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January 2011
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March 2011

Ack! - another book

Or maybe ack ack ack ack!

Another book percolated to the top of my hold list yesterday - it's so nice having a library only a 15 minute walk away. And since a common bit of advice to writers is to read a lot - I am. Mostly fiction, but also several on how to write. Yesterday I picked up another one by P. D. James, An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, and almost made it home. "My" pub had an open stage going on, so I stayed to listen, and chat, and drink many pints. Life goes on.

The Middle East's various conflicts are still covered in print and online but there's not quite the distraction of a few weeks ago, as many watched live coverage from Tahrir Square in Egypt. I know it used up a lot of my day - as well as my online bandwidth. Yesterday's Citizen had a good article by Ian MacLeod - Birth of a Revolution- that explained some of the demographics of the region, of what some call "age rage" . While 36% of Canadians are under 30, in Yemen it's 73%. Coupled with high unemployment rates - 27% in Tunisia and an overburdened medical and education system, with internet access to show what other more fortunate countries provide, and as a way to communicate across borders, it's not surprising that there is so much unrest.

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Friday already?

Being retired, TGIF means better get my shopping done before the proles hit the stores tomorrow. But first some musings. I've been reading yet more about writing, several sites and books recommend practicing - by writing every day in a journal. Not necessarily a diary, just your current thoughts and and speculations, without any worry about editing, spelling, structure, character development, etc. Every day you start new, without re-reading yesterday's content, and fill more pages/books/shelves. I understand the concept, but can't help think that's time I could be working on "real" writing - meaning a new book, editing an old one, letters to the editor, short stories for contests, blog posts, etc. I do carry a small notebook to capture ideas on the go - but it's not a throw-away, I use those notes later.

Have a pot of beef-beer stew simmering, and a list of errands to do so need to get rolling here. It seems everytime I try for a quick post I end up adding items and links and spend an hour at it. Never enough time in the day it seems - especially for the retired. So:

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MIA - my Globe and Mail, not the singer

Popped my pills, brewed a coffee, and creaked down the stairs to the mailbox - no G&M. Their voice mail claims production difficulties, again, and that they'll deliver both days' worth tomorrow. This happened last week, and several times last year. Plus I seem to get missed by my carrier maybe once a month. Not that I can't use the time for something else, but it does get me thinking again about switching from print to digital. But only briefly - I do like to sit at my table by the window, sip a fresh ground coffee, spread out the paper and slowly work my way through it. If I see an article I want to save - whether for later blogging or a letter to the editor or to hand to a friend - it's simple to tear it out. I like not only the content, but also the medium and the experience of using it.

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Your novel's first draft is like an unruly teenager

I read an interesting post on this, so thought I'd add a comment to it. Said comment kept growing and growing, so I figured I might as well use it to wite a new blog post. I've learned to always open to more procrastinations.

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I love the idea of a first draft as a teenager. Mine is a first first draft, I never had written more than a few hundred words at one time so it was a challenge, but it was great fun too. However, now my supportive friends that have seen it gush over every page like it was a perfect newborn baby. While I do agree that this whole birthing process was both painful and rewarding, and quite an accomplishment, I now need to find critical friends that will see it as an annoying and incomplete teenager, but with -just maybe - the potential to grow into something beautiful. But before they see it I need to polish this first draft.

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