue) in  Burlington.

8 octombrie

.Mi-am luat  Lacrimosa:Angst,Live I,Live II,Stille.Marvelous. O iubesc pe Iulia de-mi vine sa ma arunc serios pe fereastra. Dar nu vreau sa mor cu o mutra urata.
Mi-a facut scandal in fata clasei la chimie. Rasete peste tot; asa ca am avut de ales doar cateva secunde intre a parea un erou si a parea un clown. Solutia, bineinteles se afla undeva pe la mijloc. Cum aveam bani si eram in dispozitie sa-mi imbunatatesc popularitatea (ok, am jucat “alpha centauri” cam mult) m-am carat cu gasca de la mine din clasa in 777 si am facut cinste la toti. La asa o gaura in creier, una de 200 de floricele in buzunar nu mai conteaza. Incepe sa-mi para rau de..

13 octombrie

Suntem o generatie fara repere.

16 octombrie

S-a terminat pauza! Pot sa ma dau la Iulia, dar simt ca nu e momentul bun. Toata luna asta nu m-am gandit decat la ea. Urasc sa iubesc. Urasc sa fiu sensibil. Pentru ca asa sunt.
FUCK ANDREI!!

So, as many of you know I am knee-deep into edits for Lacrimosa.  The rough draft was finished a month ago, and I edited through my crit group as I wrote…so the rough draft is a little stronger than a typical rough draft. A little…

But now that it is in the hands of betas – and they are appropriately shredding and helping find the holes – I am getting the “fresh eyes” I need to see the story from a new perspective.  So, with the help of my best writerly buds, I’ve set some lofty goals and deadlines to get this baby polished up and in the best shape I can!!!

Thanks Betas and crit buds…without you, this would b a whole lot harder…but more on that in a later post.

For now I have a question for you guys – How do you get the perspective you need to do a good job with edits after burying yourself into your WiP?  Betas?  Time?  Lay it on me!

Lacrimosa’nın son günlerde takıldığım şarkısı. En güzel yanı neşeli gibi görünüp aslında yalnızlığı anlatıyor olması; tıpkı biz insanlar gibi.

Almancası

Einsamkeit

Ich schreibe meine eigene Geschichte
Und lebe nur noch nebenbei
Ich bin der einzige der mich bemerkt
Und all die Stimmen die zu mir sprechen
Sind nur die Echos meiner Sehnsucht
Machtlos begegne ich der Einsamkeit
Und machtlos zeige ich ihr mein Gesicht

Zerfallen in tausend Stücke
Krieche ich in tausend Richtungen
Und halte deine Hand nicht fest genug
In falsche Träume mich geflüchtet
Auf besetzte Plätze mich gesetzt
Suchte ich die Herrlichkeit der Zweisamkeit
Und fand nur die lächerliche Einsamkeit

İngilizcesi

Loneliness

I write my own history
And live alone aside
I’m the only one who understands me
And all voices I hear
Are only echoes of my yearning
Incapable I face my loneliness
And incapable I give my face!
Fallen to a thousand pieces
I crwal into a thousand directions
I didn’t hold your hand strong enough
Fled into false dreams
Sat down on taken seats
I looked for the glory of love
But only found the ridiculous loneliness

Türkçesi

Yalnızlık

Kendi tarihimi yazıyorum
Ve bir kenarda yalnız yaşıyorum
Beni anlayan yalnızca benim
Ve duyduğum sesler
Duymak istediklerimin yankısı sadece
Güçsüzce yalnızlığımla yüzleşiyorum
Güçsüzce görünüşümü veriyorum

Binlerce parçaya ayrıldım
Binlerce yöne süründüm
Ellerini yeterince sıkı tutamadım
Yanlış rüyalara kaçtım
Bana ait olmayan koltuklara oturdum
Aşkın şanını aradım
Ama yalnızca gülünç yalnızlıklar buldum

Video şarkının üzerine resimlerle yapılmış bir çalışma.

E o que mais me irrita é que já tem lojas enfeitadas para o Natal! Cada dia mais cedo. Daqui a pouco, mal saíram os vestidos de Festa Junina, lá está o Papai Noel. Não reparem, sou meio Grinch, não sou muito fã do Natal. Quem faz a festa mesmo é o comércio, não?

Eu ficaria bastante sem jeito se não escrevesse nada essa semana. Postei dos Silly Boys e nada de texto, né? Isso é horrível. É que a semana foi muito lotada mesmo, mal paro pra respirar, complicado…

Vou falar pouquinho, só para atualiza-los mesmo. Preciso arrumar meu quarto. Terminei de ler 100 escovadas antes de ir para a cama, da Melissa Panarello (escreverei uma resenha bem bacana para vocês). Se Deus quiser, nesse fim de semana, eu assisto This Is It em um cinema decente. Tenho certeza que vou chorar nos ensaios de Smoth Criminal e The way you make me fell.

Mais uma coisa: estou tentando resgatar as músicas que fizeram sucesso naquele “boom” new metal que ocorreu alguns anos atrás, quando Evanescence estourou. As bandas que pegaram carona. Quem puder me dar umas dicas, agradeço muito. Até agora eu tenho Tristania (se bem que é  mais antiga que Evanescence, pelo que sei) e Nightwish. Quero ouvir alguma coisa do Lacrimosa.

Até mais! o/

I am only writing one post this week.  This one.  I finished Lacrimosa last night.  And now it is time for a little break.  I am behind on RL stuff, behind on work stuff, and behind on crits.  So I will take a break this week and get caught up on life!!!

I’ll be back on November 1 – with NaNo news, a new Blog Chain topic (which I am hosting- so feel free to throw out any ideas for topics!!!) and hopefully updates on my fiction and nonfiction projects.

See you guys on the other side!!!

I am not the kind of writer that creates outlines, but I do take notes before, during and after writing to keep things track of things. Here is an example of what my pre-draft notes look like:

Title: Ruins of Empire/ROE

Genre: Science Fiction

Sub-genre:  Space Opera

Time Frame: 2,300 years in the future.

Technology:

Travel

FTL- “Jump Gates” near major planets, large ships carry “jump engines” that allow them to fold space/time and make near instantaneous travel between stars.  Outside of FTL, travel is no faster than 1% of light speed.Travel is linear (no maneuvering while on a jump). It may take multiple jumps to reach a specific destination.

Weapons- Capital ships use a mix of energy, projectile and missile based weapons. Engagements occur at distances under a light second.  Ground units use missiles and projectile weapons with the rare heavy energy weapon. Standard heavy infantry wears powered armor with armor, artillery and aerospace fighter support.  Nuclear weapons reserved for planetary bombardment but use of “hi-impact kinetic weapons” and “nukes” against civilian targets illegal under Imperial Law.

Communications: FTL through jumpgates (that double as transmitters stations) and FTL equipped courier ships.

Sensor: Only work in “real space”, non visual targeting sensors can be jammed by advanced ECM or temporarily blinded by nukes and/or EMP charges (which need not be nuclear).

Politics:

Empire ruled under a Noble House System. House Major each control an arm of the galaxy while the Emperor controls the Galactic Center and the “Imperial Arm” (Orion arm of the Galaxy). The “Imperial House” is considered a separate entity from the rest of the House Major.  By custom no leader can rule both a House Major and the Imperial House. Each House Major internal political organization follows their own pattern from Constitutional Monarchy to a Corporatocracy. Currently the House Major feud among each other to see who will fill the vacant Imperial throne.

The smallest political unit is the “world”, which is a planet with at least 100 million inhabitants.

Military:

Task Forces of the Imperial Navy patrolled Known Space. The Emperor could call upon levies from House Major/Minor to support Imperial operations.  Planetary and system defense fell under each House responsibility. With the fall of the Empire, House Major have increased the size of their military and large mercenary forces have come to the forefront.

——

That’s just an example. I write the notes down as they come to me, more of a tool for mental organization than anything else.

NOTE: I’ll be in surgery tomorrow, so I probably won’t post anything until the end of the week. Hopefully I’ll be up and running come next weekend to kick off NaNo O9.

THE END…

Okay, these aren’t REALLY my favorite two words.  But after what I am going through with Lacrimosa, I think they are going to be my favorite words. 

Lacrimosa has been a true labor of love for me.  Not only because I have enjoyed the story.  Or because the characters have become friends to me (this happens with all of my stories).  Or because I think it is marketable.

No – this has been a labor of love because it was the hardest thing I have written.  I wrote it in third, from two points of view.  I research the mythology of demons and angels, so that I could get the details right.  I consciously chose everything in this story – everything.  The setting.  The artwork.  The weapons.  The characters names.

Everything.

And now that it is so close to being finish, I have to deal with my grief.  I know I’m not REALLY finished with it.  There will be lots of editing, shaping, molding to come.  But it won’t be living inside of me anymore.  And there is a little bit of grief work I have to do as I switch from writer to editor mode on the storyline.  

My close friend and crit partner suggested that part of the reason I struggled with the end of the story so much had to do saying goodbye to it.  I didn’t think that was it.  But as I tried to finish it this week – and found myself unable to do so - I realized she was right. 

So, with bittersweet tears in my eyes I hope to be able to type the words that seemed so elusive right now…THE END.

Do you go through a grief process as you finish the rough draft of a story?

Now that the first draft of Lacrimosa is almost finished (only a couple of chapters to go), and I don’t want to start anything new until NaNo, I am beginning to switch to full editing mode.  So I started thinking…what on earth does that even mean – editing mode.

For Lacrimosa, it has been through a thorough first round of edits with my crit partners.  I posted 15 pps weekly with them while it was being written  And I incorporated their ideas, suggestions, etc and polished as I wrote the first draft.  So, my first draft of this story is really more like a second or third draft.

So, what now?

Now, I need to read it through – from beginning to end.  Working in 15 to 20 pp increments makes for a problem seeing the larger picture at times.  So, before it goes to a new set of critters, I need to read it through, flesh out plot inconsistencies, and smooth transitions. 

I also plan on looking at pacing and the story arc itself.  This particular story is a very fast paced, read in a single setting, kind of story.  I want to ensure that there are no wasted words or scenes.

I also have to weave in some bigger elements – things I discovered towards the end of the story as being more important than I initially thought.

After that, it is off to my betas.  And I will put it through another series of edits.

I have one special reader I am saving for last – One last person to help me see if it is ready … you know, really ready to share with the world.

That is my process.  What’s yours?

Como siempre, navegando y navegando, tratando de encontrar algún material interesante, en esta ocasión nos adentramos en un estilo realmente gótico. He de decir que personalmente de esta banda no conocía, no así el estilo que sí me recuerda a Lacrimosa o Diorama. La banda se llama: Bacio Di Tosca, se puede encasillar en un estilo gothic/Neo Classical/Darkwave. Esta banda alemana nutre su estilo de diferentes influencias. A continuación les dejo un video-diapositiva con tema perteneciente a su disco: “…Und Wenn Das Herz Auch Bricht!

Creo que destaca el trabajo de la mezzo-soprano Dörte Flemming; espero tus comentarios…
Links:
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I registered for NaNoWriMo last week.  I blogged about it, tweeted about it, got other to do it.  And now, about 12 days away from the start, I am thinking “What the heck did I do?”

The problem isn’t the writing – the problem isn’t NaNo.

The problem is my muse.  I have an idea for a story floating in the space inside where words can not form.  It sits there, teasing me.  Showing occasional scenes that feel more like the intangible nature of a dream than anything else.

I have a sense of the main characters, the antagonist, the setting…but yeah, no plot.  None.At.All.

This could be a problem.

So, any suggestions on how to speed up my stewing process?  It took months before Lacrimosa was ready to be written.  I keep thinking that maybe once I finish Lacrimosa things will be different – ideas will come.

Man, I certainly hope so!

POST SCRIPT….Since I wrote this post on Sunday, I have gone in a completely different direction in terms of a storyline – and I am happy to report that I have a plot, characters, and a full story arc!!!  On to outlining!  WOOT.

It’s Blog Chain time again.  Kat started this round with a great question in honor of Halloween: 

 

What are the primary fears that drive your characters? Do they battle aliens or gangsters or monsters? Or do they battle unreconciled issues in their lives? Which do you prefer writing about? What do you fear?

I have to say I LOVE this question.  My whole life has really been about learning to cope with fear and making the conscious decision to move through fear as opposed to being paralyzed by it. 

As a result, my characters must face their fear as well. 

In the Chaos Within, the main character Julie literally faces an embodiment of every single thing she fears – and she does so in a world that automatically materializes everything she is thinking about.  So yeah – it is a fear-fest.  The challenge for her is learning to let go of that fear and recognize it for the illusion that it is.  Books 2 and 3 in the series are also about facing one’s fears, but in a less internalized way, as the main character battles paranormal beings that force her to repeatedly face her opinions of fear and decide whether or not fear is an illusion.

Lacrimosa is a good versus evil story.  Fear is not as central to the storyline as it is in the Chaos Trilogy, but the MCs certainly face their fear of loosing each other, loosing their love, and loosing everything that makes them better than the Evil in the story.  Ultimately they have to confront their own ideas of love, duty, redemption and forgiveness, as well deal with the choices they make – many of which are driven by fear.

I write Urban Fantasy and Paranormal stories.  And even in my short stories that are more of the Chick Lit variety, my characters always explore the fear that lives deep inside us all.  Sometimes that fear may take the form of a monster, the devil, or something external.  More often than not it is internal, as they face whatever it is the fear the most in order to survive whatever journey they find themselves on.

Now, the last part of the question – what do I fear?  I have done many posts on fear.  As I said earlier in this post, as well as in those, I have lived my life learning to walk through the things that scare me the most.  In that respect I am definitely the type to face things head on – regardless of how scary they are.  Some may call that brave.  And I guess it is.  But for me, I know no other way to do things.

That is not to say I am not afraid.  When my husband nearly died of a brain aneurysm I can guarantee you that I was afraid.  When I hospitalized my ten-month-old daughter for respiratory distress, I stayed up all night afraid.

And when I am by myself in the middle of the night, gripped with a fear so profound it coats my tongue, there is no doubt that I am afraid.  I just choose to not let that fear define me.  So I find my own strength – and I reach out to my friends and take a little of theirs – and I face the fear – whatever it is.

Perhaps this quote summarizes it best for me:

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive — the risk to be alive and express what we really are. – Don Miguel Ruiz

Each day I strive to life an authentic life – to not, as Walden would have said, get to the end of my days and discover I had never really lived.  So I face my fears, and move through them in whatever way I can.

Now it’s your turn…what are you afraid of?  How does fear play into your storylines?

For more from us on this great topic, check out Kat’s post before me and Sarah’s post tomorrow.

Yeah, I am SICK of my WiP Weds posts.  So, I had to change things up a bit.  Thus Whatcha Working on Wednesday was born.  Kind of catchy, don’t you think?

I want to know what you guys are working on these days?  A WiP, editing, querying, waiting…the list goes on and on.

Me – I am working on all of it.  Which, truthfully, is making me a little nutty!  Let me break it down a bit:

WiP - I am finishing up Lacrimosa.  In fact, I am hoping that when this actual post goes live, I will be within 5K of the end.  As much as I love this story – and trust me, I really LOVE it.  I am ready to be in the editing phase with this one.

I do have another NF project I am finishing.  My goal is to get the proposal in the hands of my agent by Friday (can you tell I really need deadlines!)

editing - I just started going through the beginning parts of Lacrimosa, getting it ready to send to Betas.  In a perfect world I will have this done and ready to query in a few months.

Querying - Nothing going on in this areana…though the proposal I am preparing for uber-agent will hopefully have a quick turn before it goes on submission.

Waiting – I am getting brilliant at this part.  I though the waiting associated with the querying process was intense.  Well, guess what – the waiting while on submission is even more intense!  Fortunately, with NaNo around the corner, I have plenty to keep my mind occupied.

That sums it up for me.   Your turn – what are you working on?

Oh, and before I forget.  I added a new resource to my Writer’s resource page…The Plot Whisperer  (best title ev.er).  Check it out – it is a great resource for help with plotting and organizing your story!

Lacrimosa dies illa
Qua resurget ex favilla
Judicandus homo reus.

Huic ergo parce, Deus:
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem. Amen.

It’s Blog Chain time again.  Sandra started this chain with a topic inspired by a recent trip she took.  Here is her topic:

What kind of journeys do your characters make? What effects do they have on the characters and the plot? Also, if you wish, please tell us about one of your personal journeys and how it changed you.

I’m going to start this topic with the last part of the question and my belief about books in general.  I have been fortunate to both travel a great deal and read – a lot.  Both things have broadened my world view.  And although I would not trade my real life experiences in unusual and beautiful places, I know it is through the stories I have read that the most profound changes inside have occurred.  Through books, I have walked a mile in many different shoes, and viewed the world from a myriad of perspectives.

That is the gift we give as authors – the gift of perspective.

And I believe we do this through the characters we create and the personal journeys they take.

In my stories I like to explore all of the aspects of humanity – from the good to the evil and all of the spaces in between.  As a result, my characters always make journeys – typically psychological ones.  

In my first novel, Chaos Within (which is currently in the “back-to-square-one” stage), the main character journeys through her own insanity only to discover the reality within her illness.  The journey is completely psychological, though a parallel universe does come into play.  Agent of Chaos, the second in the same series, takes this journey out of her head and explores the true nature of good and evil as the characters journey within themselves to discover how far they are willing to go for each other.  In the story, they test out the old adage “the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few”.  Another psychological and philosophical journey.

Set in the age-old battle of good and evil, my current WiP, Lacrimosa, examines the meaning of love, sacrifice and true cost of redemption.  The characters journey through their own belief systems as they examine how far they are willing to go for the people they love.  

As you can tell, I like journeys – especially psychological ones!

I see my job as the storyteller to take my characters beyond their personal breaking points by challenging all of their belief systems and pushing them to the place beyond the reach of hope.  At that moment, they change.  They evolve. 

This is the ultimate journey all of the characters take in my stories – the journey through chaos to enlightenment.

What about you?  How do your characters grow and develop?  What journeys do they take?

For more on this great topic, check out Kat’s post yesterday and Sarah’s post tomorrow.

Visit the current exhibition in the greenhouse, entitled Lacrimosa, which showcases
London textile artist Kirstie Macleod’s Guernsey inspired garment and underwater
performance, and follow the five easy steps to designing your own Guernsey
inspired garment!
Download the Lacrimosa Family Activity Pack or pick up a copy in the greenhouse.
We would love to see the results so email your pictures and drawings
to info@arts.gg and we will put them on our website.

This has been a great week.  A ridiculously busy week – but a fun one.  So to make myself feel better about the things that have gotten accomplished in my writing life, I thought I’d list them (because really, I just love lists!)

1. As I said yesterday, I finished Emotionally Intense!
2. I started fleshing out my next project, Growing Up Gifted.  No details yet – not until I talk with super agent.
3. I wrote about 2K on Lacrimosa.  I am very late getting stuff to my fabulous crit partners, but I will manage to get them their pages later today.
4. I am perfecting the art of waiting – as I wait for more things than I care to discuss!

How about you guys?  Was the week good to you?

A few tidbits for next week – I should be launching the new blog (finally – amazing how long it takes to get things ready to go!), a new round of the blog chain gets started, and I’m running a contest in honor of my birthday!  Some be sure to come by next week for lots of fun!!!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Alles Lüge

In Reich des Gothic hat sich schon längst die Kommerzielle Konsum Gesellschaft breit gemacht. Alles dreht sich nur noch um Konsum und Geldbeträge. Videos von angesagten Gruppen werden gesperrt wenn sie nicht den Richtlinien der Medienvertreiber entsprechen und oder die Urhebergesetze verletzten.

Gothic wird als Volkssport betrieben. Wo es ja so schön ist mit billigen Designer Schmuck in Form von Totenkopfschädel oder umgedrehten Kreuz, durch der Gegend zu laufen. In Braunschweig gibt es eine Diskothek wo es einmal in Monat auf einen Freitagabend, eine “Dark Night” gibt.  In den reihen der Gothic Leute die sich da in kleinen oder etwas grösseren Gruppen tummeln, geht es zu wie in einem Kindergarten.  So ein albernes Gejaule und Getue! Diese wissen nicht was sie da tun und auf was sie sich einlassen. In schwarzer Kleidung und mit der 666  oder umgedrehtem Kreuz um den Hals  durch die Gegend zu laufen, hat nicht mit dem Glaube der dunklen Seite an sich zu tun. Es ist für die meisten einfach nur eine Modeerscheinung.  Voller Wut über den “Papst” zu lästern oder die “Jungfrau Maria” zu verspotten und sich dann als Satanist oder Gothicanhänger zu fühlen ist sowas von Lachhaft. Weil, wer verspottet schon Leute aus seinen eigenen Reihen. Und wer nicht glauben will was hier steht sollte sich die Offenbarung durchlesen. Der Papst, die Hure Babylon, der Antichrist.

www.dasUefchen.de.tl

Als ich damals das Video zusammen gebastelt habe  When the man came arround von Johnny Cash. Habe ich viele, viele böse Beschimpfungen von Leuten bekommen die der Gothicszene angehören (wollen). Mit Mailinhalten wie diese: “Wie kann man nur so böse Bilder zeigen”.  Oder, “Bäh ist ja Ekelig, Du bist ein böser Mensch”. Dieses Affenmenschen Gerede muss man sich anhören von Menschen die sich in irgendwas verrennen. Weil sie es spannen finden und gruselig vielleicht auch, Nacht in Gruppen auf alten abgelegenen Friedhöfen eine schnelle Nummer zu schieben.  Alle diese haben keine Ahnung von dem was sie da tut. Gothic ist nicht die dunkle Seite, Gothic ist nur das Tor dahin.

Alles Lüge – Lacrimosa

dasUefchen

Here were are, nearing the end of another month.  I always feel like the year zooms by after September.  In no time at all we will be taking about the Holidays.

But that isn’t what this post is about.  This is about the silly things I have learned over the past 30 days.

1) People love optical illusions.  So, having one in your blog results in a lot of hits to your site.  Not sure why, but it sure has been true for me.

2)  Elana and Michelle are the most amazing people in my writing world.  Not only to they keep me focused – not easy to do during the work week – but they are my “believers” (see Elana’s post on Believer’s) – along with Krista Goering, my agent.

3)  I love my job, but man it is so so so busy during September.  Thank goodness my October looks a little less crazy.

4) Starting a second blog is not as easy as it sounds – mostly due to the time constraints of writing the posts.  Never-the-less, my dream of a blog to help parents of gifted children is coming to fruition and launches on Monday, September 28.

5) My family provides a never-ending source of entertainment – It’s just not always the type of enterntainment I need or want.

6) I love the fall season.  But I would love it more if the temperatures would drop below 90 degrees.  Tell me again why I chose to live in a desert?

7)  I’m not into gangsta lingo (checkout Elana’s blog for my gangsta name).  But surf lingo…I can play there.  So in honor of all my surfing friends, a few of the more interesting surf names:

• Brodie
• Slade
• Van
• Hobie
• Echo
• Duke
• Malakai

Any others you can think of?  Which name do you want?  I like Echo, personally.

8)  Housework can be dangerous work.  A few weeks ago I pulled my quad muscle…and it still hurts.  Seriously.

9) Dr. Wicked’s Writing Lab is my answer to writer’s block.  It has forced me to write without editting…just writing.  If you’re not sure what this site can do for you, check it out and watch the video.  I love it.

10) I’m actually going to finish two projects before mid October – two HUGE projects:  Emotionally Intense! and Lacrimosa.  WOO HOO!!!

What have you learned in September?

I seriously can not believe that another week has already gone by!  Where did the time go?  Well, as you guys know, my real life is very, very busy during the school year.  But thankfully, things have slowed down considerably.  And as a result, I have progress to report:

Emotionally Intense! – I am almost done with the ms for this (to be exact, I am  80% finished).  I have two more chapters to polish before sending to my crit partner…then I’m down to the home stretch.  My goal – finished by the end of the month.  Two weeks shy of my initial goal, but hey – it’s ALMOST FINISHED.

Lacrimosa -  I am really in love with this story…like REALLY in love with it.  That being said, it continues to be the hardest thing I have written to date.  I have managed to keep up with the crits I get as my crit group works through this story, meaning I have done an initial edit on the first half of the book.  I still have a long way to go to finish the initial writing, but I think the revision process is going to be a little easier given the revisions I am doing while writing.  I managed to write another 3K on it this week (maybe a little more), courtesy of Dr. Wicked’s Writing Lab.  Seriously, Write or Die is saving me – and this book.  It just forces me to get it done.  WOOT!!!

I think I can get the story finished by mid-October if my last three nights averages are accurate.  Good thing, since I want to write for NaNoWriMo.

Other Projects -I am purposely keeping everything else at bay until these projects completed.  Mind you, this is DIFFICULT, as I have an idea for Nanowrimo floating in my head, as well as another NF project and the major rewrite of the Chaos trilogy.  I just keep writing the notes down so I don’t forget things and fight to stay focused on my projects at hand.  If anyone has any good tricks for this, please share!!!

Alright – enough about my stuff – how about you guys?  Making progress?  Anything exciting to share?

De laatste jaren waren de gothic- en aanverwante concerten in Gent fel in aantal teruggelopen – het ter ziele gaan van organisator Purple Moon was daar niet vreemd aan. Maar maandag konden de zwartjassen nog eens als vanouds naar de geliefde Vooruit, want daar stonden twee interessante groepen geprogrammeerd. Organisator The Black Cave vindt blijkbaar steeds beter zijn weg naar de Arteveldestad, en daar kunnen wij alleen maar blij om zijn!

De vaandeldrager van de Belgische gothic rock, Star Industry, was opener van de avond. Wij weten deze klassegroep al jaren te waarderen en zagen hen al vaak aan het werk, maar toch konden ze ons die avond nog verrassen met een cover, Kids van MGMT. Ze kregen helaas slechts een halfuurtje toebedeeld, veel te weinig naar onze zin maar de meeste toeschouwers waren duidelijk voor de afsluiter gekomen. Wie Star Industry eens wat uitgebreider aan het werk wil zien, kan op 7 november aanstaande terecht in jeugdhuis Kompas te Sint-Niklaas!

Hoofdact Lacrimosa werd intussen bijna twintig jaar geleden als soloproject in het leven geroepen door Tilo Wolff, om later vervoegd te worden door zijn huidige levensgezellin Anne Nurmi. Het aanvankelijk donkere darkwave/gothic-geluid evoleerde al snel naar een theatrale, wat kitscherige vorm van gothic-metal, hoewel er nog steeds plaats bleef voor wat ingetogener songs. Het optreden zelf was niet onaardig maar toch konden ze ons niet helemaal overtuigen. Wel onthouden we een aantal sterke uitschieters, zoals Stolzes Herz bijvoorbeeld. Na dik twee uur hielden Wolff en co het voor bekeken, na een set waarin zowat de hele muzikale geschiedenis van Lacrimosa de revue was gepasseerd.

Al bij al een erg gezellig avondje in onze thuisstad, dat waarschijnlijk nóg gezelliger zou geëindigd zijn als we de volgende ochtend niet om zes uur hadden moeten opstaan…

Happy WiP Wednesday everyone.  I have a ton of progress to report today.  Last week was an emotional roolercoaster for me, as I struggled with balancing work, family and writing.  As most of you guys already know, I have a crazy-busy life.  I tried writing on a schedule to help manage my time a little better.  It worked until my muse decided he didn’t like it and wanted to do his own thing (and yes, I said he…I decided my muse is male, but that is a story for a different post).  Balance went out the window as scenes for the storyline on my current fiction project bombarded me, driving me a little nutty.

But, on to progress…

Lacrimosa - I have written about 4K on this.  Though, to be honest, my crazy-busy day job has taken over again and I have not written in the last couple of days.  I’m sure my crit partners are going get me for that, considering I do not have the pages together for posting tonight. (I’ll get them done – I promise)

Emotionally Intense – I wrote about 7K on this and changed my deadline a bit, trying to have it finished by next week.  Hopefully, that will ctually happen.  I know my FANTASTIC agent-buddy and crit partner, Michelle, will make sure I do *wink*

Well, everyone, with me luck…I have an insanely busy work week. 

How about you guys?  Making progress?  How do you deal with real life business?

Die von mir mit diesem Liedchen gemeinten Menschen werden wissen, dass genau  sie gemeint sind…

Die leeren Seiten deines Tagebuches
Wolltest du nicht sehen;
Dein vergifteter Sinn träumt weiter
Vesunkene Träume von Ewigkeit;
In einer Welt aus Staub
Hat sich der Frost
In dein kaltes, kaltes Herz gesenkt.
Zwischen dem Lachen und den Tränen
Gibt es keine Wirklichkeit.

Deine Angst hast du verloren,
Dich an die Vergangenheit gekettet:
Vor lauter Staub
Kannst Du kein Licht sehen.
Du hast eine neue Maske aufgesetzt,
Deine Seiten voller Vertrauen versiegelt;
Du hast versucht, dich zu retten –
Doch die Zeit rettet niemanden.

Eine Kette Tränen,
Eine Handvoll Vertrauen
In einer Welt aus Staub.
Eine Kette Tränen,
Eine Handvoll Vertrauen
In einer Welt, die keinen Bestand hat.

Ich kann hören, wie es kommt…
Ich höre sein Flüstern…
Stück um Stück tötet es.
Kein Blut zum bluten…
Kein Herz zum schlagen…
Es ist gekommen, dich zu holen.
Wende ihm nicht den Rücken zu!
Du weißt, dass es lauert
Und versuchen wird,
Dich in Ketten zu schlagen.

Wenn die Mauern deines Luftschlosses fallen
Ist es ein vorübergehender Schmerz.
Du versteckst dich in einem Märchen,
In einer Welt voller Phantasterei.
Prinzen haben die Drachen besiegt
Und die Helden haben immer überlebt.
Du willst wissen, was deine Bestimmung ist
Und deshalb blätterst du zu letzten Seite vor.

Eine Kette aus Träumen, Hände voller Staub
In allen Momenten deiner Vergangenheit.
Eine Kette aus Tränen, ein Herz voller Narben
Doch der Schmerz ist nicht beständig.
Die Tränen klemmen, niemals konntest du vertrauen.
Du versteckst dich vor der Vergangenheit.
Die Kette der Zeit, keine Zeit zum Weinen.
Denn du kannst dich nicht für immer verstecken.

Ich kann hören, wie es kommt…
Ich höre sein Flüstern…
Stück um Stück tötet es.
Kein Blut zum bluten…
Kein Herz zum schlagen…
Es ist gekommen, dich zu holen.
Wende ihm nicht den Rücken zu!
Du weißt, dass es lauert
Und versuchen wird,
Dich in Ketten zu schlagen.

Der Tag bricht wieder an
Und du hörst die Schwingen der Zeit.
Leg dein Schwert nieder!
Hör auf das Flüstern im Wind!
Die Zeit verändert alles.
Aber du musst ja warten…
Versuchen, deine Seele zu retten…
Bevor es zu spät ist.

Lacrimosa: No Blind Eyes Can See | YouTube-Direktlink
Die wohl vielen Verhörer und die miese Übelsetzung sind von mir…