Sorry for the delay, I've had strep throat.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
What are you reading and how is it?
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
What are you writing?
How is that going?
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Is that just an excuse?
Really?
How are things in the rest of your life?
Anything you think we should know?
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
I'm excited for Christmas! Mostly sorted for it, just a few more things tto pick up.
What are you reading and how is it?
I'm rereading Kiss Me Judas because it's awesome.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
I'm pretty damn disappointed with AHS Freak Show, the plot is thin and erratic. Big let down. Rewatching G.O.T which is great 2nd time around. Still listening to Lana Del Rey and also the best Xmas song ever: Fairytale in new York!!
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
Skip :)
What are you writing?
A fun dark little story that's not yet finished.
How is that going?
Good, I like it :)
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
life has been hectic, with work, illness, nativity plays and Xmas stuff.
Is that just an excuse?
Isn't everything when you really think about it?
Really?
I dunno, what do you think?
How are things in the rest of your life?
Hectic and stressed, but also exciting.
Anything you think we should know?
You know I can never think of anything to put here.
Sorry for the delay, I've have strep throat.
Sorry to hear that Dwayne, hope you feel better.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
My family's Jewish, technically. I was raised Jewish, and we always did celebrate Chanukah, lighting the candles every night. Nowadays, we light the candles on nights it works out, when everyone's around and awake and not throwing a manic depressive hissy-fit. We also sort of do Christmas, though not in a religious sense. I guess it's more about the family hanging out, for us.
What are you reading and how is it?
After the People Lights Have Gone Off by SGJ, though I'm reading it bit by bit when I have time (usually I devour books, but I've been so damn busy). It's amazing. Also, just got Dermaphoria in the mail offa Amazon super cheap, so I'm rereading that. It's also amazing, one of my favorite books.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
Nothing else so much, lately. I've been doing a shit-load of writing, for school, a story of my own, edits for other people. TV's been getting on my nerves.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
Skip.
What are you writing?
Just finished a clown story called Broken Toys. In the process of figuring out how to edit it. Gonna get it up in the workshop in a couple days. Now I'm brainstorming for a new story.
How is that going?
The editing? Alright, I'm getting feedback now. I'm still too close to the story, so I've been looking for fresh eyes. The brainstorming is going alright too. I'll probably sit down to start it when winter break starts after this next finals week.
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Been kind of frazzled. My first semester of school is drawing to a close, and I'm taking three writing-based classes: Public Speaking, Argumentation and Debate, and English 101, so all that academic writing on top of working every weekday with chaotic elementary school kids has had me kind of...well, frazzled. I don't want to end up disliking writing. But I did just hammer out almost 10,000 words a few weeks ago, and, for me, that's incredible progress.
Is that just an excuse?
Totes magoats.
Really?
I admit it. I'm realizing sometimes it's bad to beat myself up too much for not writing when I'm just not feeling it. When I've taken good care of myself and accomplished something and I'm feeling good about myself, even when I'm procrastinating for another assignment, that's usually when I can't resist sitting down to write.
How are things in the rest of your life?
Not bad, I guess. You don't want to hear about all my unique individual bullshit. I don't even want to hear about it. Life's nuts. But I'm alive.
Anything you think we should know?
I'm taking Richard Thomas' Mechanics of Short Fiction class in January, and I'm beyond stoked.
1. What are you reading and how is it?
I'm currently rereading some of R.L. Stines books. It's been to long to remember.
2. What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
I'm not into watching TV, Movies, or listening to music like I was. In order to write, I crave the silence and music in my head.
3. Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
Depends on how you define winning. Did I finish a novella that I was able to self-publish on Wattpad, and get 53 views? Then yes. Did I get 50K? Not successfull.
Why did they decide on 50,000 anyway?
4. What are you writing?
Currently I'm trying to write something, even if that's a collection of lullabies and children's songs at the moment instead of full length books. Though I'm still trucking away at a dark nonsense middle grade short story.
5. How is that going?
Good, it really helps creative not worrying about marketing.
6. Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Because I am getting things done with it.
7. How are things in the rest of your life?
Good, transitioning to less distracting social networks not quite as filled with argumentative twits that like to make strawman arguments about stuff.
Fun! Nice to see some things never change.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
They're going okay. Yesterday my kid had a little thing at her school where they sang Christmas songs and decorated cookies. Getting ready to pack up and head to the UK for Christmas with the in-laws. Thanksgiving was great, because how can it not be with that much PIE?
What are you reading and how is it?
I'm finishing up The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule - I know I'm a couple decades late to that party but holy hell is it a good book. The Ted Bundy story almost takes a back seat to the author's struggle with learning who her friend really was as she's writing this book about his crimes before anyone even knew it was him.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
I've been all over the place with music lately. I'm not onto any great TV but I think I want to start Black Mirror since everyone's been praising it.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
I wanted to do it this year but didn't finish my last project til a week into November. So I skipped.
What are you writing?
I DON'T KNOW! I am waiting on beta-readers to get back to me on my novel and sort of wandering around picking up old short stories and trying to figure out what to do with them.
How is that going?
Eh. Not my most productive time.
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
I think I'm still in the headspace of the novel and I'm finding it hard to connect with other stuff. OR my other stuff actually sucks. Hopefully the former.
Is that just an excuse?
Nah, I'm sitting down to work everyday, just not loving what's coming of it.
Really?
Really!
How are things in the rest of your life?
Pretty good.
Anything you think we should know?
Basic multiplication.
@Renee ~ where are you off to in the UK?
Outside of Oxford. The in-laws live there.
What are you reading and how is it?
I'm reading Good Sex Great Prayers. Been a while since I read anything transgressive; it's like having a guilty secret. I like it.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
I'll admit it, I started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Netflix just to take me back to my teenage. MAN it's bad....horribly dated and full of stuff I can't believe I thought was brilliant as a fourteen year old. But I can't stop watching it. It just puts a smile on my face.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
I won in 17 days. I'm now up to 75k on that project and still going.
What are you writing?
Same as last month, my NaNo project Welcome to Sentago.
How is that going?
I hadn't expected it to get this long or to take over from my main projects, but it has and I like it, so I'm finishing it.
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Because I can only write so much erotica before....never mind.
Is that just an excuse?
Yes.
Really?
Really.
How are things in the rest of your life?
Business as usual.
Anything you think we should know?
I pretended to be one of my characters in Starbucks last week. They have this thing where they ask your name and write it on one of the cups, and without thinking about it I just went with this guy I made up. The person in the queue behind me said 'That's an unusual name for someone your age.' It was like being in drama class again and it was kind of fun.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
Haven't had any holidays yet. Still waiting for christmas. Does any one else celebrate christmas Dec 24? Or are we Swedes the only ones?
What are you reading and how is it?
The New York trilogy. It's fantastic. My favorite detective novel ever.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
As far as music go I'm currently rediscovering At the drive in. Such a fantastic band. I'm rewatching fraggle rock. So much nostalgia.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
Skip
What are you writing?
I'm about to start a surreal noir novella/short story.
How is that going?
Okay I guess.
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Dunno, I write a lot but end up deleting most of my stuff.
Is that just an excuse?
Kind of.
Really?
Uh-huh.
How are things in the rest of your life?
Good. I guess.
Anything you think we should know?
I was interrogated by the police because a neighboor accused me of being an insane person that wanted to keep her head in my fridge. It was a very very weird experience.
@ Redd - Thanks.
@L.W. - 50,000 sounded like a cool number. High enough to make everyone work, not so high not everyone can do it assuming no disater. I have no idea if any of that is true.
@Renee - I never heard of that book, but I want to read it.
@Fluff - If you don't get that interview written up as a non-fiction someplace I'll cry.
Dwayne - it's decades old. It was Anne Rule's first true crime book, and what makes it interesting is that she had worked with Ted Bundy and become relatively good friends with him before getting the book after the murders had begun, but before Ted was implicated. It's amazingly well-written and the personal aspect of it definitely adds something to it. I definitely reccomend it.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
Well It's my Birthday Christmas day, so I'll be shit faced over the whole period.
What are you reading and how is it?
Slow. still reading James Ellory, need to devote more time to it, just bogged down writing at the mo.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
Been watching to -
Marco polo - netflix
ripper street season 3
music -
new scott mathews album.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
didn't even bother attempting it. So far I've been working on my first novel and it's taken me about four months to get to chapter 23.
How is that going?
Slow
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Because as with most things I have no idea what I'm doing. Jumping in feet first and seeing it can work later on
Is that just an excuse?
no
Really?
yep
How are things in the rest of your life?
Standard. which is good
Anything you think we should know?
Got flack from the boss for not comming into work with a silly xmas jumper on last week. So i just told her I don't really believe in all this christmas melarkey as I worship the old gods. Spending my weekends running around the local woods naked covered in blue woad off my tits on mushrooms worshiping Odin. She was not amused.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
See final two comments. Also, Kwanza is dumb, hang it up.
What are you reading and how is it?
Was reading Matched. It sucked. Kindle broke, didn't miss it. Now reading Doomed. So far, not bad.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
Nothing.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
The hell is that?
What are you writing?
Same as last time.
How is that going?
So... close...
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Stuck on ending
Is that just an excuse?
No
Really?
No, dammit, I'm trying!
How are things in the rest of your life?
So bored.
Anything you think we should know?
It occurs to me that the holidays are one giant excuse for adults to stress themselves the fuck out like mad, simultaneously eating, drinking and spending like the gluttons they are, all at once. The two are separate, but there's overlap.
Sorry for the delay, I've had strep throat. Ew. Take Oil of Oregano if you're not better already.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? Very busy. I make an effort to see 80% of my clients before the break so it's a heavy eating/drinking month. The rest of Christmas preparations are going swimmingly, but then again I'm on the Nice list. My dad like figure is Jewish, so I don't have much time to get his Hanukkah gift together, eep.
What are you reading and how is it? Nine Stories, by J.D. Salinger and it is a total delight. It's aged well.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it? Music, man. Sonic Highways has really rocked the fourth quarter of the year for me. It is amazing. Also, Jungle just dropped an album so there's that. Try and keep still when you listen to it. It is unpossible.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing. <skips away>
What are you writing? I have over 160 pieces in various states of disrepair that I am s-l-o-w-l-y triaging. This year I wrote an essay on PTSD and it's in its second draft stage. I am also wrestling with an old piece of CNF that is half in second person and then switches to third which actually sort of works but DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.
How is that going? Please see all caps above.
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)? A little over a year and a half ago, I developed a very big mental cock block around writing. It is taking a lot of effort to sidle back up to the page and the process.
Is that just an excuse? No, shit's rill.
Really? Yes. Regrettably. We shall overcome, though.
How are things in the rest of your life? Quite excellent. I am hashtag blessed, motherfuckers.
Anything you think we should know? I think I used up all my revelatory credits in a post in the community boards last month. Also, you should know that I have missed writing terribly.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
Just starting to put out Christmas decorations. Unfortunatly the family doesn't seem into the holiday thing this year. I'm sure it'll work itself out though. Can't wait for Christmas Eve to do some cooking!!!
What are you reading and how is it?
Taking a slight break to decompress from all the reading I've been doing a school. Which has included Moby Dick, and 6 Shakespeare plays (it was a whole class just on Shakespeare). Also read a couple of other things. Have a stack of books I'm hopeing to start soon.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
I've been listening to PelleK, a Norwegien power metal band (he's on youtube). I've been watching Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and Sailor Moon (yes I know, nerdy but we've all goa nerdy side).
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
Skip.
What are you writing?
Untitled story about fairy/humaniod creatures living in the modern world
How is that going?
Finished!!! Just started editting.
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
Senior year of college. Just pulled mulitple all-nighters writing research papers. I'm an English Major so I had to write a paper about the ominous weather in Macbeth. Another on Displacement Theory in Pervical Everett's Erasure. One on Sexist Language. Also a play that my professor said could never be performed because there was a cat in it, but oh well.
Is that just an excuse?
Possibly.
Really?
Maybe.
How are things in the rest of your life?
I'm off for Winter Break and my brothers home on break too. So pretty good.
Anything you think we should know?
I'm newish. The professor of two of my classes (Shakespeare and Origins and Structure of the English Langugage) told me about this site and I ended up joining it.
@Renee, ah cool. Hope you have a nice time! They say we might have a white Christmas this year. But then I never trust weather reports, so we'll see. :)
Sorry for the delay, I've had strep throat.
... This is life, man. One big stripe of pustules down the throat til they pop, filling your gullet with ooze. Sweet, eh?
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
Thanksgiving was deliciously sad. Delicious because my uncle, who owns a couple restaurants, was cooking, and sad because my woman was out of the country for her birthday and Thanksgiving. Xmas used to be my fave this time of year, but ever since my grandfather died two years ago, I hate it. He and I always loved Xmas more than everyone else in the fam, so it's kinda hollow without him.
What are you reading and how is it?
Rereading Catcher in the Rye, and also rereading a poetry/writing books called Writing the Australian Crawl, by Stafford, AND Talking All Morning, by Bly.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
I can't write without music playing. Lately, I've delved back into classic rock, like Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, The Doors, Yes, and old Genesis, before they went lame and lost Peter Gabriel. Movie-wise, I digest documentaries on a regular basis, lately been watching this wonderful doc series about the history of film (globally, not just the plastic Hollywood bullshit) and Five Cameras - which I've seen before, but every person with a heart and a brain should see multiple times.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
After having some bible-thumping whackjob admin censor me two years ago, I vowed never to do or support or encourage others to do or support NaNo. If it had been just that person's tantrum, that'd be one thing, but when I went over the psycho's head, the actual people running NaNo said I was right, it was censorship, but they had to stand by their minion - so I said fuck it. And fuck them. Censorship among fellow writers is the most nonsensical, self-defeating, intellectually and morally cowardly thing one can do. (Not sure all those "ly" words work together grammatically, but hey, there's another! LOL)
What are you writing?
Just finished final revisions on a story from the summer, and sent it off to The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and a couple others. Now, my keenest focus is on finishing my novel by the end of the year. If other people's opinions are right, it'll knock the shit out of everyone's minds and hearts... but if my own fears and insecurities are right, it'll gather dust til it is dust. We'll see who's right. I don't mind being wrong sometimes. :)
How is that going?
It's going. I wanted it done by the time my woman came back from her trip, but with her gone, I couldn't get a damned thing done. She must've packed my mind in her carry-on alongside my heart. I'm such a pathetic romantic when it comes to shit like that. Now, though, it's a marathon to the 31st!!!
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
In a word - fear. I'm self-aware enough to know that my biggest obstacle is my fear of success, followed closely behind by laziness. I'm the type who can skate by with no mental effort and still look like I'm succeeding, but if I were to actually employ my full potential, the world would bow at my feet, but then that leads to having to clean my shoes more, and the groupies, and figuring out what to do with all the cash, and then the substance abuse, and eventually one-man shows in Vegas with old ladies throwing their panties on stage. I can't deal with that, man. No one can. Old lady panties are nasty... or so I'm told.
But, yeah... basically just afraid of success.
Is that just an excuse?
Isn't everything?
Really?
Well, yeah. I mean, everything we do in life is just an excuse to cover up the fact that we're all too chickenshit to kill ourselves.
How are things in the rest of your life?
Meh, not horrible. Actually, comparatively decent. I have a wonderful woman, wonderful pets, a fiscally comfy but not wealthy life, a family who has finally forgiven me for the evils of my past (or at least the evils they know about), and my writing is finally getting noticed by people who matter. All in all, life is good enough an excuse not to kill myself just yet. Not something everyone can say, if they're honest with themselves.
Anything you think we should know?
There are SO MANY things I think you all should know... like: BlackLivesMatter, FreePalestine, MarriageEqualityNow, TortureIsNeverOK, HerBodyHerChoice, BeGoodWithoutGods, and probably so much more I can't think of at the moment.
Oh, and I'm back. Mwuahahahah. (To those who matter at all in the grand scheme of things, that's a good thing.)
@Dwayne: I will totally write a non-fiction piece about it. It was a weird and strangely fascinating experience.
@Fluff - cool
@Strange - Welcome back, but it was more swelling with fever dreams and less that stuff you wrote.
@Fluff
I want to read that...
Welcome back S.P :)
S'up? *nods all nonchalant and shit, before realizing this thread is inherently answering the question*
Well, I don't answer my own questions so it isn't that unreasonable to ask me. I'm okay.
How are the holidays going for you and which ones are you celebrating / have celebrated? If you don't celebrate anything this time of year because reason, let it go. We don't need details about why you aren't into Christmas, Boxing day, Hannukah, Kwanza, American Thanksgiving, the other holidays I'm forgetting, and / or The Gregorian calendar.
We spent far too much on the baby at Toys R Us and the managers at the apartment are probably tired of us getting packages delivered almost everyday. Also I get a bunch of days off starting next week but I have to work 12 hour shifts to get there.
What are you reading and how is it?
I haven't been reading many novels, just comic books right now. I'm reading King City by Brandon Graham, which is great and creative and inspiring. Also Hawkeye, which can't miss. Paul Pope stuff, the usual.
What other music, shows, movies, or various media are you into? How is it?
I just saw My Winnipeg, which every writer should watch. I've been binging on Adult Swim stuff like Eric Andre and Rick and Morty. No new music right now.
Did you win NaNO? Feel free to skip this if it isn't your thing.
Have you ever heard someone say Nanowrimo out loud? It makes you sound really stupid.
What are you writing?
Everything.
How is that going?
Better than usual. Better than most.
Why aren't you getting more done with it (in general, not this very second)?
When I get the baby to sleep, I usually go to sleep as well. That gets in the way of my writing.
Is that just an excuse?
No, she's more important.
Really?
I love sleep. Sleep sleep sleep. Sleep is good. In my belly.
How are things in the rest of your life?
Fine but I still hate everyone and people look like poorly molded claymation figures in a student film.
Anything you think we should know?
Smash them! Squish them between my fingers! All of them! At the grocery store! In traffic! At work! On the internet! You!
I love Rick and Morty.
@SC - I have heard someone say Nanowrimo, and it only sounds weird the first time. Or first 10 or something.
