lehillwrites

[lehillwrites]

Better Focus in the New Year

It’s 2022 already.

Feels a bit like 2021 never actually happened, which is about how fast it seems 2020 went by despite how much actually did happen in both years.

In December, I realized that I had overwhelmed myself with expectations for this blog. Expectations of not just what people wanted to read, but also what I wanted to write about. Like taking a trip to the grocery store without a list, I wandered around the aisles of ideas in my head, just grabbing things at random without a clear idea of what I needed to be focusing on.

So, I asked myself: what is your first and always love? 

The answer was so simple and yet so complicated: writing.

Simple because it’s what I love most, and what makes me happiest when I am doing it.

Complicated because I haven’t been doing it, and if I’m not doing it, who am I to be posting about it? Unless…

I move away from writing tips and whatnot, and just talk about my personal journey as I get back to writing. By writing, I mean original fiction stories of all lengths, fanfiction stories that are a pure pleasure (never guilty), and maybe at some point, writing to make some extra money.

Do I still love travel and travel writing? YES! And I will get back to that, but I want to get back to basics first. In On Writing, Stephen King said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” I whole-heartedly believe that, and yet I almost completely stopped doing both of these things in favor of watching television (movies and shows). Not that watching television is a bad thing, but I was doing it to avoid other things like reading and writing, and language learning.

Ah, language learning, my productive procrastination activity of choice.

I say it is productive procrastination because while I do it and learn from it, I am not giving it my full attention to use it in a meaningful way. If I am busy with a lesson in writing Chinese characters then I have a reason for not reading or writing, and that is doing a disservice to the languages I do love and want to learn.

My solution is to take deliberate baby steps and see what happens along the way. The beginning of the year is always a fun one for me because I feel like anything is possible, and my private heart-to-heart was in late December so it all worked out.

Rather than year-long goals, I thought it might be fun to do 30 day challenges related to writing. I have a list for the first quarter.

January: 30 days of journaling - currently on day 17 and I have absolutely noticed a change in thinking, not just about myself but of how I am approaching writing and ideas.

February: 28 days of flash fiction (100 words or less) - no set ideas, genre, etc. Just want to write down what comes to mind, whether it’s just dialogue, or a detailed scene.

March: 30 days to a short story - where I write within the same plotline everyday for the month and have a first draft of a short story by day 30.

For the blog, starting today, I will keep to the old schedule of posting every other week, with quotes or pic posts in-between. The posts will be reading and writing updates, the quotes will be about reading and writing motivation. 

I am currently reading Sword of Destiny from The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski, re-reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and just started the English translation of The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi / 魔道祖师) by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. My choice of what to read before bed depends on my mood. Each of these books is part of a series, though Grandmaster is one novel divided into four books, and the second translated version will be released in May. Three books in some kind of fantasy genre and written in entirely different styles. (I once read a chapter in Sword of Destiny and then picked up Chamber of Secrets and my brain stomped on the breaks and I had to go make a cup of tea before I could continue reading in order to give my brain time to reset.)

I’d like to finish one book by the end of January; considering the length of each, finishing them all would be quite the challenge. (One I would be willing to take time off of work for, if only I had the money!)

Am I still studying languages? Of course, I am on day 760 on Duolingo and while I told myself to just stop and let the counter go back to 0 so that the days I am actually using the app I am doing it with a purpose, I’m not sure if I am capable of it without hearing QUITTER in my head forever. It’s a work in progress. I am continuing with the Chinese character writing course I found on the Coursera website, but only on the weekends when I can sit with my coffee and take the time needed to practice.

So there it is. Bit long-winded, but this is the first time I’ve written it all down in one piece, not just in random journal entries. Of course, the trick is to actually do what I say I will now that I have put it out there in the world….

[lehillwrites]

Virtual Visit: Vaux-le-Vicomte

Last spring I wrote a series of posts about virtually visiting fandom filming locations for a Travel Writing class, and since November 16th is considered "International Versailles Day" within the Versailles fandom (to commemorate the first episode airing in 2015), I thought I would re-create the post here. This virtual tour, as well as a few others, will be a part of my Capstone project to be completed next year. Enjoy!

The Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte has been used in many period pieces, but the one I am focusing on for this post is the television series Versailles. The show ran for three glorious seasons (2015-2018) and in my opinion could have gone for another three no problem. Life in Louis XIV’s Court was filled with enough intrigue and decadence to put a modern day soap opera to shame. While the show takes some liberties, as they all do, much of what you see as the drama plays out on the screen is true. I fell down the research well after discovering the show and I think sometimes the writers actually hold back when portraying the utterly elegant madness of the time of Louis XIV’s Versailles.

Vaux itself is never mentioned by name in the show, but it stood in for many scenes that were supposed to take place within the real palace of Versailles. In the header picture it is doubling for Saint-Cloud, the royal residence of Philippe d'Orleans (1640-1701), the only brother of King Louis XIV (1638-1715). The actual Saint-Cloud no longer exists, but it is said that the beauty of Philippe's chateau rivaled Versailles' in the opinion of many visitors at the time. A fact that did not please the King.

A quick history lesson

You cannot talk about Vaux-le-Vicomte without also looking at Nicholas Fouquet (1615-1680) from whose mind the chateau sprung. Though less like Athena from Zeus because it took 20 years for Fouquet’s dream to come to fruition.

In 1641 he acquired the land and proceeded to demolish the existing chateau and cleared the village of Vaux and two adjacent hamlets. The three men who were behind the stunning beauty of the chateau and gardens were the architect Louis Le Vau (1612-1670), gardener André Le Nôtre (1613-1700), and painter and decorator Charles Le Brun (1619-1690). Thanks to the support of Fouquet, each of these men, already respected in their fields, would create an architectural, artistic and design legacy that would influence all of Europe.

Le Veu designed a chateau that worked with the gardens to enhance their beauty equally. Le Nôtre used new techniques in gardening along with his own unique designs to create the original French formal garden. Le Brun was the genius behind the lavish artwork inside the chateau, filled with mythology and allegorical figures that were characteristic of the 17th century.

Later, all three of these men would work under the direction of Louis XIV as he created his own masterpiece, Versailles, which was influenced heavily by Vaux. You see, when Nicholas Fouquet, then the Minister of Finance, held the first grand party in 1661 to showcase the completed chateau for the king, that’s when it all fell apart. He had apparently gone too far, and dreamed too big.

The writer Voltaire wrote, “On 17 August, at 6 o’clock in the evening, Fouquet was king of France; at 2 o’clock in the morning, he was nothing.” It didn’t happen quite that fast, but three weeks later Fouquet was arrested by d’Artagnan, of the King’s Musketeers, and accused of embezzling from the Crown. In reality, it had been the Cardinal Mazarin who had depleted the royal coffers, but it didn’t matter. Fouquet was sent to prison in Pignerol, where he died in 1680.

The King claimed much of the chateau's assets and auctioned off the rest. Madame Fouquet left the chateau and gardens to her son, but the domain was sold to the Marshal of Villars in 1805 after the son’s death. It was briefly renamed Vaux-Villars until after the Marshal's death when his son sold it to the Duke of Praslin. The chateau was a place of pride for the Duke, and while six generations of his family called Vaux home, maintaining the chateau and gardens simply became too expensive.

For 30 years Vaux-le-Vicomte was left empty and neglected until 1875 when Alfred Sommier purchased it at auction and began to bring the masterpiece back to life. Today, the chateau and gardens are managed by Jean-Charles and Alexander Vogué, the fifth generation in the family to do so.

What it means to me

I wish it could be possible for every film or television show to be filmed on-location, but time, space and money are always a factor. In the case of using Vaux-le-Vicomte for many scenes to represent the palace of Versailles it was not just because Versailles is only closed to the public on Mondays but also because the interior of the palace has changed drastically since the time of Louis XIV, unlike Vaux-le-Vicomte.

And so many iconic scenes were filmed here, such as when Louis XIV (George Blagdon) feverishly dances in the Grand Salon to the shock of the nobles watching, and the horror of his valet Bontemps (Stuart Bowman) who quickly has the windows and doors closed against prying eyes.

The love Bontemps feels for his King is perfectly portrayed, while the scene also shows how untouchable the King is. No one dares approach the King, not even his guards, when it is obvious there is something wrong. The nobles might be titillated by the odd display, but they keep safely outside of the salon and just watch. Only Bontemps is allowed to take control of the situation.

Historically, the fever that brought him close to death, and made the possibility of his brother (portrayed by Alexander Vlahos in the show) taking the throne, happened before the work on Versailles had begun, but it fits well within the Versailles season one plotline.

I loved that Saint-Cloud was represented, the facade at least, by Vaux-le-Vicomte because, as I mentioned, the original chateau was destroyed. In the show, the brother of the King does not have an easy time of it, similar to what we know of his life historically. That the chateau Philippe loved so dearly and put a lifetime of work into was destroyed just seems a tragic loss for history and for the man who is known as the grandfather of Europe. After all, it is his progeny who lived to become royalty in nearly all of Europe even to today, and not King Louis XIV's.

Best way to virtually visit

We are very lucky that Vaux-le-Vicomte partnered with Google to create a virtual tour experience of many rooms in the chateau as well as the formal gardens. For the long way around, go to:

Vaux-le-Vicomte website (you have the option to choose from several languages)

Scroll down and click “Multimedia”

Click “Virtual Tour”

Click “Google Street View” to go directly to the virtual tour options

Scroll down to see the two icons for the chateau or Gardens

Pick your choice

Or just use this link for the Google Arts & Culture page, scroll down and find the Virtual Tour icons.

I listed the longer way first because the Vaux website has so much wonderful information to explore before or after taking the virtual tour that it’s worth taking the long way around.

The Chateau option starts off in the Grand Salon. From there you can move around using the arrows or go directly into different rooms using the thumbnails at the bottom of the screen.

The Garden option drops you outside of the chateau. While you cannot move straight down the wide path, you can move left or right to continue forward along the side paths. The cool thing about this virtual tour? You can “walk” from the chateau all the way up the hill to the Hercules statue and look back down. (Note: The current Hercules statue is actually a 19th century copy of the original.)

I think this tour has made me want to visit in-person in ways few other virtual tours have, and at this point I have explored quite a few! I want to walk every inch of those garden paths even if my feet complain! And I want to take a guided tour of the chateau to hear about the incredible history and maybe get a few details only someone familiar with the history can reveal!

Thank you Vaux-le-Vicomte and Google!

You can watch all three seasons of Versailles on Netflix.

Source for the historical background of Vaux: the Vaux-le-Vicomte website

Other Sources: Personal screenshots, Google Earth, Wikipedia

Posted: November 16, 2020

[lehillwrites]

A Short Catch-Up Post

I apologize for going MIA for a couple of weeks. I spent a week away participating at a Habitat for Humanity build in Florida, and returned to work in an uproar that has only calmed down for me because I am working from home until mid-April. I would love to write about anything other than COVID-19, but so much has been thrown into chaos due to this damned virus that it’s impossible not to.

My Capstone Project research trip to the UK and France has been postponed, and I have been encouraged to choose another way of completing the research that doesn’t involve travel. The local colleges, including mine, have been emptied of most students and staff leaving questions about whether or not they will invite the students back in time for graduation or if graduation will be delayed. My taller half and I will now be working from home together, which actually isn’t a concern since we thankfully have adequate space to not bother each other during working hours, so there’s that. I am grinding my teeth at night to the point that I had to have my jaw popped back into place this week and wearing a mouth guard makes me gag so…not good. And, like everyone, I am worried about my parents and out of reach family and friends.

I have yet to begin hoarding toilet paper but I always think of that Supernatural episode (5.04) where Dean is sent to the future where the world has been devastated by the Croatoan virus. Chuck tells him that if he returns to his own time to begin hoarding toilet paper “like it’s made of gold because it is.” While I understand the panic something like this can do to people, I think it would be nice to hear more stories about how we are helping others to deal with this rather than the stories about empty shelves in stores that mean one family eats well while another goes hungry.

The upcoming days, weeks, months will be interesting, in that way no one really wants to experience. I hope my current tooth/jaw aches go away so I can be productive somehow. Maybe I’ll take up tai chi to find my calm before bed. Meditation that involves sitting still has never worked well for me…I come up with to-do or grocery lists… Read that Zadie Smith book I started before classes began but had to put aside. Study Welsh more often. Go for walks (while I can?). Finally catch up on One Piece (I think I’m in the low 800’s and the show is currently at 924). Write something non-school related…

Take care, stay healthy, and hopefully I am back to posting regularly again, with actual topics that are cheerful, non-virus related, and on-time.

[lehillwrites]

PICTURE POST: Let the research begin!

Valentine’s Day isn’t a big deal for me, but if you love it then Happy Valentine’s Day!

If not, Happy Friday!

I missed last week’s blog post. It was a tough week for many reasons, but the main one for not posting here was that I was working on the second draft of my prospectus paper. Added a few more pages to the original, re-worked some ideas and I might need another draft before it goes to the Committee for approval, but I think I have a good handle on my Capstone Project.

I’m interested in the importance of a filming location to fans/fandom and culture/history, and how that ties into tourism. The project will be to visit particular filming locations and write researched articles about the experiences that will include interviews with other fans. The articles will eventually be posted here as featured long reads, along with some armchair traveler articles about the same topic without actual visits but more input from fellow fans who have been there.

That’s the simple version. There’s so much to be done, but I’m excited to really dig in.

This week I’m researching for the television show Versailles. There were several filming locations but I’m concentrating on the palace of Versailles and the chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. That’s why the pic for my picture post isn’t quite what I normally use. Check out some of the books I’m currently reading before re-watching the first episode.

You can watch all three seasons of Versailles on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

[lehillwrites]

PIC POST: Purple Columbine

Look at these beautiful purple columbine, a perennial wildflower. Common names are devil’s bells, granny’s bouquet, and our lady’s glove. I took this picture a few years ago, but since it has been cold and dreary lately where I live I thought a pretty late spring flower would be a nice change.

Enjoy a little bit of spring! More information, and where I found the common names, can be found at TheSpruce.com.

[lehillwrites]

Stepping out of my Comfort Zone

I love my comfort zone. It’s a nice place, a safe place, but I get stuck there sometimes, especially when I have something to do that I am unsure about, either because I lose confidence in my ability to do a good job or because it seems so big I don’t see how I can break it down to finish it. For the first research assignment I had for grad school, I took a hard look at my writing (or lack thereof) and what was holding me back – aka, I researched procrastination and comfort zones.

A friend who is a licensed social worker, said, “A comfort zone is a place of security and safety, and you want to stay there where there is no stress or worry to deal with. It is a form of control to remain in this mental risk-free environment, and a person isn’t wrong to want to stay there. You can’t live in high risk all of the time, but if you remain in that comfort zone, you could begin to ignore the world around you.” We had been talking about procrastinating to stay in a comfort zone, specifically my comfort zones, and her words really hit home for me then, and I think about them often two years later when I find myself ignoring a task to binge-watch a show I’ve seen multiple times. That’s when I have to ask “what am I afraid of?” And that’s when I have to get myself moving.

Last week, while I was feeling a little like I was holding onto a blade of grass while the world was spinning out of control around me, someone asked me to co-chaperone a week long trip that would require me to step outside of my comfort zone. More like take a giant leap, make a double backflip and stick the landing. On ice. That kind of “outside” of my comfort zone.

My first reaction was, as it has been when I was asked to do the same thing over the last five or so years – NO. Or more politely, no thank you, I’m going to go away now and pretend this interaction never happened. There I was, that no in my throat and ready to burst forth accompanied by a panicked-guilty smile, legs tensed to run away as soon as I finished speaking (if not before) when timed just…stopped, and two thoughts lit up like marquee signs in my mind.

If I said no, it wasn’t going to end the world. No one actually expected me to say yes, I never had before, why change now? But…

But…I had been feeling like my life is out of control for a while now, and that blade of grass was not going to hold for much longer unless I did something, anything to put order to the chaos and give myself just a small measure of control.

I said yes.

Then I had to repeat myself because the person asking wasn’t expecting it.

Five minutes later I was making tea because it was that or sit on the floor and hyperventilate.

Am I exaggerating? Slightly, I would have sat in a comfy chair, not on the floor.

I’ve had six days to live with my decision, and at no time have I considered backing out because I believe I need to do this. I have some idea of what to expect, but nothing concrete, and that scares me. The amount of responsibility scares me. The fact that I might be sleeping on an air mattress scares my back. There’s so much that scares me about this whole deal that I knew, in that second when time stopped, that I had to do it.

Will I have second thoughts? Oh, absolutely, probably starting on the drive to the airport, but I’m not going to back out. Last year I climbed up the many, many steps to the top of a lighthouse because I am terrified of heights. It was horrible and wonderful at the same time, and I bought a “I climbed the steps” certificate in the gift shop to remind myself of my triumph (even if I was pretty much in tears for the majority of the descent). I did that then, and I can do this now.

And then I’ll most likely spend a couple of weeks being very, very happy back in my comfort zone, but wrapped up in the knowledge that I did something unexpected and scary and lived to tell the tale. (Yeah, I’ll probably blog about it.)

What motivates you to step outside of your comfort zone?

[lehillwrites]

PIC POST: What Used to be There?

Have you ever been out for a walk or a drive and you see something like an old foundation, stairs that seemingly go nowhere, or a faded, painted company logo on a building that has been divided into apartments and wonder what was there, who owned and/or lived there, and what happened to it? 

I do.

An idea that I had a while back resurfaced after I took this picture: why not do a little digging and see if I can find the answers to those questions about the locations origins? It would actually fit, a little, into my research for my thesis/Capstone Project which looks at Place, History, and Fandom. I was thinking that with the research could be a little storytelling, maybe short stories based on what I find?

It would definitely mean that I can’t wait until Thursday night to write up a post, but that’s a good thing. Deadlines are my friends, despite the stress. I’ll think it through and see where it takes me. Stay tuned!

[lehillwrites]

Making Plans, one small step at a time

While answering emails at work the other day I suddenly realized that I have a lot to get through over the next six months that includes moving and a Thesis/Capstone project research trip (and begin work on said project) and finding a new job and my last class and keep this blog updated and look for some freelance work to help pay for those trips abroad . . . and freaking moving . . .

*cue breathing into a paper bag*

Or, as it happens, make a cup of tea and work on a plan that will help keep me from dropping the ball on anything and panicking at the last minute. There’s also the day-to-day stuff to consider, like housework and appointments that don’t seem quite as important until they don’t get done.

First thing I needed to do was make a comprehensive All The Big Things list with deadlines, and then break down those main tasks into smaller bites that can be accomplished at a manageable pace. As much as I am a fan of working in Google Drive for pretty much everything, when it comes to lists I feel better when I actually write things down on paper.

Next step was making sure I had a planner that fit my needs.

In November I took a bus with some friends to NYC and had the chance to visit this awesome bookshop at Rockefeller Center called Posman Books where I picked up a planner that spoke to my book-loving heart, and the size is perfect for taking with me everywhere. Over the years I have purchased all sorts of planners and even drew out my own in bullet journals, but when given the chance I will overload it with unnecessary details that makes it confusing, so I decided to go back to a simple layout where I write down the important stuff, and leave the everyday tasks (it’s time to do laundry again?) for the Rocketbook Wave reusable notebook my step-son gave me for Christmas. Once I have the chance to use it (and the smaller Everlast notebook) and figure out the tricks, I might write a post because they are pretty cool so far!

One thing I should mention is that I hate making mistakes and having to cross things out when I fill in a planner, so I invested in a variety-color pack of the Pilot FriXion pens that the Rocketbooks require and it took so much of the stress out of the process for me! They’re erasable! Of course, don’t leave a notebook in a hot car or else risk the ink fading, but otherwise… They work on any paper, so fun colors I can make mistakes with - Perfect!

Then I pulled up good ol’ Netflix and Supernatural played on the telly while I got to work. It was a little slow-going, I got distracted by Castiel a few times, but I have two months done and I feel so much better. When I get the assignments for my class I will add those in, and work on March.

Is the stress still a low-level hum in the background of my brain? Yep, but writing it all down and putting some kind of order to the chaos will make it more manageable, and that’s the most important part for me.

What do you do to manage the stress of a long-term task list?

[lehillwrites]

Kick Back, Relax & Learn Welsh

For most of my life, whenever I had free time I would pick up a book to read or a notebook, later a laptop, and write. Both activities I could do for hours, until my back was aching from sitting in one position for too long and my hands hurt from writing. It was wonderful. Lately, I seem to need to be pulled in ten different directions to keep my brain occupied, and when I do relax it’s in front of the television while on my tablet with the laptop and a notebook nearby. There’s usually a book open on the tablet, and a google doc open on the laptop, but I’m switching my attention like a squirrel looking for nuts and feeling guilty about not doing homework. Even when I don’t have homework.

When classes ended a couple of weeks ago I told myself that I would take a few days off before beginning to work on my thesis prospectus for the Capstone Project that I will be starting (along with my last official class!) in January. A few days to catch up on a show that an actor that I follow will be in for the second season, so of course I needed to watch season one, right? 

Right.

The show is called Bang and it takes place in the Welsh town of Port Talbot. It’s a crime drama that focuses on the people over the major crime arc, and I love it. It took the whole first episode to finally place the familiar face of one of the leads, Catrin Stewart - she was Jenny Flint on Doctor Who! Bang is a different take on what could have been just another police procedural, and I highly recommend it. (Google Play has it to buy, and you can watch it on AcornTV via Amazon Prime Video in the US.)

All of that is only half of what makes the show so great.

The other half is that the show is bilingual: Welsh and English.

It’s glorious.

Swinging back around to my wonky brain, there I sat watching Bang and suddenly I thought, “It would be so much cooler to watch this and not have to pay so much attention to the subtitles. I wonder…” And that’s how I found my new way to relax: learning Welsh.

I decided to install Duolingo on my tablet to see how I liked it. I use the free version, which works well for me because you have a limited amount of hearts that are used up when you make a mistake, and to get more....you do practice lessons! Yes, you can pay but why bother when you can practice and get better and also earn hearts to get back on track? (I’m not throwing out a line for the app, I’m just saying when learning is free? USE IT.)

It has been about two weeks and my accent is atrocious but I can get through some lessons without mistakes, and sometimes the mistakes are actually because I accidentally hit the wrong spot on the tablet screen (Seriously, I would have better stats if I paid attention and didn’t hit the Return button when I meant to press “L”...) There are challenges to get a certain amount correct, how many new words learned, etc. and I love watching my stats go up as I meet the challenges.

The Welsh language is very old, and evolved from a Celtic dialect. It nearly died out but for the beautiful stubborness of the Welsh people. I admire that. (Check out this page and podcast to learn more about it! “A Brief History of the Welsh Language”) And I love to hear it spoken, even if I can only catch a word here and there at this point. Still, dw i’n hoffi dysgu Cymraeg! (...I love learning Welsh!)

I know, learning a language doesn’t seem much like relaxing, but the lessons are short enough that I don’t lose focus. Short enough that I end up wanting to do another. And another. Two lessons are enough to hit my daily goal, but I tend to do six over the course of a day. Once class starts up again I will probably cut back to four, but the new season of Bang begins in February and I need to be able to say more than “Gina! Dych chi’n mwynhau gweithio fel heddwas?” (Gina! Do you enjoy working as a police officer?)

Diolch Duolingo for the bite-sized Welsh lessons, Bang for the awesome show, and Alexander Vlahos for getting cast in season 2!

[lehillwrites]

PICTURE POST: Poetry

I found this online while searching for a writing motivational quote. I’ve tried writing poetry over the years, but I don’t think I have the knack. I do know an amazing poet and at some point I’m going to see if she’ll contribute a poem for a post. Fingers crossed!

When I post these picture graphics, 9 out of 10 times I’m using my own pictures, like this one taken a week ago, and the wonderful Canva.com for a template. While I do have a paid account with them, the free version of Canva is still awesome.

The pictures are taken with my camera phone because I rarely carry a regular camera around. The colors seem to pop more when taken with the phone, but then my little point and shoot digital isn’t exactly high end so who knows what would happen if I upgraded!

Next week I’ll be back on track with a blog post about learning a new language with the Duolingo app just to watch a show on TV because not only can I apparently not let my brain rest over winter break, but I like my procrastination activities to be productive and educational.

[lehillwrites]

PIC POST: Northern Ireland

In the wake of finals and recent elections, and with the holidays coming up (which should be merry but won't be much this year for personal reasons) I sort of hit an emotional wall this week and decided today's post would be not just a picture post, but about one of the most peaceful places I have ever had the opportunity to experience. Castlewellan Forest Park (and arboretum) in Castlewellan, Northern Ireland is a wondrous joy to walk through. I've been there when the flowers were blooming in riots of color and smells and when they were clipped back to away the next season, strolled leisurely along the paths and raced after an energy-filled black lab, gotten lost in the maze and didn't mind much if I ever got out... And each and every time I was with friends who made the experience a million times better. The Forest Park has inspired me, humbled me, made me in awe of its beauty, and honestly makes me believe in magic.

I think we could all use a little of that now.

Do you have a special place that brings you peace and inspiration?

[lehillwrites]

NaNo Loss, Writing Win

I lost the battle but I shall win the war!

The NaNoWriMo deadline is tomorrow and I have reached 32K, and with a presentation and a final project to work on for school, methinks 50K is out of reach for this year, but like I said a couple posts ago, I don’t plan to stop writing until I see that winning number. My writing has improved over the month, and I think I have a few gems in there that can be saved for a second draft. Pretty excited about that!

The old adage that you need to write every day stresses me out, always has, and yet almost every year since 2006 I make the decision to participate in the NaNoWriMo challenge and eagerly sit down to write every day. It was easier before I went back to school, and much easier before I found a comforting routine at work and at home. Before streaming services and catching up on shows with my family.

So many excuses to procrastinate, though the homework one is valid! 

Finals are approaching, and I have a prospectus to write over the winter break before I begin my last class and get to working on my thesis/capstone project. I have to sit down and make a plan for this blog, for the whole website, so I can give it and my readers the attention deserved. I thought I had it all figured out, but one of my classes this semester made me realize that I have barely skimmed the surface of what I should know about blogging, content writing, and website maintenance. I have a lot more to learn, and I’m looking forward to it.

All in all, between classes and NaNo, I think I’ve figured out a few things for moving forward, and that makes for a good reason to get out my new 2020 planner and put it to use. It’s too early to bring up resolutions and all that, but… well… I’ve got some! :)

[lehillwrites]

Picture Post: Chris Baty quote

Around this time in November when I’m participating in NaNoWriMo I always end up procrastinating and looking at motivational writing quotes online. I don’t really have a favorite, it changes with my mood and in what area I’m having problems with, but I have to admit that this one never fails to make me want to write when I’m stuck.

Hope it motivates other writers, too!

[lehillwrites]

Let me write that down...

I made the decision to participate in NaNoWriMo over the summer because I had a great idea that needed research and I had the time. Unfortunately, when November rolled around I realized that I should have just written down the idea with as much info as I could, saved the research, and got on with life until I actually had the opportunity to give it my full attention. Eh, hindsight and all that.

Working under a deadline tends to be when I shine, and turning in projects just under the wire should be an Olympic sport because I’d have all the gold medals, but there is a limit to how much a person should take on and expect to accomplish well. Of course, I could not have anticipated some of the upheavals I am experiencing right now on personal and professional levels, so there’s that, and I know things will calm down but most likely not for a little while.

The logical thing to do would be to acknowledge that I will not be able to reach the 50K word goal by the end of November and let myself off the hook for NaNoWriMo this year. Of everything that needs to be done or attended to that is the one thing that is voluntary; stopping now would make sense. The problem with that is...I’ve missed creative writing. Not only that, I’d forgotten how cathartic it is to throw the riot of emotions inside of me on paper and watch someone else deal with them. Of course, my characters are 17th century nobles and dealing with relationship issues and werewolves at the moment, but the spirit is the same, I guess. 

Over the years, when I’ve felt overwhelmed like this, I poke around online and read articles about ways to cope. I avoid the ones with more than five steps because who has time for that? And yet...I am online and not doing work, but with the excuse that I’m doing it for my well-being. Then I feel guilty about wasted time. But is it wasted? Oh, the mind boggles. 

I wrote a post a while back about what I do when I’m overwhelmed with ideas, and while this is different, in a way it’s not. I suggested talking it out and making lists and that’s actually what will save me now. Talking with my professors and admitting to not being completely focused, talking to my co-workers about delegating tasks and any concerns about meeting deadlines, talking to my husband about the move we have planned for next year and my excitement and my fears, and my characters are talking out their own secrets and fears and loves. 

I’m also making lists. Homework deadlines, thesis deadlines, work task deadlines, moving task deadlines, NaNo word goals with rewards, and even the little things like, oh, remember to clean the bathroom this weekend and Ms Hill your darned laundry belongs hung up in the closet and not becoming more and more wrinkled in the laundry basket. When it’s on a list, it’s so much more satisfying to get it done so I can cross it off!

And I will continue to write because I had to face the fact that practice makes perfect and I was not doing myself any favors by ignoring it all. Will I make the November 30 deadline? Maybe? Maybe not, but I don’t plan to stop until I reach 50K no matter how long it takes. And then I’ll move on with the bits that really worked and see what I can make of it. I will keep writing, and I will talk and makes lists, and it will all get done in the end. 

I think this has turned into a little pep talk to myself rather than a real blog post, but hopefully someone will read this and take something good away from it. Pull up your socks and carry on!

[lehillwrites]

PIC POST: NaNo Rewards Chart

So this is my Rewards Chart for #NaNoWriMo2019. Each year I make one up, sometimes with smaller rewards, sometimes with bigger ones, but this year I’m somewhere in the middle. The bad news is that I’m behind on my word count, so I haven’t quite reached 10K, nevermind 15K, so I have a lot of writing to do this weekend!

I haven’t had much time for creative writing for a while, only academic or work writing, and it shows… The first few days were painful. Not that I had trouble writing, but the words I found were bland and uninteresting. Yikes! By Day 6 I could see and feel an improvement, and I cannot express how relieved that made me.

For anyone else attempting NaNo, happy writing!!

[lehillwrites]

Let the writing begin!

NaNoWriMo starts today!

I have participated 11 times since signing up in 2006 and have three “wins” under my belt. Maybe not the best track record, but whether or not I hit the 50,000 word goal I am always just as excited to begin the journey as I was the first time. I’m getting some writing done, and that’s all that matters. I like to write fanfiction for NaNo because it alleviates a lot of the stress for me, but I’ve also written original pieces and won with one of the attempts. Never completely finished any of them, but there’s still time...

I write alone, and got into the habit because for the first few years there weren’t any regional meet-ups in my area, and when there were… I’m a homebody, love writing with certain movies playing in the background, surrounded by snacks and cups of tea or coffee and my cats. Maybe someday I’ll find my way to a meet-up and kick myself for not going to one sooner, but until then, it’s me and my cats.

My other half has learned to ignore me when I inevitably begin muttering to myself (even more than usual) in November, listens to my convoluted ramblings as I try to work through a plot point I’m still not sure of, and “helpfully” eats some of my snacks to make sure I’m not stress-eating too much junk food. #Teamwork.

Prepping for the month includes clearing off my desk, hoarding Halloween candy and pretzels, checking on (and re-stocking as need be) my supply of Earl Grey, loading my Starbucks card, and creating a calendar and a schedule for writing (and homework and regular work - oh my!). 

I used to read No Plot? No Problem! by NaNo founder Chris Baty cover to cover every year, but it is now burned into my brain and I only do a quick skim the last week of October as a refresher. Still, I keep it handy all of November like a favorite talisman.

I started researching for the story I plan to write back in August because it is based on the tv show “Versailles” which takes place in 17th century France in the court of Louis XIV and that is not my area of expertise. There will be demons, witches, hunters, and two exceptionally fashionable idiots in love. I cannot wait to get writing!

Anyone else participating?

[lehillwrites]

I've seen my future and it involves lots of sun and palm trees. That's it, that's the post. 😁 #florida #lehillwrites https://www.instagram.com/p/B4D0DSUgbyL/?igshid=12vql76d46zh1