NaNoWriMo Eve!

Alright, you guys, it's NaNoWriMo Eve. If I lived in Australia, I'd be furiously writing right now. But to be honest, when we reach 12am Eastern Time, I'll probably be asleep because November 1st also marks the official end of my vacation.

My novel this year will deal with a time-delayed murder and a possible ghost. It'll also be my first story set in Philadelphia.

While I should have been working on my outline for this coming month, I've been trying to get Awake edited (my Wrimo project from last year - only 2/3rds through it). I'd like to say it's going well, but I guess I'm having my doubts. Regardless, writing helps me escape other stuff, so I've already accomplished something very big for myself.

Keep an eye on the wordcount widget to your right and chart my progress. Feel free to cheer/laugh as needed.

Author Reading

So this is new for me. I've been listening to a lot of author readings through podcasts (as an effort to make my work day not make me want to shoot myself in the face*), but I haven't taken advantage of the opportunities to see these very authors in person.

A few days ago, I went to see Jennifer Weiner at the Reading Terminal Market. She gave us all wine, cheese, and chocolate (really, what more can you want?). After talking to us as though we were all long-time friends, she read an excerpt from her upcoming book "Fly Away Home", and took our questions. Of course, I wanted to ask something thoughtful, helpful for myself and everyone else. Alas, my brain doesn't work that way, so I asked something that had pretty much already been answered. Everyone else thought well on their feet.

Well worth the experience, so I'll make more of an effort to see other authors too (especially with the library doing as many events as they do).

*added for dramatic effect.  come on, people!




Editing for myself has (unfortunately) been dragging. I've enlisted the help of a few fellow writers to read what I'm working on and give me the kick in the pants I need. Thanks everyone!!

I'll also be taking full advantage of Starbucks' Frappuccino Happy Hour this afternoon and work on my story in a comfortable, distraction-free place (and who can say no to a Frappuccino?).

Reading a Movie

Departing slightly from my literary slant.

Just saw the movie New York last night ... starring John Abraham as Sam, Katrina Kaif as Maya, and Philadelpha, PA as New York.  That's right.  Almost every single scene was filmed in downtown Philadelphia, which is fine because if you don't live here, you won't do what I did while watching.  Oh look! There's the Comcast Building!  Oohh, the giant clothespin!!  The Shops at Liberty Place -- I was there this morning!  And so on.  It was a bit distracting from the story, but in a nice way.

I've been looking forward to seeing this movie for almost a year because last year, I read in the paper that a Bollywood movie was going to be shot in downtown Philly, gave the time and place, and so I went to check it out.  There weren't any actors on the street because they were on the roof of one of the high rises -- BUT, there were two hellicoptors hovering between two buildings, which was quite interesting, and I shot my own video of it (remind me to find it and maybe I'll post it here -- found this photo online ... i didn't take this one, but it's very similar to what I got).  Needless to say, when that scene came up in the movie last night, I was beside myself.  I was a building's height away from one of my favorite actors.

Interesting movie -- not sure how much of it was factual and how much was sensationalized, but enough to get you thinking.  I recommend it -- Netflix has it, not sure about your local rental store, since it's foreign.