urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:studioalana il diario dallo studio di alana studioalana 2007-11-17T03:40:57Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:studioalana:1658 2007-11-17T03:40:57Z 2007-11-17T03:40:57Z I've hit the halfway point. My novel is composed of strings of thoughts, ideas, dialogue, and awful plot points. I still love it.<br /><br />Once November is over I plan to do the equivalent in December...only with painting. One hour a day at least. If I can write a novel, then I can make a portfolio. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:studioalana:1402 2007-11-08T08:17:29Z 2007-11-08T08:17:29Z No title yet for my novel of 11,807 words. <br /><br />It feels good to be writing a "real" novel this year, but the beginnings have been VERY scrappy. (It's nice to know that nobody writes masterpieces off the bat.) I wanted to write an entry while I was well into my first few thousand words, but I still had no idea what I was writing about. I made more question marks than periods. I wrote more pages on "what if" and "maybe" rather than on the actual narrative or dialogue. But maybe that's what supposed to happen.<br /><br />The premise? You know how there are many wonderful books on women? You've got the strong, confident, independent woman represented in modern fiction, no question. But where are the epics? Where are the journeys? And I'm not talking journey to true love either. That's what the woman protagonist wants. The male protagonist? Himself. Or power. Or money. Sometimes a woman (but never <i>just</i> a woman). Most of the time, he is searching for himself. Or that's what it comes to.<br /><br />The examples of women, real or imaginary, who embark on journeys of epic proportions are few and far between. We have women like Elizabeth I. Though she was a fan of horseback riding, I want my heroine to be a real journey taker (with good motives, mind you), a prophet., maybe even a warrior. I want danger, I want mystery. I want strength and integrity. Other strong women examples are like Cleopatra. Sexy and powerful, but she was no leader. And look what happened to her. <br /><br />I want someone who isn't afraid to fight for and with their people. There is the queen Tomyris who killed the powerful king Cyrus, but then again she didn't kill him, one of her soldiers did, and she only killed him out of revenge. I have no great opinion about revenge, but it's not as sweet as just being victorious to begin with. I would go hands-down with the fabulous Amazonians, but there is that fact that they killed all the men...<br /><br />Well I'm trying to write some kind of epic. It's awful...and I am having a really good time! As of now, she's not a warrior, and I think she was born in the 70s or 80s. But there is a Native American warrior leader that I was told about recently: her name was Lozen. She possessed great spiritual powers, fought as a warrior, and was <b>respected</b> as such. I was so inspired by her story I attempted to paint her. Maybe the only thing that comes close to that is the first female Pharoah, but she stole Pharoah-hood from her nephew, didn't she? And even though Egypt did really well economically during her reign, where did she fight? Nowhere. She just glued on a beard, announced that she was god, and partied like it was 1999 BC. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:studioalana:1064 2007-11-01T07:00:17Z 2007-11-01T07:14:44Z So here we go again. <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org">NaNoWriMo</a>. National Novel Writing Month. This year I plan to actually write a "novel". Last year I wrote 50,000 words to encourage myself. 50,000 words of affirmation. 50,000 words because there has been so many more words holding me back, keeping me down; distracting me. My 2006 nano novel was wonderful. It pushed me towards me dreams. Now, I take hold of those dreams and run with them.<br /><br />November was a time of extreme creativity last year. Here's to another year of making art! To my creativity pulse; my muse's heartbeat. The marathon will be long, but the good thing is that whether I finish or not, it'll be worth it.<br /><br />Midnight. November 1st 2007. And we're off!<br /><br /><div align="center"><img alt="nano" src="http://www.studioalana.com/nano_participant_icon_large.gif" /> </div> urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:studioalana:775 2007-10-29T06:33:01Z 2007-10-29T17:13:22Z Worked a long day today.<br /><br />Creative juices running dry: <br /><br /><ul><li>Haven't written (my 3 handwritten "morning pages") in two days. My weekends are my busiest days since I open @ 8:30. I woke up early in my previous place, why not here? Do I go to bed later? It comes down to sleep or pages. It's a tough one.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>Haven't been on my daily walks. It's not just the walking though...on it I read 28 things that I would like to have manifest in my life. It helps to remind me where I'm going. No wonder I feel a bit lost. Among the things I want to manifest are a more prayerful existence, painting every day, magical dreams, more song, achieving my Italian citizenship, making recipes for myself, getting more organized, etc.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>Haven't painted since last Wednesday. Why is there resistance?</li></ul><br />It's hard to be a strident protector of one's artist-self. Especially as I'm working to pay off loans. It's nice to have money, though. After so many years of starving student status, working feels good. But a full time job doesn't leave much room for art. Or do I just need to be fierce up my game?<br /><br /><br />Well. I've got more questions than answers but I'm happy. And life moves on. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:studioalana:661 2007-10-28T05:16:30Z 2007-10-28T05:16:30Z No more excuses. Well there may be a few, but we'll just have to walk it out. I keep trying to do this art thing. I haven't done so bad on my own, but then I think, how much better would it be if I met others out there pursuing their personal legends?<br /><br />Where are you, artists of today? Where are my comrades in arms?<br /><br />I found suziblu.net. She taught me that I could make pockets in my journal. I have to go get brads and these things called eyelets. Scrapbookers know them well, but I just paint and write. Soon I'll be able to make pockets.<br /><br />My weapons of choice: <br /><br /><ul><li>PRAYER</li><ul><li>Letting go. Listening. Waiting.<br /> </li></ul></ul><ul><li>WRITE</li><ul><li>Morning pages: three pages a day. By hand. (Check out "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.)<br /></li><li><div align="left">MacBook Pro <a href="http://nanowrimo.org">(Nanowrimo</a> is coming up. I have no idea what I'm going to write about, but I bought the shirt. I also have a short story I need to get published. It was ready a year ago.)</div></li></ul></ul><ul><li>PAINT<br /> </li><ul><li>Paintbrush</li><li>Paints (I mostly paint with acrylics now, but I started in oils.)</li><li>Canvas...or more truthfully...flimsy, unworthy paper (I don't know why I'm used to making beautiful things on the worst paper. Show me canvas or paper more than 3 dollars a sheet and I freeze. Any suggestions?)</li></ul></ul><ul><li>CAPTURE</li><ul><li>Digi-vidcam</li></ul><ul><li>Digicam</li></ul></ul><ul><li>WALK</li><ul><li>I resist it but it "fills the well." Images; inspiration; etc. At least 20 minutes a day. Alone.<br /> </li></ul></ul> <ul><li>THE ARTIST'S DATE</li><ul><li>Yet another thing I resist (in other words, haven't done for months), yet it has been said that the things you resist will help you the most.<br /> </li></ul></ul> This just goes to show you...you can have all the tools you need and then still have the audacity to not use them. There is time. There is space. There is change. There is more...except for more excuses. The time is now.