On the train home yesterday, there was a guy standing with his mountain bike, playing the flute. It was one of those wooden (bamboo?) instruments that creates an earthy, gentle sound. It was a lovely melody, a bit rambly and a lot sylvan. Created a somewhat surreal, almost eldritch ambiance to the ride. Interesting seeing the expressions on my fellow passengers’ faces: fascination, pleasure, curiosity, disinterest, and annoyance.
Transferring trains, I sat next to the door and witnessed a trio of angry boys jostling each other and shouting threats as they disembarked–obvious chest thumping overlaying an undercurrent of whine, rather than that simmer of true violence. They were young, and I was not at all worried about my safety, although I did have a few moments’ concern that their roughhousing would knock one of them into me, and therefore my laptop (unwarrented, as it turns out). When they exited, a jumble of reactions arose in their wake: laughter, rolled eyes at youthful exuberance, and a few quips at who would end up winning if the altercation did come to blows. A strange camaraderie of entertained commuters.
And this morning on the train, as I was working on the Japanese fantasy, I became aware of the passenger next to me peering furtively at my laptop screen from time to time, apparently curious to see what I was typing. It made me a bit self-conscious, which resulted in some rather clunky dialogue (that I’m going to have to either cut or clean up in my next editing pass), but it also amused me.
Lotso characters and setting inspiration on the train. A fringe benefit.
Writing Stuff
Received:
– Fan mail! I got an email from a creative writing college student who really liked the interview with Deborah Vetter I did for my September Writing for Young Readers column. She said I was a “true inspiration” and that I encouraged her to “make the most of every day and every writing opportunity.” *Squee!* That’s totally going to have me walking on clouds for a while.
– Payment from the fine folks of Aberrant Dreams for “Nobodies and Somebodies.” $$!
New Words:
– 400 on the Japanese fantasy. And I plotted out the storyline.
I know I’ve heard you mention the Japanese fantasy anthology before, and I am curious… sounds like it was invite-only. *sniffs muchly, and yet encourages you with dessert to finish yours!*
And money is ALWAYS good.
*raises dessert fork in salute*
And yah, the antho’s an invite-only beastie. Sorrysorry
.
No worries… I’m setting “invites” as the next writerly marker to hit, along with a sale to Realms. *G* It’s good to have goals! 🙂
Yay, for awesome fan mail!!! 😀
Squeeing in the streets! And a bit of joy-filled skipping . . .
whoho! Fan mail! Wow, how awsome is that?
Totally awesome! Frankly, I’m still agog at the idea of people actually reading the stuff I write, much less dropping me a note to let me know they liked it.
Lol.
I’d be in pleasent shock, personally. What a great opportunity to inspire, though, you know. That is just too cool.
Do you use any name sites to get inspiration for character names? Also, do you ever write under a pseudonym? Unless Eugie *is* a pseudonym…*ponders* LOL
Congrats on the fan mail!! Skipping in the streets, indeed
Hee! “Eugie” isn’t a pseudonym; it is indeed my real name. And no, I’ve never used a pen name. I’m not adverse to the prospect if a publisher asks me to for marketing reasons or some such, but barring a situation like that, I can’t see myself writing under a different name.
“Do you use any name sites to get inspiration for character names?“
Oh, definitely! Depends on the story what resource I head to, but if it’s set in modern times in a Western society, I frequently skim through “Frequently Occurring First Names and Surnames From the 1990 Census”. Otherwise, I Google baby name lists from various cultures.
You are just now discovering you have devoted fans?
3 cheers for train adventures . . . maybe some stories will emerge.