WritingGirl

What can’t technology do?

Tori — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:12:34 +0000

I’m writing this post from my phone. Which seems kinda stupid, considering the fact that I also have my laptop within finger’s grasp. But, hey, anything to get me blogging, right?

I am getting myself back together, again. It seems I’m always saying that – but it’s always true. I hope to make a real post soon. Peace. ^_^

Answering the Call…

Tori — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:03:02 +0000

I need to get my thoughts in order. My life in order. I haven’t written much this year… a few poems and that’s about it. No stories (though I plan to try to flash at Show Me Your Lits later today. I’ve mostly been dealing with a new puppy (Mr. Spock, yes I named him. What of it? I’m an über-nerd) and the idea of losing my baby to school next year.

But writing is beckoning to me again. I’m split between trying to finish school (four courses left, yeah, I’m a dumbass if I don’t finish) or writing seriously, full-time when Julia goes to school in the fall. I know I can do both, well, write some of the time and do school, but I can’t completely devote myself to a novel if I’m spending mucho brain power on the courses. It’s a tough decision.

For the near future, I plan to do NaPoWriMo 2010, where I will write a poem each day for the month of April. Wish me luck!

Another Year Closer to the Grave

Tori — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:02:05 +0000

Cheerful! Well, it isn’t my birthday yet, not exactly, but it will be on Tuesday. 31. I guess I should be glad that I don’t look my age, at least – I still get carded and everything. Perhaps I even look like I was a teenage mother when I had Julia… okay, pushing it. But I know I’m blessed with looking young. Fat does that. Repels the wrinkles. Take that, chubby haters!

I made so many promises to myself for the year 30. I would write a novel by 30. Graduate from college by 30. Own a house by 30. I am not good at keeping my promises. I guess I failed them to make room for others. I did publish a chapbook, writing poetry I didn’t know I had in me. I have a daughter. I live in a nice, if not mine, house. School, while an eventuality, no longer seems like something I *have* to complete to feel whole. But I will.

So what for 31? Well, now that I’m firmly entrenched in my 30’s I suppose I should really try to be… gasp, mature. And I will buckle down and write that novel, even if it’s not finished this year. I’ll write everyday, even if it’s just here. I’ll make friends with people I meet, online or in person. And I’ll get healthy, even if it means going to a million and one doctors to find out what’s really going on inside this body o’ mine. It’s not lupus. It’s never lupus.

Optimism. I know… so not me. But I’m trying it on, and hoping it’s not a size too small.

Are you there blog? It’s me, Margaret…

Tori — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:16:52 +0000

Okay, it’s really Tori. Fooled ya, didn’t I? *shakes off dust, blows off cobwebs* This place was looking a bit… sparse. It’s time I get back to writing and dumping my brain in here. I’ve been spending far too much time in Farmville and reading the Spanish version of fmylife.com (it has a far cooler name – putavidademierda.com, and flexes those Spanish brain cells).

Inspiration – it’s hard to get lately, what with the lungs of death that I’ve been dealt since Christmas. I’ve been relegated to the couch, parked in front of Nick Jr programming for hours on end. I hate Toot and Puddle. What the hell is up with those names anyway? I feel British saying them, but they’re not. Just pigs. Bah. Julia needs to get some taste in cartoons.

I have ideas… oh how I have them. But I can’t write them down. Why can’t I write them down? I have paper. I have laptop. I have Scrivener. I have everything I need. I need to do research on World War II. I need I need I need… how does a writer get started on the biggest project of her life? It’s easier with small things. Maybe I should just start small again before I jump in the deep end.

Awful Library Books…

Tori — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:22:27 +0000

I was tipped to this link on one of the boards I frequent: Awful Library Books. It’s pretty awesome. I love books and this is a great collection of some of the worst. I used to love going through the stacks as a kid and pulling out books that had interesting titles, reading the back, and then laughing before putting them back. I didn’t realize that other libraries still had books from back in the stone ages as well… or just plain weird books such as this one:
which belongs to this post here.

One thing I admit… I still know the Dewey decimal system. And I sort of miss card catalogs. Being old enough to reminisce about the “old days” is weird.

Santa.

Tori — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:55:46 +0000

That’s right. He’s come early to our house. Or at least the impending threat of his arrival… or the joy of his arrival, depending on which member of the family you talk to. Julia has been notified that he does indeed watch her drink all of her milk, and that she should do so immediately. Why so early? Well, I figure I’ve only got a few months, or maybe even two, that I can take advantage of the fat man’s looming presence to eek out some good behavior.

Of course, with the idea of Santa comes the idea of presents. Must hide catalogs. Julia has decided that everything she sees in a catalog is a good idea to “ask” for. I mean beg. And since I have a direct line to Santa (Mommy, can you call Santa on your cell phone?) I’m hearing about what she wants. I’ve tried to tell her Santa doesn’t accept requests except by mail, and those must be postmarked in December, but she’s not buying it. Sigh. I’ve created a monster.

Julia can read… sorta…

Tori — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:32:07 +0000

She sounded out her first sentence phonetically today “It went down the hill.” I am so excited for her! We’ve been working on phonics and spelling out every word we see (to the point of being tiresome) for a while now, and now Julia’s clicking. I’m impressed.

She’s also writing more, both lower and uppercase letters – not an easy task. I’m also learning that it’s harder to teach a lefty to write than it would be to teach someone right-handed like myself. The way they hold their writing implements is totally different. But she seems to have adapted to it well.

What’s next? I keep teaching, and hopefully, I have a reader before kindergarten!

Taking a break…

Tori — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:30:03 +0000

from writing poetry. In some ways it’s liberating, in others I feel defeated. I used to try to write a poem a day – every two days at the most. Now it’s been a couple weeks and I haven’t written anything. I’ve written some flash fiction – but just a few pieces on a timed basis, nothing in depth or longer. I’m officially retired feeling. I know I’ll get back to writing, but right now… it just doesn’t feel possible. I bought some books to read, decided to look at some art, study some of the Mucha prints we have in the house. Something, anything, to bring back that spark of life in my poetry, and even my fiction. I hope it does come back, someday.

Evil cat…

Tori — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:49:07 +0000

Ted is evil. Seriously. I think something got into this cat and isn’t coming out. Maybe an exorcism is in order. Maybe it’s the extra toes. First, he peed in the closet of our downstairs bedroom/storage room when we moved in. Smelly. It took a bottle of Nature’s Miracle to clean it up before we could even open the door.

Now he’s started drinking from the back of the fish tank. He has plenty of water. Clean water. He peed in the sink in the bathroom. He attacks Julia by running up and biting her (not hard, just like a playing bite).

Pretty much I don’t know what to do with him right now. He’s left puncture holes in my curtains. Ted is teh debil.

We’ve started letting him outside when we go outside, so that he gets some exercise, and hopefully that will get him away from some of this pent-up angst. But for the rest, any suggestions?

My first editing gig…

Tori — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:15:26 +0000

as the poetry editor of The Story Garden 8. I hope everyone is okay with my choices and enjoys the issue, and that they realize the work that goes into one of these things! I loved working with all my co-editors and would gladly do so again.