Alisa M. Libby's Blog, page 2

readingreadingreading

Yesterday I came home from the library with a huge tower of books. The feral mommycat I’ve been feeding (because she has tiny kittens and I am such a pushover) was waiting at the stoop, staring. The pile nearly toppled as I fished in my bag for my keys. Mommycat just stared, wondering what in this world could be more important than her dinner.

My pages are sitting for a bit, awaiting a fresh read when I’m ready to devote myself to them. Until then, I need to fill up on as many books as possible. Every now and then I feel a little nudge from another book-idea, infiltrating my thoughts and dreams, trying to entice me into its shadowy realms. But I must focus! I have chosen my path, for a time. Besides, there are plenty of shadows here left to explore.

what children’s books scared the crap out of you?

First I didn’t blog because I was too busy writing and watching Netflix. Now I’m not blogging because I’m too busy back at work. I am filled with excuses, none of them terribly interesting!

But I’m checking in and sharing with you two fascinating links I found thanks to ALA Direct newsletter. First, the most terrifying children’s books: http://www.flavorwire.com/295700/10-of-the-most-terrifying-childrens-books-from-around-the-world?all=1. Personally I have slightly chilling memories of James Joyce’s The Cat and the Devil.

And in honor of the release of Snow White and the Huntsman and all things Grimm, we have the story of the REAL snow white. You know I let out a little squeal when I read this: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/347815/20120601/snow-white-real-story-huntsman-waldeck-margarete.htm.

i am home writing and stuff

I’ve been on writing lock-down for the past week (after a supremely busy week at work) hence the blog-silence. Before you get impressed by my discipline, I’ll confess: I’ve also been watching the bbc’s “being human” on Netflix. Highly recommended for all Buffy fans. And anyone, really. Here is a clip. Please excuse the f-bombs, I just can’t help myself.

narrative outline and poe

Okay, I know I yammer on about outlining all the time, but I have yet another tidbit to share. I had been working with an outline for a book in which the bulk of the action takes place over a few weeks. I separated the actions for each day or span of days, so I would always keep track of how much time the action was taking and how far we were into the time span. This was useful, but I was having trouble getting a whole picture – it felt like a random list of scenes taking place each day, with no cohesive structure or theme.

I’m sure you’ve heard the advice to write about your book in letter form, to a person you love/respect with whom you would like to share your story, but not send it? Even better: write it out in narrative form with the intention of sending it to someone whose opinion you value. This made all the difference.

Revising the outline, I fine-tuned things I may have been lazy about otherwise. I thought of the overall themes and how these are evident in action and dialogue sequences throughout the book. And I didn’t hold back any good bits.

It still needs work, but I think this is a good start. Mind you, I’ve been working on this book for nearly a year, so the fact that this is ANOTHER START could be intensely frustrating if I think about it too long but lalalalala I can’t hear you what are you saying? Anyhow, it has COMPLETELY transformed from the book I started late last summer – all in exciting ways. Now I just have to write the darn thing.

In other news…I came across these dark and enchanting Harry Clarke illustrations from a book of Poe short stories. And I am in love with them. You can view them here: http://50watts.com/#Harry-Clarke-Illustrations-for-E-A-Poe.

happy birthday Amanda (effing) Palmer

Oh, Amanda Palmer! How I love the unabashed aggression you turn on your piano! Your music is a dark circus playing in my heart, filled with carnie freaks as loveable as they are frightening. I wish you the happiest of birthdays.

Also, it’s the day before May Day, which is Walpurgis Night, celebrated with lighting bonfires and dancing. I think we can at least manage the dancing part.

cherry pie for you

I had a delightful weekend filled with friends, food, poetry, history (a tour of the Adams residences in Quincy), discussions of the writing craft, Freud, and ridiculous youtube videos. In other news I’m reading (the pile of books has grown again, magically) and look forward to getting back to my revision. I haven’t figured out all of the big questions of this book/the motivations and whatnot, but I might not be able to think of answers until I start getting it down on paper. That’s my hope.

And now, the theme of the day, my favorite Norwegian ladies: Katzenjammer. I posted Demon Kitty Rag on YA Outside the Lines, but for you here’s a slice of Cherry Pie:

working and writing and i want a kitten

I haven't forgotten about you, little blog! In fact, I think I wrote some blog posts in my head but neglected to actually type and post them. So, just a brief note: I had some time off to focus on writing and home improvement projects. Both are still in progress and have made a great deal of mess in our house and in my brain, but such is to be expected. I am back at work but trying to forge ahead with the book – returning to my outline, reading Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell and trying to think of what I love about the books that I love.

Also, listening to Dracula on audiobook and I am stunned all over again with how subtle and scary it is: Mina is sharing a room with Lucy who is walking in her sleep, trying to open the locked door and searching for the key…creepy! And beautiful. And you know how I love Mina. She's practicing shorthand and typing and journaling! She wants to be useful! I love her.

That's the sum up for now. And just in case you missed this April Fool's post, here is a bit of dork humor for you. Please note: no unicorns were harmed in the creation of this post:

http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2012/04/unicorn-cookbook-found-at-the-british-library.html

percolating

Too busy reading and working to blog, apparently. I'm also looking forward to a novel writing retreat at VCFA this month. And writing…yes, I must get back to writing. But for now, ideas are percolating. I'm trying to embrace this phase of "not knowing" and just relax, think, discover what this book might be about, what I might be trying to say.

In other news, I saw a basset hound on Friday – the first one I've seen in the flesh since losing Roxanne. She was waddling down the street – I recognized that waddle. I tried to catch up as dog and owner turned into an apartment building. The owner didn't hear me yelling "Is that a basset hound?" (or maybe she did and wanted to avoid the crazy woman). But the dog heard me. She turned around, all fat and droopy and jowly. And beautiful. I miss my dog.

reading dreaming thinking

I am still working on the reading list I posted recently, but I haven't strayed from it! Well, not much. I could easily derail myself entirely by reading all of Elizabeth Hand's books – but I need to point myself in a different direction. Toward my draft, that I hope to get back to in March.

I'm looking for good books or movies about creative geniuses who go insane – like "Amadeus" or "Black Swan." I know that those two movies are very different, but there is that theme of "brilliant person pushed to the brink for his/her art" in both of them. Any thoughts?

(Painting by Odilon Redon.)

reading day

I meant to blog about the anniversary of Catherine Howard's execution on February 13! I wrote the post but didn't publish it. Then I meant to blog about Valentine's Day, and how I enjoy the pink and red and roses and chocolates even though it's cheesy and created by greeting card companies blah blah. But I neglected both of these posts, alas.

I have been reading a lot. In fact, I would like to be reading right now. I think this weekend I am instituting a holiday: Reading Day, a day spent on the sofa with THIS BOOK and some tea. And chocolates. Bliss!