I have been so caught up with grading and teaching and organizing, I haven't been working on my novel at all.  Part of the problem is that I got slammed with Union grievances and events to coordinate, so I was writing.  Ha ha ha.

Now, I am back at it.  Unfortunately, my laptop died over the weekend.  I hope my friend will be able to replace the hard drive, but the good news is that the nerds at the Micro Center backed up my files.  I pick up the digital corpse today.  Luckily, I put my drafts on this forum, and I remembered that my editor has a copy of my anthology.  Phew.

However, I have learned my lesson and am backing work.  I get a new hard drive today.

Don't get broadsided by tech issues.  #Resist

I took that great shot at the Chicago Cultural Center, where I am currently sitting and grading papers.  So, as you my have noticed I haven't posted for a while.  Unfortunately, I have been busy NOT working on my novel.  I forgot how intense summer school can be, but my students are amazing.  I spend most of my time grading and writing grievances for my union members.

Still, I have been thinking about the ending of the current novel I am writing, The Harvest, and a sequel where the androids play a greater role, but one step at a time.  The glimmer of hope is what has me captivated.  There will be hope in my novel because the characters will grow in that direction. 

On a practical note, I think from now on, I am going to come to the Chicago Cultural Center to write because it's relatively quiet and close to work.  (Of course, as I finish this entry, someone is practicing her singing, and it is gorgeous.  I think singers come here for the acoustics.  How wonderful!)

Here is to finding quite places and spaces to write.  #Resist

I was watching the news the other day, and they announced the robot priest/pastor.  It can have the voice of a woman or man, and it can bless you with the light of its arms.  Think I'm joking?  Think again.  http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/a26698/germany-robot-priest/

I told some friends about this news report on WGN, and they thought I was joking.  Food for thought, pastors and priests.  The robots are coming for your jobs, too.  Anyway, on that happy cyber-note, back to my writing. 

This morning, I finally spent a few hours working on my novel.  It had been a while since I woke up at 2a.m. to write, mostly because I was tired from teaching.  In fact, I thought the writing itch was dissipating, and it was.  Ergo, I read a lot of literature.  But, I started teaching the summer term yesterday, and I am back to waking up with the drive to write.  Of course the teenagers listening to loud assed movies at 2a.m. helped, and also, my brain is trying to solve union problems.  Nothing like a little problem solving to get the brain-engine going. 

Today, I developed the character of 147-Paul a little more.  He will play a larger role with Alan and his new mother, who I am not naming yet.  In fact, I may not until something happens in the plot, which I won't reveal until the end.  She needs to remain anonymous because she is going against the state.  Enough of her.

I have big plans for the androids in the revolutionary process.  In fact, my goal is the humanize the androids, while the women in this setting are losing their humanity with every mod and upgrade.  (And I can't wait to see the Blade Runner sequel!)

Here's a bit more of The Harvest:  A Novel.

Resist the robots if they don't serve us, the people!

I am rereading Wastelands:  Stories of the Apocalypse Vol 1. because I am teaching it this summer for the second time.  Shout out to The Fireman, which I am also teaching.  Yesterday, I read "When Sysadmins Ruled the World" or some such.  That short story was so well written, and the language was so playful and funny, but what really struck me were the stereotypes that were remastered and rehumanized  Like the size of the nerds' bellies to show how long they had been working for the company, but also how fucked up their jobs had been overworking them.  It reminded me of the OIT folks I work with.  They are always on call and running around fixing problems. 

This particular story was about these sysadmins who were battling computer viruses, meanwhile a shit storm of threats to humanity were unfolding all around them like bio-weapons, nukes, bombs.  It was an excellent story that ended with some serious hope. 

That sense of hope is what makes awesome dystopian literature, even just  a glimmer, and what I really hope to nurture in my novel The Harvest.  In fact, I have the ending mostly done.  At the same time, I like bitter-sweet endings, so that may alter where the novel goes.  It's not quite formed, but the outline is there.  

Anyway, my brain is in play mode, and I'm watching House of Cards.  I started Season 1 this week.  Which is all to say that this is the first time I've woken up early and haven't hit the novel first, so of course, I'm going to discipline the beast and write for an hour.  Of course.

Here's to deep ideas (none of which I've had yet) and serious writing discipline.  #Resist

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of talking to my friends and more so, comrades, (I feel comfortable calling them this, not thinking of them as amazing writer acquaintances): Adam Gottlieb and Eric Allen Yankee.  They are the writers and artists I want to be, so I really appreciated their wisdom and philosophy on writing.  Their feedback on my writing, of course, put me over the moon.  In short, we had a great discussion about our craft and what goes into it. 

Adam, for example, had really insightful things to say about my use of folklore and curanderismo in my short story collection Down South where the Water is Warm (he hasn't read "La Bruja del Barrio Loco", yet!).  We also discussed the concept of cliches in poetry, and he said something I had never heard before but was something that was taught to him, "You have to rescue  cliches."  We had a conversation about the roles of cliches in poetry, which I teach my creative students to add a twist to or flip.  To do something new with the cliche that still focuses on the beauty of what a cliche offers like love or eternity but that adds something refreshing.  I love the idea of rescuing a cliche. 

We, also, had a discussion about the mixture of indigenous and Catholic beliefs and my personal stories of when that shit actually worked.  I think it's a mind-belief thing when those limpias work or as my friend Lau says, "I am living magical realism." Besides, most of those rituals are mixed with prayer, and prayer is powerful.  Wrap your head around that.

I was floored to find out that Eric is reading my novel draft!  He said, "It's like the Hunger Games," which it is and isn't--Yes, that was a compliment.  But, I started working on this novel when I was an undergraduate, and it really borrows more from 1984, Kurt Vonnegut, and every dystopian piece of literature I had read up to that point.  Stephen King's Talisman also had a huge impact on that piece as well as other science fiction writers.  In truth, there is nothing new about the novel, just how you arrange old elements to tell a new story.  In many ways, it's also a boy meets girl story, which can be a cliche in and of itself.  Regardless, I am pleased with how this re-write is shaping up. 

Eric is also writing a novel, which I hope to read, if he wants an ideal reader.  He too is stretching his limits, going beyond smut and all, and I am sure it will turn out beautifully because he's got the itch to write a long piece.  

Well, I have to get back to it, that siren call that wakes me up at 2, 3, or 4a.m.  I made a different writing choice in where I split the last Ashley chapter, where I was originally going to solve the mystery, but decided not to, yet.  So, I'm off to let that plot line develop as it must.  I am at a point in the writing, where despite my planning, the characters are taking on a life of their own.  Which needs to happen sometimes and can lead to more beautiful places.  

Here's to going on new writing journeys and sharing writing ideas with writing masters.  Yes, writing masters.  #Resist.   

I know I write a lot of serious fiction, and magical realism, horror, etc.  I try to capture realism, even when I write non-serious fiction.  However, since I am stretching my limits with a mystery sub plot as part of The Harvest: A Novel (Draft), which I posted more of, I was thinking, "Why not take a shot at a romance?" 

I used to read paperback romances all the time, and found the historical ones to be really fascinating.  Now in the wake of Kindles, I suppose romantic short stories are becoming more popular.  So, I am going to write one, take a chance, but I will most likely publish it under a pseudo name like Hope or Horizon or something I actually won't write here if I use it.  I suppose I should scope out other romance pen names.  I want mine to be somewhat cheesy.

Dude, I got it. Ha ha ha.  I have it on my sticky.

Well, the other pen names like T. S. Ryder and Christy McKellen are equally goofy.  Though, the first one is somewhat cool, though Ryder could be sexual.

Anyway, we will see.  I guess screwing billionaires and step brothers is in.  That must be that romance that almost crosses the smut line.  What are people reading these days?  Good lord!

I don't want my story to be quite that bad, but I do want the romantic hook up elements in it. Otherwise, who would read it? 

Here's to taking romantic risks, but not "porny", chances.  #Resist

I posted more of the novel draft, and am still grappling with how to find this traitor:  The Harvest:  A Novel.  Mysteries are no joke, and I am finding this sub-plot development to be a challenge. Plus, since my girls, my characters, aren't necessarily PI's, I may have them find the culprit by accident.  Maybe.  I had a thought about the team they just competed against having the enemy in their ranks, like the long-haired girl.  Also, I want to amp up the tension between Jackie and Ashley, and possibly have an irresponsible sponsor leak that a rebel has infiltrated the candidacy process.  (Which the Dean is lying about and has happened before.  That will be a small twist.)  If you're like, "What is Jesú talking about?" consider reading the draft of the novel. 

I was also struggling with what to call the Dean.  I wanted a name that meant power, so I picked Amaranda.  I am still working on that choice.  I also need to rethink Vye and Lisa because even though they have different qualities, I keep confusing Vye with Lisa as I write.  Lisa needs more qualities because she's kind of bland, so I may backtrack in the writing process and draw them and write down their qualities and characteristics.

Anyway, these last few weeks I have been thinking about Octavia Butler, may she rest in peace and eternal creative joy.  One of my indulgent goals this summer is to read all of her long works, none of which I have read.  I started with The Fledgling, a vampire novel, and I believe her last long work that she printed before her early death.  I love her style of writing and admire her writing choices.  I am writing the Ashley section in first-person, present tense because I want the action to be "real".  That makes sense, right?  The Allen sections are in third person because he is less of an agent in society.  I made those point of view choices deliberate.

Butler wrote The Fledgling in first person, past tense.  What?!  Seriously, who does that and creates engaging prose that sucks the reader straight in?  That takes real craft, and I love how she splits up her dialogue, which I am emulating in some of my "he says" or "she says" sections.  Wow, I hope some day, I will be that good!

Until then, I am still pecking along, trying to finish my novel and let it end, when it ends.  It's not that I don't have a deadline in mind, but today, which would have been a great day to write, I am rereading the short stories I want in my syllabus.  I start teaching next week. I decided as I was drafting my syllabi not to keep the same stories and in that order. 

I also have to write a report that will take all of my brain power, and I need to focus.  Ergo, the kids are out of the house.  See, it would have been a great day to write, and I will, just not my novel.  (I did write this morning for an hour and read over past segments.)

Today will be a strange day of reading dystopian short stories and political economy, but stimulating. 

Stimulate your brain and hang onto your dreams like babies.  #Resist.

Today, my family and I are staying in most of the day.  The temperature has dropped 20 degrees, thank goodness.  It's a perfect day to write, cook, and clean, in that order.

Guess what we are having for breakfast?  We got a flat or pallet of strawberries for a dollar at Stan's Fruit Market.  Some shoppers were filling their carts with pallets.  We froze some of the containers, and I plan on making strawberry ice cream with the kids.  The thought of making jam appeals to me, but I have no idea how to do that.  I don't have the jars anyway. 

Anyway, back to this perfect day.  This morning I managed to edit and write a few more pages of The Harvest:  A Novel.

I am taking a stab at a subplot, a mystery, in the Ashley story line, and I want to add a twist, but not disrupt the main character's team.  I thought about having one of the team members betray her and the whole system, but nothing in the characters' development has pointed to that.  I will most likely make someone on Lister's team be the traitor.  I am not sure.

Anyway, the kids are up and running around.  I think they are having a spectacular pillow battle by the sound of all the crashing noises.  I won't be able to write for much longer anyway.  Plus, I mentioned pancakes, and they all got super excited.  I didn't tell them that we ran out of bacon and will be frying hot dogs, or they'd be at my apron's hem ordering me to hurry up.  Kids.

Here's to Strawberry Saturdays and twists and turns in your novels.  #Resist. 

I am taking a brief reprieve from grading.  Right now, I am going through a pile of fantastic poems by my creative writing students.  I already workshopped them, twice in most cases, so the grading is going easier.  I just have to say grading poetry is really fucking hard.   

Anyway, I posted The Harvest, the draft of my ongoing novel with edits.  Yesterday on my way to work, I gave the new sections a good read and found a bunch of typos.  That time, my husband actually asked thoughtful questions, which I have forgotten now, but I am sure helped me clarify ideas as I was making corrections.  Still, some of the questions he asked clearly indicate that he has not read the full draft.  :( 

I may have to create an audio file for him.  No, not you, just him.

Here is to fantastic poetry by others, which you had a hand in, and catching vile typos.  #Resist 

First, of all Happy Mother's Day to all Godmothers, Mothers, Teachers, Aunties, Sisters, Spiritual Guides, Nurturing Creatures, yes, even, stay at home Dads! Without you, society would simply collapse.

I haven't blogged in a while because I have been grading and reading placement essays, but I have a mom victory.  I have been writing like a fiend, and I am well past 1/3 of the novel draft, The Harvest.  I am posting the draft in a bit, and hope to read it on my way to my Mother's Day surprise destination, which will more than likely be a park where we will picnic, far, far away from Chicago (if I know my clan).

On a hilarious note, my seven year old wrote this in my homemade Mother's Day card:  Dear Mom, I love you very much.  Even though I get made at you deep down inside, I will never hate you. (Heart), Antonio.  I am so proud of his writing abilities!

Here's to the unconditional love we give to our kids and artistic creations.  #Resist