Chronicles

Congested. Inspired. Notoriously Stubborn.

April 9, 2017 By Jenai Leave a Comment

I’ve been battling a yucky head cold the past couple days. Yesterday was the worst, and I predicted that I wouldn’t write a single word. However, I did write… 2,500 words! I’m sure most of it is Benadryl-induced-rubbish, yet I’m still very pleased with my self.

Half-way through last November’s NaNoWriMo event, pneumonia paid an unexpected visit. Needless to say, I did not finish that novel. Though I suppose the pneumonia wasn’t solely to blame; the novel had dystopian elements that promptly became… [Read more…] about Congested. Inspired. Notoriously Stubborn.

Awake & Running

April 4, 2017 By Jenai Leave a Comment

Illustration by Frank Papé, from “The Russian Story Book”, 1916

After a sluggish start, the writing is coming along smoothly now. So much so, I’m ahead schedule and just might increase the total word count goal for April!

I should specify that my NaNoWriMo word count goal is not the same as the projected word count for my book, the latter likely being at least double the length.

Well, that is all I wished to share. I must preserve my wordiness for Dragon Relic! However, since I’ve brought you all this way, I’ll leave you with a lovely dragon illustration by Frank Papé.

Thawed

April 2, 2017 By Jenai Leave a Comment

For this Camp NaNoWriMo, participants are able to set personal goals in a variety of ways: word counts, pages, lines, hours, or minutes (which means it wouldn’t be difficult to start late!). I opted for the traditional word count and set my goal to 30,000. During the November event, the goal is 50,000 words in 30 days. I figured that 30,000 words in 30 days would still be a challenge, yet not as stressful.

So, of course, I froze yesterday. Fortunately, I recovered and still managed to write 2,000 words last night. Whew!

Then I woke up convinced that I’d gone about everything all wrong, and would need to reorganize my opening scene. I worried that it was a tangled and rambling mess, while I hoped it provided a clear hook paired with a dash of succinct background.
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Ok, fine. Muses Nine, I summon thee!…

April 1, 2017 By Jenai Leave a Comment

Was the whole world molten in music
At once, by the heat of that wine?
Did the stars and the tide and your own heart
Dance with the heavenly Nine?
For they dance at that Inn of Apollo.

From “The Inn of Apollo” by Alfred Noyes, c. 1920

I am not writing. I ought to be, but I cannot. Frustratingly, writer’s block isn’t the (obvious) culprit. If it had been the case, I’d be equipped with solutions to surmount that particular roadblock. Instead, I am unable to even open Word and begin typing.

True, my story is competing with work today, as it will most days. However, even during free moments, I don’t feel remotely inclined to write.

I am writing a blog entry instead.

Since mid-February, I’ve planned, outlined, brainstormed, and researched for this story. Also, for the first time, I’ve committed to writing a story with my children in mind (however, it’s not particularly a children’s story). They know this. They will hold me to my promise.

Am I too ready? Is that even possible? Or am I nervous while facing the inevitability of finally sharing one of my stories? Usually, I’m secretive and allow only my eyes to read what I write. In that case, have perfectionism and stage-fright collided into a novel-freezing storm? Perhaps.

Whatever the reason, I am frozen and must thaw. Today. Soon.

Which draws my attention to the ancient Muses. I’d already planned to honor the fun old tradition of summoning the Muse(s) prior to writing. To prepare, I even printed and framed the three muses who I felt were most relevant to my story: Urania, Calliope, and Clio. Allow me to clarify that I do not believe in the muses; I’m a historian who is enchanted by the idea, and the practice appeals to me on that level.

*Urania, Muse of Astronomy & Astrology,* Goltzius 1592

*Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry,* Goltzius

Intriguingly, I’ve not yet acknowledged the Muses and discover myself unable to move forward with my story. Bearing that in mind, I’ll share an old muse-summoning verse written by Esther Willard Bates in 1912. Hopefully this pilfered invocation will suffice and appease the Muses so that I may commence writing!

Daughters of Mnemosyne,
Goddesses of Poesy,
We, thy servant, summon thee!
Jupiter and Memory
Bore them daughters, three times three,
We, the dryads, summon thee!
History and Tragedy,
Choral Dance and Comedy,
Muses Nine, we summon thee!

-“Heart of the World; A Masque of Myths”
from Pageants and Pageantry by Esther Willard Bates, 1912

I do not blog, nor do I journal. Unless I do.

March 30, 2017 By Jenai 1 Comment

April arrives in a few days, on Saturday, with Camp NaNoWriMo on its shoulders. Come that day, words words words and words will fill my every free moment. Not only do I resist blogging… I will also have no time to add more words to my load. Therefore, I shall instead chronicle. Briefly.

Saturday is not yet here, and today I have both time and the mood for wordiness. Perhaps, if I start this chronicle off properly, I will maintain it. I do not journal, except for spurts lasting a few days with several years in-between. Blogging has brought marginally more success, so long as it’s food-related. In which case, I manage to dedicate myself to blogging for a few weeks, rather than days, prior to my typical years-long hiatus.
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