37 Drafts
So after I wrote “I have thirty-seven drafts” in the comments of the last post, I thought, “What are those drafts?” So I went and looked and basically, Argh Ink has a closet full of junk. So in the spirit of the massive house cleaning I’m now doing in reality, and because Veronica and I were really comfortable on the bed, I cleaned out my draft closet.
When I opened the door, here’s what fell out:
Virtually Me. And You.
Kitchen Unconfidential.
A Rant.
I’m Easily Amused.
On the Road: We’re Walking, We’re Walking
The Zen of the Ones
Random Sunday
The Experienced Writer
Robo Cat and the Poop Cheer
The High Cost of Hating Our Bodies
The New York Times on Romantic Comedy in Film or All Those Girls’ Movies Look Alike To Me
It Is What It Is Isn’t.
(no title)
My Night with Ambien
My Giddy Week
Brain Hurts
Review: The Cake Mix Cookie Book
What Peace There Is in Silence
Twelve Days of Emmeline
Differently Creative: Why I’m Annoyed with Project Runway
The Image Rant
It’s Time for a Change, But Not That Much
My Lunch with Julia
More E-mail
How We Designed That Website
Page 123
Embellishment
The Blog Bug
So Where Do You Get Your Ideas?: The Author Interview
Review: Madagascar
Purses
The Agnes Collage
Computer Solitaire
The Short Story: It’s Not Dead Yet
Reviews: Tales of the Vampire and Fray
(no title)
The Ones and Me
I knew what about half of those were about. (What’s all the stuff with ones, anyway?) So I did what I do with the stuff in my closet, sorted it into stuff to throw away, stuff I’m not sure about, and stuff I’m keeping
Stuff to be thrown out:
“On the Road: We’re Walking, We’re Walking”: This one was about the day with Dale, which I swear I did already. The Red Thing post. Oh, well.
“The Zen of the Ones”: A post on Amazon one ratings. Then I started a better one. This gets deleted.
“(no title)”: A picture labeled “bubble bath.” No idea where I was going with that.
“My Night with Ambien”: A night I had insomnia. Why did I think that would be interesting?
“My Giddy Week”: About a week I took off from writing. Completely worthless post.
“Robo Cat and the Poop Cheer”: House training and litter boxes. It’s kind of bleah. So probably not.
“Review: The Cake Mix Cookie Book”: I really didn’t like this book, so why post a review of it? I like the idea of doing reviews, just of things that are good.
“Differently Creative: Why I’m Annoyed with Project Runway”: I started this because I didn’t like the way the people on PR were treating Elisa the hippie chick, but then I wandered off. It’s really hard to sustain annoyance with a reality show.
“More E-mail”: A blip about Bob expecting me to answer fan mail for us. Not interesting.
The Agnes Collage”: The book is going into paperback this summer. Moving on . . .
“The Short Story: It’s Not Dead Yet”: An essay I started after I judged the Writer’s Digest short story contest and was appalled. I’m over it now.
Stuff That Might Make It Someday:
“Kitchen Unconfidential”: Remodeling my kitchen. With pictures of the demo. On the one hand, why would anybody care about my kitchen? On the other hand, pictures of demo.
“Virtually Me. And You.,” “A Rant,” “The Image Rant”: This topic really bugs me but I haven’t thought it through yet. Also, every time anybody says anything in the slightest bit controversial, everybody in the blogosphere becomes the Church Lady and shakes a finger, and while there are things I care enough about to endure that, I’m not sure this one is worth the virtual blood and ink. Plus I haven’t thought it through enough yet.
“The High Cost of Hating Our Bodies”: This one was sparked by an article I read. It’s an idea, but it’s not fleshed out yet. So maybe not.
“The New York Times on Romantic Comedy in Film or All Those Girls’ Movies Look Alike To Me”: Another blog sparked by an article. I need to focus this more and I’m not sure I care enough.
“It Is What It Is Isn’t.”: A rant about something I’ve written about before. No idea if I’ll ever think this one through again.
“Brain Hurts”: About pounding through a first draft. Maybe I’ll finish it as I pound through AKMG.
“What Peace There Is in Silence”: A picture of the dogs sleeping. How many dog pictures can one blog take before it explodes from over-pet?
“It’s Time for a Change, But Not That Much”: About change and publishing. Not sure I have anything new to say there.
“Page 123″: This was a meme; turn to page 123 of any book and read it. I’m intrigued by it, so maybe I’ll do something with it.
“Embellishment”: This one’s a really old draft about embellishment of people and things and fiction. I’ll probably think it through and finish it.
“The Blog Bug”: Essay on my blog addiction, as in making them, not reading them. Maybe, maybe not.
“So Where Do You Get Your Ideas?: The Author Interview”: There’s good stuff in here, but as Krissie pointed out, it’ll just annoy the hell out of interviewers, so is it worth it? Probably not.
“Review: Madagascar”: This is sort of done but it doesn’t say much aside from reviewing the movie. So I need to look at it again and decide.
“(no title)”: Pictures from LOL cats, for an essay on the site. See also “I’m Easily Amused.” So I’ll probably do something with this eventually.
Stuff to be finished in the future:
“Random Sunday” Some of the stuff here is pretty old, but since it’s just Random Thoughts, I’ll probably finish it and put it up some Sunday.
“The Experienced Writer”: This one was sparked by an article in Time on experience. I’ll go back to it eventually.
“Twelve Days of Emmeline”: This was a false start because I switched to D&G, but I’ll do this one shortly.
“My Lunch with Julia”: A great lunch I had with an old college pal; her book is out soon so I’ll get this one together in a couple of weeks.
“How We Designed That Website”: We’re revamping the website and I’m designing a new home page for it (which Mollie will program) and even better, she’s going to set it up so I can update the site whenever I get the urge. Which is good. So this one will go up later this summer. Probably.
“Purses”: I love purses and I want to do an essay on them. So I started one. Must do more research.
“Reviews: Tales of the Vampire and Fray”: I’ll definitely finish this one. Joss Whedon is a god.
“The Ones and Me”: Why I always look at the one-star reviews on Amazon first when I’m looking for a book.
That takes me down to 26 drafts. I’ll swing back in a month or so and cut a bunch more in that middle group. Just like cleaning a closet. Which I must go do now.
I promise not to blog on it.
I vote for the kitchen demo. I’m afraid to start on mine! Or the purse one. And the one-star reviews. Or even a blog on cleaning the closet. Your blogs always start my day out right!
Ummm, but if you don’t blog how on earth will I procrastinate??
I second Chelle. After all, what am I supposed to do when I’m supposed to be doing something else when in reality I’m checking your blog and reading the comment posts, which all in all makes me look very busy, while getting absolutly nothing done.
Huh?
You think you’re easily amused? We find things to be amused about in everything you write, pretty much, so kitchens, rants, reality shows, whatever!
I’m glad you and Veronica were comfy. I’m so impressed that you even tidy your electronic files, when you’re cleaning house! I rarely do either…
But we love your blogs, AND your books, so, though we occasionally chant, do what you think best. Blogs, being ephemeral, may not need to be as highly polished as the printed word. You could probably do a Bob and just put up a title, and we would happily chat about that, if you were busy, too.
I loved the comments on that blog non-post. Post-modernists posting.
Ms Jenny…
Whatever you blog about, comment about, or write about will be read.
And we readers will comment.
Oh, Jenny, you must be watching the wrong reality shows if it is hard to sustain annoyance with them. I am constantly annoyed with them. My rotten kids now say,”I know mom, my brain is leaking out my ears, blah, blah, blah.” If you’ve not seen the SNL “Cougar Den” skit, try to get a look at it, it pretty much sums up every bad reality show on E! or VH1, and Bravo. Those disgusting real housewives are just eewww. Ooops, gotta go I think the Rock of Love finale is replaying for the 400 hundredth time.
Jenny, this is off-topic, but I don’t know if you saw this op-ed blog in the NY Times on collaboration? It doesn’t sound as if they have nearly as much fun as you and your collaborators do, but perhaps some of the other aspects are similar? Despite being song-writing, rather than novels. Because I know that you’re interested in the dynamics of collaboration. And have a very flexible relationship to the requirements of sentence structure.
I’m already looking forward to the one star blog post. I ALWAYS read the lowest reviews first - on books, recipes, appliances, etc. I always think those are the most informative, even if I think I won’t agree with the negative reviews.
Also off-topic (not that there’s a topic): Jenny, have you seen the Amazon Kindle? The demo video is on their front page. I’m drooling … and being that you’ve got an early adoptor streak in you, you’ll probably get it a lot before the rest of us, and make us all jealous.
If we’ll read and enjoy and comment on your grocery list, why not this? I just spent thirty minutes flicking through books on my shelf reading page number 123 and I know I’ll return to doing the same when I finish playing here.
BTW, you have fabulous pages 123 in Crazy For You, Tell me Lies, and WTT. I’m off to look at other authors work. Writing can wait, it’s Sunday, I should take the afternoon off.
I third Chelle and Slave Driver. Not that I NEED more ways to procrastinate, mind you. But since when did that mean anything? And there can never be too many pictures of dogs on blogs. heh-that rhymes. Did I also mention that WE are easily amused?
Ack. I need to clean out my drafts folder soon, too. It’s always a bad sign when a) I have more drafts than regular posts and b) I can’t remember where I was going with many of the half-posts.
There cannot be too many dog pictures! I am a cat woman and have fallen in love with Milton and Veronica, Lucy and Wolfie. The “awwwwwww” factor makes the day go better.
And having lived through kitchen demo and stair demo (ladders to bed anyone?) I would love to see your pictures. Now that I want to see anyone else suffer or anything like that.
What was in that pantry wall?
Dogs on blogs…I see a limerick in the future…
There once was a dog on a blog,
and strangly the dogs name was Bob…
That should be “NOT” that I want to see anyone suffer. Kitchen demo is forever.
You could always do another blog about Annie…
I’m so easily impressed by dog pictures of Milton et al, that when I stumbled across a dog breeding site for miniature Dachsunds I looked through the pics thinking ohh that one looks a little like Veronica.
For some reason the Dogs on Blogs comment keeps echoing to the tune of Girls on Film:Duran Duran.
The dog pictures make us do the happy sigh, which both makes us breath deeper and creates happy little endorphins, so really you’re improving our health.
Most of us would crawl over broken glass to see the kitchen remodel pics. Well, no. Being the highly intelligent people we are, we’d analyze the situation first, sweep up the glass, then race to the kitchen remodel pics. Exercise and cleanliness; how could you not want that for us?
But, something I’d really love to hear your opinion on is a little piece of data I just discovered. To be honest, I want to know if I’m the only one who didn’t realize the data on your voter’s registration form becomes public information the minute you turn it in. It is sold, depending on your state, to anyone from politicians to marketers.
I live in Connecticut, one of the 27 or so states that sells to marketers, and they don’t redact your social security number. Nowhere on the registration card does it tell you anything about this.
Does this come as a surprise (shock) to anybody?
Jenny, I blogged through the stages of my kitchen remodel a couple of years ago. Readers enjoyed the blogs and always wanted updates with pictures.
“Purses”: I love purses and I want to do an essay on them. So I started one. Must do more research.
I’ve never been a fashionista. I missed the whole shoe-addict gene thanks to large feet that are difficult to fit. A couple of years ago, however, I developed a deep affection for Coach bags. Thankfully, there used to be a Coach outlet in Key West where I could scour the clearance shelf for the best buys and then get an extra 10% off with my “locals” discount.
Yesterday I leafed through a Vivaterra catalog and instantly fell for a hemp and silk slouch bag. Beauty and environmental friendliness. I couldn’t not buy it!
Hmm, I know what I’ll blog about when that arrives at my door. Thanks for the inspiration, Jenny!
On another purse note - a young woman at my church has THE cutest bag. Louis Vuitton, monogrammed and brown - with cherries. It is, apparently, vintage - a 16th birthday gift from her mom, who scoured shops for it. Ebay had some similar, but not exactly. Not quite as cute…
Jenny, you’ve probably seen this purse clip/routine, but I’ll try to paste it here:
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=6906959
ACK! Help!
It’s about purse-onalities.
A request, if the new and improved website is the jennycruise.com one. The sister sites at the bottom of the page are off the screen for me. I must mouse down everytime I want to go to this one. Yeah, I could make it a favorite, but I prefer to go to your home page.
Soooo, could you shorten it up so that it’s all on the screen?
I vote for a review of Fray and anything to do with Joss. Thanks for not throwing it in the recycle bin!
After all the hoopla about an author allegedly rigging the Amazon rating system in her favor and seriously harassing a reader along the way, and a writer friend blogging about how she is more likely to buy a book with a thoughtful negative review than one that is all five star ratings, I’d be interested to see what becomes of the ‘Ones and Me’ post. I’m not sure what to think of the Amazon rating system at all anymore.
Oh yeah, kitchen demos. Would love pics. I am an HGTV, TLC addict. Want my kitchen remodeled. Will live vicarously thru anyone elses remodel.
I love kitchens and remodeling. I would be very interested.
Also, a balanced critique that includes not only likes and dislikes, but WHY are the most useful reviews. If the reviewer doesn’t give honest context of the reviewer how can you judge if the opinion is relevant to the reader?
Oh, an essay on purses. Almost nearly as good as an essay on shoes, my first love. Purses I love, but I have too many specifics about what I need in a purse. Shoes, on the otherhand, I can be totally indulgent about.
Comments on the nonpost post … post-modern? I always thought “post-modern” was tongue-in-cheek for “WTH were they thinking?” Oh, wait. That’s probably exactly what you and Bob were saying. Head games. You were playing head games with us, weren’t you?
Looking forward to hearing more about the remodeling. Where do you get the energy for all of this?
I guess Bob has decided to show you how it’s done, Jenny. He’s posted his blogging manifesto over there, like blogs have to serve a purpose. Slave Driver hears the sound of manical laughter from behind–
Oh never mind, that was me laughing.
Thought-provoking is a service. Also mindless time wasting. Really, it’s all in how you define “service.”
They give away your social security numbers, Marta? Isn’t that illegal or something? Yeah, I’d be upset.
Thanks for the collab article, Diane. I put it in the research folder.
And the two of the pantry walls are down. I’d take a picture and post it but
(a) I’ve lost my cellphone AND my camera battery recharger
and
(b) I can’t seem to get the hang of posting pictures in this new version of wordpress. I’ll get it eventually, but first I must move another twelve tons of books. I realized that, aside from the fiction which is upstairs, I have moved every book I own to a different room this week. Boxes and boxes and boxes of them. Plus, you know, the bookcase.
But I’m back to writing again and very happy. And Jen’s approved the last pass of D&G, so we’ll be putting the first couple of chapters up over on the blog later. For those of you who have read the last fifty versions of the opening, we have a brand new one. Yes, we’re tired of it, too, but it’s going to copy edit now so good for us. And God bless Jen Enderlin, world’s greatest editor.
Yay, more D&G. I can’t wait!
From that you can conclude that I’m totally happy to read the 51st version of the opening. But I’m even happier that there won’t be a 52nd one. It puts the book that much closer to a bookstore near me.
By the way, you might appreciate this:
images . ucomics . com/comics/nq/2008/nq080427.gif
Remove the spaces. I’m trying to avoid the spam bit-bucket.
Yay! Huge congrats on D&G getting the seal of approval. I’ll go over for a read.
I totally trust your judgement — if you say it’s no good, then toss it out with the bathwater.
But I do like me a good before/after home picture. And I loves me them lil’ LOL kitties. I wish Rosetta Stone had a home course for learning to speak LOLcateze.
(-: And yay, the book is closer to done!
It sounds like your life is really moving right now — remember when your appliances broke down, and everyone else wrote in and said their appliances broke down, and it seemed like it was some small planet in retrograde causing it? I wish THIS was astrologically-based, because my home could use some major decluttering.
(-: Instead, I fool around on the computer, looking for cheap airplane tickets. Oh well, everyone needs a hobby. Maybe I’ll take up decluttering next week.
The Amazon rating system I have always considered rigged. There are just too many ways to play it.
Personally, I like to read a few actual positive reviews (actual assessment of the story) and most of (or all of) the 1 and 2 star reviews. I like to see if the negative parts will convince me not to read the story. Some defects are okay as long as I’m happy when engrossed.
Micki: Check here for how to speak LOLspeak:
http://speaklolspeak.com/?t=anon
Jenny and Marta– the SSN bit is true. Someone pulled mine off my voter registration a few years ago. That’s why Ohio took them off the form. Now it’s the last four digits or your driver’s license number.
And since the guy who got my number was affiliated with the Montana militia and “suing” me for 10 billion trillion dollars in the country of Oregon, it was extra scary.
Much excitement about the D&G progress! Even better is hard to imagine, but definitely eagerly anticipated.
Micki - I had a brief urge to declutter, after seeing a set of guidelines a couple of days ago. But then I went home and read a book and had desserts, instead.
I’d give the link to the guidelines, but I can’t find it. I think I didn’t save it, because I printed out the text, and I didn’t want to clutter my electronic memory.
Jenny- hope you find the cell phone and the camera thingy. Probably in a box of books somewhere- should be easy, right?
How are the dogs taking all this construction work? Are they helping or hiding?
Why do I have the idea that Milton wants to help?