Month: May 2016

On Writing and What’s Next

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

I was talking to a writer friend and ze mentioned that ze only writes one story at a time and needs to finish that story before starting any others, and that keeps zir from having a string of unfinished stories.

I thought that sounded like a good–great–idea, so I started making a list of all the stories I’m working on. It’s, uh, a long list. I mean, I always had a spreadsheet (that should have been a sign), but I have a lot of stories started and never finished. So now I’m making a list. And I will go down that list as best I can. Obviously I’m going to have to work out some kinks from the system, because I have some stories I more recently started that may need to be finished before my big Scruples project, but we’ll see.

After the current thing I’m rewriting (for something else not related), I plan on moving on to my rehabilitating rockstar OR my super queer shifters. I’m going to poke and whichever one reacts is going to get priority.

But first I need to finish my mini-project, and also work on revisions for my fantasy bear shift novella.

While knitting a Spider Man blanket for my friends’ future baby. Because I didn’t have a knitting project on hand and my friend is having a baby and I’ve made blankets for all the other babies in my life, so I felt bad.

And then I did a search for geeky knitted things and found this (which was within my skill level…I hope) and couldn’t resist.

Hopefully it turns out okay. Or the baby immediately vomits on it and it can be burned and I don’t have to worry.

Here’s to multitasking!

My Tattoo and other things.

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve likely seen my tattoo or heard me squealing. The picture I posted originally was from immediately after, so here’s a newer shot. (Warning, my skin has not been happy about things like constant lotion and no good hard scrubbings.) It’s been almost a month, and while it seems mostly healed, I feel like it’s not 100% healed yet. It’s supposed to be healed, but I may be a slow tattoo healer. I dunno. But it’s lovely either way.

I’ve also been knitting. This is just the beginning.

I’m going to be working on that one for a while. But thankfully I have all of Free! Eternal Summer to watch with dubs so I can multitask. Though, I must say, knitting is not nearly as much fun in the warmer temperatures than it is when it’s cool out!

I could be writing…

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately, and, despite what media would have you believe, depression doesn’t actually cause you to be creative in artist outlets. So I haven’t really been doing too much writing (although I have gotten a few thousand words here and there). When I’m in this mood, I don’t usually do much reading either, and I rely on my safe movies and shows. 

And my safest show of all? M*A*S*H. Yep, it came out before I was born, but I love it. And yes, I realize it has flaws (what doesn’t?), but for a long while it was the longest-running show, and while others may disagree, it ended just as strongly as it started. But the trick is, it ended DIFFERENTLY than it started. It began as a goofy comedy just in for the laughs, but the humor matured as the series did, and it became more than humor, often taking on serious, heavy topics. 
Of course, some people might not like the changes it went through. They wanted comedy, not deep questioning of morality that strove to build character. But I think the series ended stronger than it started, although I agree it couldn’t have continued in such a  manner forever. I think it worked best that it started light and corny and grew into it’s own shoes.
Plus it offers a variety of entertainment based on your mood. Want eye-rolling jokes? Go for season one. Want heart-jerking depth? Season eleven. Want tender warmth (and often tears)? Hit up any of the Christmas episodes. The trick is that they changed, over time, from episode to episode sometimes, and used a variety of tricks and tools to keep things fresh (for the most part). Yes, there are times where the hospital chatter gets boring, but the stories that are woven throughout are worth it. 
Just to give you an idea of how much M*A*S*H sits in my heart: I rewatched the entire series over the past few months. It’s a fantastic way to turn off my brain, especially when I’m stressed.
And yes, I could have been writing. But relaxing then will hopefully help me be rejuvenated for the future!
Also: Go watch M*A*S*H (I prefer the series after season 3, when they introduce Colonel Potter.)