I never thought about it before, but there is an intrinsic impermanence to LA.
I like this word: impermanence. I don't know why.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
LA's Detour Festival
Second (hopefully, annual) Detour Festival was Saturday in downtown LA. Went last year and had a great time, so decided to check it out again. Heard that 25,000 tickets were on sale; doubting that many people were there (which was nice).
Found some new acts to further investigate (Shout Out Louds, Noisettes). Finally got to check out Autolux and Teddybears live. Autolux probably would be better in a small theatre venue, but still liked. Had to see the Teddybears finally. Had a scheduling conflict at Coachella this year so missed their set (but did, literally, run into one of the Bears near the merchandise tent at Coachella). They were fun. Also saw Bloc Party for the second time. Saw them at Coachella in 2006 and was (unfortunately) underwhelmed. Love their albums, but wasn't impressed then. So, was a little wary this time around. But happy to say they were much better Saturday night.
I'm so glad that Detour returned for a second year. LA needs a high quality music festival, and this is definitely it. Also, it's great that it's downtown and not on the Westside or in Hollywood. Downtown needs some love.
Okay, now the negative (nothing major, but little nitpicks):
--First, way too many teens!!! I was seriously feeling old! And why did they all seem to have a fondness for 80s fashion? There is no need to bring that decade back!
--Second, would it kill the organizers to mark the stages in some way. A map that says "City Hall South/East/West" or "Stage 1/2/3" doesn't help if the stages aren't marked. Yes, I did eventually remember to think Disney Hall is east, mountains are north, so this must be "City Hall East" stage. But still, I had two different people come up and ask me which stage was which, so I wasn't alone.
--Third, a little disappointed that they moved the site a block north and blocked access to the CalTrans building. Losing the CalTrans building was unfortunate since last year it was a great place to sit and eat or hang out. Besides, it's a cool building that should be a centerpiece of the day.
--Fourth, the loss of St. Vibiana's. Admittedly, as a former Catholic school girl, I was a little weirded out to walk into St. Vibiana's last year to find a rave going on. Seemed a little sacrilegious. But still, once the Catholic guilt subsided, it was really kind of cool.
--Fifth, how many people really needed press passes? While I was waiting for the Autolux set I counted at least 15 people go to the front of the stage with a press pass and a camera. It seemed like EVERY other person had a press pass and a professional camera. Do we really need that much documentation?
Found some new acts to further investigate (Shout Out Louds, Noisettes). Finally got to check out Autolux and Teddybears live. Autolux probably would be better in a small theatre venue, but still liked. Had to see the Teddybears finally. Had a scheduling conflict at Coachella this year so missed their set (but did, literally, run into one of the Bears near the merchandise tent at Coachella). They were fun. Also saw Bloc Party for the second time. Saw them at Coachella in 2006 and was (unfortunately) underwhelmed. Love their albums, but wasn't impressed then. So, was a little wary this time around. But happy to say they were much better Saturday night.
I'm so glad that Detour returned for a second year. LA needs a high quality music festival, and this is definitely it. Also, it's great that it's downtown and not on the Westside or in Hollywood. Downtown needs some love.
Okay, now the negative (nothing major, but little nitpicks):
--First, way too many teens!!! I was seriously feeling old! And why did they all seem to have a fondness for 80s fashion? There is no need to bring that decade back!
--Second, would it kill the organizers to mark the stages in some way. A map that says "City Hall South/East/West" or "Stage 1/2/3" doesn't help if the stages aren't marked. Yes, I did eventually remember to think Disney Hall is east, mountains are north, so this must be "City Hall East" stage. But still, I had two different people come up and ask me which stage was which, so I wasn't alone.
--Third, a little disappointed that they moved the site a block north and blocked access to the CalTrans building. Losing the CalTrans building was unfortunate since last year it was a great place to sit and eat or hang out. Besides, it's a cool building that should be a centerpiece of the day.
--Fourth, the loss of St. Vibiana's. Admittedly, as a former Catholic school girl, I was a little weirded out to walk into St. Vibiana's last year to find a rave going on. Seemed a little sacrilegious. But still, once the Catholic guilt subsided, it was really kind of cool.
--Fifth, how many people really needed press passes? While I was waiting for the Autolux set I counted at least 15 people go to the front of the stage with a press pass and a camera. It seemed like EVERY other person had a press pass and a professional camera. Do we really need that much documentation?
Monday, September 17, 2007
Killing My Darlings
Realized I should probably explain this reference from my last post.
I was at the LA Times Book Fair in 2005 and went to a panel where Susan Fletcher, author of "Eve Green", spoke. She mentioned that when writing, especially when rewriting, sometimes you have to "kill your darlings"--those words, lines, phrases, paragraphs that you love, but that just don't add anything to the story anymore.
Definitely the best piece of advice I ever got and one that has just stuck with me through all this.
By the way, really liked her book and recommend it.
I was at the LA Times Book Fair in 2005 and went to a panel where Susan Fletcher, author of "Eve Green", spoke. She mentioned that when writing, especially when rewriting, sometimes you have to "kill your darlings"--those words, lines, phrases, paragraphs that you love, but that just don't add anything to the story anymore.
Definitely the best piece of advice I ever got and one that has just stuck with me through all this.
By the way, really liked her book and recommend it.
Oops!
I just realized that my main character's name is only one letter off from my Great Aunt's full name. Not that that's a bad thing. She is dead. But since this is fiction, I don't really think her name can stay as it is. Was intentionally using a variation on a family last name, but the first name--Great Aunt's name--was completely random. Just liked it. The fact that this has been my character's name for about three months now, and that I'm just realizing the similarity, proves how slow I can be. Duh! Not going to worry too much about it now. Will let it go till rewrite. Probably will keep the first name, but will change or play around more with the last name.
On a more positive note, I think I've figured out how to rewrite my chapter one. My writing instructor and my class had some really good comments on my draft last week, but there was some question as to whether I needed my prologue to be separate from Chapter 1. So, I think I've found a way to move some of the material from the prologue into the chapter. Did have to "kill my darlings," but I think I've been able to save some of the spirit(?) of what was there before. Also, I think I've figure out how to get some more of the details that set up the story up front with the new opening. Admittedly, I'm only three pages into this new draft of chapter 1, but these three pages have been somewhat brutal, so I'm happy to be where I am.
On a more positive note, I think I've figured out how to rewrite my chapter one. My writing instructor and my class had some really good comments on my draft last week, but there was some question as to whether I needed my prologue to be separate from Chapter 1. So, I think I've found a way to move some of the material from the prologue into the chapter. Did have to "kill my darlings," but I think I've been able to save some of the spirit(?) of what was there before. Also, I think I've figure out how to get some more of the details that set up the story up front with the new opening. Admittedly, I'm only three pages into this new draft of chapter 1, but these three pages have been somewhat brutal, so I'm happy to be where I am.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
General Hospital: Night Shift...I Take It Back
This show sucks, but I'm still sucked in. It seriously is a train wreck. The script, acting, editing, filming are utterly horrid. But I can't stop watching. Maybe out of a pathetic hope that it will get better (at this point my standards are so low, it wouldn't take much for that to happen); or out of a pathetic inability to just let go and move on. Who knows. Thank God there are only 3 episodes left, because my brain can only rot for so much longer.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
TV: "Gene Simmons: Family Values"
Okay, I'm procrastinating. I admit it!
So, I was just looking at the TV Guide website to see what's on tonight. There is a 4-hour marathon of "Gene Simmons: Family Vales" episodes starting in an hour. I'm so happy. I'm totally addicted to this show, even though I've never listened to a KISS song in my life. It's just amazing how "normal" they are compared to the Osbournes.
So, I guess if I'm good, I would spend the next hour working on my assignment, and then reward myself with some TV. But see, that would necessitate that I actually can exercise some self-control and concentrate. Yeah, that's not going to happen. I'll try, but I'm not promising much. Knowing me, and I do, I'll spend most of the next hour looking for music. But maybe, just maybe, I'll eek out another page.
So, I was just looking at the TV Guide website to see what's on tonight. There is a 4-hour marathon of "Gene Simmons: Family Vales" episodes starting in an hour. I'm so happy. I'm totally addicted to this show, even though I've never listened to a KISS song in my life. It's just amazing how "normal" they are compared to the Osbournes.
So, I guess if I'm good, I would spend the next hour working on my assignment, and then reward myself with some TV. But see, that would necessitate that I actually can exercise some self-control and concentrate. Yeah, that's not going to happen. I'll try, but I'm not promising much. Knowing me, and I do, I'll spend most of the next hour looking for music. But maybe, just maybe, I'll eek out another page.
Writing and Intimidation
Trying to write an assignment for a writing class. I'm struggling. I'm supposed to be writing from the antagonist's POV and I can't get in her head. I know my protagonist. I can get in her head. I can write her voice. But this antagonist...ugh! Now I know why this is supposedly the most difficult assignment of the semester. I'm also struggling with whether to write this piece in first or third person POV. When I write from the protagonist's POV, I work from first person. But with the antagonist I definitely don't feel comfortable in the first with her (I don't like her head), but the third feels a bit too distant. Still third POV is probably the best of the two. Maybe I should just take the middle ground and do second POV. Yeah, that would work!
And it doesn't help that I can't find the right mood music. Nothing is working. I've even wasted time looking on iTunes and Myspace for something new to buy; and NOTHING. Not feeling any of it.
On the upside, I might actually have this assignment done tonight. Yep, maybe I won't be freaking out tomorrow morning before class trying to get it all done. I'd love to be done tonight. Already a page in. I only need a minimum of 3, even though I'd like to do more. And I swear, I am not changing stories and characters again at 11PM like last week. That was just too stressful.
Although, I have to say, that piece turned out to be better than I thought it was. Just proves again that I do my best work when I procrastinate. Not that I should be reveling in that fact. But the piece did get me one of the best compliments I've ever received about my writing: my writing "intimidates" people. YEAH! You'd have to know me to know how perfect a compliment that is. I'm competitive as hell. Telling me I write well or I'm good, doesn't really get me. That kind of comment--my writing intimidates another writer (and she's someone who I think is one of the better writers in the class)--is perfect. So, I'm definitely riding that high.
Okay, with that praise in mind, I should get back to my assignment or at least to my music search.
And it doesn't help that I can't find the right mood music. Nothing is working. I've even wasted time looking on iTunes and Myspace for something new to buy; and NOTHING. Not feeling any of it.
On the upside, I might actually have this assignment done tonight. Yep, maybe I won't be freaking out tomorrow morning before class trying to get it all done. I'd love to be done tonight. Already a page in. I only need a minimum of 3, even though I'd like to do more. And I swear, I am not changing stories and characters again at 11PM like last week. That was just too stressful.
Although, I have to say, that piece turned out to be better than I thought it was. Just proves again that I do my best work when I procrastinate. Not that I should be reveling in that fact. But the piece did get me one of the best compliments I've ever received about my writing: my writing "intimidates" people. YEAH! You'd have to know me to know how perfect a compliment that is. I'm competitive as hell. Telling me I write well or I'm good, doesn't really get me. That kind of comment--my writing intimidates another writer (and she's someone who I think is one of the better writers in the class)--is perfect. So, I'm definitely riding that high.
Okay, with that praise in mind, I should get back to my assignment or at least to my music search.
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