April Marches On

That it does.

So I finished The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman. I learned a few things and it was nice to see things from an editor's perspective. The most important thing I learned, and I know it's going to sound arrogant but I promise I'm not overplaying it, is that I am doing a lot of things RIGHT. That's right.

I'm not saying I'm the best writer or that my writing is flawless. All I'm saying is, from what I've read in the book and compared to my own writing (more recent writing, like within the past year) is that I'm doing things well. There are things I can improve on and develop more, sure, but I'm doing a lot of things right. Like I'd read a chapter and think of my writing and realize, "Wow, I've managed to avoid that or do that right." It's not that I just am a perfect writer, I've been developing my style for years. I had quite a bit of help in high school and later on, through both books and people. I used to do many of the things that Lukeman condemns but now I'm doing well.

I probably sound defensive in these paragraphs, sorry about that...I just didn't want to come off as arrogant.

In other news, I saw Once recently and while it was a good movie, it didn't change my life. However the song, Falling Slowly did. It is sung by Glen Hansard (of The Frames) and Marketa Irglova. And it is amazing. I loved it so much I am learning to play it myself on guitar. A wonderful, wonderful song...it's so beautiful and powerful, I just dig it so much.

Also, while I'm recommending music, be sure to check out Greg Graffin's (of Bad Religion) solo album Cold as the Clay. On it he covers a bunch of folk songs he grew up with in the most amazing way. Usually it reminds me of Autumn and Mississinewa (this War of 1812 reenactment I've gone to the past two years) but lately it's been reminding of that wonderful thing known as summer.

In sad news, I haven't written a lick in awhile but frankly guys...I'm too consumed by school. Occasionally, I'll write a bit of a short story or something but not much. I know, I know, I'm being quite the slacker. It's not that I don't have the time...I just don't have the quite environment I guess...I don't know all my excuses are lame but hopefully I will write quite a bit this summer.

LIFE GOAL: To publish my first novel before I graduate. I have approximately two and half years to go. I have two unfinished novels.