Drafting

The first draft is done!!!!!! And was completed by July 4th. Now, I've given myself 3 months to review, revise and revisit (?) draft#2.

Accomplishing that goal felt absolutely magnificent and for about a week I didn't pick it back up again. When I finally did, I found a chapter that needing tweaking and went to work. An idea came rather quickly that helped clarify a primary conflict in the story.

I truly love the revision process! I don't mind criticiques or constructive criticism one bit. I'd much rather have someone tell me what needs fixing or clarification now then have readers confused and frustrated later on.

So, here I go along the next path in my novel writing venture.

Best wishes,
Kelly

Independence

July 4th; a day full of celebration, good food, parades and fireworks! I look forward to this particular holiday every year. In celebrating the birth of the nation I call home there's a complex mixture of honor, pride, sadness and grief when I think about all the progress won after much despair. Acknowledging the hardships our ancestors encountered in the fight for independence makes me look at my own life and the choices I've made.

One of the major reasons I look forward to the 4th of July this year is due to a self-imposed goal. I've been working on a novel that has provided me with much inspiration and a few difficulties along the year and a half journey so far. I've spent so many years starting writing projects that stemmed from an image or idea that wouldn't let go until I wrote it down. However, it was a rare situation indeed when I my initial inspiration led to a completed work. The novel I'm working on now started from a single image and has flourished into a piece of art that keeps my interest every day. Sure I've had my fair share of stuck moments when I couldn't figure out what my protagnist's motivation was or how to transition into the next chapter...but I've learned not to force the progress. What I've created so far holds too much value for me to rush it.

That being said, I am about 85% complete the first draft. There are just a few more tweaks to be done and transitions to input before I can send out the completed manuscript to friends and family for review. My self-imposed first draft completion date of July 4th, 2010 has motivated me each and every day to reach my goal. And reach it I shall!

So on this Independence Day I will be celebrating with family and friends while knowing that I have started along a path all my own; independently!

All the best,
Kelly

More or less

• I do not wish others less simply because I may have more.


• I do not wish unemployment on someone simply because I may be without a job.


• I do not wish a person who is well-off to lose money simply because I am struggling financially.


• I do not wish imprisionment on anyone simply because I long for freedom.


• I do not wish a woman to be childless simply because I have no children.


• I do not wish a healthy person to fall ill simply because I feel sick.


• I do not wish sorrow upon someone else simply because I may be grieving.


• I do not wish a joyful individual to know pain simply because I feel hurt.


• I do not wish heartache upon someone simply because I may be lonely.

Instead....

• I wish that all may know joy, compassion, forgiveness and most of all...love.


• That we, as individuals, start treating each other with more respect, kindness and understanding.


• That we all stop deflecting our worries, fears and issues upon those who do not share them.


• That we focus more on improving our own intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs while recognizing that everyone else is doing the same.

All the best!
Kelly

Venting

I am writing to say that I am very frustrated about all the negative slams against teachers in the Neshaminy School District lately. I will be writing a more in-depth post later as I need some time to put fingers to keys and create a well thought out piece. Right now I'm just too disappointed, peeved and prone to saying something I may regret later.

So...here's to all my teachers throughout the years who helped me get to where I am now. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!

All the best,
Kelly

Scene excerpt (part one)

ORIGINAL MATERIAL

For the past few months she’s felt different. More uneasy and uncomfortable than before. She’s been more reserved and in a bad mood even when the day is good. Everything goes her way but yet she doesn’t feel happy. How does that make any sense? Shouldn’t she feel more alive and excited at each new day? What is the matter with her? Is there something missing? Every now and again she just stares at the walls. Beautiful, glorious sights yet untouchable. Out of her reach. Out of her realm. She can see the life flow passed her body as she watches the trees blow or the birds fly. A reminder that life keeps going. Whether we take part in it or not. In some ways she retreats further after pondering that idea. Why mess up the flow by throwing herself in the mix? Safer to just watch life as it is out there. Dream of what is possible without her screwing up the beautiful visions. She could never feel that beautiful. Never be that pure of spirit. Dirtying the beauty by being among the setting.

Manner-isms

MANNERS

Where did they go? I would like to know please. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. I send my gratitude to those of you that can assist me in my search for the lost art of manners.

Decency, kindness, respect, communication, honesty and civility are some of the parts that make up this once well used life enhancement tool. Opening doors. Saying “thank you”. Exchanging “good morning, afternoon, or evening”’s. Making eye contact when passing someone on the street. Speaking to people without resentment, anger, or frustration reverberating through your tone.

Turning off cellphones in the theatres, both movie and live performances. Letting someone else finish speaking before interjecting. Not speaking when someone else is. Listening when someone else is requesting your attention. Giving someone your undivided attention. Smiling and make eye contact when someone’s making a presentation. Reaching out with help to those in need.

My day would brighten just a little bit with each gracious act I see. I wish to see more please!

Positively beautiful

"Oh what a beautiful mornin'. Oh what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feelin' everything's goin' my way."

The lyric above, for those of you who do not recognize it, is from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma. This musical just so happens to be one of my all-time favorite shows so of course it makes sense that one of the lyrics would stick in my head on this bright sunny day! But that's not the only reason I began my post with that particular quote.

I always thought I was a pretty positive person. However, in retrospect I'm not quite certain that's true. Hope, faith, belief, trust...I had all of those. Yet, there was this nagging feeling of doubt both self and towards the world in general. I didn't have that glass half-full kind of mentality most of the time. I focused on the negative aspects of life and allowed them to swallow me up instead of choosing to face the challenges, believe I could overcome them, and come through stronger.

It wasn't until just last year that I realized that thinking positively is, in fact, a choice. And making that choice helped me grow in leaps and bounds! Today I am proud of the woman I've become. A woman who is strong, compassionate, beautiful, proud, creative, artistic, and optimistic. I am a sister, a daughter, a friend, a student, an artist, a citizen, and an individual.

Seeing the possibilities in my life has already improved my overall outlook and in doing so, opportunities have become available that perhaps would not have if I kept such a negative attitude. I'm looking forward towards all the challenges, adventures, and events to come. Because each mornin' will be beautiful regardless of the circumstances. As long as I view it as such.

All the best!