Writers' Camp

So, here it is 15 months since I last posted. Can I really do this blog thing? I don't know. I'm going to keep trying though. I am currently swamped with paid writing work, so I feel a bit guilty for even writing this right now, but a minute ago I was playing Scramble on Facebook, so I guess even being here indicates progress.

It's interesting that the last time I posted I had just finished Ariel Gore's online writing class, because I've just come back from her Writers' Camp near Mt. Shasta in northern California. It was a really great week of making new friends, writing, getting good feedback, and hanging out in an awesome spa.

I spent at least as much time moving from sauna to cold plunge (37 degree stream!) as I did writing, and I didn't get nearly as much sleep as I'd have liked, because we were all up late playing Apples to Apples and hanging out. But it was a week of rejuvenation for me, and ultimately, that's as good for me the writer as the writing was.

There are plans in the works to stay in touch via some sort of file sharing so that we can continue to share work and get feedback. It'll be a while before I work on my novel; first I've got to get these paying jobs completed. But there is really something to be said for a writers' community in keeping one connected to one's muse and motivated to move forward.

I'll be aiming for motivation in the coming months as I get to work on my website at long last. Stay tuned.

Cheeseburger tale

For at least ten days, I have eaten no meat. A week ago this past Wednesday, I came down with one of those miserable high fever flus, and it has completely overstayed its welcome, long after the fever wandered off looking for someone else to torment. So, I've been eating pretty light-- that is to say, almost not at all-- and that's not all bad, because it keeps my cholesterol down, and I've lost around five pounds I was planning to pay Weight Watchers to help me lose. But I think all this light eating has made me weak, and that, in turn, might be contributing to my inability to get well.

Today, I was lying on the sofa feeling sorry for mysel, when I was overtaken by a horrendous craving for a cheeseburger. I don't normally eat much fast food; it doesn't appeal to me, and I know that with my family history of coronary artery disease it's not good for me to eat. But this craving rivaled the cravings I got back in my pregnancy days. Come to think of it, with my first pregnancy, I craved nothing but cheeseburgers for about two weeks of my second trimester.

So, after spending most of the day lounging around feeling depleted, I jumped into the car and went to my local plate lunch joint and got a cheeseburger. I have lived in Hawaii for over twelve years, but somehow I always forget that they put all kinds of crap on your burgers if you don't tell them not to. Consequently, I found myself, as always, asking for a plastic knife and scraping off all the mayo-mustard nonsense they slather on there. But you know what? Even with that lingering hint of mustard taste, this was one of the best cheeseburgers I've ever eaten. I put it away in minutes and actually considered ordering a second one.

Why am I blogging about this? I don't know. Probably because I should be working on my short story but I'm not feeling particularly energetic or focused at the moment. Perhaps I was inspired by my son, who started his blog today and posted about eating macaroni and cheese for lunch. I guess the message is, never underestimate the power of comfort food when you are feeling physically and emotionally drained. Perhaps this cheeseburger is an indicator of a turnaround to come. I hope so, because I need a pick-me-up.

I just finished a six-week online writing class taught by Ariel Gore, and I am experiencing post-class letdown. It felt great to be a part of a community of writers again and to be focused on writing, talking about writing and thinking about writing. In the class, I wrote two new short stories, one of which I am eager to complete revising so that I can begin submitting it for publication. I wrote a short piece that Ariel submitted to The Sun's Readers Write column. I also wrote a short, memoirish piece about counting worms on my way to school that I probably won't do anything with, but it was good practice for writing in a child's voice. I made some new friends in the class too, and we've agreed to keep in touch and send one another writing.

After my return from Skidmore in June, I managed to stay pretty focused on my writing, and I completed two short stories between June and October. I will be returning to Skidmore in June for the IWWG "Remember the Magic" conference. I recommend this conference to all women writers. I just cannot say enough about how empowering, creative and inspiring that week was.

I haven't yet figured out how to do italics for titles on this blog yet. As a grammarian, that drives me completely crazy, but the shortcuts don't seem to work on my Mac. I'll keep at it and will figure it out eventually.

Aloha and a hui hou.
Gillian