Waxing Esoteric

November 26, 2010

The high

There’s this rush that comes with writing, one that comes when you least expect it. You’ll be struggling through a section, and everything you write sounds cheesy and unrealistic. Then, suddenly, you begin to see what you’re writing, see the characters and feel the emotion that they do, and it becomes kind of magical. You feel like they’re real, even if their zombies or Tralfamadorians or fairies from another dimension. And it feels you with this euphoria that really can’t be matched.

When I write, I have a playlist for each book, depending on the mood. And every now and then, there is a truly sublime moment where a particular song is so insanely suited for the scene I am writing that I have to stop a moment to catch my breath. It’s a beautiful thing.

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November 19, 2010

Rethinking Goals, Editing Dreams

As you get older, you find yourself negotiating with the plans that you had previously thought were non-negotiable. Your plans become suggestions, and then forgotten ideas.

I decided that I would not let that happen to me. However, I would have to rethink some of my milestones. For example, suddenly a PhD in English seems unobtainable. Florida schools are notorious for not wanting to admit students who have BA’s from other Florida schools, and at this stage of my life, moving out of state is simply not feasable. So I set my sights on a different discipline.

Then came the book. It’s been finished for nearly 3 years now. I’ve recieved somewhere in the realm of 10 rejections from agents. Yes, I know vampires are last week’s news. But I don’t care. I believe in my work, and I will get it out there.

So what do you do? Do you turn to a vanity publisher? (No). Do you Self Publish? (Maybe). Do you hold out hope that some agent will realize that you’re brilliant and offer to push your book? (Yes?).

Self-publishing is a brobdingnagian affair that is exhausting just to read about. An editor has been hired; next, I just need someone to hold my hand through the next few steps. Or an agent to sweep me off my feet.

I’ll take either right about now.

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Filed under books, Fiction, musings, Writing

June 9, 2009

Playlist for Writing

Famous Blue Raincoat 5:10 Leonard Cohen The Best Of Rock 2 6/9/09 12:06 PM

Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) 5:15 Arcade Fire Funeral Alternative 2 6/9/09 12:11 PM

The Killing Moon 5:47 Echo and the Bunnymen Soundtrack 9 6/9/09 12:17 PM

The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn 2:59 The Pogues Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1 6/9/09 12:20 PM

Banquet 3:21 Bloc Party Silent Alarm Indie 14 6/9/09 12:23 PM

Sand And Foam 3:20 Donovan Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964-1976 [Disc 1] Rock 3 6/9/09 12:26 PM

Fitzcarraldo 6:09 The Frames Fitzcarraldo Alternative 13 3/15/09 2:07 PM

Eli, The Barrow Boy 3:11 The Decemberists Picaresque Indie

O’ Sailor 5:36 Fiona Apple Extraordinary Machine Rock

Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! 29:59 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! 20 2 2/8/09 3:01 PM

For Reasons Unknown 3:32 The Killers Sam’s Town Rock 15 6/9/09 11:35 AM

NYC 4:20 Interpol Turn On The Bright Lights Alternative & Punk 8 3/11/09 12:55 PM

Stop Me 3:58 Mark Ronson Feat. Daniel Merriweather Version Electronica/Dance 14 3/11/09 12:33 PM

Digging In The Dirt 5:18 Peter Gabriel Us Rock 1 6/9/09 11:55 AM

Obstacle 1 4:11 Interpol Turn On The Bright Lights Alternative & Punk 21 6/9/09 11:46 AM

The Stars Are Underground 3:11 The Frames Dance The Devil… Alternative & Punk 4 8/10/08 1:00 PM

The Sun Also Sets 4:11 Ryan Adams Easy Tiger Country 4 6/9/09 11:31 AM

Blue In The Face 3:02 Alkaline Trio Good Mourning Alternative & Punk 16 6/9/09 11:58 AM

No I in Threesome 3:55 Interpol Our Love To Admire 9 3/11/09 12:37 PM

(Nothing But) Flowers 5:32 Talking Heads Sand in the Vaseline Rock 1

Sisters Of Mercy 3:36 Leonard Cohen The Best Of Rock 1 3/29/08 9:20 AM

She Runs Away 3:44 Duncan Sheik Duncan Sheik Pop 1 3/15/09 2:11 PM

So Long, Marianne 5:41 Leonard Cohen The Best Of Rock

Cold Water 4:59 Damien Rice O Rock 4 3/11/09 12:29 PM

Since I Told You It’s Over 4:43 Stereophonics You Gotta Go There To Come Back Alternative & Punk 11 3/13/09 1:57 PM

Star Star** 3:58 The Frames Dance The Devil… Alternative & Punk 6 3/11/09 12:08 PM

Say it to Me Now 2:35 Glen Hansard Once Original Soundtrack Soundtrack 4 6/9/09 12:00 PM

Hunting For Witches 3:31 Bloc Party A Weekend In The City Alternative & Punk 17 6/9/09 11:38 AM

Invincible 5:00 Muse Black Holes and Revelations Rock 20 1/17/09 11:04 AM

Dashboard 4:08 Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank Alternative & Punk 6 3/11/09 12:51 PM

I Know 4:56 Fiona Apple When The Pawn… Alternative & Punk 4 3/11/09 12:47 PM

Two-Headed Boy 4:26 Neutral Milk Hotel In The Aeroplane Over The Sea Alternative & Punk 1 3/13/09 3:17 PM

Twist The Knife 2:34 Neko Case Furnace Room Lullaby Country

Munich 3:46 Editors The Back Room Indie 8 6/9/09 11:42 AM

Happiness Runs 3:28 Donovan Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964-1976 [Disc 2] Rock

Pioneer to the Falls 5:46 Interpol Our Love To Admire 7 3/11/09 12:24 PM