Category Archives: Rhine River Cruise

peering through the fog

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Marksburg Castle, Game Alcove, Rhine River Cruise

There’s always a reason not to pursue your dreams, not to do what you’d love doing, but that’s how life is. As we mature, we recognize our limitations; sadly, we don’t always recognize our abilities and our talents, and even when we do, we often allow other voices to stop us. Justine Musk throws light into the murky corners…permission.

balky mare

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That’s me, like a mare that won’t take the fence. The nightclub scene in Shadow Walk is the fence. I got a good start but now every time I run up to it, I stumble to a stop, prance around, stare at the pasture beyond. What’s the hold-up? It’s only a scene among other scenes. It’s not like I don’t know what’s going to happen. I do. I know the scene from beginning to end yet I’m having trouble writing it. Today will be yet another attempt.

I’m reading Hugh Howey’s I, Zombie, halfway through. I rarely write a review of a book, but I’ve already written a draft review for this one and will post the final review here when I finish the book. It’s an excellent novel, (and since zombies are not my favorite supernatural creatures–that’s saying something.) I do not recommend it for those with sensitive minds (not that I don’t have a sensitive mind, mind you), squeamish stomachs, and over-active imaginations. More to come. Right now, I got a fence to jump.

good work

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Revised the Shadow Walk beat sheet again, and got a good start on the nightclub scene yesterday. We’re sliding toward summer’s end quicker than I like. Already the early morning sky bears an autumnal dimness, the seasonal rotation rising fast, but the days are still sunny and hot, and the nights drip with heat.

So far I’ve got 1,439 new words on SW, and I figure a few hundred words each day will see me through. I tend to write between 300 and 500 words each session. Must be patient. Considering giving myself more time by leaving home at 6 a.m. and getting in additional writing at the office before the day starts. I don’t want to bring on another flare, but I’d like to make more progress.

sunshine

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Didn’t work on Shadow Walk this morning but it’s on my mind. Friday evening I storyboarded the beat sheet to get a view of the narrative flow. Discovered I’m going to have to take the time to set-up Ally better.

Sunday made terrific progress with outlining the Deal/Torrance short story, a murder mystery set in an isolated tavern on the outskirts of a mining town in an alternate American West period, post-Civil War. I wanted it to be more steampunk but it’ll only have touches, like the dirigible. Outlined it nearly to the concluding third act, will do beat sheets from what I’ve got, and I hope the resolution comes along.

Saw The Bourne Legacy Sunday. Jeremy Renner gives a fine performance; the franchise’s main character is in good hands. Renner is one of my favorite actors, glad he got the part. I’ve never read the Ludlum books, despite my love affair with espionage stories, but I love the Bourne movies. Renner’s character is Aaron Cross, a new generation of chemically-enhanced black ops assassin. The movie is fast-paced, so much so that I was surprised when it ended. Oh by the way, there’s a continuity slip in this movie. If you saw the second Bourne film where the journalist is killed, and if you see The Bourne Legacy, the scene where the journalist is killed, you’ll spot it right away too.

Hot, hot, hot in Southern California. Took long enough! September will be warm too–I love a warm September. Don’t look forward to the shorter days and the early darkness come winter and the time change. Ugh!

Happily received my first royalty from sales of Grave Shadows. That put a smile on my face through the weekend!

Happy writing!