Of Residual Randomness March 26, 2009
Posted by Jen in : A363 Open University, Journal , trackbackAh, yes, don’t you just love the way tumbleweeds blow across a neglected blog? Hello. I’ve been a bit quiet, haven’t I? I was going to post up a ‘normal service will resume shortly’ type thing but didn’t think anyone would believe me. Normal? What is this normal of which you speak? See? I knew what you were thinking. Or would have been thinking if I’d done it. Which I didn’t, obviously. Good, glad we cleared that up then.
So what have I been up to? Erm… writing, actually. Thinking Things. Learning Things too. Learning that I cannot think about more than one thing at a time, mainly. Having used up a large quota of my Brian’s writing department thinking about Novel 2, I found that its gear-change doodah was stuck and could not get into the right mode for a short story. Now that the story has been sent off to meet its fate, I am unable to get back into novel-writing mode. Instead, Fred Fowle the Funeral Director and his murderous urges are teasing me, unable to release me from his gruesome grip. I fear for my sanity. I used to write nice stories, cheery stuff, you know? But somehow Fred Fowle grabbed me, lured me in with his rheumy eyes, daring me to abandon him as he puffed away on ciggies soaked in embalming fluid and coveted a leading role in a Gilbert & Sullivan AmDram romp. Oh dear. I swear I am not connected to the contents of my Brian at all.
In more cheery news, when I went to the other extreme and cried over a crazy story loosely based on a memory of Rentaghost, I thought I had lost the plot, as it were. But now it is to be published in First Edition Magazine. With my name on, just like a proper person. And you will be able to read it, with your eyes. So that’s good then. Unfortunately, I also had to submit a mini-biography. At least in only 50 words, I wouldn’t make myself sound mental. Well not much. I didn’t mention red wine or rainbows. Not in 50 words. Well I might have. Oh. Bugger.
So. In a bid to make the most of this week which I’ve taken off unpaid to write, I am now going to learn to play the guitar so that I can strum in a house which I do not own but comes with its own sunset which I would, of course, catch in a butterfly net and share with you all.
But first, I’m going to have a little lie-down. Ok?
Comments»
Hee hee, Jen! Enjoy playing the guitar! And congrats on your story being published with your name on it everything! xx
That is great news!
My blog is utterly neglected most of the time and the longer you’ve been away the worse it is. I cannot empathise with your gear-switching problem as I don’t write short stories but I’m a big believer in the value of thinking. When I’m walking or travelling somewhere I often daydream or people-watch and think in general and this is when I had flashes of inspiration that end up in my writing.
Good luck with the guitar. I learned to play the guitar when I was a teenager but got as far as twanging out ‘Yesterday’ and that was it.
Yes, your blog has been much neglected … and me with abandonment issues! I mean, yes, yes, jolly well done and that on being published. But what about your loyal existing fanbase, hmmm? What?
Yes, get your butt into gear woman and no more of this morbid marlarkey. Of course you can do more than one thing at once – you’re a woman! Now, images please on your other neglected blog of colourful sunsets. Fancy playing a guitar duet? Mind is a special model – it only has two strings. It lives in the loft. Oh, congrats on the published thingy.
oooh I like the idea of being a tumbleweed rolling across your blog (that was what you meant wasn’t it
?) Big congrats on your story publication, I loved Rentaghost so looking forward to reading it (and reading your 50 word biog, I am soooo useless at that bit and cringe when I ever I read them again).
Happy sunset guitar playing
I wasn’t so keen on Rentaghost – I was more of a “Ghosts of Motley Hall” sort of girl. Does that mean we can’t be friends?
Mandy – Didn’t quite get around to the strumming… just realised the next TMA is due next bloomin Friday! Oh. My. God.
CC – Eep! I learned the guitar when I was 5. And 13. And a few years ago. Can’t remember a single chord. As for thinking… erm.., I do suspect it might be more trouble than it’s worth!
McBobo – Sorry. You was not abandoned. Not really. But Fearsome Fred most most insistent. And a bit scary. I don’t think he had dentures though.
TF – Oh, yes, I can DO more than one thing at once. But not think at the same time. That’s a different matter altogether. Yes, the other blog is also most neglected. One’s mind has been elsewhere (she said poshly).
Jumbly – You are the glamourest tumbleweed I has ever seen! The biog thing is mucho hideous isn’t it? Hey ho. The like a bot of mental. Probably. Pfffff.
Loth – I reckon that we would be ACE friends if/when we meet. Cos Blogland’s like that, innit? And so are you. Ace, I mean.
Hi Jen,
Congratulations on your success in having a short story published. I’m so happy for you. Please put up a link to the magazine when it is published, so that I don’t miss it.
Keep your blog going, I miss your regular musings.
Speak soon,
Lots of Love,
Mars x
Ooh, that’s fab news well done! It’s about time something was unleashed on the world
))
I’m still trying to teach myself the guitar and can now strum Buddy Holly’s “Heartbeat” and a rather unusual interpretation of something by Oasis, (not at the same time, though it might sound better) while singing along in a way that would get me chucked off X-Factor should I ever be daft enough to go on it. I’m sure you’ll be much better.
I can’t wait to read the Rentaghost story. I am thinking you are something of a genius my dear x
i am so excited. which edition will you be in? i’ll be getting it and squee-ing and everything!
Mars – Hello Missis and thank you! Worry not, I will be including a link, in super neon flashing lights…
Karen – Ha! Unleashed is about right… am feeling a bit tragic now that I can’t even think of any Oasis tunes. Shall we not go on X Factor togevvah?
Helen – Hmmmm… Having shared wine and words together, I think I can safely say deduce that you know me too well to think I might be a genius! When are you moving to Lewes? Hurry up, I’ll put the kettle on.
b – Squeeeeee! It’s the May edition, I think, out in April. Or something. I’m sure you’ll hear my own ‘wahoooo’s from there!
Ooh congratulations on your story being published. I can’t wait to read it, and with my very own eyes too.
Enjoy the strumming.
“In a bid to make the most of this week which I’ve taken off unpaid to write, I am now going to learn to play the guitar”
Sounds like the ultimate in procrastination!
I love the sound of your funeral director. I hope we get to read more about him some time. And where do we get hoold of First Edition magazine, and when will the story be in? Exciting!
I know about the changing-gear problem. I’m bloody hopeless. Takes me ages to grind into gear on any new project, and then an eternity to grind back down again and switch to something else. I used to be a computer programmer. When they gave me one simple project and sent me away for a few months to work on it, I was rather good at my job. But when they put me on fire-fighting duties – a bug here, an optimisation there… I was utterly rubbish. I septn all my time either winding up or winding down, and very little of it doing.
Oh, that’s great news! Well done! And Fred Fowle sounds wonderful.
You are a very clever writer lady and I’m going to click that ‘buy’ button just as soon as Issue 3 is available. Am so looking forward to reading it with my eyes and processng it in my Brian.
Well done m’dear:-) x
You clever young thing! Can’t wait to get my hands on the story
It’s all very well teasing us but you must know I need details…which G&S was it???
You have indeed been most unusually quiet. Congratulations on the publication result, you multi-talented arty person you. Would I be right in thinking there’s only one more TMA after this week’s one?
Congratulations and may you have many more publishing sucesses. Now put the kettle on, you’ve earned a cuppa. xo
Debs – ooh, I’d forgotten about the strumming. Sounds far better than digging up the garden which was today’s method of procrastination! Cheers!
Clare – First Edition can be found in WHSmith and I think it’s out next week – Issue 3. Fire-fighting too many things at once is not good for the Brian. Fred Fowle the funeral director did me proud in the end. This writing lark is such a fickle thing – it’s so hard to judge our own words, isn’t it?
Honeysuckle – I think I might marry Fred Fowle! Would you like to be bridesmaid?
Lane – Clever writer lady? Me?? Ooh, fanks me luvverly. It’s cos my friends is clever writer ladies (and mans) too. Something like that.
Tam – Ah, I should have guessed you’d be the one to ask that question! Yeoman of the Guard… “I have a song to sing, o!” Cheesier than a fondue but I love ‘em!
Queenie – I don’t think I like being quiet. I’m nearly ready to be noisy again. Nearly. Final TMA went off on Friday – now another nail-biting wait for the dreaded result and then the final end-of-course assessment which is, effectively, the beginning of Novel 2. Oh. God. Another year of hearing voices. Ace.
DJ – Tea? Check. More published wotsits? Erm, I’m working on that one! Am going to have today off and read your book in the garden. So there.