Sullivan’s First Line

 I went with Sullivan’s Sting. Why? Well, there’s an outside chance that I haven’t read this one. I was hoping to find an Edward X Delaney that I had overlooked, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ve overlooked this one in the past. 

Before I reveal the first line, which is the purpose of this pose, one thing I found funny. 

Last night I was reading some of the comments on Lawrence Sanders’ page on Amazon. I was trying to determine if I had read The Fourth Deadly Sin (an EXD novel . . . I had) when I saw this one commenter write:

Very dated, full of cops treating people in outrageously cruel and illegal ways presented as standard police procedure. The author should be ashamed of himself and should pull this book from circulation.

Let me say, as someone who has novels on Amazon, . . . I’m never going to delist my novels because they get dated. Dated novels are awesome first of all, and secondly, how does Joanne, that’s the commenters name, know that it’s so dated? Did she live in New York City in the 70’s and 80’s?  

So, here’s the first line of Sullivan’s Sting, which I’m still hopeful will be a new one for me.

Finished and On to the Next Fave

 So, it turns out that I have read it (see here). The further and further I got into the book the more I knew what was about to happen. By the end, I knew for sure. It could have been one I read in the summers in Chappell Hill working at the bed and breakfast with my grandfather, or it could have been while I was in Belgium, or even while I was in the Army. I would like to think that it was in Chappell Hill that I read it. If so, I probably read it while swinging in the backyard hammock, between work, reading it from an old, dog-eared, used copy that my grandfather had bought me at the used book store where we would swap out our books for new ones. 

Now that I’ve finished a Dick Francis novels, it’s onto my next fave . . . Lawrence Sanders. I remember I first fell in love with Lawrence Sanders’ writing back in college. I read all of the McNally series. Then, about 15 years ago, I realized there were all these wonderful Sanders’ novels from early 1980’s New York that were gritty, a little bloody, and far more enjoyable to read. Maybe not as light-hearted and fun, but definitely more enjoyable.

I’ve gone back to McNally if only because the NYC ones I’ve read (or re-read) more recently. I don’t have to go read it, truth is I can feel this new story itching to get out and be written, but why not go enjoy a McNally or Sullivan’s Sting first? 

Wrapping Myself in an Old Friend

 Now that class has come to an end, or should we say pause, I have a little more than a month off at the moment. 

In the past few months I’ve taken: 1) Learning and the Adult Brain, 2) Doctoral Studies Introduction and Literature Review 3) Online Adult Teaching and now 4) Statistical Methods. Killer to pack all that in in just 6 months. I’m smoked. 

So I am taking a break. 

What’s my break? 

A novel. That’s it. Just a novel. I used to read a novel a week. Now days, I barely have time for one a year. I read so many articles and other books on adult learning that there’s never any time for novels. I should actually be working on fleshing out my dissertation a bit more, but I’m taking a break. 

What am I reading? 

Dick Francis. I’m reading Nerve for two reasons. It’s one of the few Dick Francis mysteries that I have not read (see here . . . although now that I’m a quarter the way into it, I think I may have read it as a teen. It’s seeming rather familiar).

The second reason? Well, as you may know I like to write a draft of a novel every November as a part of NaNo (see here). This year I think I’ll be knee deep in two classes in November, both Qualitative Statistics and Measurements and Administrative Adult Leadership, so I think NaNo will be put on the back burner. I may try to sneak in fifty thousand words in August or July. Dick Francis is a great warm up for getting me in the right frame of mind. 

The first line got me, and I’ve been reading with a smile ever since, even if those first lines were a bit gruesome to warrant a smile.

Three More this Morning

Ran into three more this morning I’d like to add to the list. I think just like last time I’ll add them with no additional explanation. They are what they are and they speak to me. That’s it. 

This first, from CallSignSiren is awesome. It says everything to me. 

Pay attention to who makes the effort to stay in your life . . . that says everything.

Effort. That’s exactly what it takes. 

And Some More

Those of you who follow this blog know I like to post some Great Lines, which I usually label (for some crazy reason) Evershades (see the full list HERE). Well, I ran across a few more. The whole list has to be in the hundreds. I should really thank all these great people for expressing my thoughts on my behalf.  (Truth? One of these posters is actually me, it’s my nomme de plume!)

This is from NIN Lyrics Bot (I can't imagine a better name!)

I can still feel you . . . even so far away.

I can't do better than perfection . . . but I might add . . . especially at nights! or especially when falling asleep.

Bella Alarie and Writing

I was reminded of a discussion I had with Will recently while watching some basketball games with my ten year old son who is completely and utterly a basketball fan. It's for Under Armor (I think) and stars Bella Alarie. 

I say "I think" because I can't seem to find it on the web, otherwise I would send a link. Regardless, she narrates the commercial and discusses how she felt like an impostor. She reviewed good things that she had done to help get her into the mindset to conquer. I've heard the same thing about coaches in the NFL, who will watch tape of their games and instead of focusing on what the players have done poorly, they will focus on the things they did well. It goes back to something I tell my teams at work, we have to promote our wins more than our failures. We have to be our own best cheerleaders, because there is no guarantee anyone else will know about them.

Regarding writing strategies, I'll say this: first, like I said in my original reply to him, be ready for "writing" to mean mostly "re-writing." I say this again to reinforce it, but also because this has been the biggest surprise to me in writing long drafts of papers and books. It's the most surprising aspect I've found yet. So be ready to edit, rewrite and move on. Also, I think I would say, when the feeling to write strikes, take full advantage. I find that I'll feel a pull to get things done and just sit there and churn through for a few hours on my novels. 

Sure, there is the day to day grind, but then there are those writing frenzies. Take advantage of both. Finally, you were asking about parsing down too much. It's always a concern. There's a fine line between saying too much with too much flourish and writing too little. I think the best answer to that comes with "trusted readers." I completely expect to have my friend Andrew read the heck out of my writing when it comes time and since he doesn't work as much in my area of interest, I think hearing back from someone like him would be invaluable, especially when it comes to making links and building the dissertation. 

More Great Lines

 Saw these and thought I would post them. If you haven’t been keeping up with these Great/Evershade lines/labels (see HERE) then you should go back and read em. They’re some wonderful little nuggets in here, and I think I’ve added about 100 posts or more, so tons of content. Enjoy!

This from Call Sign Siren. It's a great one.

Some hearts just feel like you've known them forever. 

Isn’t this true? Some people you meet and BOOM you know you’ve known them your whole life and always will. 

Ran Into Some More

 I ran into a few more quotes that really resonated with me and I felt compelled to share them (see them all HERE)… Instead of retyping them I just did some screenshots and I don’t think that they need much comment they kind of stand on their own real well. 

This first is from Mrs Great White North (of course) 

A divine love affair cannot be born of wavering attention. 

To that I say "Undoubtedly!" and I'd add . . . it can't continue to survive in that environment either!

This next is from sisisterverbs (a name I love). 

How many more nights must I die to live in your heart?

This next is even better. J Jay writes:

I want a person who comes into my live by accident, and stays on purpose. 

Isn't that great? That idea of staying on purpose. It's so much like the one about not wanting wavering attention. 

These next two are also by sinisterverbs. They are just as compelling. 

You have no idea how long it lasts on a woman's mind, something you said. 

I must be a woman! Cause I've still got things on my mind from years ago!

I waited for you, you know, for a long time I did, for a long time I cried for you, I missed you, I asked heaven to come back, . . . but you never did. 

Evershade, evershades, ever shade, ever shades, shades of Betsy

An Inspiring First Line

 So I read a few months back, forgot to post this, but it’s a great resource. Might be the best yet in this journey. I've already cited this book twice (see here and here), but that should only show you how great a resource it is. 

The first line is inspirational.

Throughout the ages, people have pursued the upper limits of their capabilities. They have answered the call to adventure, learning, and high achievement. Completing the dissertation journey is an adventure in learning and personal growth, the outcome of which can result in extraordinary accomplishment and contribution. Unquestionably, obtaining a doctorate degree (e.g., EdD, PhD, DBA, etc.) is the summit of academia—the highest degree any university can bestow. This journey to “doctor” is difficult, with obstacles and demands along the way; however, once completed, the pride and exultation are a lifelong affirmation.

The Dissertation Journey - Roberts, Carol M.,Hyatt, Laura 

Everyone Has a Jenny

I got the chance to see Forrest Gump with my youngest son this weekend. It's such a solid movie, and there was lots to discuss with him, but what I found interesting were his views on Jenny. 

Are all sorts of meme's and discussion posts and controversies about Jenny and how badly she treats Forest. Personally, I think Jenny's story is there to help us appreciate Forest's journey. You have the ynig and yang, the good and the bad. The viewer gets to see how good parenting effects kids when they grow and how bad parenting affects people. You get to see good choices vs bad choices and how they effect people around you and others in the world. You get to see how tendencies to do good or bad stay with people throughout their lives. Without Jenny's miserable story, Forrest's story is less impactful.