My new Mac is here, and with it, my novel writing is back on track.
I tested out MS Word for Mac by revising my novel outline, which hasn't changed in a year and a half. (Well, I did make some changes - but lost them when my old PC crashed.)
As I revised, I was thinking of a way to rub in an identity crisis for Sarah, right before her surgery. My plans previously called for sending her to the sperm bank in the final weeks before surgery, while the hormones have stopped - and make her body act all male again. But given that the sperm would likely be spoiled by that point after years of estrogen therapy, I needed some other way of handling this. I think I have it. (Sorry, I won't spoil it here.)
Now, time to go buy the full version of Word (my copy is a free 30-day trial without printing), and start writing away.
25 March 2007
17 March 2007
Computer crash
For the second time in less than a year, my newish HP laptop decided to go south, with all my data, including my novel.
Fortunately, I have a backup with most of my novel stuff, but the newest changes, such as the new outline, are gone, along with photos from Vancouver (last September) and the Bay Area (last year-end).
Just as I wanted to resume writing, I have been forced to move to an obsolete Dell. I don't think I will resume my work until I buy a replacement computer, which will be a Mac by the way.
A Mac, as opposed to a PC, will also let me make a statement that I refuse to belong to the Republican/conservative world of construction, suburban Southern California, the ethnic communities, and paternalistic religions, instead being more in touch with feminism, progressive politics, Unitarianism, and all the other goodies that make up my novel and the writing community.
Fortunately, I have a backup with most of my novel stuff, but the newest changes, such as the new outline, are gone, along with photos from Vancouver (last September) and the Bay Area (last year-end).
Just as I wanted to resume writing, I have been forced to move to an obsolete Dell. I don't think I will resume my work until I buy a replacement computer, which will be a Mac by the way.
A Mac, as opposed to a PC, will also let me make a statement that I refuse to belong to the Republican/conservative world of construction, suburban Southern California, the ethnic communities, and paternalistic religions, instead being more in touch with feminism, progressive politics, Unitarianism, and all the other goodies that make up my novel and the writing community.
15 March 2007
Unitarian Congressman comes out as atheist
Unitarian Universalist chalice
I thought this would belong here, since Unitarian Universalism is a major part of Sarah and Kirsten's lives (and hopefully, mine too, before too long).
Congressman Pete Stark, representing Fremont, California, has come out as an atheist Unitarian. This makes him the highest-ranking atheist elected official in US government.
This article stresses the Unitarian belief system, which is creedless - it is up to the believer to formulate his/her own beliefs, and some Unitarians are, of course, atheist.
In my novel, Sarah will continue to hold liberal Christian beliefs at her Unitarian congregation, while Kirsten becomes a Goddess Woman. The Unitarian setting is pretty much the only way to get them to meet at a church, and fall in love despite their differences.
AOL News
Change in focus for this blog
As I try to resume my writing, I've also decided that I will need a change of focus for this blog.
So far, this blog has dealt strictly with the writing, and Sarah's world. But from now on, current events that have a transgender focus will also be discussed, specifically as it relates/will relate to my work. Fashion and beauty will also be fair game as well - I've discussed those topics here before. My other, political blog will continue to handle all other current events, including lesbian/bi/gay ones.
I am hoping to turn this blog into not only a discussion of Sarah and her life, but also a resource for relevant transgender information.
To that end, I am posting a link to a transgender convention in San Jose, California, taking place next month. I would love to go, but it is extremely unlikely that I will make it; nevertheless, many topics being discussed there will be very relevant, and I do hope for a miracle that will enable me to go there. (I might send Sarah and Kirsten to a similar convention - there is a significant other/spouse session for Kirsten to attend - though Sarah may come away disappointed and angry, over her disagreements with older, conservative transgender women.)
California Dreamin
So far, this blog has dealt strictly with the writing, and Sarah's world. But from now on, current events that have a transgender focus will also be discussed, specifically as it relates/will relate to my work. Fashion and beauty will also be fair game as well - I've discussed those topics here before. My other, political blog will continue to handle all other current events, including lesbian/bi/gay ones.
I am hoping to turn this blog into not only a discussion of Sarah and her life, but also a resource for relevant transgender information.
To that end, I am posting a link to a transgender convention in San Jose, California, taking place next month. I would love to go, but it is extremely unlikely that I will make it; nevertheless, many topics being discussed there will be very relevant, and I do hope for a miracle that will enable me to go there. (I might send Sarah and Kirsten to a similar convention - there is a significant other/spouse session for Kirsten to attend - though Sarah may come away disappointed and angry, over her disagreements with older, conservative transgender women.)
California Dreamin
A new outline
The last time I ever made an outline for Perfect Girl was back in August 2005. It's been a year and a half.
I've changed several things during that time. First, the Los Angeles and London ending will no longer work, and will be replaced by a new one in Seattle and Vancouver. Second, Martha will die at the hands of Jamaican thugs and indifferent NYC cops, not on Flight 93. Those two changes alone make for a completely different story, and will need tweaks here and there to make sure that the storyline still makes sense.
When I get home, I will work on an outline that reflects these changes and still makes sense. Hopefully I will be alert enough after that, to possibly start a new scene. (I currently estimate that half of the novel has been written, and I need to get the other half going soon.)
Between ever-lengthening work hours (including nights and weekends), a new commitment to Spanish-language drills, and lack of privacy and support, I have found it an uphill battle to keep writing. In fact, I've pretty much given up on taking any new writing classes until I move. However, two recent developments - the Steve Stanton fiasco in Largo, Florida, and the wonderful workshop with my mentor this past weekend - convinced me that even if I have to do it all alone, I will have to do it. As Ann Lamott says, I need to have a shitty first draft with which to work with, and I feel that I need to finish and polish Sarah's story, and get it out there, if only to prevent another Steve Stanton disaster from happening somewhere else.
(And of course, there is another transgender story for me to write, one that's more ethnic and meaner than Sarah's, but that will stay only at the concept stage until I finish Perfect Girl.)
I've changed several things during that time. First, the Los Angeles and London ending will no longer work, and will be replaced by a new one in Seattle and Vancouver. Second, Martha will die at the hands of Jamaican thugs and indifferent NYC cops, not on Flight 93. Those two changes alone make for a completely different story, and will need tweaks here and there to make sure that the storyline still makes sense.
When I get home, I will work on an outline that reflects these changes and still makes sense. Hopefully I will be alert enough after that, to possibly start a new scene. (I currently estimate that half of the novel has been written, and I need to get the other half going soon.)
Between ever-lengthening work hours (including nights and weekends), a new commitment to Spanish-language drills, and lack of privacy and support, I have found it an uphill battle to keep writing. In fact, I've pretty much given up on taking any new writing classes until I move. However, two recent developments - the Steve Stanton fiasco in Largo, Florida, and the wonderful workshop with my mentor this past weekend - convinced me that even if I have to do it all alone, I will have to do it. As Ann Lamott says, I need to have a shitty first draft with which to work with, and I feel that I need to finish and polish Sarah's story, and get it out there, if only to prevent another Steve Stanton disaster from happening somewhere else.
(And of course, there is another transgender story for me to write, one that's more ethnic and meaner than Sarah's, but that will stay only at the concept stage until I finish Perfect Girl.)
11 March 2007
A writing exercise
I spent yesterday at Gather the Women event in San Bernardino - my second attendance, after one back in October 2005. It was wonderful to be surrounded by people who shared feminist perspectives on the world.
Just like last time, my mentor Gayle Brandeis was scheduled to do a women's spirituality writing workshop. But the timing (2PM) was not right, and I ended up being the only one to show up ready to write. This turned the workshop into a wonderful one-on-one opportunity to explore my novel and do some exercises related to it.
One of the exercises Gayle had me do was to have Sarah write me a letter. I am posting the letter (in all its roughness) here, and eventually this may find its way into the finished work as well. I was out of ideas as I came up with the letter, but it was quite eye-opening.
Dear Rachel,
I want you to remember, as you finish my story, that I am grateful to you for documenting my life.
I sincerely hope that no one suffers from gender identity mismatch like you and I did. But God has decreed that one in a few thousand will suffer from it, so it is important that our stories are told.
I want people to remember that people like me are far from alone, and are not going away. I long for a day when someone like you and I can run for public office on ability alone, but reality is not there yet. But I’ve been fortunate enough to have flown for a major airline, and to make a dignified living for myself.
Thank you for blessing me with many wonderful people. Without my supportive parents and friends, I might be just another statistic. I hope that as you tell my story, people will become more accepting of the likes of us.
Thanks also for the downs in my life, especially the high school jocks and the layoff, to remind people that we still suffer from the society’s prejudices. But thanks also for allowing me to recover – something many of our sisters will never get around to.
I hope that if telling my life story saves the life of even one transperson, or makes one cisgender person more sympathetic, then it would’ve done its job.
Thanks again for telling my story, and for giving me a wonderful life.
Love,
Sarah
(Afterthought: Sarah needs to whine a little bit in this letter. For example, she could talk about the sperm bank visit, and how embarrassing it was.)
We also did exercises naming female role models for Sarah (I named Kwan Yin and the chess queen, as well as ideas on how to improve Sarah's mother), and what makes her tick and say "YES" (I named womanhood itself, and little things that come along with it from feminist camaraderie to retro fashion, as well as Sarah's aviation interests).
A priceless workshop session, I have to say. Every aspiring writer needs a good mentor, and I am fortunate to have one in Gayle.
Just like last time, my mentor Gayle Brandeis was scheduled to do a women's spirituality writing workshop. But the timing (2PM) was not right, and I ended up being the only one to show up ready to write. This turned the workshop into a wonderful one-on-one opportunity to explore my novel and do some exercises related to it.
One of the exercises Gayle had me do was to have Sarah write me a letter. I am posting the letter (in all its roughness) here, and eventually this may find its way into the finished work as well. I was out of ideas as I came up with the letter, but it was quite eye-opening.
Dear Rachel,
I want you to remember, as you finish my story, that I am grateful to you for documenting my life.
I sincerely hope that no one suffers from gender identity mismatch like you and I did. But God has decreed that one in a few thousand will suffer from it, so it is important that our stories are told.
I want people to remember that people like me are far from alone, and are not going away. I long for a day when someone like you and I can run for public office on ability alone, but reality is not there yet. But I’ve been fortunate enough to have flown for a major airline, and to make a dignified living for myself.
Thank you for blessing me with many wonderful people. Without my supportive parents and friends, I might be just another statistic. I hope that as you tell my story, people will become more accepting of the likes of us.
Thanks also for the downs in my life, especially the high school jocks and the layoff, to remind people that we still suffer from the society’s prejudices. But thanks also for allowing me to recover – something many of our sisters will never get around to.
I hope that if telling my life story saves the life of even one transperson, or makes one cisgender person more sympathetic, then it would’ve done its job.
Thanks again for telling my story, and for giving me a wonderful life.
Love,
Sarah
(Afterthought: Sarah needs to whine a little bit in this letter. For example, she could talk about the sperm bank visit, and how embarrassing it was.)
We also did exercises naming female role models for Sarah (I named Kwan Yin and the chess queen, as well as ideas on how to improve Sarah's mother), and what makes her tick and say "YES" (I named womanhood itself, and little things that come along with it from feminist camaraderie to retro fashion, as well as Sarah's aviation interests).
A priceless workshop session, I have to say. Every aspiring writer needs a good mentor, and I am fortunate to have one in Gayle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)