Once again, after slogging through related and unrelated matters, I was able to spend some of last week actually working on the novel outline. I reread the first six chapters, adding details and adjusting certain aspects, and then drafted two more chapters. I also paused to do some further worldbuilding, as I discovered things I needed to know about my world.
Worldbuilding will be my topic during the two-hour Writers Workshop at Shore Leave next week. It’s good to be reminded of the basics, such as knowing what you need and when to stop to avoid going down the rabbit hole. It was also informative to see a friend’s bible in his shared universe to see how far he drilled down, going deeper in some areas than I ever considered. No doubt, I will need to go back and add as the story develops.
Another interesting aspect of the outline was that I had described my main characters’ personalities, but somehow overlooked their physical appearances. So, this week I stopped to consider what they look like. I try to imagine who would be cast in the role and use those details to help describe my people. A different friend wrote his bible and added in pictures of the actors to cement for the readers what he had in mind.
I also spent Tuesday at Indian Creek School attending an AI conference for educators. This was the third annual session, and it’s good to hear about the changes and what other schools are doing in terms of policies and in-classroom practices. Thankfully, my school had a policy based in part on the work I did at last year’s conference. We also polled the students to gather their feedback, which will help inform our next iteration of the policy for the forthcoming school year.
Friday, I flew to Kansas City for a long-overdue hangout with Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore. We’ve been pals for years, but tend to see one another only at conventions. I may have invited myself out, but they were incredibly gracious with Kevin hosting me. We started by checking out some displays at Hallmark, where he works (and where I lectured on worldbuilding over a decade ago), and then visited the new Museum of Barbecue. Dayton, his wife, Michi, and eldest daughter joined us for dinner.
The three amigos spent Saturday talking, pausing long enough to admire the growing and wonderful Negro League Museum. I managed four barbecue meals thanks to an indulgent Kevin. Of the four, Meat Mitch Barbecue was the standout meal. That said, I did pick up some sauce and rubs from other fromer favorites so I am well stocked for now.
And suddenly, it was Sunday, and I had to fly home, returning in time to attend a C8 planning meeting for our future.
What We’re Watching
The highlight of the week was binge-watching the final three episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale, which resolved so much while also setting up The Testaments sequel series. As good as Elizabeth Moss is, she is equally matched by Yvonne Strahovski. Usually, I would include Anne Dowd in that list, but she was underserved this final season. We completed Dept. Q which grabbed us and kept our attention, with a very satisfying conclusion. This is one show that earned the buzz and is recommended. We also began Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, which is quite good, largely thanks to Mark Rylance, whom I will watch in anything.
I also started Ironheart and concluded I am not the target audience. I think the first episode rushed things, and the relationship between Riri and her mom was overlooked entirely.
What I’m Reading
Thanks to extra dog walks and driving, I somehow quickly worked my way through Viola Davis’ Finding Me, which is an extraordinary story and well worth listening to just for narration. I moved on to Nicholas Meyer’s Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell, which is off to a good start. I am well past the halfway mark through the Bruce Springsteen book, and now I can freshly appreciate his growth as an artist and exploration of content and sound. On my flight, I read Pete Hamill’s North River, completing half on each leg of the trip and thoroughly enjoyed it.
#Tags: Dayton Ward, Dept. Q, Ironheart, Kevin Dilmore, Negro League Museum, North River, Pete Hamill, Shore Leave, The Handmaid's Tale, Wolf Hall