Weather Report

[hobgoblinn]

Dude, if I had known I was going to get caught in a freaking hurricane, I would have stayed home.

No, I sang the mass tonight, and Wee Hob returned the Good Monsignor's property to him, and then Wee Hob and his godfather went to their house. I was to follow as soon I was dressed in something less formal and more appropriate to the heat. I knew there was a line of storms moving through, but it wasn't until I got out on the highway and came over a hill that I saw we might be dealing with a little more than just rain.

The sky never got that green, but the straight line winds were interesting. I've never seen one of those hanging stoplights-- you know, with the three lights and a turn arrow-- pushed horizontal, and even a little more than that, by wind before. That was the longest light I think I've ever suffered through. Because there was no place to go.

But I made it in one piece. Wee Hob came and hugged me really, really hard when I came in the door. Poor little guy was worried. It was kinda sweet, really.

We seem to be done with the Good Monsignor for now. Not the most graciously handled thing I've ever seen, but I think the way Wee Hob's godparents and I have been dealing with it makes up for a lot. Hopefully the Good Monsignor will read the letters of apology and that will help. He has a right to be angry that Wee Hob was confirmed while still holding on to stolen property, though. Maybe saying it out loud to Wee Hob helped him deal a little, too.

Going home, I saw a mid sized tree that seemed to have been torn in half by the wind. No lightning evidence-- it just looked like half the tree was ripped away, all jagged torn wood, leaving the rest still standing as if nothing had happened. Glad I wasn't sitting at that light when it gave way.

Got a new bit of my Summer of Giles story written, some information that needed revealing sooner thanks to the shift in POV in the second half. Am starting to flake a little bit about the things that have to get done before we leave town next week, though. I just hope I have enough time to get this last section rewritten so the new stuff flows right before Friday.

Comments

[clavally.livejournal.com]

Wow, glad you're ok and a little envious cuz I love a good scary storm, lol.

I really hope this is an end to all the trouble with the Monsignor. Confession is good for the soul, let's hope for both parties.

On the writing front, I was wondering if I could pick your brain about something? When you start writing, do you know exactly what you want to do with each scene and how you need to get there, or is it more fluid than that?

And when you decide to start writing a story, is it because you want to show explore a theme or just a situation?

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

I like scary storms, too. But this was a little too close and exposed, even for me.

I usually start writing with a strong image-- a ghost and boy in a dungeon, or an idea I want to explore (Giles and parental/Watcher guilt came from Wilfred Owen's "Parable of the Old Man and the Young"). Once it's spun out a little, I might get a flash of what it's about overall, kind of like a big overview.

I usually write a lot more fluidly, but I am getting to where I can say-- I need to add this scene here to do x. Balance is important-- The reason this summer of giles story languished so long was that it was kind of meandering nowhere. Which is fine for Nanowrimo, but not for anything you want people to actually read.

Does that help, a little?

[clavally.livejournal.com]

Yes, it does help, thank you. I've been having this sort of low-grade panic over what I've been writing. I realized I wanted to do certain scenes because of my prompts, but other than that there was no character development or conflict and resolution or any real point to it.

Have spent past half hour reading about how to write short stories on fictionwriting.about.com. It's actually been fairly interesting, especially some of the writing exercises they list.

Will have to spend some time thinking about conflict. Reminds me of a quote from Vonnegut about writing. He said, "Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of." Something I shall endeavor to do more of in the future.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's a great quote. I'll have to check out that website, too. You should go to teh nano website in the offseason and check out their materials for school kids doing noveling-- some of their worksheets are fantastic.

[clavally.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yeah I think I will check that out. And if you're interested, I got the Vonnegut quote here: http://www.troubling.info/vonnegut.html

[snarkysneak.livejournal.com]

Heeeeeeee! When my writing partner and I discuss scenes, I constantly ask her if she likes an idea of mine or what not. I know it is good when she says "Its evil, nasty, horrible, painful, and I love it so let's keep it!"

[emmeline33.livejournal.com]

Glad you made it all right! That sounds like a terrifying drive. Good luck with your writing!

[snarkysneak.livejournal.com]

I totally feel for you on that storm. We have had more than our fair share of those scarily beautiful yet oh so destructive storms. I'm very glad that you and your family are safe. I'm also glad to hear that your meeting with the Monsignor went as well as could be expected.

[heron-pose.livejournal.com]

Scary weather is SCARY! I'm glad you made it, and v. glad that things are looking up on the Young One front.