swordBeatsPaper

This past weekend, I went on a photography spree around campus with a couple friends, and our first stop was Wreck Beach, a clothing-optional beach just a short walk from my dorm. While we didn’t experience it “fully,” when I neared the bottom of the 500-stair trail, I was struck by the smell of the sea. I was nearly moved to tears. I’d realized I hadn’t been to the ocean in quite a while, and I was overcome with a strange powerful emotion.

It brought me back to a day at a beach/park in Washington, when I was there with …

I arrived in Vancouver two nights ago. It’s been incredibly busy, so much so that I haven’t had much time to just sit and gather my thoughts. Finally, I have a fairly free evening when I don’t feel dead tired.

The first night, we had an amazing thunderstorm. I woke up at about 3AM to loud rumbles and bright flashes and heavy rain. At first, when I was still half asleep, the thunder was an annoyance. Then, I woke up enough that I could rest my head on my pillow and look out the window, appreciating the storm with quiet …

Two. The number of days until I leave. Things are moving at a fast clip now. My mom sold our extra car just a few hours ago. I’m glad I didn’t name it and get too attached. This morning I also finished all the quilting I wanted to do with my machine before I left. The only thing left on my to-do list is packing.

Yesterday was my Farewell Ceremony and Party. It was great to see everyone one last time (not that I’ll never see them again!) and remember the great support I have here at home if I …

This past week I’ve been continuing preparations for college, gathering things I’ll need and finishing up paperwork. Today I bought a printer, since the school charges for printing and who knows when their printers will be broken down or not available. This one was fairly inexpensive, and small enough that I’m sure I can find a good spot for it on my desk in my dorm room. Going over my list of things to buy, I’m amazed at all the things I have to think of, from dish soap to rechargeable batteries to a hot water maker. Can’t go without …

It has been quite a while. My life has certainly changed since I posted something… wow, nearly a year ago? In just about three weeks, I’ll be leaving for UBC Vancouver. I’m super excited. This blog may be a good way to keep people updated about what I’m up to in the coming months, and be an outlet for my writing when I’m not up to working on my novel. That in itself is overwhelming, and a slow process. But like I’ve said before, I’m not giving up on it.

I am in an odd space of being very ready …

The wedding went well–but on my mind at the moment is our trip into Boston today. We traveled along part of the Freedom Trail to see sights like Paul Revere’s house, the site of the Boston Massacre (though there wasn’t much to see, except in a nearby museum), Faneuil Hall and its nearby market, Boston Common, and the Old North Church, among other places. We also visited three different graveyards, where the graves were at least 300-400 years old, buried in the 1600s-1700s. Many of the slate gravestones had been chipped and weathered with age, some sunk into the ground …

We made it to Manchester, NH yesterday evening. Thankfully we quickly found our bags, and after renting a car, drove out to Newington. It’s such a peaceful place here; you can easily lose yourself in a large mug of peppermint tea and a good book. I love getting ideas for good books from my aunt, who we’re staying with. She has a huge dog, named Casey, who enjoys chasing wild turkeys and the neighbor’s cat when she gets loose. When we got here, they were redoing the fence out front; Casey had bust a hole in the old wood. Her …

I’ve kept going with that 500 word/day (excluding weekends) goal, and I’ve recently gone over 60,000 words and 200 pages. I’m also fairly close to the end of my storyline, as it is right now anyway. It sounds like a lot until you go to a bookstore and see those thick, juicy epic fantasy novels that are at least 300-400 pages. And I know this story will need a lot of revisions, certainly because of all its inconsistencies. But I’m going to keep plugging along… If I haven’t said this before, a common reason why people don’t get published is …

This summer I’m trying to write somewhere between 500 words and 3 pages a day, not including weekends. As of yesterday, I have about 140 pages in my manuscript (I just began chapter 13), and I’m guessing I’m about halfway done, but it’s hard to say. I’m glad I’m going to take a “plotting and scheming” class next week–I need a synopsis of my project and I can’t bring myself to write one on my own. Of course, it will all be up in the air until the first copy is printed, as I’ve heard. Other than writing, I’ve been …

Coincidentally, I was in San Francisco when they were having a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Interestingly, though, the celebration was on the 15th rather than the 17th. My cousin said the Pope had changed the holiday because it interfered with holy week. Personally, and to show my love for Ireland, I wore my green on the 17th. Nothing against the Pope. This parade was interesting enough, filled with dancers and drummers and even a hurling team. No, it’s not what you think; hurling is an Irish sport involving an “axe-shaped stick,” like a long-handled paddle, and a small ball they …