tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:21:28 +0000randomnesspicture of the weekpicturesauthorsmusicprocrastinationfriday confessionalinspirationwritingfoodbooksfamilya murky blend of writing and daily lifehttp://paperswamp.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Kendal)Blogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-6947396835614524070Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:48:00 +00002012-05-19T17:37:50.291-07:00 (photo of C.S. Lewis found here.) "Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2012/03/young-adult.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-8496242909384218180Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:16:00 +00002011-09-08T10:16:21.552-07:00randomnessThere is nothing quite as funny (sad/disturbing/annoying) as the things most women warriors wear in video games. They defend their homes, they fight off danger at every turn but their outfits rarely reflect this. Instead they get low cut, barely there outfits that they couldn't bend over in, let alone wield a sword and actually fight in. Megwrites linked to a seriously awesome tumblr this morninghttp://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/09/women-fighters-in-reasonable-armor-yes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-744496972872300578Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:26:00 +00002011-08-12T20:26:27.401-07:00writingfriday confessionalThanks to a jalapeno cutting incident, this week got off to an interesting start. But after being forced to fall asleep sitting up with my hands in bowls of ice milk (true story), my week had nowhere to go but up. I wrote (4,00 words) and dealt with some lingering plot problems. And ignored other lingering plot problems that are not yet solvable. Hopefully I'll be back with another video next http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/08/friday-confessional-week-14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-1225690405384503305Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:43:00 +00002011-08-04T19:43:44.459-07:00familyfriday confessionalThis has been one of those crazy weeks for us. Which was, partially, my own fault. In a moment of aspiring homemaker-dom, I signed us up for a Preserving Share with our local CSA. The idea was to stock my pantry with things I'd canned MYSELF, forgetting that I have never canned anything in my life. Since signing up, I've made carrot pickles (or watched my husband make carrot pickles) and had a http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/08/friday-confessional-week-13.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-4485386311469994713Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:31:00 +00002011-07-28T23:31:00.125-07:00writingfriday confessionalfoodCan I start off by saying that I'm amazed I've made it to week 12? This has been the most productive 12 week writing stretch I've ever had (or the only 12 week writing stretch I've ever had, but whatever.) Today I share my word count and.....my vegetable count. Because CSA shares are awesome. Happy Friday!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/07/friday-confessional-week-12.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-7718019452479052176Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:10:00 +00002011-07-22T00:10:32.409-07:00writingfriday confessionalWriting short stories did not prepare me for writing a novel. I always thought that it would. It was all writing, wasn't it? It seemed natural that writing would be good preparation for even more writing. But it turns out that a novel is a whole different beast all together. Here are a few things about writing a novel that have surprised me so far. Happy Friday! http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/07/friday-confessional-week-11.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-1216639763421948044Fri, 15 Jul 2011 06:30:00 +00002011-07-14T23:30:00.797-07:00familywritingfriday confessionalThis week's video sort of got hijacked by baby cuteness. I've been trying to explain to my mother how obsessed the baby has become with books. He is crazy about them. All I do these days is read board books over and over. And over and over. I know several of them by heart and I just lie on the floor and recite them as I turn the pages. Now, I know my mother believes me (hi, mom!)--I just don't http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/07/friday-confessional-week-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-3682237645114395943Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:02:00 +00002011-07-08T12:02:34.576-07:00procrastinationmusicfamilywritingfriday confessionalMy 4 year old complained about not being in the last video (because the baby was in it, which is apparently not allowed unless he also gets to be in it,) so I asked for his help with this one. Did not turn out as I had planned. Our video turned out to be less about writing and more about his singing abilities. He debuted an original song and everything. I don't know about you, but it made my http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/07/friday-confessional-week-8-and-9.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-6628046683404806138Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:01:00 +00002011-07-01T00:01:14.186-07:00procrastinationfamilywritingfriday confessional The long lost video. This video probably could've gotten posted a bit sooner, except that I was busy writing. (Isn't that the most perfect excuse ever?) Last week we celebrated a big birthday for our littlest guy around these parts. And in the video I try to see how many times I can use the word 'awesome' to describe my super awesome midwife.. Happy Friday!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/07/friday-confessional-week-7.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-2641488000469758089Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:25:00 +00002011-06-24T00:25:16.139-07:00I recorded my Friday Confessional video Thursday afternoon, and the portions that my computer has allowed me to see seemed very nice. It's about birthdays and midwives and writing in notebooks. There is even an origami crane chain. And one doesn't see an origami crane chain every day. Did I mention that my computer has a problem with all of this? Technical Difficulties does not even begin to http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/06/confessing-to-technical-difficulties.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-3644731432459863342Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:49:00 +00002011-06-16T22:49:17.070-07:00procrastinationrandomnesswritingfriday confessionalI can't believe it's Friday already. Seriously. I think this weekend will involve napping (and hopefully writing, but mostly napping.) Happy Friday!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/06/friday-confessional-week-6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-129967774844601638Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:30:00 +00002011-06-14T20:30:36.192-07:00booksinspirationauthorsI always get a little disappointed when a book trailer is mostly words and some music, with maybe an image or two thrown in. I always want it to be more like a movie trailer, to really pull me in and hook me visually. So, of course, I was thrilled by the trailer below. I've been seeing the book, Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, mentioned on various blogs, but it was the book trailerhttp://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/06/book-trailer-at-its-very-best.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-7326602366183461604Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:52:00 +00002011-06-09T22:52:17.852-07:00procrastinationwritingfriday confessionalCold dreary weather = perfect day to write Happy Friday!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/06/friday-confessional-week-5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-8700420251534760062Fri, 03 Jun 2011 07:54:00 +00002011-06-03T00:54:50.224-07:00procrastinationwritingfriday confessionalDid I say I'd post a regular blog post this week? Yeah, that didn't work out so well. But I made a video! It's more canning exploits than writing--which happens to be a pretty fair representation of my actual week. I'm hoping for a burst of productivity for next week's writing...once I finish rearranging my house. Happy Friday!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/06/friday-confessional-week-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-6474373384728492788Fri, 27 May 2011 07:29:00 +00002011-05-27T00:29:20.686-07:00procrastinationwritingfriday confessionalThis week's video is brought to you by distractions. So many distractions! So little time! Now that I'm getting comfy with doing a vlog each week, I'm going to try to add written posts back into my Paper Swamp repertoire. I'm just going to state it outright, for the record--one regular post and one vlog a week. That's my goal. Happy Friday!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/05/friday-confessional-week-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-2104759210332384085Fri, 20 May 2011 21:24:00 +00002011-05-20T14:24:57.008-07:00Making a video when your child is home? All I can say is wow. And the book I'm holding--those words aren't backwards. Thanks mooderino!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/05/friday-confessional.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-580068142731513707Fri, 13 May 2011 22:06:00 +00002011-05-13T15:06:33.220-07:00procrastinationwritingfriday confessionalThis week has been kind of unproductive. But don't worry, I have a plan. I'm already scared for next week's video. I think this might actually work. Wish me luck!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/05/fighting-procrastination-one-video-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-4110988813191584765Tue, 10 May 2011 04:26:00 +00002011-05-09T21:26:21.177-07:00I am dying to see this movie. I can't tell you how many times I've looked back at old "finished" writing from high school or college and found poems that I can't believe I wrote. Stories with no plot and clunky descriptions that, at the time, seemed so genius.  It's nice to know that I'm not the only one. http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/05/bad-writing-movie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-3549818461793219538Wed, 04 May 2011 22:10:00 +00002011-05-04T15:10:01.566-07:00writingI found out about the A to Z Blogging Challenge two days before it started. Sommer Leigh had posted about it, and as soon as I started reading about the challenge I was interested. I immediately signed up. And then the doubts came. I told my husband that it was probably the silliest, most impulsive thing I'd done in recent years. Six posts a week? I have two children under the age of four--http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/05/to-z-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-7644126627119381050Sat, 30 Apr 2011 07:05:00 +00002011-04-30T00:05:00.858-07:00booksinspirationauthors"I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb  upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions."      - Letter from Zora Neale Hurston to Countee Cullen I wasn't sure what to pick for my Z post. My first idea was Zero, because this is the last day of the A to Z challenge. Then I thought maybe I'd talk about Zen or Zelda Fitzgerald, but neither http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/04/zora.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-5898405718443702619Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:25:00 +00002011-04-29T00:25:00.223-07:00randomnessI can't believe the A to Z challenge ends tomorrow. The closer I get to the end, the harder it gets to find anything to write about. It will be nice to blog without having to tie it to a letter, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone I've met over the past month blogs about when they aren't alphabet-bound. Y was hard. I didn't know what to post until I was on youtube and I stumbled http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/04/yellow-brick-road.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-3415098933849603920Thu, 28 Apr 2011 07:37:00 +00002011-04-28T19:45:50.785-07:00randomnessWhen I was growing up, my older cousin lived with us for awhile. Among other things he introduced us to that I still love (The Lion in Winter, A Room With a View, the music of Jeff Buckley), he was a huge X-Men fan. A "boxes of comics still in their plastic sleeves" X-Men fan. I've never been much of a comic reader, but I've always liked the X-Men. I am also a huge movie person. Needless to say,http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/04/x-men.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-2500998641341447915Wed, 27 Apr 2011 06:29:00 +00002011-04-28T19:45:42.469-07:00writingBecause I have two young children, the best time to write is usually after they go to bed. This is probably universal. I picture mother-writers the world over settling down happily at their computers after the children are tucked in for the night, the house a little bit quieter and better suited to imaginings. I love night writing--without it nothing would get done--but my new love is weekend http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/04/weekend-writing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-7136968393957970022Tue, 26 Apr 2011 03:36:00 +00002011-04-28T19:45:33.284-07:00randomnessinspirationwritingGuardian has a series called Writers' Rooms, where they post pictures of authors' offices. I think it's neat to see the spaces that people create in, especially when those spaces seem true to life. There are quite a few offices featured that are delightfully messy and cluttered, which gives me hope for myself. This one belongs to Louis de Bernieres. It isn't cluttered, but it's not sterile http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/04/view.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494415894634052223.post-1302378295832194288Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:59:00 +00002011-04-28T19:45:26.365-07:00randomnesswritingIt was contagious. While I'm trying to get back on track, I wanted to point you to a few great posts over at Uncreated Conscience. I am a huge fan of J.J.'s blog, and she's put up some great posts about writing that have shaped how I view my stories. Some of my favorites: 1. the phases of a good literary romance 2. male characters 3. favorite character tropes Happy Monday!http://paperswamp.blogspot.com/2011/04/under-weather.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kendal)1