A Tangled Blog

I haven't written in so long that I feel like I've forgotten how! I was so busy, but Baby Anne is sleeping better and I need the creative outlet. Only I can't seem to get started! I don't know whether to jump into something new or revise something old. Either way, I need to get myself back into the swing of things. I've been thinking of revising Blythe by Name since I wrote it so quickly the first time around. But I'm just not sure...

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6348040/16/

Even though nothing much happens in this chapter, I think it's my favorite in the whole story.

There are only four chapters left to post after this one - I'll try to get them all up expeditiously. I did start Gwen's WWII story already, but didn't get beyond the first few pages. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but I think I need a little break from fanfic to work on my original stuff. Not for too long, I'd imagine! I like Gwen too much to abandon her forever.

Since ff.net for some reason won't let me sign in to review there, I'll do it here.  It was wonderful reading this chapter!  I can't wait to read more!  I do hope that Ruth and the baby are both ok, and I JUST realized who the Wentworths are!  I love, love, love Persuasion, but it just never registered in my feeble little mind.

I worry that Tryg or someone close to him is ill, but I'm amused at how Gwen can now barely tolerate Oliver's presence at all.  It's a far cry from how things once were.  I like Hayden and Ava more and more, and can't wait to see the completion of their story.

I don't know if any of you ladies "like" Downton Abbey on Facebook, but they've been posting still pictures while they film Series Two.  This particular picture should give you something to think about.  Just look at what Lord Crawley is wearing.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?src=fftb#!/photo.php?fbid=193588587348421&set=a.191698764204070.45524.148714591835821&theater

I've made it tonThe Somme in "Brave Battalion.". Reading is a little slow going, because I'm going over Rilla at the same time, and also haven't had too much reading time. Anyway, I thought you might be interested in this page. I hope it can be blown up for you to see it.



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I've been "casting" for my still-in-the-planning-stages Di story, and I need opinions! I have two (both mostly unknown) actresses I'm contemplating for Di, and I can't decide which I like better - or if I ought to pick someone else entirely. I know it doesn't really affect the story one way or the other, but I do like to have that mental image when I'm writing these characters. Funny, I don't need that at all for my non-fanfiction stories, but I do for these.

So, the options:

Olivia Hallinan

















Or:

Josie Taylor

(In case you need a twin reference, I picked Gemma Arterton as Nan)





















What do you think?

This week I happened upon a military writer who  has written many books about the Canadian experiences in WWI and WWII.  First off, I'm reading "Brave Battalion,"  by Mark Zuehlke and taking notes for my Nan stories.  Then I plan on eventually reading almost all of his other other military books to give me inspiration and information for TTTT.

I am highlighting and note-taking like crazy on this thing.  I have dates of departure, time spent at Valcartier, time spent at Salisbury Plain, and other facts that will come in very handy, especially in letters from Jerry and Jem to Nan and Co.

I have a feeling that once I finally finish Nan's stories, I'll have to rewrite my others some time too.

So, while I was so sick this week I managed to finish up the first season of Downton Abbey. (Confession - I watched FOUR episodes yesterday!)

So, now I'm eager to discuss it with you ladies! What are some of your thoughts on each episode? Favorites characters, favorite parts, things you disliked? As Davy would say, I want to know!

Have you guys had a chance to read anything yet? I'd love to start a convo on some of the edits, even if they're small. Maybe we could talk about the first few chapters?

We're about live through either Snowmageddon or Icepocalypse, so I think I may need new reading material. Suggestions???


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I'm having a problem.

I'm almost done with The Summer Between, and I was planning on going right into the next chapter in Gwen's story, which would be the war.

However, between reading the original edition of Rilla of Ingleside, and watching Downton Abbey, I am finding myself increasingly drawn to writing something set during that period - which would mean a Diana story, her life at Redmond during the war years.

Unfortunately, I've only done the vaguest plotting for that period of time, and don't really have a real story set out at all for her. Should I keep going with Gwen's story, or follow my current whim and start writing Di's tale, even without knowing where exactly it's leading?

I know that two of you watched Downton Abbey last night.  What'd you think?

I had been waiting for this to air on PBS for a few weeks, then forgot about it.  However I just went ahead and bought the first season on iTunes last night, because now that I have an Apple TV, I can watch it much easier.  So far, I think I love it.  I wish I could have watched this some during the time I was writing Comfort and Joy.  Though this takes place in England from 1912-1914, I'm hoping it will help serve a little as inspiration for Nan, which I'm wanting to get back to writing and finish this year (unofficial resolution).

I got my copy today, and I've been sitting with it and my old paperback Rilla going through, marking with pencil the new spots. Nothing too exciting yet, but some things that I wouldn't mind discussing with you ladies!

I am really glad to have the book in hard copy, but there is also a free Project Gutenberg link online to the unedited copy. It's here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3796/3796-h/3796-h.htm

You can tell it's the right one by searching for Boer War--that was never mentioned in the 1921 version. Here for comparison: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montgomery/rilla/rilla.html

I just wanted you guys to know! Maybe we could read a chapter or two a week or every few weeks and discuss the edits?

Oh My Goodness.

Did you guys know that about 20 - TWENTY - pages of text were edited out of the paperback edition of Rilla of Ingleside? And that there is a new hardcover edition available through Amazon.ca that has them, as well as historical notes on WWI, and a whole heap of other cool things?

Rilla of Ingleside

Three months ahead of time isn't too early to order myself a birthday present, is it?

I haven't watched Band of Brothers myself, but I know a lot of you have, so when one of my friends posted a link to an article about the real Dick Winters passing away, I knew I had to share it with you all!

Dick Winters

There's a chance of snow Sunday into Monday here, so I've been getting calls from all sorts of places wanting to either sign up for an account to post closings or for me to resend their info because they can't find it.  I just took a call from someone at the Hobb's State Park Conservation Area, and the person who called was named none other than Josephine Barry.  Just had to share.

Right now, it's looking like The Summer Between is going to end up at somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 words, but most likely closer to 40,000 unless I add in a bunch of unnecessary filler. I would really like to have it be closer to "proper" novel length, meaning at least 60,000 words, but I'm not really sure how I can make that work given the story I'm trying to tell.

What do you guys think about WC? Do you aim for a certain amount, or just write until it seems good? And is worrying about this sort of thing just plain silly for fanfiction?

Hey, I just wanted to let everyone know that I finally (finally, finally) put up the last chapter of Song of Joy.

This story ended up being a bit of a disappointment to me - I had so much fun starting out with it, but by the time I was done I was sick to death of Jane in all her superior-ness, and just ended up shoving through the final five chapters or so, just to get it done. A lesson in finishing my stories more quickly, I suppose, instead of letting them drag out so long!

At any rate, even though I don't think the final few chapters are as good quality as I am capable of writing, at least they are done, and the story itself is done, and I can go back to just reading about Jane and enjoying her that way. Let's face it, it's much more enjoyable reading about someone growing a backbone and finding her place in the world than writing about that person after she's found herself and is already established!

(And I am still working on The Summer Between, I've just hit a bit of a slump in the plot and am trying to fill in the lag without it looking like fill-in, plus with holidays (and children) writing has taken a back burner. But I'm not sick of Gwen yet, and I hope I never get there!)

I would so like to know more about the adults in this story-Nan and Jerry's struggles, how Betty married into the family, the intriguing rivalry between Rilla and Di. You have created such a tangled web of bonds and rivalries and love and grudges that feels so much like a real family. I just can't get enough of it!

I'm so glad you left that review, Ruby/Connie - I have a lot of backstory in my head regarding the middle generation, and because it is all clear to me, I'm always afraid writing about them will end up coming across as muddled! So hearing that it just reads like a real family is nice.

I am considering writing a story that centers around Di, Nan, and probably Persis during the War, which would fill in a lot of those details - but we'll see if it ever happens! In the meantime, I'll probably just keep dropping little tidbits into Gwen's tales.