Hello there!

It’s been a while since I updated my journal. I could blame nanowrimo or I could actually tell the truth and explain there has been a lot of procrastinating. I’ve been ill with a chest infection for a couple of weeks now, its finally gone and no more pathetic coughing! At one point I sounded like I smoked 60 cigarettes a day and then tried to run a marathon!

I have been about though, mostly focussing on the things below as well as work for drama school and of course the job hunting. I still haven’t had any luck on the job front despite filling out a ridiculous amount of application forms. I don’t even hear anything back so have no idea if I am writing the wrong things or just not suitable full stop. It’s very frustrating, and humiliating too to be honest. I like working and working hard too so it isn’t nice being on this end, especially with how the jobcentre treat you and make you feel stupid. Grr.


Writers-workshop

Well I firstly have to say a huge thank you to =nycterent who has worked her socks off on our current workshop. I haven’t seen someone so committed to something like this on dA for a while, so it is really refreshing. It has also shown me just how much more exciting groups are, and how they suit the concept of #Writers-Workshop.

Please do check out the latest workshop and our 62 entries for it! It’s blasted the previous record of 34 entries for a workshop so we’re really happy! The entries can all be found in the workshop gallery. I didn’t submit myself, but this workshop has had a huge effect on my nanowrimo story- I don’t think I’ve used as many metaphors in my life!

As for news on groups, if you are not already make sure you are watching the #hq group and the #communityrelations group as these will be where the updates and information on the groups launch will be. From what I gather, groups are going to be launched very soon, probably when the last of the bugs have been squished out. Although I am going to miss alpha testing, I can’t wait to convert the workshop from a basic group into a super group!

#Writers-Workshop actually celebrates it’s 2 year anniversary today! Although the account was open about a year before this marker, we officially opened our first workshop on the 11th November 2007. It’s impressive to see how far we have come since then and I am really pleased with it.


Nanowrimo

So 18 thousand words in and I’m at that phase where I am starting to hate my story. I am on this chapter which was supposed to be a little ‘soul searching’ for my main character and it just turned out to be really flat because I wasn’t really getting anywhere. I moved on from that but now I am over analysing my entire story so far and already thinking about rewriting. Still, I am slightly ahead of target so can’t complain too much.

The chat room has been absolutely buzzing this year, which is really nice to see, especially the sheer scale of new deviants. There are some crazy people who have already hit the 50k mark, one girl is considering doing 50k each week! I wish I had the time to be honest lol.


Harmless update

I would love to be able to share a list of all the amazing deviants whose work has been used for this, but I know due to sensitivity not everyone will want me to. If you are happy with me to list you, then please let me know and I will next journal.

The main news is that almost everything has now been proof read and edited- mostly by yours truly, and has now been sent to the publishers to be put into the book. I have seen a preview of some of the pages and it looks brilliant! It’s going to take a good few weeks or so for the book to be put together, so I reckon we’re looking at early 2010 for launch party and release.

It’s been a really exiting project for me, not just because my own work got in, but also the positivity that has come from such a difficult subject matter. This book isn’t anything to do with preventing self harm, it is about the understanding and looking at steps to make someone feel acknowledged and that there are services out there that can help if and when you want it. The process into publishing a book has been quite educational too.



11th November 1918

I had to stop mid sentence on this journal as 11am approached for a 2 mins silence. Although the date marks the end of world war one, I feel at the moment remembrance services mean even more than they used to. When I was younger, the silence was a mark of respect for those who had fought in wars past, before my lifetime. These days a week doesn’t go past without news of another soldier being killed.

The below lines don’t come from a war poem, they come from an Irish song, but I feel they speak to a modern society.


My youngest son came home today
His friends marched with him all the way
The fife and drum beat out the time
While in his box of polished pine
Like dead meat on a butcher's tray
My youngest son same home today

My youngest son was a fine young man
With a wife, a daughter and two sons
And a man he would have lived and died
Till by a bullet sanctified
Now he's a saint or so they say
They brought their young saint home today