Tag: writing

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Author: Jim Henson & 233 Scene Takes

Peregrine Arc: An Author's Scratchwork

Just a quick check-in to wish everyone a Happy New Years. My second novel (GOTD) is going better–slow and steady. I’ll be focusing on that over the holiday weekend to get as far as I can.

In the meantime, here’s a fabulous video of 233 takes from Henson’s “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas.” The director wanted the drum to fall just right against the milk cannister out front, and land sideways halfway off the curb (which finally happens…233 tries later). I read somewhere in the comments that when they tried this during rehearsal, they nailed it the first time. When they went to tape it…well, you’ll see.

Two hundred and thirty three tries. I admire the tenacity. A necessary skill to have in writing.

Oh and Frank Oz, you’re a genius. God bless The Muppets. ❤

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Author: Seasons Greetings (Out ’till New Years)

Peregrine Arc: An Author's Scratchwork

Just a quick note to say I’ll be using the rest of the year to (finally) finish up my second novel–GOTD (acronym given only, until published). I’m currently beta reading for a fellow author, and I hope to be done with this for him by the end of the month/sooner. It’s been a great exercise for me to see how other people write and look at the process from different angles. It’s been helpful in getting my gears going again, clearing the cobwebs and giving me the courage to finish my book.

The saint and I also picked up a bunch of horror movies we found at a dollar store. I plan to watch these to see if 1.) if they’re any good (I’m so very picky about my horror; a lot of it is junk) and 2.) if they are good (or fail abysmally), I will take a look at the plot (story structure) and see what went right and what went wrong. When I write, it’s a very visual process for me, so I feel this will help strengthen my writing. This can also be done after you read a book, of course.

So Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a great New Year. I’m off to Wonderland, ta-ta.

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Author: My Summary of Crocheting (Humor) 🧶

Peregrine Arc: An Author's Scratchwork

I watched a couple tutorials about crocheting today. Another skill I could perhaps learn and make useful things using yarn. I don’t know what I was thinking.

I tried to learn how to knit once. The knitting needles were flung into the nearest wall in a fit of rage and ire, the likes of which has never been seen again. People who visited thought I had a porcupine living in my walls. No, no. It was just a visual reminder I kept to remember the evil that was and to never return to again. Ever.

The saint (my spouse) can knit and sew a bit, and quite well; he enjoys it. He’s been collecting quite a stash of yarn for his projects. He’s a patient teacher but I would rather do anything else, short of murder, than knit.

Here’s my summary of the evil that is crocheting. And remember now, this is humor.

🧶🧶🧶

“Yarn over… Yarn over… This here is a chain. It becomes a prison of crocheting. Yarn over some more… Now we’re going to do something very simple, you peons, so please do try to keep up this time. We’re going to do a triple, double, ventriloquist, three quarter backflip, in Chinese. Now take the third loop, feed through, you should have six loops now… If you don’t, all hope is lost and you have failed miserably. If you’re still with me, cast off a fish and off we go…!”

Ain’t life grand? No wonder cats attack balls of yarn. They were trying to save us all this time…Thanks, Fluffy. 🐱