I have not been blogging very often.
I have, however, been busy doing other things. For one, I'm almost done the book I've been writing. This is very exciting and more than a little terrifying. What do I do with a completed manuscript? My writers group insists I send it away, and I mostly agree with them.
I've looked at agents. I found one in Canada that I think I'll send it to. She seems like a kindred spirit and someone who may be interested in my book. But should I send it to more? My friend Carol Anne Shaw is very wise in these types of matters. She told me if I fancy this one agent, I should try her first but put "Exclusive Submission" somewhere in the pitch.
Someone asked me if I will use a pseudonym, a question to which I did not have an answer. I changed my Facebook name when I became a teacher and I am particularly fond of my alias (which by the way does not keep students from finding and "friending" me) and have considered using that as my writers name.
I guess I should finish the book before I start making these kinds of decisions.
One day I will write a blog post about what my book is actually about. Probably after I write a synopsis.
My current favourite spot to write is in my orchard in front of my house. It isn't a large orchard, but has a few trees for me to sit under. I bring my dog, who happily munches away on deer poop. I type furiously (or not so furiously, dependent on the day) on my laptop. Sometimes Chewie (the dog) escapes into the neighbours yard and I have to run after him. But other than that there are few interruptions. He is currently digging a hole. I hope he finds treasure.
Summer has also been a time for visits. I've had lots of them already. This afternoon I pick up my good friend and she will stay for two weeks before heading off on an adventure to China, where she is teaching for a year.
Carol Anne Shaw--the wise author woman I mentioned earlier--has hired me to write a Teachers Guide for each of her novels "Hannah and the Spindle Whorl" and "Hannah and the Salish Sea". This is very exciting for me, as I love her books and revel in the task of helping a friend using my teacher skills.
James and I leave for New York, New York in approximately one month. We have started a blog, which I may or may not have already mentioned. It is called "The Hot Dog Blog", it only has two entries at this moment, but considering our trip is fast approaching, it will indeed have more soon.
That is all for now, I have work to do, you know.
Showing posts with label writer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writer. Show all posts
Monday, 14 July 2014
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Hats
I am a wearer of many hats. The one I wear the most is the teacher hat, which I talk about a lot in this blog. Another is an actress--also something I refer to quite a bit. These two hats I am comfortable wearing.
There are other hats I am less comfortable wearing, at least when I am in front of people. One of these is the artist hat. I love to paint, draw and photograph the nonsensical world that surrounds me. Do I necessarily consider myself an artist though? Not particularly. The art teacher at my school, she is a real artist. My friend, Carol, and her husband Richard--they are artists. Me? I play at art.
I feel the same way about my writing. I had a conversation at the literary festival this past weekend about how difficult it is to refer to yourself as an author. Maybe some people don't have this particular mental block, but I certainly do. Someone asked me if I was an author and I skirted the question as best I could until James interrupted me and said "Yes. Kim is a writer."
I suppose the main reason I don't call myself a writer or an author is because it isn't something I work at every day. I write when I feel like it or, more appropriately, I write when it is convenient.
If it wasn't for FRANK (my writers group) I would probably have tossed away my manuscript a long time ago. But having a weekly meeting with people who ask about my work in progress has pushed me to write more, and write more often. Sometimes when I don't write they understand me, and accept my excuses. Sometimes they kick me in the ass. Sometimes they let me teach them the lesson I have planned for the next day because that was the only thing I could accomplish and they appreciate that.
If not for them, I would not have written 20, 000 words on my current project.
Tonight is FRANK night. We are eating nachos. I actually have something to read, thanks to my leisure weekend on Galiano.
Maybe one day I'll be comfortable wearing my authors hat. Maybe one day I will tell strangers, without a hint of irony, that yes--I am an author.
Not tonight though. Tonight I'm just going to eat nachos and read some words.
There are other hats I am less comfortable wearing, at least when I am in front of people. One of these is the artist hat. I love to paint, draw and photograph the nonsensical world that surrounds me. Do I necessarily consider myself an artist though? Not particularly. The art teacher at my school, she is a real artist. My friend, Carol, and her husband Richard--they are artists. Me? I play at art.
I feel the same way about my writing. I had a conversation at the literary festival this past weekend about how difficult it is to refer to yourself as an author. Maybe some people don't have this particular mental block, but I certainly do. Someone asked me if I was an author and I skirted the question as best I could until James interrupted me and said "Yes. Kim is a writer."
I suppose the main reason I don't call myself a writer or an author is because it isn't something I work at every day. I write when I feel like it or, more appropriately, I write when it is convenient.
If it wasn't for FRANK (my writers group) I would probably have tossed away my manuscript a long time ago. But having a weekly meeting with people who ask about my work in progress has pushed me to write more, and write more often. Sometimes when I don't write they understand me, and accept my excuses. Sometimes they kick me in the ass. Sometimes they let me teach them the lesson I have planned for the next day because that was the only thing I could accomplish and they appreciate that.
If not for them, I would not have written 20, 000 words on my current project.
Tonight is FRANK night. We are eating nachos. I actually have something to read, thanks to my leisure weekend on Galiano.
Maybe one day I'll be comfortable wearing my authors hat. Maybe one day I will tell strangers, without a hint of irony, that yes--I am an author.
Not tonight though. Tonight I'm just going to eat nachos and read some words.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Bad Blogger Etiquette
I'll admit, I am not longer on Galiano. We have returned home. In fact, we got home yesterday and--even then--I failed to update my blog.
But today it is snowing and I did not have to go to school. I could not, in good conscience, leave my blog post to another day.
There were many positive outcomes to the Galiano trip. James and I spent some much needed quality time together. I slept for 11 hours on Friday night, and had a nap on Saturday. I also wrote 2, 600 words for my Work In Progress (sometimes I play at being an author) and spending time with the ladies from our writers group was very fun. The cabins James and I stayed in were very cute. We ate good food at a few Galiano establishments and though the weather was only good on the first day, we enjoyed the scenery.
Though I loved much about the Driftwood Cottages, I did not love how their bath water was not hot. I enjoy turning the colour of a Canadian flag whilst I bathe. I did not have this experience at the Driftwood. Though, they did have a hot tub. If I had of had the foresight to bring a bathing suit I would have gone in. Our cabin had a wood stove, which was delightful and the bed had a very cozy duvet, so all was not lost.
I didn't attend any seminars provided by the Galiano Literary Festival, so hopefully James will guest blog and talk about that aspect of the trip. I did, however, attend the dinner where I met a nice man named Fraser who used to be a teacher. He now is an author and won the "So You Think You Can Write Contest" with the Times Colonist. Check that out here. He and his wife were delightful. I talked mostly with them. James talked to many people, as it was his job to network the night away.
Sunday was travel back day. It had been snowing on and off all weekend so we were worried about the ease of returning home. We all decided it was best to catch an earlier ferry. Unfortunately this meant that James, Carol and Kristine had to miss Raffi's seminar. Good thing they spoke to him enough over the weekend that they are all now all BFF's.
I very much missed my dog. It is interesting that in such a short period of time he has become so very important. He was well taken care of by our neighbours so at least I was able to relax knowing that he was safe and happy. Currently, Chewie is sleeping by my feet because he is tired due to running around in the snow.
Here are some pictures to please the eye:
But today it is snowing and I did not have to go to school. I could not, in good conscience, leave my blog post to another day.
There were many positive outcomes to the Galiano trip. James and I spent some much needed quality time together. I slept for 11 hours on Friday night, and had a nap on Saturday. I also wrote 2, 600 words for my Work In Progress (sometimes I play at being an author) and spending time with the ladies from our writers group was very fun. The cabins James and I stayed in were very cute. We ate good food at a few Galiano establishments and though the weather was only good on the first day, we enjoyed the scenery.
Though I loved much about the Driftwood Cottages, I did not love how their bath water was not hot. I enjoy turning the colour of a Canadian flag whilst I bathe. I did not have this experience at the Driftwood. Though, they did have a hot tub. If I had of had the foresight to bring a bathing suit I would have gone in. Our cabin had a wood stove, which was delightful and the bed had a very cozy duvet, so all was not lost.
I didn't attend any seminars provided by the Galiano Literary Festival, so hopefully James will guest blog and talk about that aspect of the trip. I did, however, attend the dinner where I met a nice man named Fraser who used to be a teacher. He now is an author and won the "So You Think You Can Write Contest" with the Times Colonist. Check that out here. He and his wife were delightful. I talked mostly with them. James talked to many people, as it was his job to network the night away.
Sunday was travel back day. It had been snowing on and off all weekend so we were worried about the ease of returning home. We all decided it was best to catch an earlier ferry. Unfortunately this meant that James, Carol and Kristine had to miss Raffi's seminar. Good thing they spoke to him enough over the weekend that they are all now all BFF's.
I very much missed my dog. It is interesting that in such a short period of time he has become so very important. He was well taken care of by our neighbours so at least I was able to relax knowing that he was safe and happy. Currently, Chewie is sleeping by my feet because he is tired due to running around in the snow.
Here are some pictures to please the eye:
He is thinking about his next novel.
The ferry.
Before the snow.
This cat is really fat (the camera took off 10 pounds) and loves books. We are kindred spirits. The bookstore was pretty cool, though they did not have a large enough fantasy or sci fi section.
This cat wants the grocery store to open, too. But the owners are on island time, man.
That is it! My blogging duties for the weekend are complete. Now I shall go do something productive, maybe.
Friday, 21 February 2014
Day One on Galiano
My day in chronological order:
Wake up
Shower
Take dog to pee
Feed dog
Get ready
Take dog out to poop
Leave house
Pick up my coworker whom I carpool with
Go to Tim Hortons
Eat Tim Hortons in car
Get to school
Greet girls in advisor
Make pretest during spare block
Have English class, show Olympic hockey game
Have Drama class, show Olympic hockey game
Leave school
Drive home
Hug and fawn over my puppy
Worry about leaving my puppy
Hug puppy again
Say thank you and bye to neighbours who are taking care of puppy
Grab clothes
Drive to ferry with James
Board ferry
Take some pictures
Read book
Dock ferry
Drive to Driftwood Village Cottages
Check out cottages
Take pictures
Go to Galiano Inn
Meet up with author friends and say hi
Go to pub with James
Return to cottage
Bathe
Write blog post while James networks at wine and cheese night
Here are some pictures of the day:
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