Writer

Writing 24 (out of 66) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

This week has been the Worcestershire Literary Festival, so I’ve been focusing less on writing and more on making the most out of the available events. I have done some writing though – the scene I’m working on was a bit of a mess and I’ve done a fair amount of work on the structure and focus of the scene, but it’s still broken.

Reading “Do the Work” by Steven Pressfield

I downloaded a free version of this some time ago and have just got around to reading it. It’s a productivity/motivational book around the issues of “resistance” and how it prevents us getting the job done.

Fighter

I’ve worked hard with my kettlebell training this week and am really starting to see the benefits.

Geek

Playing Tiny Tower for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad – it’s free and it’s really very good! It’s very similar to the classic Sim Tower game only less focused on elevator management and more on keeping all your tower residents happy. Very addictive!

It’s been both a busy and very unproductive week with most of the focus being on the new guinea pigs. So this should be a very short report!

Writer

Writing 24 (out of 66) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

This scene will probably take me a while. Currently it’s a filler scene with a completely unrealistic timeline. Getting through it one sentence at a time, but it’s a bit of a slog.

Reading “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson

A young adult fiction book I picked up on a whim some time ago then completely forgot to read. I discovered it again hidden on my shelves while looking for something else.

Fighter

Training was good this week. Very heavy cardio and needed an inhaler break for the first time in months (could also be connected to mild allergy to the new guinea pigs, though). Enjoyed it though and it was a good feeling to really push myself.

I’m ashamed to say, though, that I have slacked off exercise for the rest of the week and lost momentum as a result.

Geek

The guinea pigs are settling well although Biscuit is still terrified of me. I think she even growled at me this morning – I picked her up and her whole body was vibrating, like a sort of angry purr. Bramble however, waits for me to pick her up most times now and her eye looks a lot better. I think I’m going to have to find some calm time without children around to tempt them with treats and try and get them to trust me a little more.

I have found that I’ve been getting a little lung tightness this week though – manageable but upsetting. I know I have allergy issues with some furry creatures (most notably cats) but had hoped to be okay with the piggies. Reading up on it, it might not be an allergy to the animals but could be bedding related. I’ve been tested for hay/grass allergy, so I know it’s not that. The other culprit could be the wood-shavings, apparently.

So, I’m going to try and ditch those and go the fleece-lining route – the idea is that you have a layer of old towels, then a layer of fleece material (washed three times so its ready to absorb moisture) on top. The fleece wicks away the moisture from the wee and the towel soaks it up. You can then use a little handheld vaccuum to get rid of the poo each day and stick the fleece and towels in the washing machine as required. No wood-shavings flicked everywhere, kinder on the piggies feet and bottoms and hopefully kinder on my lungs.

Fingers crossed.

Writer

Writing 24 (out of 66) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

Finally made some progress! Impressive as I only had two available writing days. The break definitely did me good. Looking forward to working on a new scene next week.

Reading “Mindfulness In Plain English” by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

Recommended on a recent Back to Work show. It’s a really good and clearly written introductory book on mindfulness meditation. I downloaded the PDF for free from UrbanDharma.org and imported it into iBooks. I’ve been wanted to reintroduce meditation back into my life, if only in a small way – it has been the push that I’ve needed.

Fighter

Really enjoying training at the moment. In class we’ve been taking a back to basics approach with different strikes which has coincided with my own resolve to work on basics. Lots of opportunities for repetition and getting it right.

I’ve been able to keep home training going a little better this week, but it’s noticeable that I slacked off last week. It’s been hard going.

Geek

My research obsession this week has been about guinea pigs. It’s been triggered by a forum post looking to rehome some and I stopped to seriously consider whether it would be a good idea for me to offer.

I had a rabbit when I was a kid and I like the idea of our sons having a small furry animal in their lives. Piggies do seem a good choice in term of temperament and sociability. Me being me, though, I’m having to research it to the nth degree to make sure that I would be giving any creature we take on the best possible home, plus husband is not terribly keen. Either way, I’m getting a lot of joy from the research process for its own sake!

In other news, going to see Jonathan Coulton‘s concert in Manchester tonight. Squeee!

Writer

Writing 23 (out of 66) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

No progress as the kids are off for the half term holidays.

Reading “House Rules” by Jodi Picoult

I few years back, I went through a phase of reading everything Jodi Picoult had ever written and overdosed on them somewhat. I do love her books, particularly her characterisation but find the endings rather hurried (as if she thinks “crap, I’ve got to wrap this up in just two chapters” and panics) and they got a bit samey after a while.

So, I’ve picked this one up from the library with some trepidation but I have to say I’m enjoying the early chapters and already feel fiercely protective of the main characters.

Fighter

I’ve missed a couple of days exercise due to half term, but have tried to stay generally active instead. I did make training this week, which I’m pleased about. Life got in the way a lot in May and my attendance had been a little shabby as a result.

Kettlebell routines are going well. Even after only a couple of weeks on the beginner routines, I’m already seeing strength gain and able to increase reps. Unfortunately, muscle soreness has also increased!

Starting to practise 100 straight punches a day in the mirror to try and get form right. Ideally, I’d like to get some pads or a punch bag (and clear out the garage to keep it in) for training at home, but as I am still on an unnecessary spending freeze that will have to wait for a while.

Geek

I’ve picked up Sims Medieval again. It’s still not going to light the world on fire, but as a casual game it’s quite fun when you get further into it.

I’ve reset Plants vs Zombies on the iPad. It’s such a great game even on repeat plays.

Mostly, though, I’m killing time on casual games until Skyrim and Mass Effect 3 are released. It’s going to be a long wait.

It’s been an odd week. Half the household has been abroad and with the resulting extra chores, life stuff and apathy most of my projects have been severely neglected as a result.

Writer

Writing 23 (out of 66) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

Discussed in more detail in yesterday’s post. I’ve done very little editing this week.

Reading “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Verbal Self-defense” by Lillian Glass

This has turned out to be a huge disappointment and doesn’t live up to the promise of the blurb or the opening chapters at all.

The writing style often becomes hectoring and assumes that you are completely incompetent in every conversational scenario, not just coming across a couple of difficult people you need help to manage. There are some good tips, but you have to wade through an awful lot of fluff to find them.

The advice given in the majority of sections is vague enough to unhelpful at best and downright dangerous at worst, particularly in the scenarios where you could put yourself physically at risk – many of the tips here are contrary to the advice I’ve seen elsewhere and may make the situation much worse.

Fighter

Kettlebell: 8kg

I am continuing to focus on the beginner routines. They must be doing something, because I’ve felt really stiff this week, particularly in neck, shoulders, knees and ankles. Still taking extreme care and keeping reps low.

Geek

Current obsession: old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.

Also have been sharing funny YouTube clips with my ten-year-old. His current favourite:

My current favourite:

I hope you had a great week!

It’s been a much better week. I’m feeling much more well-rested and interested in projects again, which is a great sign.

Writer

Writing 23 (out of 66) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

It’s been a difficult writing week. I’m struggling with the current scene – it was originally part of the previous scene and needed heavy structural reshaping. Then my characters wouldn’t play ball and each little part I fixed seemed to break something. However, in the last couple of days I seem to have made a breakthrough and it’s all coming together now.

Reading “Accelerando” by Charles Stross

Still reading this! The underlying story is good, but I find him a very dense writer and I have to pay lots of attention to follow the plot. Not always good for bedtime reading when feeling a little sleepy!

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Verbal Self-defense” by Lillian Glass

I’ve chosen a non-fiction book to alternate with “Accelerando” and this was a great choice. It takes a look at speech patterns/situational awareness/body language to give you cues on when you’re ‘under attack’ and how to most effectively defend yourself in those situations. It blends quite nicely with the situational awareness I’m learning for Krav – being able to use verbal early warning signs is an essential skill and good to have in the self-defense tool-kit.

Fighter

Kettlebell: 8kg

I’ve been looking at the final move in my arsenal of basic kettlebell exercises, the military press:

I’m now focusing on three different beginner routines with different emphases: cardio fitness, body shaping and power/strength. I’m keeping the reps small (only half the recommended, this week) to make sure my form is correct while I’m learning the routine and not going to do myself any damage.

Geek

I’m feeling decidedly (and shockingly) ungeeky recently. Probably because I’m between games and I’ve been too tired/busy to find anything else that holds my interest.

So what are you playing? Anything you’d recommend?

These weekly posts are always so much easier to write when the week has gone well. Unlike this one. I’m still battling low energy and apathy, although I’ve felt a bit brighter in the last couple of days.

Writer

Writing 23 (out of 66) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

Managed to put in some good effort on the latest scene, but annoyingly found that it needed to be split into two separate ones – the goalposts have moved back a little further.

Reading “Accelerando” by Charles Stross

Have neglected reading along with everything else.

Fighter

Kettlebell: 8kg
Deadlifts: 10
Two-arm swings: 15
Left-arm swings: 15
Right-arm swings: 15
Alternating swings: 10
Turkish Get Up: 1
Squats: 10
Clean: 10

Same place as I was last week. Maintaining rather than progressing.

Geek

The high point in the week was meeting up with the Worcester Flickr Group at menickstephensorg‘s garage studio. I’m very rusty with my camera (I’ve got into point/shoot/fix later bad habits) but it was great to experiment with different lighting and have fun in the process.

It’s been a busy week, not helped by server outages, power cuts, 10-year-old birthday parties, and my own lack of willpower.

Writer

Writing 22 (out of 65) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

Now over a third of the way through the first round of edits. Depressingly, it was a year ago today that I finished the first draft and it feels like I should be further along by now. I’m also suffering a crisis of confidence that I don’t really have the skill to pull this story off. Meh.

It hasn’t helped that I’ve been very bad at getting started this week, to the extent I’m now actively looking for ways of banning myself from the more addictive areas of the internet during working hours.

Reading “Accelerando” by Charles Stross

I’m sure I’m missing half the references in this book – and I thought I was quite technologically aware and geeky. Still, the world building and description is fabulous.

Fighter

Kettlebell: 8kg
Deadlifts: 10
Two-arm swings: 15
Left-arm swings: 15
Right-arm swings: 15
Alternating swings: 10
Turkish Get Up: 1
Squats: 10
Clean: 10

Ticking over. Again, procrastination has badly hit the amount of training I’ve done this week. Hopefully, I’ll get back on track next week.

Geek

LeechBlock – a handy little Firefox plugin that blocks websites you specify either by specific time period, time spent per hour, or both. There are also multiple ways you can ban yourself from accessing the plugin to avoid cheating, too. Guess what I’ll be using next week.

I know it’s not been long since we’ve moved house, but am rather won-over by the first zombie-proof house. Do you think they’d accept part-exchange?

It’s been an odd week – short and surrounded by bank holidays. A lot of chores and activities got shoehorned in, while distinctly lacking any sense of real achievement or progress.

Writer

Writing 21 (out of 65) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision

I know the numbers haven’t changed at all, but I’ve got a much better handle on the current scene and feel more confident that I will be able to fix its weaknesses. Have put in some solid foundational work that will pay dividends next week.

Reading “Get Out of My Life: But First Take Me and Alex into Town” by Tony Wolf and Suzanne Franks

I’m only in the early chapters but I really hope there’s some practical advice soon.

So far, I’m just ending up feeling very depressed that within the next couple of years my loving and cuddly children are going to turn into monsters, loathe the sight of me and our house is going to turn into a battle-zone! *Whimper*

Fighter

Kettlebell: 8kg
Deadlifts: 10
Two-arm swings: 15
Left-arm swings: 15
Right-arm swings: 15
Alternating swings: 10
Turkish Get Up: 1
Squats: 10
Clean: 5

I’ve started learning the one-arm kettlebell clean this week, but I’m struggling to get good form:

Geek

These look fab – make World of Warcraft-style achievement badges to motivate yourself the kids to get things done!

Enjoyed watching the Royal Wedding? Here are 12 bizarre wedding souvenirs to remember the occasion in style.

I have recently discovered that you can use Tesco clubcard vouchers to get English Heritage membership – with voucher exchange being triple the face value and given a joint membership can set you back £80, this is a really good deal. That’s our summer holiday outings sorted!

It’s been a quiet week here in the Naan Household.

We’ve relaxed well into the Easter Holidays (or as much as one can with two very noisy and energetic children in the house) and the glorious weather has been seducing me over to the lazy side of life.

I’ve eaten a lot of icecream, that’s productive, right?!

Writer

Writing 21 (out of 65) scenes complete – structural/continuity revision
Progress, what progress?!

Reading “Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom” by Cory Doctorow
Okay, my reading may also be feeling a little neglected too. I’ve not picked this up since last week.

Fighter

Kettlebell: 8kg
Deadlifts: 10
Two-arm swings: 15
Left-arm swings: 15
Right-arm swings: 15
Alternating swings: 10
Turkish Get Up: 1 (each side!)
Squats: 10

I’ve been given feedback from the grading seminar I mentioned in a previous post.

It wasn’t a total surprise to me that lack of confidence was an issue as well as the expected gaps in my syllabus knowledge. So I won’t be attending this round of grading, but I’ve got clear guidelines on what areas I need to work on.

Geek

Still obsessing over Dragon Age 2 and not had a whole lot of time for other geekery. Shocking, but true!