Kevin Jones is a part of the team as well

Well, I finished writing and typing the letter story. I still hate it. It's still not got a name. Aaaaaarrrrggh.

Something I've discovered since I started writing the correspondence is how hard it is to write letters with different voices, so that they at least read as if they were written by two different people. I can manage it with dialogue okay (or I think I can) but whenever I write letters they always come out looking as if they were written by me. I find myself thinking, that's exactly how I'd say it. I suppose that's why it's called a challenge; it's a chance to improve our skills in a certain topic by practice and receiving feedback. I just wish that it wasn't so hard.

Aside from that frustration, I haven't really done a lot. I've tried thinking of some ideas for the mystery piece, but after a couple of hours I'm beginning to suspect that I don't even have a mystery muse (I wonder where I can find one before the winter, my others just found me). I have the inkling of a few ideas, but they're going to need a lot of tinkering.

Very fast down this first hundred

Meanwhile, in the real world: my official graduation photograph has arrived. If I ever get it scanned in, I'll put it up (or maybe not, too many people are going to see it as it is).

Still jobless.

Later . . .

Kevin Jones is trying to keep that from happening to someone else.

Well I've finished typing up Curiousity (and right now I can't decide whether it has two u's or not) today. I'm still feeling really happy about this piece, which is both cool and unprecedented; I don't have anything like that for the letter story. Right now I'm only keeping on at it because I don't feel ready to start my next bit of work. Neverwell.

Considering the letter story, I wrote another three letters today, so only two left. No word count on that one until I type it, but I do finally have a total for Curiosity. 4000 words. Brings me nicely closer to this month's target. Yay.

Tomorrow: more letter writing and maybe some mystery writing.

Later . . .

Kevin Jones is serving as the Dean of Elections

Friday: wrote the first couple of letters for the letter story, although I think that I'm just going to sack it as there's no way I'll get it done for the end of the month. This story just hasn't grabbed me enough to think that I can continue it with no deadline or without the 'challenge' potential that it's currently got.

Today: wasted the day. May do more tomorrow.

Later . . .

Kevin Jones is the most decorated male snowboarder in WX history

Oh yeah, writing.

As I said, nothing done on Wednesday. Thursday I began jotting some notes out for the letter story. I have an idea developing and it looks like it won't be lame.

We'll see.

Later . . .

Kevin is a founding member of the amazing comedy troupe . . .

Well, I finished the first draft of Curiosity, and have begun to type it up. Progress has been slowed somewhat by a nasty bout of hayfever combined with what looks like the beginnings of a cold, but I still managed to get a bit typed up. Looking at what I've typed I am little worried at how long the story will turn out. Writing too much has always been one of my problems, and this morning I managed to turn half a hand written page into three manuscript pages. Guess I shouldn't complain, but . . . aaaaarrrrggh! I just know when I come to write the letter story I'll be able to get about two hundred words down before the well dries up. If I've used up all of my words (for this month at least) on one story I shall be upset.

On the subject of the 'letter story' I have a beginning, half a middle and no end (I'm thinking that I'm going to want to write three letters, three seems like a good number for some reason). I still have no idea what I'm going to write for the 'mystery story'. The idea of writing something a bit like film noir appeals to me, but as I've never seen any film noir (I've only ever seen spoofs, and who knows how realiable they are) it would probably be a bad idea. Odds are I'll probably end up writing something a bit like Diagnosis Murder. Makes me wonder if there is any room for a crime-fighting doctor in the Serendip*ity . . .

Tuning into Hallmark for a spot of research . . .

Curiosity killed the cat

Not much done over the last couple of days except for a bit more writing (by hand) towards Curiosity (the old lady story). Again, no word count, but I'll set that straight when I get around to typing it. I want to write something for August's challenge--which looks like it will be the letter one--so I've been trying to think of some ideas for that. I've got one, but I don't quite know where I'm going to go with it yet. I've also been trying to think of ideas for the next Serendip contest as well.

Later . . .

Do you honestly think there's time to be lazing around?

Spent a great portion of today making a start on a story that I've had the idea for for a couple of months now. It's the one about the old lady and the house full of toys . . . It was a nice day so I was writing by hand (which is unusual enough) in the back garden. Think I sunburnt for my troubles tho'. I'll update the word count thing if I ever get the story typed up (or finished).

Later . . .

You can tell

Well, it's been another long stretch without an update. How's you keeping? Sometimes, I wonder exactly why I keep coming back, but then someone says, you do have something to say. I'm beginning to liken my participation in this thing to my TV however. The aerial reception in my little corner of the Sticks is terrible, and consequently the picture comes and goes. I've noticed that whenever I'm trying to watch something, the only time i get a signal is when the adverts are on.

So, basically, you're missing all the good stuff, and I can never remember it when I return here.

I'll see what I can do.

Last week, I graduated. I wore a silly robe with a silly hood. I put a silly hat on my head and partook in perhaps the silliest ceremony I've ever seen, but what a day! It was great, and I really enjoyed it. My family really enjoyed it, and my friends really enjoyed it. During the day I thought that I looked pretty sharp, when my dad's photographs came back I realised that I didn't. As soon as I get a scanner I'll put them on my webspace and let everybody see them.

Not much of a threat, I know.

I've sent off applications to four firms. Didn't realise how long it took to fill those things out, but it's not like I've got anything else to be doing.

Spent far too much time playing Baldur's Gate II.

Oh, yes, and I've actually got a bit of writing done. I've managed to bring this month's total up, but I'm still falling short of my goal. I'm still trying to redraft The Carrier, but it's looking good so far.

Whatdunnit

Reading through some of the other Zoo members' blogs today when I saw that they've got an initial page up for the next serendip writing competition. Sounds like it could be a bit of fun, but am wondering if I need to get a Mystery Muse now, or whether one of my other muses could handle the task. Not that I have that many (obviously not, I don't have all that many ideas).

Got another three-fifty words down tonight on The Carrier.

Still haven't got a job.

Finally finished reading The Talisman by King and Straub. Found it better than Black House, a lot better. Because I just haven't read enough Stephen King lately I've jumped straight into Dreamcatcher.

Later . . .

There will be no hiding place on the internet

Well, I've finished Chapter 4 of Dearest . . .. It's the rewritten scene of Kiara and Jonathon waking up together, but I'm more pleased with it this time. I added one thousand, one hundred words on Friday afternoon (the 28th), but I didn't get any more written because it was a busy old weekend. So alas I didn't reach June's target, but 775o was a lot closer than I got in May.

Chapter 4 was finished yesterday when I added another 25o words. Since I finished it I've started rewriting The Carrier (I'm determined not to let it go, even though I missed the challenge by a long shot). Also did a review yesterday, but it was for a friend from the Sticks rather than from the Zoo. I'm going to email the review to him tonight, see what he thinks.

Later . . .