NaNoWriMo

I wrote 50,303 words on my novel, Death Angel, in the month of November. The counter mangled a few and gave me credit for 50,280, but that's close enough! YAY!  I am tired now, but in the upcoming days, I'll tell you more about it!!  The last few days have been a real Marathon!!!  To win, one must write 50,000 words in one month!  That is, a 50,000 word novel,  It does not have to be finished.  And, it is not. I've posted parts of it (DRAFTY!!) here.

December 1, 2011 A Note after “Winning”

I am so happy. I cried when the NaNoWriMo teamed cheered for me at 11:30 last night.  I "won" last year, too, but this year was more of a struggle because I traveled and there were more conflicts.

I learned a LOT.  I learned about working efficiently, about structuring a novel, something you have to do in order to write efficiently.  And a lot more I may write about in the coming months.

Of course, I haven't finished the novel!!! I've only written the first 50,00 words. And it's very rough and drafty. But it has shape, plot, maybe a theme. It has characters, action and little suspense.

I'm not sure if trying to write 50,000 words of a novel in a month is the best way to do it. I'm not sure if I'll do it again next year or not. There are advantages and disadvantages to the big push. For example, I gave up even spellchecking in the latter third of the month, and there was no revising going on as I worked.

Yesterday, I wrote only scenes, not chapters. I worked from 5 AM until after 11 PM. So I have a lot of scenes to integrate into chapters!

However, I think I may proceed as if I were going to do one next year, because even if I decide not to do it, the planning will be useful for my NEXT NOVEL when I finish this one, whether or not I try to write most of the first draft in the month of November 2012.

Mansion at Cranbrook

Mansion at Cranbrook from Bog Pond

Yes, we still have a few leaves on the trees, but they are going fast.

On the Rock "S" at Cranbrook

I'm working on a novel for NaNoWriMo (Natioanl Novel Writing month, and I have a deadline of November 30, so no time to blog.

Detroit Bumper Sticker

No further comment needed.  Except this is a Detroit resident with a big new SUV made in Detroit.

Art Museum Reopens at Cranbrook

The Cranbrook Art Museum Reopened after a lengthly period of new construction on 11-11-11.  Although we were there, we did not go in.  We hope to do so soon.

Cranbrook Art Museum at Dusk

A view of the Cranbrook Art Museum across the reflecting pools at dusk.

More Flooding

Not only is the Black Rover Flooded, and the hiking trails at Dodge Park under water yet again, but also our basement, and we had to postpone our trip to the Pinery.

Cranbrook Again

In the first picture, if you look closely, you can see that the bridge in the Japanese Garden at Cranbrook is isolated by water on both sides! FLooding. SO much RAIN!

In the second picture, Europa and the Bull (Cranbrook is famous for its sculpture), you can see some raindrops falling, but it was really raining much harder than it seems to be.

Poetry Reading Last night at Lawrence Street Gallery

I do not normally post pictures of myself or pictures taken by other people, but since I am a Detroit poet, and I was a featured reader last night, I am breaking my rule. Here I am reading poetry last night. Photo by BB.

Flooding at Cranbrook

It's raining today and it's been raining for days. The trees and grass in the water here in Cranbrook Lake are normally islands where geese nest. They are all underwater!

Here is a video of the sluiceway from Cranbrook Lake. Of course, if you don't know the quiet low normal flow of it, you won't know to be impressed by the flooding (Keith took the video):

And yes, that is me, holding the umbrella, and our voices at the end. I tried to cut them out but failed.

Dodge Park in May

I went back to Dodge Park and the the flooding had subsided enough to take a good long walk. There were lots of wildflowers, which I may post later.

Young Politicians at the DIA

My son, on the right, and his friend Jay, on the left, are running for choir office at school--Jay wants to be president, Graham vice president. The photo is outside the Detroit Institute of Arts. The slogan, "Think you can beat us? Think again!" Oh, for the confidence of youth!!! Click image to view larger!

Seven Lakes State Park

We saw lots of spring wildflowers, snakes and turtles and incredibly lovely scenery. Great place to visit!!!! Click here and scroll down to see more scenes from Seven Lakes.

Spring Beauties

These tiny wildflowers were growing abundantly at Dodge Park on Sunday. In addition to covering the forest floor, they grow right up the sides of the trees.

Dutchman's Breeches, Dodge Park

I love these pantaloons hanging on a line!! :-D

Click second image to view larger.

Flooded Trails

Yesterday we went to look for Spring Wildflowers at Dodge Park. All the trails were flooded. Every one of these is a different trail, all flooded by the constant rain we've been having! We did see some spring wildflowers. I have have time, I may post some tomorrow. If you click on the image, you will be able to see it much better.

Spring Fever on Belle Isle

I've been away in Texas and just got home and it will take me a while to get caught up.

Bamboo ("postcard, roadshow")

I am in Texas visiting family and do not have my computer with me. I've been trying to learn how to post from the iPad.

This bamboo is at the Fort Worth Zoo. The bamboo was abundant at the zoo. We went there yesterday, and I took tons of pictures with my big camera, my "real camera," but since I did not bring a computer, I have no way to download them.

Click image to view larger?

Kercheval at night

This is Kercheval, which is in Grosse Pointe Farms, but can be walked to from Detroit in 20 minutes, so I figured fair game--since I do in fact walk there.



Woodward Ave, or M-1, in Detroit, was the first concrete highway anywhere. This is coming around as a forward.

And here is my newest painting:


This week's WeekWord, hosted by Joye, is Fugacious, which means fleeting. Because it is spring, and I am so eager for spring wildflowers, I painted this picture of a Bloodroot. Flowers, like people, like stars, are ephemeral. But what is even more ephemeral are the two sepals on the bloodroot bud. The are deciduous, and fall off as soon at the flower opens. Once it is opened, it has only petals, and when it closes again in rain or darkness, there are no fugacious sepals left.

I did this in Artrage on my iPad. I did it fairly hastily (for me), brand new for the challenge, and without any constant reference materials, though I did peek occasionally at googly searched fleurs. Click image to view slightly larger.

Golf Course Lighthouse, Metrobeach

This picture was taken in March several years ago--the lighthouse has since been refurbished, but I like this picture.

Also, here are my two latest Sketchbook works:

I sort blobbed this up a little.

It has a story. Onondaga Lake, in Syracuse, NY, where I used to live, is one of the most polluted lakes in the country if not the world. I was there one day walking and taking pictures when a migrant worker drove up in his pick-up truck, got out, and washed up in the toxic waters of the lake. A storm was approaching--I tried to tell him that the water wasn't clean, but he didn't understand me. I was thinking the storm was a figurative one as well as a literal one.

I had some problems with this, and may try it again sometime.

acrylic.


This is my third page in Ballookey's Mole. It is an illustration (or study for an illustration) from my as yet untitled brand newly written children's book. The temporary title is, Jacob, Merjon, and the Dream Fish. It's (obviously) a children's picture book. This page occurs several pages into the book, but it's the first one I've done. I have not decided yet what medium I want to work in, but I kind of like the line drawing. However, I wanted fog, and I don't know how to create fog in a line drawing in pen and ink. Micron 005 pen. Click image to view larger--click again to view even larger.

I've been very busy with my art and writing, which is why I have not been blogging much! (Deadlines!)

YAY Snowdrops!!!

Our first actual flowers of the year!!! YAY! We're so excited!!

I put the second photo in to show the ones in the background. There's a whole little flotilla of them. A mini armada.

New art: In 1964-65 (I'm giving away my age here, if you didn't already know it), I owned a 1949 Indian. This is not it, but an older one I used for the art. I have, believe it or not, NO pictures of that amazing motorcycle. But I had fun--on the bike(s) and on the art. I did the piece in metallic markers, but you can't tell in the scan.

it's coming!

Daffodils coming up! YAY! And I heard spring peepers today! YAY!

RAIN!

We've been having SO MUCH RAIN lately! Everything is flooding, as the snow melts too.

I'm operating under a series of deadlines and can't post or comment much 'til I get things cleared up! I am sorry. If you comment, I will eventually try to get back to you. If not, that's OK too!

Paint by Numbers was invented in DETROIT!! HAH!

I just finished a paint by numbers painting, which I altered by adding myself at an easel. And I found out, thanks to Gerald Holland, that paint by numbers was invented in Detroit. The kits were developed and marketed in 1950 by Max S. Klein, an engineer and owner of the Palmer Paint Company of Detroit, Michigan and Dan Robbins, a commercial artist. In 1951 Palmer Paint introduced the Craft Master brand which sold over 12 million kits.

I did this painting for an exchange and made it into a postcard to mail to the exchange members. I include it here because I'm a Detroit artist and the paint by numbers kits were invented in Detroit--Thanks Gerald!!!

African American Museum from the Outside

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

At the African American History Museum, Detroit

We really enjoyed are visit and are eager to go back. It was VERY interesting.

At the African American Museum in Detroit II

Here's another shot from the history portion of the museum. It's a wonderful museum and I can't wait to go back.

and here is a new self portrait done on the iPad with Artrage:

At the African American Museum in Detroit

I am sorry dear bloggy friends, that I have been so busy. I am in three art exchanges and working on multiple novels and children's books and taking another poetry class.

This picture is from the African American Museum in Detroit. I loved it there and hope to go visit again soon. I have more to post if I have time some time to post them.

I MISS YOU!!

To show you a tiny piece of what has kept me occupied, here is a new art piece I did in Collaboration with Steve Loya. It is called "Drunken Kisses."

click "Drunken Kisses" to view it larger.

Happy Valentine's Day! A Bit of silliness

Hope you have FUN and LOVE!

No, not all of Detroit is celebrating this way! (Photo by BB)

Anyone for a picnic?

Metrobeach. Cold picnic.

The second picture is my painting of the BBQ, which I thought I was done with. I'm not--still needs more work. Click to view larger. Detroit artist at work.

Another from Metrobeach

The photograph is from the Meadow trail at the Nature Center at Metrobeach.

Below is the tentatively finished painting for Erin's book for Frankie. I am trying to illustrate it.

Metrobeach in February

The Nature Trail at Metrobeach runs along this canal.

Here is an unfinished painting of BB. When I get it done, I will repost it--it is part of a larger painting.

In and Out

Inside the Belle Isle Conservatory where they have a large collection orchids, Outside at Metrobeach where the ice fisherman are at work catching fish.