Alright, so this is the real blog post.  I’ve been putting it off and putting it off, but I suppose I can’t wait any longer, seeing as how I’m going to explode if I don’t blog.  It must be something in my nature.  There have been times that I have tried to keep silent, and to keep myself from expressing myself in written words, but those times have never lasted for very long. 

I’ve decided that I don’t really like Facebook, seeing as how there is a severe lack of ways to express something of content on there.  It’s good for communicating with those you know, and keeping in touch – but really, how much chit-chat can one do?  More often than not what I want to express is a complete thought, not some abbreviated update on what I’m doing.  It’s not what I do that’s interesting – it’s what I think.  Sometimes I think I come across as a boring person to some people who meet me in real life, because it’s not like I do anything special, aside from writing novels.  Generally, I live a laid-back, open life.  I’m introverted by nature, don’t watch many movies, am behind on most cultural lingo, and can’t text for the life of me.  But I think, and that’s a lot more than most ‘normal’ people my age do. 

Sometimes, however, I suspend thought to watch stupid movies, like The Little Mermaid 2.  Usually my thought processes turn back on halfway through the movie, and keep up a running commentary of how stupid the movie is until it’s over.  But even movies as stupid as that sometimes have good parts.  Parts worthy of being dealt with in greater detail. 

….So what I mean to say is, I wrote fanfiction for the movie.

I know, I know it’s stupid, but there was one moment in the movie that kidnapped my imagination, and I had to express it in words.  I posted it on Fanfiction.net, where I hope to be summarily killed for my stupidity in glorifying the stupid.  You can read it, if you want, by clicking this handy little link. 

School is going well, which means writing is going at a snail’s pace.  That’s partially because I’m going through a period in my life where I can’t stick to anything for very long, so I’ve started two new stories since Sunday.  Oh, and I also finished my fanfiction piece, so I suppose that makes three.  Beth and Kale is at a standstill, Tears is still waiting to be edited, POE has a few more words than when I last posted (but not very many), Enchantress is still begging for me to finish it.  I have put all of them off, telling them with tears in my eyes that I will have to ignore them until school is over, because I cannot concentrate on them and homework at the same time. 

Now seems like a good time to pull out my summer goals:

1. Finish the first draft of POE (or get it to 100k)
2. Get Tears through at least two rounds of editing – more if I have the time.
3. Finish the first draft of Enchantress.

And of course, I will be working more on Beth and Kale, since I know the real Beth would be very disappointed if I didn’t.  But those are the main three, and I will work hard to see them all accomplished.  Especially POE and Tears – I don’t think I could do NaNoWriMo, knowing that POE was being put on hold for the second time and that Tears still required so much attention.  And if I finish all of those by September 1^st, like I’m hoping to do, than that will give me plenty of time to plan for NaNoWriMo 09! 

I know I’ve neglected to discuss any of my writing or my spiritual life in detail, and I’m sorry.  But you see, I still don’t have very much of that straight in my own mind, so I’m in no position to tell any of you about it.  I’m still trying to figure out this whole surrender thing – who knew it could be so painful? 

Love you all, and may God give you a joyful heart and lots of smart things to say!  (If you want smart things to say, that is.  If not… well, then, I can’t help you.) 

~Cherise

(P.S.  My brain is not all with me, so I’m sure I forgot to post about something.  Please forgive me.) 

(P.P.S.  I remember!  The Writer’s Conference!  It was absolutely lovely!  Estes was so gorgeous, and the workshops were so helpful, and Meggy and Laurie and Laurie’s folks were wonderful!  After the workshops were over we found an empty gym that was dark with light streaming in at the edges, and we all stayed there and wrote, and it was so inspiring!) 

Copyright 2009 by Cherise A. You must ask me before using any of my stuff, and my name must appear along with the poem or post if you reproduce it.