Call for Happy Things, again.

[Chimera]

Really?! You need to post pictures.  

[Chimera]

This is kind of a mix of grumpy and happy, but since the grumpy thread was getting ahead I decided to post here. (heh, internal rhyme. I'm good, baby!)

So I haven't been feeling well lately, which is bad. But the good news is that since I can't go out much I've been writing a ton. To the point of being entirely too obsessed with my characters. But I am going to finish part one of my ridiculously long and complicated first novel before the year is over if it's the last thing I do!!!

But, if I die, let if be known here that I want my laptop to be burned. I'd rather no one read my story unfinished and think I'm insane, since a lot of the redemption will come in the second half.

Even if I finish this stinking novel, I think I'm going to have to burn it. It is far too revealing of my weaknesses and neuroses. And much too dark. But if I get it out of my system, I can move on to something more pleasant. Like a story about a happy little elf...  

[Archon]

And much too dark.

Define TOO dark.

[Spriggan]

Black type on Black paper.

[Chimera]

As in I am no longer comfortable with myself because of all the bad things my characters have to go through. And the terrible stuff that the villians do. I'm beginning to wonder if I really am twisted.  

I don't know how Stephen King lives with himself.

I'm sure I'll get over it in time. I know logically that writing about terrible things does not make me a terrible person. I don't look at other authors and think they are bad because bad things happen in their books. But it is still a shock to let the story go where I feel it needs to go and then look back and say, "Did I write that?"

I'm having issues. Anyway. I can barely let my writing group read it. I cringe everytime I go. But then I just keep reminding myself that my writing is not me. It's hard to disassociate at this point, since it is my first long work (i.e. novel instead of short story). It will get better with time.

And I think I really do want to write something light and fluffy next. No more of this deep, dark, psychological stuff.

[fuzzyoctopus]

I'm happy because the dogs were sweet and let me take a nap with them and because my husband took a picture.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/fuzzyoctopus/naptime.jpg

[The Jade Knight]

There's nothing inherently wrong with deep, dark, and psychological, Chimera.

If the text uses those qualities to edify the reader, then the novel is quite a success regardless.  If you're just writing to dump the dark things inside, that's fine too, though perhaps less beneficial for the reader.

[stacer]

I'm happy because the dogs were sweet and let me take a nap with them and because my husband took a picture.

Awww, that's so sweet! (She says as her kitten naps at her feet.)

[Chimera]

If the text uses those qualities to edify the reader, then the novel is quite a success regardless.  If you're just writing to dump the dark things inside, that's fine too, though perhaps less beneficial for the reader.

I'm attempting the former. We'll see when I finish it if it has degenerated into the latter. Either way, I'm writing and its my first novel so I'm just trying to tell the story without criticizing myself too much.

MsFish told me tonight that I'm not allowed to stop writing my novel, and what MsFish says is law, so I have to keep writing it.  

[Tink]

I'm happy cause my company announced that they're taking us all to see Harry Potter the day after it comes out. I'm so excited!

[Chimera]

That's a cool company. Who do you work for?

[Tink]

Just a software company in Orem.

[Chimera]

My order of books from Amazon came in the mail today, including the most recent Lemony Snicket book (The Penultimate Peril), the most recent Shannon Hale book (Princess Academy), and possibly my favorite Nancy Farmer book (The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm).

I'm so happy   I could cry  

[fuzzyoctopus]

I just saw someone online asking where to take their computer to get it fixed and the first thing I thought was "Good idea, computer overpopulation is a real problem."

I'm happy that I amuse myself.

[Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock]

So, wednesday night I was told by my Lit 400: The Beat's professor that John Ashbery will be giving a presentation at the Albright-Knox friday night at 8. I was over-excited but then brought back down by the thought that I'd probably have to work that night. Then I find my schedule and I work from 5-8. Now, I'm hoping I'll be able to leave early to get there as quickly as I can. oh boy fun! Poetry!