Camping in the oven

This week our daughter Yen was suffering from some bad luck. She was invited by her fried to her house to play, then extended the stay b/c her friend wanted Yen to join her brother's birthday party. However, for some reason, when I went to pick Yen up, her friend's parents hadn't start the party yet. All the kids asked me "Can Yen stay?" But her parents said no. It wasn't really a problem for me but I didn't want to impose, so I brought her home. She was nearly in tears when she walked out of her friend's house.

I felt bad for her, so the next day I planned a fishing trip w/ her. Her older brother gave her a fishing pole and she really wanted to try it out. I knew nothing about fishing, but I thought the point was to let her try and made her happy. Well, the whole story was posted on the last blog; we didn't get any luck. But it was a good try in my opinion.

On Wednesday, she kept on asking me about camping. We've kind of planned a camping trip in the beginning of this week cause our oldest son Mike was away for summer camp in Colorado, and we thought we could have some fun ourselves too. But the weather was unstable so we kept on postponing. Yen was keeping on pushing me to have this trip, and finally I decided that Friday was the day for me to keep my promise.

My wife wasn't very fond of the idea. She doesn't like sweating, and she hates the idea of sleeping in a tiny tent in the middle of nowhere w/out all the comforts and safety at home. But I said it was a promise for kids and we had to fulfill it. Plus it could be a family time, and if that really worked then in the future we could save hotel money in our family trip.

So we made all the preparation. Boy, I didn't know we had to bring so many things for a camping trip!! Our tiny car was totally full, and we had to put the tents we rented ($20 for two 4-person tents) on Yen's lap. But at 4:30pm we were off! It should be a fun time, we believed.

We went to a place I and my two boys went this spring. We had a very good time: the food was great, we built a fire in a cold night, and we talked under the stars. That really was a great time. So I thought we could duplicate that experience.

Boy, I couldn't be more wrong.

Now we all can easily see why this trip was doomed to failure, but I was so caught up in the beautiful experience I had that I didn't see many obvious problems. We realized our mistakes very soon though: after 10 minutes we got there, I wanted to escape and go home as fast as I could, like running away from hell.

All the problems could be summed up into a four-letter word: HEAT.

IT WAS HOT!!!! And stupid as I was, I told my kids not to bring more than one bottle of water cause I remembered I didn't finish half of bottle on the last trip. I didn't use my head and think that my last trip was at the end of the winter. Now we were stuck in this OVEN and we couldn't drink water as much as we needed. My wife's face very soon turned bluish, then red, then finally purple. She now walked like a zombie and looked like would drop in any minute. Ben and Yen's faces were red and their eyes were crossed.

I started cooking the food. Meanwhile tons of bugs were outrageously happy b/c four humans were stupid enough to come to their territory at this time of the day to be their dinner and entertainment. The bug's spray on us seemed to attract MORE bugs to investigate us. Maybe it was labeled "bug's spray: attract all the bugs you want." I must check the damn spray again.

"I'm tired and hungry," Ben whined. "Just a minute, I'm cooking." I said. Yen hid in the tent and read the book she brought. My wife couldn't talk.

Finally, we started to eat something: corns, fish, potatoes, and carrots. It was the only cool thing in this trip: the food was not bad.

But after that, we just sit there and didn't know what to do. It was too hot to do anything. Yen planned to fish but we had to walk a distance to reach the creek. And surely nobody wanted to "play;" anything that required to move a muscle was too much to ask. We brought marshmallows, chocolate, and gram crackers, but the marshmallows were sticky and chocolate was in liquid.

It was only 2 hours into our trip, and everybody was cooked.

I tried to escape by retrieving into the tent, like Yen did. But 2 minutes in there I sweat even more. The only good thing was no bugs. "Gosh! How could you stay in there!?" I ran out of the tent. But my wife, who was sampled by mosquitoes, finally hid in the tent w/ Yen. Ben later got into another tent and tried to read. I admired that.

"Let's go home." I finally said.

"No!" Yen protested.

"Why not?"

"I want to sleep here; I want to see the stars."

Stars? I saw them in front of my eyes now. You didn't see them? And sleep here? Are you kidding?

After long suffering, finally at around 8pm, 3 1/2 hours into the trip, Yen gave in, and we packed home.

The moment we got into our cooler home, I recalled the Disney cartoon when Goofy brought his son to carnival and they had a roller-coaster ride together. After the ride, Goofy crawled out of the car and kissed the ground.

I felt like kissing my home too.

Fishing with my daughter

Yesterday I didn't feel well: stomachache (no idea why) and headache. Sleepy all day. Today I feel better.

It was raining quite hard yesterday. Quite chill; I liked that. Today is hot: 91 degrees and probably is rising.

Yesterday my daughter wanted to go camping. I reserved two tents from school, but later postponed to Friday b/c of the rain. She was upset: "I want to use Mike's fishing pole!" So I said: "That's easy, why don't we get the things we need today and go fishing tomorrow?"

I know nothing about fishing, so it took me a while to figure out that the pole her brother gave her was actually broken. Luckily she has another brother who doesn't like outdoor activities. He let her borrowed his pole.

She wanted to go asap, right after the lunch. She had an appointment w/ her friend at 3, so that left us around one hour to actually fish. What made it worse was when we got there, we found out neither of us brought the fishing kit. So we went back and took it. It ended up we only fished less than 40 minutes.

I guess it was ok, cause we didn't get anything. The time probably was not right, the bait probably wasn't right either, and the place probably didn't have many fishes.

But hey, we spent some father-daughter time together, right?

Day 1: Here and now

I'm thinking about spending about half an hour writing something everyday.

I've lived several decades, but till now I'm still wondering "where have all the years gone to?" In my mind I still think I'm only 25 and am just about to start to enjoy my life...but my body and my soul are all getting old. I wonder why.

It's because I'm always worrying about tomorrow and regretting about yesterday. I rarely live right at this moment.

So now, I'll write something everyday so I know what I've experienced today; to show myself that I've lived this day. I hope it'll help me to focus more on "here and now."

==

It's past 10pm now.

Today was a bit boring. And I've been bothered by my physical problem. I felt tired. But I did some meta by scanning through abstracts, and I read the textbook for personality class. Gosh, that is a boring book to read!

In the evening we went to Valentino. That was really a bad decision. We should have gone to Chipotle. At least Sirloin Stockade.

Mike isn't home; he is in Colorado for summer camp and won't come back till this Sat. During the time he's not home, we have much less quarrels; our mind is much more peaceful. And for some reason Ben and Yen seem to be nicer. I think taking away Mike for a week is good for these two kids.

Ben made a lot of clay figures and made a movie under my wife's directions. He enjoyed it a lot, and I'm very happy for him. Without Mike taking away attention, I think we are more likely to find Ben's talents.

I'm aware that I'm too critical. What I have to learn probably is to take it easy; maybe sometimes just let it go. Instead of seeing their messy room, at least I can try to see their smiles first.

Day 101: Start your next novel.

Yes, it says "Start your next novel."

I'm glad I've come through the whole thing.

Throughout these 100 days, I have a glimpse of the, say, "formula," if you will, of writing novels. There are many "formulas," and all have their strengths and weaknesses. But everyone emphasizes one thing: be persistent. Write everyday.

At this stage of my life, it probably is difficult for me to write 4-5 pages every day. But I can try to write everyday; I can try to spend 30 minutes every day on the writing.

I hope this stage will change soon: hopefully by next May things will change, at least a bit. I hope the future will be brighter. No matter what, I should not stop writing.

Keep dreaming, I guess.

Day 99 & 100

Yesterday was too busy on my dissertation...

Day 99: "Remind yourself that you still have to wait for two months minus a day. Do not call the agent. If two full months pass and you hear nothing, then you can write a brief note of inquiry."

Sure.

Day 100: "Remind yourself that everyone — everyone! — gets rejected. The stories are endless. Margaret Mitchell (Gone With the Wind), Daphne du Maurier (Rebecca), Joseph Heller (Catch-22), Stephen King (his first four novels), and on and on."

Ok... I'll keep that in mind. Don't lose the courage and hope.

Done.

===

These 100 days I believe I've learned something. Though my story is not finished yet, I'll definitely go through the process again to finish that.

Day 98: Buy yourself a drink.

"Amuse yourself by thinking about who who should star in the blockbuster movie."

I know one should reward her- or himself, but amusing oneself w/ that kind of wild dreams I'm not so sure. Wouldn't that make the rejections even harder to bear?

Well, but on the other hand, if you can handle it, then why not have some fun?

2 days.

Day 97: Entrust your manuscript to FedEx.

"Keep your receipt. Note the date on your calendar. Don't expect to hear anything for two months."

Yup. I'm used to this kind of waiting. Submitting to journal has to wait even longer, like 4-6 months.

3 days... my.

Day 96: Get a FedEx

"Get a FedEx mailer of the right size and put your jiffy bag in it. Don’t cut corners here. Look professional."

Not cutting corners. That's what I always do.

Man, it costs money to do things you want!

4 days.

Day 95: Write a very brief letter to the agent.

"Include the one-paragraph description of your novel that you wrote earlier. And include one brief paragraph about yourself. Do sound professional. Do not say, “I always wanted to be a writer . . .” or “I can write better than the junk I see . . .”
If you are sending your manuscript to more than one agent at the same time, you MUST tell them that this is “a multiple submission.” Either an agent will read it quicker or not at all; either way, you'll get an answer sooner.
In the jiffy bag, put A) the fifty pages or so of your novel, B) your letter to the agent, and C) a #10 SASE for the agent's reply. (You will not get the fifty pages back.)"

How do I sound more professional? I'll have to work on it and have someone proofread for me.

Sending manuscript to more than one agent probably is not a very good idea. I did it once, and when I was accepted by one, two others contacted me too. It was not a good experience. I had to apologize to the other two and tried to promise another book. That was not fiction writing though.

5 more days.

Day 94: Buy a sturdy, padded jiffy bag

"Look in an office supply store, Kinko's, etc."

It's for some pages of the story. Guess it's important to archive it.

6 days...wow.

Day 92 & 93

Yesterday I had a headache. Now I'm better.

Day 92:
"Write a brief synopsis — one paragraph, no more — of your novel. Make it strong and lively. This is an important sales tool."

Day 93:
"Make a photocopy or print out the first fifty pages or so of your novel. Try to leave off at a point where the reader will want to know more of the story."

Regarding the guide for day 92, in day 84 we did one paragraph description of the story already. What's the difference b/w this and "synopsis?"

I checked the dictionary for the word "synopsis" and it came out 3 definitions:

1. A brief or condensed statement giving a general view of some subject.
2. A compendium of heads or short paragraphs giving a view of the whole.
3. A brief summary of the plot of a novel, motion picture, play, etc.

I can't really tell the difference...

For the guide in day 93, I kind of did a similar thing on my "Prince Vingo" by emailing the first half to 2 people and waited for their reactions. Not really a word. Sigh.

One more week.

Day 91: In seeking an agent...

"...remember that you’re an unknown quantity and the top agents are loaded with clients. Aim at those in the middle of any listing of agents. And be sure they actually represent the genre of novel you have written."

Good advice. But how do I know which agents are top and which are in the middle?

9 days.

Day 90: Select a few agents...

"and send each a letter which begins — as appropriate:

I recently read ____, which is a wonderful book, and saw that you are ____’s agent.

Or:

My friend/acquaintance______, who is represented by you, suggested you as a possible agent for my book.

Or:

I read your article in______ about the book business, and was hoping that you might consider me as a future client.

Add the paragraph you’ve written about yourself, and then the paragraph about your novel."

Great practical advice! That's what I need. When I finish the story I'll surely do it.

10 days.

Day 89: To begin the agent search:

• Check the acknowledgement pages of books similar to yours to look for the names of the author’s agent.
• Ask other writers for recommendations.
• Use the “Friendly Agents” list in the Resources of this newsletter .
• Use the Internet and key in such words as “writer,” “author representation,” “agent.”

Wow, I googled "author representation" and I got some good info. There seem to have some agents accept email submission. But many of them are non-fiction. I wonder what non-fiction exactly means. I thought I knew, but now I probably don't. Maybe I'm good at non-fiction?

11 days.

Day 88: Don’t mail your novel yet.

"It is now time to research and find the right agent to represent you."

I hate this part, but I guess it's a necessary evil.

Why can't I just directly contact the publishers? Everything has an agent in this culture, like everything has to be insured. And the money paid to the insurance company is way exceeding the value the things being insured. Doesn't make sense.

Yea, I'm stretching too far. Just like to complain.

12 days.

Day 87: Print out your novel.

Not finish yet, but sure will do when it's finished.

But why can't we use email? If we can do that that will save so many trees.

13 days.

Day 86: Presenting your book.

"Follow these instructions closely:
• Printed on 8 1/2-by-11, standard 20-pound bond white (not high-gloss) paper.
• No three-hole-punched paper.
• Pages not bound in any way.
• Printed on a laser or ink-jet printer — no dot-matrix.
• 12-point-type font.
• Double-spaced, with one-inch margins..
• Number the pages consecutively from title page to last page of text.
• All new chapters start halfway down a new page.
• No mention of rights or “copyright.” Mentioning “copyright” labels you as an amateur."

Gee, I didn't know all new chapters start halfway down a new page. What's the purpose?

And printing this will kill a lot of trees...

Good to know all these though.

14 days.

Day 85: Write one paragraph about yourself.

Myself?

I really don't know what to say. Sometimes I feel a rush of disappointment or even panicking feeling: why am I me?

I don't know what I am looking for. Sometimes people praise me of my works, but I just can't get enough. Ten tons of praises can't compensate a drop of criticism.

And the praises can't never reverse the fact I'm getting old. Why am I so afraid of being old and death?

I'm a middle-age man, a husband and a father of 3. I'm a Ph.D. student and am scared to death about finding an academic job. I have some talents: music, painting, some sports, and some other things. But I'm easily irritated and getting angry, and I need constant approvals. All the time. I'm neurotic.

15 days.

Day 84: Write a one-paragraph...

"...description of your novel."

So far, it probably is like this:

(Tag)
A man is fighting with his own destiny; a destiny that is thrown upon him--and a destiny of his own creation.

Jason has a good family and a great future: a wonderful wife, four beautiful children, and a career full of potential. But he is in pain--until he creates a perfect world of his own in his dream. But now the dream is gradually out of his control...

16 days.

Day 83: The short story writer Raymond Carver said...

"...he knew a story was finished when he found himself going through it once and putting commas in, then going through it again and taking the commas out. Is that how you feel?"

I assume that means you just have no more to change? I guess that's what it means. Well, sooner or later I'll get there. =)

17 days.

Day 82: Re-read the endings...

"...of your favorite novels. How does your book match up?"

I don't know... it's so subjective. To me the hypothetical ending of my story is not too bad. BTW, I personally prefer an ending that leaves readers to think and wonder (e.g., "I think they end up being together," "I believe they broke up," etc.). And I don't exactly like a "fairy tale" happy ending: life is not like that. We always can have some hope, but also w/ many flaws and uncertainties. So my ending probably has some sadness, but w/ hope too.

18 days.

Day 81: You need a climactic scene...

"...at the end of your book, a scene that resolves the conflict."

I haven't got to the end yet; in fact I haven't got to the middle. But while I was camping w/ my boys I kind of having a rough idea of how it's going to end. So we'll see.

19 days.

Day 80: Review your manuscript...

"...and make sure you have given your readers a picture of your characters early in the story. Readers don’t need to know everything, but they do need to know what is physically important about each character. Use the five senses to get your characters down on paper."

Really? You mean how does s/he look like, how does s/he smell, that sort of things? I don't see many stories do that. My impression is they might talk a little bit, but not necessarily a lot.

But ok, I'll talk a bit about my characters.

20 days.

Day 79: Re-read

"Re-read your own opening sentence. How does it hold up?"

First, yesterday's assignment:

1. Prologue
May 31, 2001
Feast of the Visitation
House of Olivia and Gudge Beeler
Mountain City, North Carolina

THE ROOM, THOUGH small, is light and airy. A highly polished writing table overlooks a square of lawn with flower borders.

- Gail Godwin, Unfinished Desires

2. I had just finished a job for an interesting woman named Nan Sartin, and was happily making out my bill to her, when a woman came in who promised to be equally interesting.

- Robert B. Parker, The Professional

3. Molly Crane stuck her head into the open doorway of Jesse's office and said, "Chief Stone, there's a private detective from Boston here to see you."

- Robert B. Parker, Split Image

4. The place never changed.
Gabriel McQueen actually liked that about his hometown, Wilson Creek, Maine.
- Linda Howard, Ice.

5. While swards of lightening slashed and stabbed murderously across the scarred shield of sky, Bart Minnock whistled his way home for the last time.

- J. D. Robb, Fantasy in Death

6. A moment before the encounter, a strange expectancy overcame Grady Adams, a sense that he and Merlin were not alone.

-Dean Koontz, Breathless

Compare to my opening? Well, some start with description of things, some with ideas, and some with dialogues. Mine kind of starts with description. Don't know if that's attractive or not. But I surely can try another one.

21 days.

Day 78: Go to a good book store...

"...and read the opening sentences of novels that have just been published. "

Gee, today is Sunday, I probably can't go out and do this. Maybe tomorrow. But I'll try.

22 days.

Day 77: Pick up a half dozen great novels...

"...and read just the first sentences of each. "

1.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct
the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present
period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its
being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree
of comparison only.

--Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

2.
Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and the rest of these gentlemen having asked me to write down the whole particulars about Treasure Island, from the beginning to the end, keeping nothing back but the bearings of the island, and that only because there is still treasure not yet lifted, I take up my pen in the year of grace 17__ and go back to the time when my father kept the Admiral Benbow inn and the brown old seaman with the sabre cut first took up his lodging under our roof.

--Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

3.
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.

--Herman Melville, Moby Dick

4.
Since Aramis's singular transformation into a confessor of the order, Baisemeaux was no longer the same man. Up to that period, the place which Aramis had held in the worthy governor's estimation was that of a prelate whom he respected and a friend to whom he owed a debt of gratitude; but now he felt himself an inferior, and that Aramis was his master.

--Alexandre Dumas, The Man in the Iron Mask

5.
On an exceptionally hot evening early in July a young man came out of the garret in which he lodged in S. Place and walked slowly, as though in hesitation, towards K. bridge.

--Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

6.
Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean towards each other, black and ominous, in the fading light.

--Jack London, White Fang

23 days.

Day 76: Rewriting period

"In this, your rewriting period, make the opening of your novel as strong as possible. The first few pages show an editor just how talented your are. Rewrite your opening scene. You’ll see that now, having written the novel, you are a much better writer than you were when you started writing it."

Rewrite the opening? Hmm... maybe that's a good idea. What constitutes "strong opening" though?

I guess it's an opening that creates tension, that makes you wonder "what will happen next?" I'll see what I can do.

24 days.

Day 75: Read your novel into a tape recorder...

"...and then play it back while following the written text. Look for scenes that don’t work, language that draws too much attention to itself. Cut and cut and cut towards the core of the novel, the essence of what your novel is about. Remember the “flight” of your novel."

Man, when I finish a long story, it'll take a whole day to read it out loud!

But I guess that's what it takes.

25 days.

Day 74: Get rid of...

"...meaningless phrases and jargon such as: coming from, networking, furthermore. "

Well, I didn't use these...yet. But the guide doesn't tell me what to use instead! What if I use these words?

Sigh...

26 days to go.

Day 73: Get rid of...

"...excessive use of foreign words or phrases, the inappropriate use of fancy words, vulgar language or images, or graphic blood and sex."

Gee, no sex!? No way! =P

Well, I don't think this will be my problem.

27 days to go.

Day 72: Get rid of...

"...unnecessary question marks, exclamation marks and parentheses."

"Unnecessary"....? Ok, that probably means "trying to hard to be impressive." I'll watch that.

28 days to go.

Day 71: Re-read your novel again...

"...and look just for the cliches. Cut: “one fell swoop,” “pretty as a picture,” “in my mind’s eye,” “right as rain.”"

Oh man, this is my problem: what are counted as "cliches" and what are not? I don't even know what "one fell swoop" or "right as rain" means...I know pretty as a picture is cliche though. I use different expressions. Actually, I don't like cliches and strive to avoid them. People should not see too many cliches in my story.

Day 69 & 70

69: "Go back and cut out one excessive metaphor or simile from each page. As F. Scott Fitzgerald put it, “You never cut anything out of a book you regret later.” "

70: "Cut out one adjective or adverb in each paragraph."

Yesterday I had to go father-son compout, but again I thought about the story.

I'm not sure what the guideline is referring to by saying cutting out excessive metaphors. They are not good? So we should never use them? And probably we should not use adjectives/adverbs either. I believe Steven King said something like "the road to hell is adjectives."

Day 68: Re-read your pages

"— one at a time — out loud to “hear” any awkward sentence structure."

Wow, you don't expect me to do it in a day, do you?

I did the 1st page, and then I changed a lot of things. This method seems cool.

Day 67: Do chunk editing.

"Cut away from the bone of the story. Go chapter by chapter and get rid of “all your darlings” as William Faulkner called excessive prose."

It means a big renovation, I guess. Cut to the bones and reconstruct. Is it?

Sigh. The problem is I never find so much time to do that. I do change the direction of the story off and on.

Day 66: Read the story

"Go back and read the whole novel from start to finish, noting lines and phrases that are awkward, but keep reading. Don’t bother to rewrite, not yet."

I did it yesterday....

And I added some stuff too cause my story is not complete yet.

Day 65: Editing your novel

"Now that you've been away from it for a while, it is time to start editing your novel. Before you start, remember what James N. Frey says in How to Write a Damn Good Novel; “Think of a climax as the target and the rest of your story as the flight of the arrow.” It is time to review the “flight.”"

Gee, two weeks already.

I've edited parts of my story. When you are away from your story and then read again, there will be some expressions make you think: "What was I thinking when I wrote that down? Was I high or something?"

Of course, there are some good parts too.

Away from the story - day 11

But how about dopamine and/or serotonin? Cocaine works by blocking dopamine reuptake process, so the synapses are flooding with dopamine and the person feels the constant high. But I don't think Jason is that stupid to use cocaine. Well, maybe eventually, giving his bitter childhood. But I'm thinking about an invention for controlling lucid dreams to be always happy.

What can make the same happy memory comes back again and again?

Away from the story - day 7

Glutamate: the neurotransmitter that is related to learning and memory. It's the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain, and can be very toxic when the level is too high. It's also a food seasoning called MSG.

It helps neurons to form new connections. Maybe this is a good candidate for my story.

Away from the story - day 2

Yesterday I was thinking about the story. Lucid dream is still my idea, but I'm not sure if I have to talk further about erasing memory and reoccurring memory. First, I'm not a biopsychologist, I don't fully understand the whole thing; second, I guess what I really want to talk about is reoccurring dreams. Maybe just let it happen instead of explaining the cause.

I've been working hard on my dissertation. Now maybe I should take some time on this story.

Day 63 & 64

Day 63: Print out your book.
Day 64: Place the book in a safe place and leave it alone for two weeks.

Yesterday I was very emotionally agitated, plus I knew all I was asked to do was to print out the story, so I didn't come back.

Something very disturbing to me happened. Maybe it's just me, but I almost want to conclude that there's no one I can rely. No real friendship. Except family. But enough of that.

I'm not sure if I have to print out my story. I just started it and work on it bit by bit. Progression is slow; sometimes I just do revisions. Sometimes I just think about the plot. But it's in my mind everyday.

And I don't understand about the leaving it alone for 2 weeks thing. Because in day 65 the guide says to edit the book.

Now, I guess when the guide says "How to write a novel in 100 days," it doesn't mean "within 100 days," but "100 writing days." That's the only explanation.

I think during these two weeks, I still will come back everyday and say something or do something and report. I still will work on the story. Because I think my story is still too young to leave it alone.


http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

36 days.

Day 62: Do a spell check of your book.

Done.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

38 days.

Day 61: Do they have a beginning, a middle, and an end?

"Re-read your novel and ask yourself: Have I raised a question or presented a puzzle, and then solved it?
If you can give a satisfactory answer to this question, then continue."

I guess I raise a question: Is Jason going to have an affair?

But I'm more concerned about whether I have made readers to care about Jason.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

39 days.

Day 60: If you have written five pages a day...

"...for the last 60 days, you have written about 90,000 words. It is time to begin to rewrite and edit your novel."

Nope...

And I remember he said 4 pages a day? Or 300 words? That doesn't add up. 90,000/60 = 1,500.

Weird.

But no, I probably just barely start it. Working on my dissertation takes too much time. Sigh.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

40 days.

Day 59: “Don’t tell, show.”

"There’s an old adage in writing: “Don’t tell, show.” It means, don’t tell us about anger, show us. We then will read and feel the anger. Don’t tell the reader what to feel. Show the reader the characters and situation, and that feeling of anger (or sorrow, love, honesty, justice, etc.) will awaken in them."

So, show the actions.

"She was sad" vs. "She sobbed" vs. "'My world comes to an end,' she said."

Which one is better?

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

41 days.

Day 58: Remember...

"...that novels can be light on plot and short on style, but flesh-and-blood characters with believable traits and motivations can save any book by gaining the reader’s sympathy."

Yes... again, it's all about the people in your story. Believable traits and motivations.

I better take a good look at my characters. They seem to be... lame?

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

42 days.

Day 57: Take a break

"Take a break from your novel. Take either a day off, or a week. After this period, you’ll see your work with a fresh eye."

I've been writing some stories. In fact, there are tons of unfinished stories. I haven't read most of those stories for a long time. Sometimes when I read them, I can see some mistakes and therefore get some motivations to go on.

But I think I need some other people's opinions too, b/c I still will have bias; after all, they are my own stories.

Anyway, will take a break...

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

43 days.

Day 55 & 56

Yesterday I was in scout camp out w/ my 2 boys, so I didn't have time to write. I thought of something for the story though.

Day 55:
"Select your details. As Mark Twain said: “Use the right word, not its second cousin.” Remember that verbs are the strongest parts of any sentences. As Rita Mae Brown puts it, “Verbs blast you down the highway.”"

Hmm...verbs? So...actions are the key?

Day 56:
"Strunk and White in The Elements of Style make this point: “If those who have studied the art of writing are in accord on one point it is on this: The surest way to arouse and hold the reader is to be specific, definite, and concrete.”"

Ok.... specific, definite, and concrete. Let people see and touch.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

44 days.

Day 54: Good description observes all the senses

"Go to the library and browse through books on food and gardening. Authors of these books describe smells, tastes, touches, and even sounds in precise detail. When writing, always mention scents and tactile sensations. Good description observes all the senses."

I read the magazine: Cooking Light. This is one of the paragraph I read:

Remember how great a snow cone tasted when you were a kid--how the frozen sweetness cooled you down and perked you up on a hot summer day? Those bubblegum and blue raspberry, sugarcoated ice flakes are still fine for kids. And with flavors fit for an adult, frozen ice is a great summer dessert.

Then it continues:

"Water ices," or granitas in Italian, are flavorful, coarsely textured ice crystals. Stirred while freezing, the "ice"--often little more than fruit juice and sugar--develops into a refreshing, flaky slush. Ices are pretty to look at and a delight to eat, especially after dinner on a warm evening.

Well, in my opinion it describes a bit of "scents and tactile sensations," but mostly it's talking about how to do it. I'll probably read much more. So far what I've read is pretty much the same. The gardening books are about the same; I have no luck on finding the rich descriptions of scents and/or colors. Anyway, will keep looking.

Here is my try:

You have been working outside, or maybe playing basketball, in a hot summer day. You're thirsty and your sweat like rain. Then you see the tall glass of golden sweetness; the ice crystals clinking like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. You take a big slurp, then another, and another. The coldness flows down into your every bone and every pore until your hot body is totally chilled. Each cell in your body is alive again.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

46 days.

Day 53: creating tension

"During the making of the film "Friendly Persuasion" — from a novel by Jessamyn West, West remembers director William Wyler, saying, "We’ve got to get one more ‘Will he? Won’t he?" into this." As a writer, West tended not to do enough of creating that tension, which is what readers want."

So again, creating tension. Sometimes in order to do that you've got to be ruthless. Make your characters suffer. Let bad things happen to them. Or let them do bad things. Then see what will come out.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

47 days.

Day 52: “Character is action.”

"F. Scott Fitzgerald said: “Character is action.”
Characters do not operate in a vacuum. Their actions usually involve other people, and these interactions are what make up scenes. Full scenes, half scenes, and narrative passages are the building blocks for constructing a unified story line."

Ok, I guess he means that we are describing characters, and all characters have their actions and the motives behind the actions. What we need to do is making the characters and their motives "relatable" or "care-able," so when readers read they will find they care about these people and want to find out what happen next.

Easier to say than done.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

48 days.

Day 51: Most successful writers have had unhappy childhoods...

"Dean Koontz, for example, was the only child of a physically frail mother and a violent, alcoholic father who twice tried to kill himself and was eventually committed to an institution. Instability was a constant in his family. This terrible childhood stirred a passion for books in Koontz.
One of his very first memories stemmed from a period when his mother was hospitalized for several months. At the age of 3 or 4, Koontz was kept by one of her friends, who, every night, would tuck the little boy into bed, give him an ice cream soda and read him a book. Koontz connected these sensations of safety and happiness with storytelling. This has stayed with him.
Koontz has read The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame at least 50 times, relishing the theme of “friends pulling together to overcome the bad guys.” Koontz credits books for showing him at the age of 9 that not all families were like his.
“I am a driven adult child of an alcoholic,” says Koontz. Today he works six days a week, arriving at his desk by 7:30 a.m. He writes until dinner, skipping lunch.
But what does one do who hasn’t had an unhappy childhood? Ernest Hemingway once said that writers have to have had a terrible childhood, or at least think that they did."

By that unhappy-childhood definition, I should be a pretty successful writer. But I guess either I don't have the talent or I must work way much harder.

Kind of depressed today. Dissertation is such a big problem. I can't think of more things to write. I don't have time. And this weekend I have to go camping with my 2 boys; scout activity. I almost want to give up this writing.

Today I hate many things. I will not say everything, but it seems pretty close.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

49 days... over half way now.

Day 50: We are the masters of the superior secret...

"The novelist and poet James Dickey, talking to students near the end of his life, said, “I don’t mean to sell the poet so long or at such great length, but I do this principally because the world doesn’t esteem the poet very much. They don’t understand where we are coming from. They don’t understand the use for us. They don’t understand if there is any use. We are the masters of the superior secret, not they. Not they. Remember that when you write.”"

I guess I like that. "People might not esteem my work very much. That's because they just don't understand." At least that makes me feel better.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

50 days... wow, come to the mid-point of the whole thing.

Day 49: "Writers should have a physical hobby"

"The gifted writer Jo-Ann Mapson, who has published a half dozen novels, believes that writers should have a physical hobby. “Something that takes you away from books and criticism, because it teaches you, it informs you, and it changes your writing.”"

I play basketball. The problem is I am way too much into it, every time I lose a game I feel very bad about myself. Also, when the team I support lose the game, I feel super-bad.

Don't know how to fix this problem!

I sometimes also swim. Should I just change to swimming instead? But I know it's impossible.

But the point is to have something else to take away the attention, to distract ourselves from all the writing and negativism. Then when we come back we have a fresh start. Hopefully.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

51 days...

Day 48: Persistence is what is required.

"Novelist Harlan Ellison once said that if anybody can stop you from being a writer, then don’t be one."

Good say. In fact, these days I was thinking about (just a little bit though...) giving up. I'm too busy: my dissertation just seems so damn difficult to write more--I just have to put a lot more things that I don't think is so necessary. I have to look for a job this fall and if I don't have data that probably is not good for job hunting. Time seems to be running out.

And I guess nobody is reading my story...

But I have to be persistent, I guess. I have to finish this thing from beginning to end. As I said, I probably can't finish this one in 100 days. But I can have another 100 days. The important thing is I have to write everyday.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

52 days...

Day 47: In 1979...

"...at the age of 80, Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux began to write the story of her life. She wrote innocent tales of her past, tales of her grandmother and of a distant Aunt Clara who chewed tobacco and could spit in a cat’s eye.
Every morning she went into the kitchen of her white two-bedroom house in Manhattan, Kansas, where she had raised eight children. She sat down at the table and, aided by scrapbooks, letters and photographs, she wrote. Day after day, week after week, she wrote in longhand the story of her life, noting down the watershed events: births, deaths, one marriage, three wars, one flood, as well as the things that just struck her fancy, like the first time she saw Lawrence Welk. Having told the events of her life, she began then to write about the world that she never spoke of. Her feelings and thoughts.
Jessie Lee wrote all of this for a teacher, Charley Kempthorne, at his Harvest of Age, a program for senior citizens. Her writings were published by the local college and entitled The Life of Jessie Lee Brown From Birth Up to 80 Years. About 30 copies were printed for her family and friends. That was 20 years ago. Family, friends, and strangers are still reading her 208-page book now entitled Any Given Day: The Life and Times of Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux: A Memoir of Twentieth Century America [Warner Books, 1997].
Since writing her first memoir, Jessie Lee has written two more books. The latest, Granny’s Ramblings of This and That Two, was published in 1993. That year she wrote to the teacher who encouraged her to tell her story, “Thank you so much for not giving up on me,” she wrote. “I am not a writer, but my poor efforts have made a great difference in my life.”
If Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux isn’t a writer, who is? Everyone’s life is a book. Jessie Lee told her story. And Warner bought her story for one million dollars."

In the age of 80! And it's in Manhattan, Kansas! What a co-incidence!

Now that's persistence, keeping hope, and optimism!

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

53 days...

Day 46: It is emotionally costly to write well...

"...Dancers, for example, know that they're going to have bloody feet. Pianists know that they'll have to practice until the pain in their fingers makes them cry. Writing a novel is not like writing a letter. Writing a novel is mentally exhausting, far harder than a nine-to-five job. When you write a novel, you live the lives of your characters."

You bet!

It is tough. Really. Of course, unless you're on the flow; but then you worry about if anyone is going to like it. Maybe all you write so excitedly turns out to be junk. Or be seen as junk.

Side note: I play piano. I don't think you're play till the pain in the fingers makes you cry. I used to play quite long--4-6 hours everyday--and I never got any finger pain. I was on the flow. In the zone.

The point is taken though.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

54 days...

Day 45: Anton Chekhov’s remarkably simple advice was this:

"“If a gun hangs on the wall in the first act of the play, it must be discharged before the end.” You have to “look” at the total work with that piece of advice in mind and cut out anything that doesn’t help the story complete itself."

In other words, every word in the story has a purpose to be there. Our real life there are many things going on, and they probably are not exactly all related. But in the story, every move and every event has a purpose to be there. Every word said leads us to the evolution of the story.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

55 days...

Day 44: Don’t get discouraged. Keep writing.

"Remember the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Ironweed by William Kennedy was rejected by 13 publishers before Saul Bellow intervened on its behalf. In rejecting Laurence J. Peter’s The Peter Principle, an editor wrote that he could “foresee no commercial possibilities in such a book.”"

Just take a look at this:
14 Best-Selling Books Repeatedly Rejected by Publishers

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/14-best-selling-books-repeatedly-rejected-by-publishers.htm/printable

Amazing... I can't believe those authors have been rejected so many times. My stories have only been rejected like 2-3 times; guess I still can work on it.

The problem is I can't find proper publishers.

Really, I don't expect to be some great writer; I know I have a lot to improve. But I write w/ my heart, and I believe I'm progressing. So far probably no one really reads them. But I'll keep writing. At least I have to finish doing something.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

56 days...

Day 43: The Roman poet Horace observed...

"...around 14 B.C. that writers should attempt “to say at once what ought at once to be said.” In other words, grab your reader by the throat from your very first sentence."

You mean, like, a shocking opening/statement or catchy twist? Something like "she had an affair while her husband was lying on his sickbed" or "little did he know that this woman was going to make him pay back what he had done to her years ago"?

BTW, I committed to this project by devoting at least 30 minutes everyday so far. But I just can't write 300-400 words a day. Sometimes I write just 2 sentences. Yes, it sometimes takes me a whole 30 minutes to come out that 2 sentences. The progress is slow but kind of steady. I probably won't finish this story in the first 100 days. But I can keep going.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

57 days...

Day 42: Good characters grow and evolve out of basically two things...

"...their actions and their beliefs. We develop a sense and understanding of people by what they do and think in the dramatic events of the story."

I see... guess that's why good stories always involve people with difficult situations and strong emotions.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

58 days...

Day 41: "Thinking about it all day"

"Shirley Jackson, as the mother of four children and wife of a college professor, rarely had time to write during the day. Yet when she sat down at her desk at night, a story like “The Lottery” flowed out in a perfect first draft. Why? Because she had been thinking about it all day. Count on your subconscious taking charge and “working over” ideas that come to you during the day."

(Gee, google isn't connecting right; I hope this one can be posted on time.)

Yea, I do that. I thought about this story during the day, especially when I have to be somewhere that is boring and/or time consuming, and I have nothing else to do.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

59 days...

Day 40: "Power and precision"

"Rick Bass, one of our finest stylists, says that fiction writers — like masons — require both power and precision to construct a good story. “You’ve got to lay the stones one on top of the other so they fit together, but you’ve got to have the strength to lug them around.”"

I'm not sure how much I can learn from this one. Power and precision? I probably need someone to elaborate for me. This sounds a bit like "If you want to get good grades, you'll have to study hard." The problem is we all know we should study hard, but how? By studying all day and all night?

I guess this is a general principle for us to search ourself.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

60 days...

Day 39: Ideas, new and unique —

"--that’s what surprises, satisfies and pleases readers. Stay away from the tried and true. Write with imagination."

Yes, I think that's a precious advice. I can write my morning routine as a story; it is true, but it will be a very boring story.

But sometimes it is difficult to know what people perceive as "interesting." I teach a lot of interesting things in my class--from my perspective, but still some students fall asleep. Guess you just can't please everyone.

Like the story I'm writing now: the struggles of Jason and his mail-order-bride mother. Some might find it interesting, some might not. I don't even know if my opening is good enough.

I'll just keep writing. Revisions (...or reconstruction) will come later.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

61 days...

Day 38: Without descriptions...

"...the reader doesn’t have a sense of place and time and mood — all critical for your story. But with too much, your story will bog down and get boring. Get in. Give the telling detail. Then get out. Don’t drown in your descriptions (or your research). Create a world where your characters can live and breathe, but not vegetate."

I think it is difficult to balance it. You never know how the readers are going to react. Sometimes you think the descriptions are adequate but the readers fall asleep. That probably relies on experience.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

62 days...

Day 37: Don’t overwrite...

"...Just remember that The Great Gatsby is only 200 pages long."

So in other words, don't overkill.

More revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

63 more days.

Day 36: "Aim for one startling image on each page..."

"For example, try and match this image of a sunrise at sea by Philip Caputo in The Voyage:

A golden shimmer appeared where the horizon was supposed to be, then a red sun pushed up, like the head of some fiery infant bulging out of the gray sea’s womb — water giving birth to its opposite element."

...really? Every page? Ok, I'll take that w/ a grain of salt....

I've done some more revisions.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

64 days...

Day 35: Try writing first in longhand, then on a computer.

"...This will give you two passes at the prose before you start editing."

I'm not sure about that... I do everything on computer. The only time I write things down probably is when I'm in church on Sundays, when my computer is not around.

But yes, sometimes I write things down at church and take home to type in the computer, and I find myself editing quite a few places. Tomorrow is Sunday, maybe if I go to church I'll write something.

I'm keeping on editing the story:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

65 more days.

Day 34: Body language

"When using characters to present clues, don’t forget body language. Nonverbal signals can communicate much more effectively than words. Ask any two lovers."

So I should describe body language. Cool.

BTW, I've decided to change the opening of the story. The old opening is weak; not interesting at all.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

66 more days.

Day 33: Suspense is a basic ingredient of fiction...

"...Because of it, readers ask: What is going to happen next? They will keep reading to find out."

I don't know if I've created enough suspense. If there's anyone reading it please let me know.

BTW, my other short story in the writing.com has got another very brief but positive review today. Happy. =) It's here:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

Everyday I update my following story:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Sometimes I go back to the previous chapter and change something too.

67 more days.

Day 32: Carry a note pad with you...

"If you’re waiting for a meeting to begin, start writing. If you’re on an airplane, start writing. Whenever there’s a second to write, do it. Once you have written it down, you own it."

That's a great advice. I know some people don't like the inconvenience of writing, so they bring a tape recorder instead.

This probably is worth of cultivating as a habit.

68 days to go...

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

Day 31: Commit yourself to a point of view early in your planning...

"...This way the reader can get a footing in the story. Once you have decided which character will be the viewpoint character, stick with your decision. Do not shift point of view. If you decide on multiple points of view, show the story through one character at a time, in order to avoid confusing the reader."

I guess what it means is who will be the narrative. Maybe the main character, or maybe an objective voice telling the story. I choose the later one, though I seem to remember some suggest that the other one is more popular.

I don't think I'll shift the point of view. That will confuse myself too.

More updates in the website:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

Day 30: Talent is extremely common....

"(by Novelist Kurt Vonnegut)...What is rare is the willingness to endure the life of a writer. It is like making wallpaper by hand for the Sistine Chapel.”"

Good say!!

I really can't say I have the talent to be a great novelist. But I guess I'm willing to write persistently. Little by little, step by step. Maybe someday I can build a cathedral from many, many little unnoticeable rocks.

70 days to go.

Please visit this site:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

I update it everyday. =)

Day 29: Look into the mirror and write about the person you see...

"...Try and describe the person you see in the mirror to a man or woman you have never met. Keep the description under 300 words. Make this “person” a character in your novel, either the protagonist, the narrator, or one of the minor characters of the plot."

What!?

Why? Why should I write myself into the story? I can imagine the protagonist may have some parts of myself, or some of the characters have some of my shadow, but write the person in the mirror into the story?

I don't know... why is it necessary?

I'll have to think of something. Anyone, if there's anyone, has been reading this blog, please share insights.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

71 more days.

Day 28: Conversation is not dialogue....

"Dialogue has a purpose. It pushes the story forward. It keeps the reader tuned in to the story, and makes a person feel at the heart of the action. Therefore, don’t describe distant events second hand. Put the reader in the middle of your story’s action and your dialogue will sing naturally. Keep your talk efficient and forceful. And always make certain the reader knows who is speaking."

I guess what he means is using as many dialogues as possible? Will do. But sometimes I still will narrate.

Posting the story here is very inconvenient. I constantly change a lot. Also, the format in the word processor is different from this blog's. So, I've posted the story here:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

And this blog will be just a place for my thoughts.

BTW, I've changed the beginning, adding some elaboration about the characters. I feel good about it.

72 more days to go.

(Damn, the daylight saving time is here.)

Day 27: Your novel is a work of fiction, but...

"...that doesn’t mean your facts don’t need to be straight. Nothing turns a reader off quite as fast as a wrong fact. And nothing gives a story the ring of authenticity like the right fact or detail....Gore Vidal used old editions of Harper’s Magazine for details when writing his historical novels."

That's a good idea: Harper's Magazine. I'll see how to make a good use of it and other magazines.

The opening seems to need a bit revision. I didn't introduce the characters; they seemed to come from nowhere.

Maybe starts like this instead:

“Can you check if there’s some brown sugar left, hon?”

Rachel was in the living room getting the kids ready for school. As a 2nd generation Chinese American, she seemed to be more like a Chinese than an American. For example, she saw the home as her domain—a domain that she determined to assume sole responsibility and to take a very good care of it. She would not allow herself to make her husband worry a thing about it.

She was turning 30 in less than a week. A critical turning point for many women, even for the married ones. But not for Rachel. Her life had been all about her family and her family only.

73 more days.

Day 26: Set a goal for your self to write at least four pages a day...

"That is 300–325 words, double-spaced. Some days you’ll write one page; others you’ll write 15 pages. Try to average at least four pages a day."

I don't know how he calculates it, but 4 pages is not 300-325. I wrote only less than 1 page, it's already 202. And it is double-spaced, mostly dialogues!

The following is what I wrote yesterday and today. This is the beginning of the story. I might, alone the way, come back and change. In fact I'm pretty sure about it.

Here we go:

===

1.

“Can you check if there’s some brown sugar left, hon?”

Rachel was in the living room getting the kids ready for school. In the kitchen, Jason was checking the refrigerator for breakfast. He opened the cupboard. “Where’s it?”

“Should be on the upper shelf,” Rachel was kneeling down, trying to put shoes on her 6-year old daughter, Hannah, who was sitting in a chair, swinging her feet and giggling. “Stop it, Hannah! You’re going to be late. You know the school bus won’t wait for you.”

“I don’t see it,” Jason said, “where on the upper shelf?”

Rachel sighed. “Never mind, I’ll go look at it. Emma,” she turned to her 7-year-old next to her, “help your sister with her shoes.”

“She can do it herself,” Emma frowned.

“You’re the oldest, take care of your sister.” Rachel stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

“You can tell me, I’ll look for it.” Jason protested. “That’s ok. There, the white box over there,” she pointed at the right corner of the upper shelf. Jason got it for her. She opened it up. “We almost run out of brown sugar. Can you get some on your way home this afternoon?”

“Ok.” Jason shrugged.

“Don’t forget.” She turned to the kids. “Ok, time to go!”

“Mommy, I want to go to school too,” 4-year-old Adam gripped his mom’s apron. “I wadda skool, dada skool,” 2-year-old Eric joined in. “Oh you wanna go to school too, honey?” Rachel lifted little Eric up and into her arms. “You’ll be in preschool in 6 months, Adam.”

The two older girls went out waiting for school bus. In a bit, the bus came, the two girls waived good-bye to Rachel.

“You know, you don’t have to run everything yourself. I can help too.” When Rachel came back in to the kitchen with two little boys, Jason said, and opened up the refrigerator again.

“It’s easier that way...Don’t keep on opening the fridge! What are you looking for?”

“We don’t have milk?”

“Here,” Rachel reached over and got the milk. “Oh, I didn’t see that. Why did you put it behind the veggies?”

“Cause I want to cook them for lunch,” Rachel said. “Here’s your cereal.” She already got his favorite cereal in her hand.

Jason took the cereal and sat down. “And here, your toast with sunny-side-up,” Rachel handed him the toast and egg. Then she sat down and fed little Eric. He wasn’t too happy to sit still, not very interested to have anything.

Jason looked at her and slightly shook his head. They have been married for 8 and a half years, and he still had no idea how she managed that—she had this ability to take care of everybody’s needs before they asked for it.

That was supposed to be fantastic. He knew he should 110% appreciate her.

“You haven’t eaten yet, I’ll feed Eric.” Jason said.

“That’s ok.”

“COM’ on, let me.”

She gave him the bowl and the spoon.

“Oh, look at that, what do we have here?” Jason scooped up a spoonful of potato and made noise of an airplane. “The 747 is going to be swallowed by the super-duper cookie monster, oh no, help! Help!!” Eric giggled, opened wide and swallowed the whole spoon. “Wow! He must be the most terrible monster in the world!”

“Monter,” Eric shouted. Rachel smiled.

“I’m sorry, hon,” Rachel said. “I know I like to take over things. I’m not very patient.”

“Who can blame you? You’re running a zoo.”

===

74 more days.

Day 25: You now have made...

"1. a commitment
2. a working schedule
3. a story idea
4. a cast of characters
5. a detailed plot of the entire story
6. a short description of what your novel is about."

I would not say I have a detailed plot of the entire story....

But I started the 1st page already!

75 more days...

Day 24: A well-written page-turner that is more character...

"- than plot-driven and has a clear beginning, middle and end is what editors (and readers) want."

I can't believe I got sick again! All day I felt tired and weak. I was thinking about resting for a day, but then figured maybe I still can put some words.

Honestly I don't really understand what the guide says for today. Does it mean I just have to think of all the page turners to keep readers' interests? More important than the plot itself?

The last book of Michael Crichton's I read, he spends tons of pages explaining things. Man, I don't know about other people, it is not a page turner for me.

Ok, I'm coughing and it's late. Will continue tomorrow.

Day 23: Hang the cards and outline...

"...you have developed around your office or room so that they can be easily read."

I'm also thinking that Jason should have one thing he really is good at and/or is very passionate about. This thing is the motivation of his life. Maybe people don't believe him, but he beats the odd and shines.

This thing may not be related to his work, so people don't know he has this skill/talent.

What will it be? So far I'm not sure. Maybe painting? Or an instrument?

Also, though having a tough childhood, there should be some people or some place he can turn to for comforts and recognition. I'm thinking about a nurturing aunt (American father's side) or a nice school teacher. Or maybe some friends and their families. Or a church. Anyway, this will be a place for him to hold on to. Otherwise, he probably will go insane. Or becomes an alcoholic.

77 more days to go.

Day 22: Do nothing — absolutely nothing....

"...on your novel in terms of actual writing until your plotting (along with your characters and their roles in the drama) is complete and down on paper.

Do not fall victim to that old author line: “I just start out with a basic idea and a couple of characters. I never know where I’m going. I let the characters tell the story for me.” That may work for brilliant and experienced novelists, but most of us need a clear road map if we aren’t going to get ourselves and our readers hopelessly lost."

Another one of my big problems! I usually like to just start a headless story. That's probably why I have so many unfinished projects.

I'm thinking about another idea: the main character, Jason, has a Chinese biological mother. I haven't decided about his father: maybe Chinese, maybe American.

Maybe Jason's mother is something like mail-order bride. Or maybe she knows her American husband through internet. Maybe Jason is the result of his mother's previous marriage. They come to America for the dreams. But things get totally wrong.

This probably is a more convincing point for Jason's insecurity. And it reflects the problems of some social phenomenons: mail-order bride, cultural conflicts, fitting in, etc.

Day 21: Prepare a rough outline of the story’s action from Chapter One through to the end.

"Novelist Katherine Anne Porter put it this way, “If I didn’t know the ending of a story, I wouldn’t begin.”
Write down the last paragraph of your novel and put it in the drawer. At the end of a hundred days, lets see how close you came to following your imagination."

My, that sounds reasonable, but then I have a lot of works to do.

Let's see... a very general outline is here:

A man is abandoned by his own dear-mother as a child and that leaves a deep, deep cut in him. As a child he also receives lots of mocks and unfair treatments, but manages to go through everything and build a career and a good family. He vows to establish a great family, a great marriage, the one that is totally different from the "family" he is originally from. However, his insecurity gradually comes and gets him and takes toll on his marriage. He starts to be attracted to the idea of having an affair...

Does he really go for his impulsion? Will he be caught? What's the end of his marriage?

Well, I kind of have a rough ending, but I can't reveal it here. We'll just see how it goes.

Another man will also be a contrast to him: this man plays around and breaks many hearts; that sort of becomes his hobby or mission. The main character despises him, but later finds out he himself probably also has a weak spot.

Now, there probably is no sci-fi in there. I would like to add sci-fi element but so far just can't think of any. The idea of time traveling seems to have no place in this outline. If there's no place for sci-fi, then I don't want to force one.

Gee, a lot of people in the story will suffer. Painful. But what can I say? I'm no comedian; absolutely not good at telling jokes. Well, there will be hope though; life is not totally, always bad. Ups and downs. That probably is life.

79 more days to go.

Day 20: Don’t attempt to “sound like” some famous writer.

"Your “voice” is your voice. Your “style” is your style...Keep writing and keep cutting away at the awkwardness that might creep into your writing. Be a natural. As the French novelist, Francois René de Chateaubriand wrote, “The original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.”"

Guess I'll just do my own style.

I'm thinking about the plot all day. I'm also thinking about the "arrangement" of the story: maybe alternate the time--start from the childhood of the main character, then jump to his 20s, then jump back to childhood, and jump to his 20s again... so on and so forth. I've seen a novel does that, and it looks very good. The purpose I do this is to show how the main character's childhood influences his adult life.

But it's just an idea, and it might change.

Another thing: I'm in fact not so sure if this will really become a "novel;" a novel is a very long story. I'm afraid I can't write a story that long. Maybe start from a novelette or novella. We'll see.

I feel like I have something to say, but don't know how to present it to make it interesting and appealing; not sure how the story develops, and most importantly, how it is going to end.

But at least I'm thinking and writing.

80 more days to go.

Day 19: Keep asking the question, “why?”

"As you reach the end of the second week of defining characters, you will have a stack of 5x7 character cards that spell out intimate details about the personal life of each and every character in your story, down to their waist measurement and favorite color. The novelist Vladimir Nabokov composed all of his novels on index cards."

The woman who Jason has an affair w/:

Sara A. Lewis

27, married young to a jerk, has one 4-year-old boy, divorces him after finding out he has a series of affairs and is involved in some legal issues. Strong and competitive at work, but lonely and no close friends. Poor taste of men. Likes to fantasize love stories, college graduate, cheer-leader in high school.

81 more days to go.

Day 18: Figure out who you need in the story and what they do together or to one another...

"...and the story does to them. Are they all pulling together in one direction? Are they pulling in six different directions? Ask yourself the critical question: Which would be most interesting to the reader? That’s the real litmus test of character development and plotting. Will the reader be interested? Will the reader care?
To be successful in character and plot development, you need to make hard choices. You need to be ruthless with your characters and your story. Who’s in, who’s out? What’s in, what’s out?
Frankly, here is where a lot of first-time novelists stop dead. They can’t bring themselves to choose. They become fascinated or paralyzed by the possibilities.
Don’t you dare do that. Be brutal. Try different choices, of course, but move the story forward event by event, bringing each character along with you. As each event unfolds, each character must react to it. Just as they would in real life.
If a child is hit and killed by a car, the driver’s life is changed forever, the parents’ lives, the lives of the brothers and sisters, friends, even the crossing guard and bystanders. You have to decide what the changes are. You must decide. This is your chance to play God — and if you’re going to write you must play that role. God is in the details, and God decides the course of the novel."

Ruthless. Brutal. That is my problem. I have too much mercy.

Jason is a good guy. But more or less, consciously or unconsciously, he's good so to be appreciated, recognized, accepted. He also can be arrogant and hot-temper. Sometimes he doesn't do it on purpose though. Generally speaking, he's not a bad person, but a nice guy w/ many flaws and insecurity.

He clearly knows it's wrong, he struggles, but he will have an affair. His wife maybe finds out (or not?), then involves in a car accidence and has amnesia. She forgot about him.

That's the basic idea so far.

82 more days to go.

Day 17: You need a strong protagonist...

"...Most writers have a problem with creating a character who is larger than life, fully developed, and a consistent protagonist.
Remember, your protagonist is your story’s major character. This is the person with whom your reader will identify. You want your readers to care about your protagonist. He or she is your new best friend."

The reader will identify with this person. His story people will care about. He will fight, maybe wins some and loses some. But he'll fight and people will hold their breath.

It's not enough that I write beautifully. The most important key is the plot.

Man, it's easier to say than done. I have to work on my characters' emotions and their goals.

I think I'll make Jason L. Wayne and his wife my main characters. His wife will be Rachel J. Wayne. 29, middle class family, very conservative, stay home mom, takes care of everything at home. Assuming the position of traditional woman's role, drop out of college, works to support husband to go through college. Plays piano, loves kids, very good at cooking, would suffer silently instead of complains. Not interested in working and being "independent," not very interested in listening to Jason talking about work.

83 more days to go.

Day 16: The reader has to believe that your characters exist or could exist...

"— and they need to be distinctively drawn. And nothing better defines characters than their actions, their purpose in life. Their purpose may be good or evil. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that the reader sees their actions and purpose, believes them, and is continuously interested in them.
Do not write a story peopled with a cast of thousands. Write a tale about one, two or three memorable characters, all of them filled with purpose."

Another character:

Jason L. Wayne
34, harsh childhood: an illegitimate child, close to mother, but later mother suddenly disappears. Being taken cared by grandmother. Being looked down and mocked by others. Study hard and graduate from a good college. Very self-conscious, eager for attention, eager to be liked, sometimes socially awkward, but is liked by many. Marry to a very traditional woman, and together raise 4 kids.

Looks like a very nice guy. But in fact can be very impatient and angry; always feels anxious and lonely inside. I can't decide his career yet, but he should have a moderately successful career.

84 more days to go.

Day 15: Develop your characters and your plot together

I think I want to write the rich young man. I've put down things about him on the card. His name will be Daryl B. Walton. 29, a college graduate, born in LA, a bit chubby, can't say to be good-looking, but can pretend to be of good disposition.

Snub, drives his BMW around and talks to girls all the time, waits on a girl hand and foot but dumps her once she's hooked/they're engaged. Works under his father's big company. Protected by his father, he takes things he has for granted.

Likes sushi; not particularly likes music; good at swimming, tennis, and golf. Watches John Wayne and action movies.

85 more days to go.

Day 14: Most novels are written to a formula

...a formula to structure the story. The guide offers the example: there should be a hero and a villain, both are experts (thus the tension). The hero leads a team, and some members of the team must fall in love, and some must die. The most interesting one: "If you get bogged down, just kill somebody."

Today almost all day I thought and thought about what I'm going to write. I thought about many possibilities, but they all seemed...distant. I just don't really care about them.

But then I recall some interesting people I've known long ago:

A little girl I knew while I was a little kid, who always insisted me sitting right in front of her, watching her peeing on the street;

A nice girl who after being dumped twice, pursued a boy who was "under her league," successfully married him, and at the same time became a real bitch;

A boy who pursued a young girl w/ all his heart and mind--until the girl got lupus, went through treatments, and got swelling "moon-face"...

And I knew the girl w/ lupus had a feeling for me. But that was at the time the boy was pursuing her, and I really just saw her as my sister... very sadly, she suddenly died from complications at her early 20s.

A rich young man who changed girlfriends/fiancees faster than changing clothes--really, he intensely pursued every girl he thought was worthwhile: same strategy, same approach, same techniques; then after the girl was hooked/engaged, dumped her out of the blue w/out reasons, leaving that girl shocked to the core;

An over-protective older brother who bawled at every single man dared to come close to his younger sister, shielded away every possible "threat" (to whom?);

....

I might as well mingle those people together and see what will happen.

The formula? Some fall in love, some hearts broken, some betray the others, some affairs... if I got stuck, then more betrayals...

86 more days to go.

Day 13: Get a bunch of 5 by 7 cards and put each character’s name at the top...

"Next, think about the role each plays in your story, and what kind of person each is: age, education, place of birth, hot-headed, funny, fat, ugly. What are their quirks? Do they wash their hands 500 times a day? Do they hear voices? Are they kind to kids but love to torture cats? Put it down, put down so much that you finally come to know these characters intimately. Alfred Hitchcock would write down his scenes on index cards, one scene to a card. That way, as he said, by the time he was ready to shoot the film, he was already done.
Some characters will be major ones, around whom the story will pivot; others will play bit parts, but these will be critical too, as every player must have a reason for being in the story. If they don’t have a reason for being in your novel, they’ll slow down the story, and slowness bores readers."

Oh! This is the most important step! And I'm already suffering from writer's block!

I think I probably have to change a bit; about the plot. I have to create conflicts. By knowing the main conflicts I'll know what characters I need.

A good source:
http://www.divorcesource.com/MA/ARTICLES/neumann2.html

OK, the man wants to be recognized. To be understood. A good companionship. Acknowledge and attention. He feels his wife doesn't understand him. He feels stuck. He wants proof that he's still "young."

The woman wants to know she's still attractive, and get rid of her loneliness feelings....

Hmm, sounds the same. I have to think it over....

87 days to go...

Day 12: Pick your characters first...

"...as they are harder to pick than a story."

I’ll just keep working on the characters.

Characters are indeed hard to develop. One of my problems is everybody in the story is the same. Good stories develop strong characters: they love, hate, desire, angry, revenge, kill… they have very strong emotions and one single goal. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but I think I really have to work on it.

The man is self-centered. He likes to talk about himself and is always unaware of it. He needs infinite support, respect, and most important of all, recognition and love.

It’s tougher to think about the woman character. The woman is also eager to be accepted. She feels lonely and her time is clicking. She has intense fear of being rejected or abandoned, and just can’t get enough emotional closeness. She's super sensitive and emotionally unstable, easily to get offended.

I have to come up some more.

88 more days to go.

Day 11: Begin by writing about what you know

"Begin by writing about what you know, if not the novel itself, then something about the place or people in your novel. It’s a lot easier to get started on your book if you are writing about people, places, and things with which you have already grown familiar."

I'm thinking about a man and a woman. The man is married and the woman is single. Maybe she is divorced. She got pregnant from the affair.

The man is in his early 50s. A successful career, quite plain looking, highly self-conscious, and eager to be recognized. He and his wife have 2 kids. The wife is a stay-home mom and a very traditional woman.

The woman is in her middle or late 30s. Got pregnant once at 19 but aborted. Married at 21 and divorced at 25. Lonely, impulsive, has experienced some failed relationships.

That's a start. 89 more days to go.

Day 10: Debunk another cliché - "Write only about something you know"

The guide says: "Write only about something you know" is nonsense. "Tom Clancy had never been a submarine commander before he wrote The Hunt For Red October. And it’s a safe bet that Richard Bach had never been a seagull before he wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull."

Instead, it suggests "write about something you love."

I've checked out another Michael Crichton's novel, "Disclosure," we'll see how it goes. The beginning is a bit similar to "Prey:" a middle-class family and a hint of programing or computer problem.

I also read many online stories about affairs and getting pregnant from it. As I said, they are sad stories.

Two similar stories but from different perspectives attracted my attention. They were on a message board. A long-divorced mother, probably in her late 40s, went to live with her daughter's family for some reason. This mother felt an intense and uncontrollable attraction to her son-in-law and started to seduce him. Finally they ended up in bed--and got pregnant from the affair. She regretted and panicked: "What should I do? I'm a monster!" She called herself.

Many people offered different advice, many scolded her. This mother admitted she was a mess-up: she used to be a teen mother (16 and then 19) and later abused drugs until she found religion.

Later she updated: she lost the baby. The doctor said she was just too old to keep a baby.

A woman left a message telling about her own story: 28 years ago, her husband whom she loved dearly suddenly disappeared without a trace. She was devastated, got married 4 or 5 more times. She never understood why until she got hold of him days ago. It turns out her husband had an affair: with her mother. Amazingly, this woman didn't use her own story to blame and attack. She just presented it. She also said she wouldn't confront her own mother: "She already knows what she did. I don't have to remind her." I thought she probably should: that will be a closure. But maybe she got her closure already.

Imagine his woman's at least good 30 years have been ruined by her husband and her own mother. Terrible.

But these mothers have issues, and when we get into understanding of those issues, we might not blame them so much.

I think stories like these are something I like to explore. 90 more days to go.

Day 9: Don’t be afraid to write down scenes or sections that don’t lead anywhere

Damn, I tried to invite some people to follow this blog, and I ended up followed myself! How do I remove myself as a follower?

I have tons of scenes or sections that lead to nowhere. Guess they are all potentially useful in the future.

Now, I have to say I'm shocked by how many "affair and pregnant" stories you can find online--I googled these two words and the mere 1st page took me hours to read. There are many, many unbelievable things happen in those people, and every one of them can potentially become a hollywood movie.

From the stories, you can feel their pain, panic, hurt, betrayed, hatred, regret, and so many other emotions. Many of them have their own issues from the start. It probably wouldn't be hard to find someone to write.

Why do people have affairs? How does it feel to find out your partner has an affair and is pregnant (or make someone pregnant)?

My.

91 more days to go.

Day 8: Imitation... but write from your own experience

The guide says: "Imitation can lead to originality. Do short exercises imitating different styles. Try on a dozen voices until you find one that fits." But it also says: "Your experience is unique. As John Braine, author of Room at the Top, wrote, “If you’re to be heard out of all those thousands of voices, if your name is going to mean something out of all those thousands of names, it will only be because you’ve presented your own experience truthfully.”"

Imitation part I know what I should do: I should read a lot first. Writing from my own experience... definitely, but I don't have affair experience (nobody wants me). But I've seen some people around me having that experience. Maybe I can write something based on their stories.

In fact, I've checked some of the stories online too. They are quite dramatic.

I'm checking out some other sources. 92 more days to go.

Day 7: Think small

The guideline says: "One of the worst mistakes most beginning novelists make is thinking big, trying to come up with an end-of-the-world story... Look into your creative soul and search for a little story but one that has real meaning to you. If you create a story that has deep meaning to you, chances are it will have deep meaning for the rest of us."

Good point. One of my problems is thinking too big; thinking about writing an award-wining story. I end up with nothing. Another problem is I always think way too much, too detail. I care about tiny little things that I can't see the whole picture.

So, I guess it will be a story about some very common, average people coping with daily challenges that we all care about.

I just came back from one of my kids' county-level spelling bee competition. Ben represented his whole school. He didn't win, but it was a good experience. In fact, the process he won the champion for the whole elementary school was a thriller. Ben and his sister Yen (I know, I'm so proud of my kids!) were the final two competitors, and they fought head-to-head back and forth at least 5 times until Yen made a mistake. The whole school was holding breath, and burst into cheering for Ben's wining.

That is something to write about.

We all have something to be happy about, something to worry about, something to be sad about. Write those something and people should care about them.

So for this story I'm going to write: the woman in trouble trying to right the wrong, I need to first get into her head and understand her dreams and worries. I should read some stories about women getting pregnant from affairs, and how they deal with it. That will be interesting. Stories based on some true events are always interesting. Well, probably sad too.

93 more days to go.

Day 6: Analyze and learn from your favorite novel

It says: "Take your favorite novel of the type that you want to write and read it again, as if it were a how-to manual for becoming a millionaire... breaking the book down into sections. Outline the action on large sheets of paper that you pin to your office wall."

I probably will choose Michael Crichton's novel, though I don't have a favorite one yet. In fact, the only novel by him I've read is Prey. And that story disturbs me! It's not fair to write about the wife that way!

Though marital affair probably will be an interesting thing to write about.

But Michael was a smart guy, and his ideas are surely interesting. I don't necessarily agree with some of his opinions on technology and global warming, but I can learn a lot from him.

I just have to read a lot more. Yes, that's my problem; it's a problem that will have to take time to fix. Truly, time for non-academic things is limited. Guess I'll just squeeze out some time as best as I can. I just reserved another Crichton's novel from the library.

By the way, about the "what I care the most" topic, how can I forget music!? I've taught myself guitar, Chinese flute, piano, and violin (well, I went with my kid to this group lesson for a start, but stopped due to schedule conflict), and I plan to learn some more instruments in the future. I sing and I conduct choir. My all-time favorite is George Winston, the solo pianist. From the music I can see the pictures and the motions. In many of my stories I've written, almost every one of them has some songs or music in it.

And I love painting and drawing too. I'll say I'm pretty artistic.

Today will be a busy day, but I'll find time to get the reserved book and read it.

94 more days to go.

Day 5: (The story) must not bore the reader

Today I'm sick. In fact I've been sick since Sunday, but now I feel very weak. I even missed the parent-teacher conference; I never miss the conference before.

But still I want to write something.

"The story must not bore the reader." Well, it's so subjective. Things I find interesting may not be so for another. Guess the best I can do is to create conflict in the story. I'm evaluating the idea I have for the story so far: a woman gets pregnant from the affair with a married man, jumps into a time machine to go back in time before she meets the man. But what is she going to do? Warn herself? Kill the man? Kill the man's wife? Steal money from that man? Or else? And the time-traveling thing, can she always comes back and forth? Or is this just a one-time thing?

I guess it depends on what message I want to send.

Continue with what I care the most topic from yesterday, I guess I care about kids too. I am not really a good father: I don't spend enough time with them. Well, my excuse is my father never spent time with me so I just don't know what to do and how. But whenever I read news about abused children, I can't help it but to relate the news to my kids, and I am enraged. There are billions of people living in extreme poverty, every 3 seconds a child under 5 die, and yet the countries across the world spend over $30,000 on weapons every second. Each death could have been saved by just one dollar or two.

That's why I love the movie "The Girl in the Café." It tells you about helping the world without preaching on your face.

Alright. So a pregnant woman goes back in time to fix her problem, and I care about children. Is it heading to anywhere?

So far not yet, I guess. But hopefully we'll get there... 95 more days to go.

Day 4: Think of what to write from what is around you

What is around me? What do I know and care about?

I play basketball. And I probably am into it too much. Wining is everything for me. I can be depressed whenever I lose a game; sometimes the depression can last for days. That's one of the things I know and care about--too much.

I watch movies at least once every 2 or 3 days. I imagine one day I'll write a story that makes into a movie.

I think about what I'm going to teach in my class. I care about my presentation; how to make it inspiring and interesting. Pursuing knowledge is such a pleasure thing, I can't understand why some people just don't get it. How can anyone find knowledge (maybe especially psychology) not fascinating? Sometimes it's frustrating.

I like beautiful women. I enjoy watching them. However, recently I found out I probably am a sexist--it seems that I tend to believe that women are "better" than men in some traits: they are purer, kinder, etc.. That implies that I might see women in some limited roles and are not competent. Examining myself, I found that to be true to some degree.

No; I don't see women as incompetent. I admire Mary Curie, I love intelligent and/or athletic girls, and I believe women should have equal opportunities for pursuing careers instead of being stay-home moms. Men and women should learn all the skills to help the families. There's no "men's job" or "women's job." The traditional gender roles are just not right.

But when I see a woman, especially a pretty woman, I automatically assume she's a good person: kind, lovely, competent, tender, easy to work with, smart, and maybe talented. That's probably not true. She's also human, and chances are she shares similar strengths and weaknesses with everyone else. She is as common and average and unique as everyone else. The only special thing is her face and maybe her body. But that mostly is from her genes, not her own efforts.

But man, I can't help it. I still love to see pretty women and love to imagine them as perfect human beings. You know? That actually bothers me a lot.

There are some more things I know and care about. But to be continue tomorrow. 96 more days to go.