Writing Tag

1. What was your first-ever piece of writing? My first ever story was a plagiarism of the story of Rapunzel. I think it was called "The Princess in the Tower" or something. I still have it...somewhere...
2. How old were you when you first began writing? 9, I think, is my first documentable attempt. I didn't enjoy writing until I was 11 or so.
3. Name two writing goals. One short term & one long term. Short term is to finish this Omnibus paper. Hehe. Long term--work on revising some of my short stories and possibly write a novel (I doubt the latter will ever be accomplished). 
4. Do you write fiction or non-fiction? the work I'm proudest of is non-fiction blended with enough fiction to keep it from being offensive to the main characters. Delicate work, that.
5. Bouncing off of question 4, what's your favorite genre to write in? I love writing fantasy--I blame that on too many Percy Jackson-esque books--but to to quote Mr. Knightley, "I'm not good at it." Reading LotR kind of discourages that...there's no way I can even develop a tiny bit of the detail Tolkien puts in his world in my so-so scribblings. Did I mention that I'm somewhat of a perfectionist? On the other hand, I love short stories--I don't have to work as much on plot development and can concentrate on the characters. Plus I hate writing endings and conclusions, and in a short story often I can put a weird twist at the ending in a way I couldn't in a novel. As I'm writing this I can't help but think of Jane Austen's play "The Mystery"  for some reason.
6. One writing lesson you've learned since 2013 began. Don't ever password protect your files without writing down the password. It's not fun to stare at that little blue box with the blinking cursor wondering what on earth the password is--after trying the title, all the main characters' names, places, themes, and random words. I shouldn't have to hack my own computer!
7.  Favorite author, off the top of your head! Jane Austen, because...well, she's Jane Austen--lighthearted, clever and very, very funny.
8. Three current favorite books.  Let's change this to "some enjoyable things I've read recently." Some of the stories I've read from the  Decameron, The Girl on the Boat, Only a Novel 
9. Biggest influence on your writing {person}: A person?  Hmm. Probably Dad and Mom. I have some fond memories of novel sending and editing with some of my friends quite a while ago. 
10. What's your go-to writing music? For schoolwork/studying I always listen to Orla Fallon's "Distant Shore." I have the Braveheart soundtrack and FotR and RotK complete recordings that I listen to when I want to feel epic.  For other writing, Celtic Woman's Believe and A New Journey is nice. And the TSP musical if I need to be distracted.
11. List three to five writing quirks of yours! Little habits, must-haves as you write, etc. Um. For one, I pull a Bilbo and never allow people to read things until they're somewhat finished ("Finished for what?" "Reading!"). I only use fountain and G2 Pilot pens if I can possibly manage it. I can't ever bring myself to work on something a little bit for a long time--I hole up with a notebook and don't emerge for several days or so.
12. What, in three sentences or less, does your writing mean to you? It's amusing and makes me think. When I start writing just what I think others will enjoy I'm usually not happy with the results.

Linking to Every Good Word

There's a Hedgehog on my Head...

I suppose I should 'pologize for not posting in a long time. Sowwy.

Now that all's forgiven, I can proceed in introducing my NEW PET. 

Thanks to *TSP*, I've been studying Georgian fashion. It's been interesting. Regency is all about columns, long vertical lines, flowy gowns, and Greek statuary, but Georgian...quite simply, Georgian is all about the POOF. So POOF it is. 

I've discovered the method of curling my hair--insert squeal--why aren't you squealing?--perhaps we need some backstory.

Catie's Tragic History of Trying to Curl her Hair  

by Catie

Once upon a time there was a 10-year-old girl named Catie who thought that the epitome of hairstyling was a smooth, bump-free (usually greasy) ponytail on the back of her head. She wore this for several months, until her best friend convinced Catie to allow her to curl Catie's hair for the LPCC concert. Catie allowed it. After 45 minutes, when the heat of the curling iron had removed all of the humidity from the air in the bathroom, a curl was born. It was not just any curl. It was a Nellie Olson curl. Catie was excited. Catie ran to show her mother. As she opened the door, the curl realised that there was humidity outside the bathroom. It died.

Catie often tried again to curl her hair, but it never really worked. After her sister Jess bought the best curling iron ever, she could get a few Romantic wispies, but they never stayed long. Catie gave up in despair and cried in the dark, cobwebby corner.

  

 All right, I made up the last part. You get the point. I was reading the other day, however, about paper curls. I tried it. It worked. I kept waking up at odd hours, but it worked.
Back to the new pet. It is called a hedgehog, and you can see some examples of it here. Mine is semi-historically-accurate. That is, I didn't feel like following instructions, so I pinned and pulled and twisted until it looked right--that is to say, frizzy.

 I am enormously proud of the thing. Now for an almost-semi-historically-accurate construction. I managed to get hold of Gabbi (actually, she volunteered) at a sleepover. The results?

hehe.hehehe. POOF.

I had to climb on a chair (while she was sitting down) to reach it. Part of that is that I am short (according to Jessie). Part of that is, quite simply, POOF.

I think it is time to cease my incoherent rambling about hair--in the meantime, if you haven't read/watched The Scarlet Pimpernel, go do so. For your own good. :D

It's About Time

...that I posted again. Excuses aside, here are some pictures from the Jane Austen Ball in Walker (could such things really be? Never thought I'd say that!).
Gabbi and I making the exact same face. Funny, no?

 It is, however, a good picture of the back of our gowns.

A rather blurry image of me
Gabbi dancing. The Virginia Reel, I imagine.

A very sassy Lu and yours truly in the middle of a two-hand turn...

A shot of everyone either 

a) trying to learn the Scottish

b) trying to practice the Scottish for the fun of it

c) trying to decide whether or not to do the Scottish

d) trying to stay out of everyone's way

Oh, the decisions to be made...

Myself, my very handsome brother and my pretty sister preparing for the Comical Fellow 

Jess in full Mrs. Bennet-whispering mode (sorry, Jess, but I couldn't resist!)

 and Grayson looking...dashing (?) in his coat.

 Our Mom-we're-50-minutes-late-and-need-to-get-inside-NOW picture. :)

Another Paragraph from Comp

The day was wet and rainy. Water droplets pooled and slid down the windowpanes, forming tiny cascades of their own as they rushed to join the torrent pulsing out of the downspout and eroding its way down the hillside. Yellow-clad pedestrians struggled ahead, heads lowered against the rain like a funeral procession. The cat howled at the back door, but none heeded the drenched feline's cries for salvation from the deluge. Not even the grey clouds above acknowledged his plight as they let forth their fury upon the earth. Theirs was not to take pity; their lot was to rain, and rain they did, until the entire neighborhood was somber and drenched in gloom.

A Quick Paragraph from Flash Writing

The new local library is a wonderful place. Instead of ancient, dusty, boring books (like classics), shiny, new, best-selling novels line the shelves, glowing faintly in the light of the fluorescent tubes. Reading is no longer merely for the elderly and geeks; it is for everyone! Posters flutter slightly on the wall in the breeze from the air conditioning, all proclaiming insightful messages such as, Monty the Monster says, "Everybody should read! "Penny the Penguin says, "Reading is Cool!" and Read--Escape to Whole New Worlds!  Every October, spider webs, ghosts, and skeletons join the usual vampire decor in the "teen" section around the area set aside for reading and reflection. Wonderful and encouraging programs enrich the schedule, such as "Wii game night," "Vampire love story contest winners awards ceremony," and the ever-popular "Murder Mystery Night." With such a positive atmosphere, it is little wonder teen-agers enjoy 'hanging out' at the library--this has nothing to do with the free internet, of course. Without libraries, America would be at a great loss. After all, who else would enforce what is taught in school, such as the motto of this great establishment: IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU READ, AS LONG AS YOU'RE READING!

Believe It or Not...

...I'm still here, alive, breathing, perfectly fine...except I'm very, very BUSY. Between Veritas classes, Classical Conversations, and trying (read failing) to keep the garden somewhat under control, it's been pretty crazy. Since the first day of fall has officially arrived (I don't care what the calendar says--it's not autumn 'til it gets below 70), the thermometer proclaims the news that it is 63 degrees Fahrenheit (I'm wearing coats and fuzzy socks now), we just had a weeklong break from CC, and I'm supposed to be writing an essay or five, I think it's high time I at least attempted a post. 

Some Highlights of the Summer 

First of all, my dear friend Maura sent me some MINI AFRICAN VIOLETS on Thursday. MINIS! I've been pining after these for so long...:) Aren't they adorable?

We went to our beach for Lu's birthday. Yes. OUR BEACH. Destin.

I think I'm homesick for the beach...again.

I got a lovely new jean jacket (you can read my mom's post about it here)

Our side yard was turned into a lake during hurricane Isaac...

...and I grew my first sweet potatoes. Above are the fruits of my labor. Or should it be tubers?

I solved our Silky hair problem (so what if they look like hippie chickens?).

And we finally went to the Aquarium. 

I hope to start posting again on a regular basis, but I won't guarantee anything...;)

Tell me about your experiences this summer!

I'm Still Here! & The Concert

Believe it or not, I really am still here...life has been kind of crazy, but I hope to start posting again on a regular basis soon...

On April 15 we went to the River Center for the Celtic Woman concert...but let me back up a bit. We (which includes Gabbi, my sisters, and myself) have been longing for "Jane Austen" dresses...and someone (I don't know who) came up with the brilliant idea of making them for the concert...

Next thing I know, we're buying patterns and fabric and chattering excitedly about ribbons and lace and hairstyles...

Unfortunately, the project kind of got put off--excuse me, postponed until the Tuesday before the concert...which meant we had five day to make four dresses. Need I say that we were rather late getting to bed all week?

Anyway, here are some pictures from the event

Our grand entrance to the River Center

(we were five minutes late and in a hurry)

Waiting outside impatiently as the music starts...

Gabbi's hair...isn't it pretty?

My hair...

Jess

Lainey

Gabbi

At Jason's Deli afterwards..

Mom managed to get a snippet of Lisa Lambe singing "Dulaman," one of my favorite songs...

:)