Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Non-Writing Projects Galore

Not a lot of writing going on in Alan's world recently. I had meant to contribute a #fridayflash story last week but the story has gotten sidetracked and I'm struggling with it. Yesterday, though, a new story idea popped into my head while labouring away at my paying job. I know, the amount of focus I demonstrate on my job is commendable. We were at my parent's house, watching The Stone of Destiny (you know, the one where the Scottish college kids steal back the coronation stone from Westminster Abbey) when my dad made a comment about the big, black police cars in the movie. The seed was planted.

Anyway, I've roughed it out on paper and have to type out a first draft today. I'll try to get it together for Friday. My overlords are really cracking the whip again at the moment as it's the last week of the month and a certain quantity of steel must be issued for manufacturing by the end of the month. Or spankings will ensue. I won't go into details...

I have all of next week off. Normally it would be a great time to get some reading and writing done, but there are at least three household projects that I have neglected that require my attention. They all involve some amount of painting. Did I ever mention that I am the son of a painter? Not the 'acyclic on canvas' type of painter...more the latex on drywall sort of painter. When I was 12 my dad started taking me to job sites as a helper during summer breaks. Making the money was good, scraping and taping not so good. That may have been instrumental in my decision not to become a painter. Anyway that's another story. If I don't get some work done on those projects my bride will be annoyed...

...speaking of brides...those of you who follow Cathy Olliffe blog, Life on the Muskoka River, may have noticed the drastic changes she has made. It's all in an effort to help her celebrate her upcoming wedding in 60 days or so. Pop by and have a peek. She's also looking for your bizarre wedding stories and photos. I've got nothing to say to that end. Nothing out of the ordinary ever happens at Twin Peaks Land's Edge!

While I pimping things up...Kat over at Crooked Tales is still looking for your erotic stories for her 'Smutfest 2010' contest. Entries can still be submitted until July 31, 2010 and you can get all of the naughty details here.

And, of course, Michael J. Solender is still seeking submissions to his Dog Days of Summer Contest. Deadline for that is August 15, 2010. You can get all the information here. Hey, it's only 101 words...how bad could it be...?

Yikes! Almost forgot about the ongoing humourous Vampire Commentaries from Katey Taylor. Part 2 deals with Martin (1977), Dracula (1979) and The Hunger (1983) and you can link to that here. Part 3 deals with The Night Stalker (1972), Vampire Hunter D (1985), The Lost Boys (1987) and Near Dark (1987). You can link to those here.

15 comments:

Rebecca Nazar said...

I want to repaint my dinning next week. My hubby is soooooo thrilled.

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

Thanks for the pimpage, Alan. Always appreciated! Am looking forward to your flash this week!

Aaron Polson said...

All of my story ideas seem to happen while I'm at work "focusing" on something else. Nose to the grindstone and all. ;)

Laurita said...

Funny, I'd never heard of the Stone of Destiny until my brother told me about it a few days ago, now here are you talking about it. I love when stuff like that happens.

Maybe you can get creative with the painting. Some sort of abstract mural, perhaps?

Laura Eno said...

The dreaded honey-do list...

Does it ever bother you that you're pimping flashers?

Helen Ginger said...

So much going on!

Give me a big wall and I can paint. But don't assign me the corners or edges, unless you like crooked lines and smears.

Kat said...

Lol. Thanks for the pimpage, Alan. :)

There's something soothing about painting a room. I love it, but then...maybe it's all those fumes....or getting a good back rub afterward to work out the kinks. :D

Here's to hoping you get a good back rub and enjoy the fumes, too! Or at least a nice cold beer, Chico. Cheer! :D

Alan W. Davidson said...

Becca- Yep, definately a universal guy thing.

Cathy- I don't often hear women say that to me. Thanks, I'm flattered...

Aaron- I can picture in front of your class and stopping to jot down an idea on a scrap of paper.

Laurita- It's a Scottish kinda thing. I love it, too, when the synchronisity stuff happens.

Laura- Your right, I should set my sights higher...

Helen- Now that's what guy's like to hear. Women who roll up their sleeves and paint (while they drink beer and supervise from the sofa)

Kat- Your welcome. I'm sure it must be the fumes, coz I don't find it soothing! I don't know about the other stuff, but a cold beer is a good possibility.

Danielle Birch said...

Enjoy your week off. I have holiday time coming up in October that I'm looking forward to.

kathryn said...

I'm exhausted just listening to all these contests and events involving imaginations and short stories and lots and lots of paint....

Wait. One of those doesn't belong.

What's that expression about the shoe maker's kids being the only ones without shoes? What does that have to do w/anything, you ask?

I have no idea.

K.C. Shaw said...

Sigh...you make story-writing sound so simple. Usually when I get a story idea, it takes me about ten minutes to realize it's terrible and derivative and I hate it. Then I fail to write it. :)

Unknown said...

You do good pimpin', Alan... Forget the fez... Do you have a huggy bear suit and fur coat? ;)

Alan W. Davidson said...

Danielle- Thanks. I'm looking forward to the time off. Are you going on another writing retreat?

Kathryn- Yep, I'm barefoot and still have lots of writing ideas piling up, neglected.

KC- Well, the flash stories are working right now and work with my short attention span. Perhaps I'll work on a long-term project this winter. But you always seem to turn your story ideas into novels...

Anthony- Ha! A purple suit with matching fedora. The fur coat would be seal skin, of course, just to rile some folks...

Fox Lee said...

Hee hee. Spankings : )

Katey said...

Coming from outside the Steel City as I do, I am all too familiar with the steel industry spankings. Details are best left alone, it's true.

Hee, thanks for the shout out again, and I look forward to your Friday Flash as ever. Here's hoping the overlords let up enough to let you get it sorted. I am selfish like that.