A couple of links to start your Friday:
This piece about Christopher Walken is so pure. And man – I am a little envious of these nuggets of information if they are true.
The writing routines of five famous writers … like the author of this piece, I like the idea of 25 minute writing sprints. I’ve been participating in Saturday morning writing sprints with a group of writers from MWA-Midwest and that has been a great kick in the pants for my productivity.
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Watching: My BFF Anne and I went to “The Dry” over the Fourth of July weekend. A) Eric Bana … meow. B) It was just a fantastic movie based on Jane Harper’s novel about a murder mystery in Australia.
Reading: I finished Laura Vanderkam’s “Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done“. Finishing “The Comfort Crisis.” I started Hallie Ephron’s “Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel.” (I needed a kick in the pants.) And I’ve made a personal goal for the third quarter of this year to read one short story per week. I started with Nikki Dolson’s “Georgie Ann” from her book “Love and Other Criminal Behavior” and DAMN. So good. (So good that I may just have to finish that book over the weekend.)
Writing: Querying for Dragonfly.
I’ve been trying to hit a daily word count on my current WIP and I’ve actually sketched out a calendar to help me keep track of what I should be writing on what days. (i.e. – my coworker and counterpart in my day job is on vacation until the 14th – so instead of 1,000 words/day, I’m aiming for 500 words so I can account for any kind of shenanigans that pops up while she’s gone.). It’s helping me be accountable, but there I days that I totally whiff and don’t make any word count. (Boo.) But … constant progress! That’s the goal! (And a first draft by end of September? Maybe? Maybe? OK – let’s not get too ambitious here.)
I’m still grappling with the tone of the piece, but I think I get closer every day. I need to recognize that my recent glut of reading non-fiction is actually my procrastination drug of choice and I need to start reading actual FICTION again. I bought some Dennis Lehane. I’m going to re-read my patron saint Gillian Flynn. In another fit of procrastination, I built a playlist to play while writing. Sometime, I’ll put it out on Spotify or YouTube so y’all can listen to some John Prine and Gordon Lightfoot with me.
It’s been a week, friends … I can blame my lack of writing on procrastination and me being me, but to be honest – there’s been a lot going on. Some of it good (niece getting married and asking me to perform her wedding ceremony, yay!) and some of it sad (some family friends who have passed on). If you’re vaccinated and if you’re so inclined, give and get some hugs from your social circle. Keep washing your hands, move your body, and be kind.
– Shelley
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What is Friday Fare? As a recap, on Fridays I post link love to the various bits of arcane shiz I discover on the Interwebs. I liken it to a glimpse into my mind, but without the 80s song lyrics or mental cobwebs.
michellekubitz 