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I'm currently working on my first book on wattpad and am hoping it can and will be published one day. I've mentioned on here before that I'll be writing an LGBT story, but this one isn't it. I want the LGBT story to be the best it can be so I'm not quite ready for that I'm afraid. I did want to share my first story's plot and see what people think of it. If there are any anime/manga lovers out there, this particular story is based on a few of those. (It is a novel though).
Title: Hero the Cat Cop
Blurb: Family tradition has forced nineteen year old Emerald Gem into a career she never wanted - the police force. To complicate matters, her partner isn't the nicest of sorts - a talking, sexist cat. Can this unlikely pair solve their differences and work together like real partners, or will it always end in disaster when the two are put together?
I wanted to share this here also because, like the LGBT story, it hits close to home with me in a lot of ways. I've grown up with a lot of sexist/misoginistic views that I've had to overcome. I've even had some people tell me I'm a transman because I've been taught being a girl is bad...
Anyway, I hope you like the idea of this story. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
Story sounds interesting...go for it. I have published four books, so I can recommend self-publisher if you need it.
Good Luck
Gerri Kay
Gerri Kay- I'm glad to hear you think it sounds interesting so thanks! =) That's awesome that you've published four books! I wanted to try to get professionally published, but I know that's really hard to do so if I end up self-publishing I'll definitely let you know. Only have a couple chapters done so far, but this is my second time writing it because I made some beginner mistakes on the first draft. I can definitely tell that getting published is tough so I won't be surprised if I need to self-publish.
Chances of getting picked up by a traditional publisher are basically nil. Self publishing is basically how most people get started in the business. If you pursue this route when you are done with your story, try Amazon's CreateSpace. They did my last book and were by far the best company I have used. Goggle CreateSpace and you can get the info.
Hope this is helpful.
Gerri Kay
Gerri Kay - That does make sense since this will just be my first book I highly doubt I could get a traditional publisher, but was thinking it was worth trying. I will definitely check out CreateSpace. Thanks so much for the recommendation. I'm sure it will be very helpful.
Lovely GG Lisa - Glad to hear you like the sound of the blurb as well, Lisa. =) Thanks much for wishing me luck. Will need it as it is really competitive out there lol.
Lovely GG Lisa - Didn't see a reply option on the photo so I'm replying here lol. Thanks much for the compliment on my photo! I'm definitely glad to hear it's an improvement compared to my last one.
Hey Kris! I liked the creativity involved your idea for a unique story with some symbolism related to your own life's experiences. I also am a cat lover too with three kiddies, one of which is relatively wild but is so sweet when I come to her. I was wondering how far you got with your story and if you had either finished it already or have gone through with getting it published. After September, I am going to begin writing a script for a novel/series and try to create a franchise. Maybe we can establish a dialouge and trade some ideas. I am a wonderful writer, editor, and proofreader having obtaining a minor degree in freelance writing. Either way, I hope all is coming along well. Dana!!
Hey Dana! Thanks much for the compliment! I am happy to hear you think my story idea is unique. I always like to describe it as a Beauty and the Beast tale with a few twists lol. Cats are definitely awesome and yours sound wonderful. I have one that currently needs to go on a diet after being so spoiled haha. As far as my story goes, this is my second attempt at writing it fully because my first try I made several beginner mistakes. I'm not sure how soon I'll be ready to publish (probably a bit far away still) but I do know I'm in desparate need of constructive criticism. My wattpad is on my profile and I'd definitely be open to helping each other out on our stories. I am very much a beginner at this, but I am enjoying it thus far. Thanks again for the offer and it's nice to meet another writer on here. =)
Ah, Beauty and the Beast, huh? I like it! That’s such a classic tale with a very clear message. I used to read classic literature regularly a few years back when I was completing my writing program. I was inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein a lot even though I didn’t care for her writing style. She focused so much on the emotional content of the doctor and the creation which was wonderful, but just a little overwhelming and repetitive. My favorite stories were Sherlock and Monte Cristo though. I could talk about why forever. The content is great. Anyway, so can I access your Wattpad content freely without any trouble? I’d love to give any helpful criticism if I can! Anything you’d like me to pay any particularly attention at would seriously help me look out for anything that could be enhanced. Plus, explaining the beginner mistakes you referred to might be helpful too, but only if you wish as they might not be relevant if they were minor enough to be fixed without a hitch. When I was studying novel writing, there were two basically important concepts to keep in mind about writing and linking chapters. The first was to keep the story moving and interesting while, secondly, continually introducing new aspects of character development to prevent from creating one-dimensional characters. Jumping around in terms of the chronology of a story can be confusing too unless it is part of your writing style or if the flashbacks are clear enough. Tarantino often developed his stories in this way, and they were usually very successful.
I always had trouble writing a chapter plan or summary for a book because although I had a lot of ideas for story events or chapters, I couldn’t fill in certain gaps to bring one part of my story(ies) to the next. I was trying to practice this because I thought it could help me organize my thoughts. (but I had a detour and ended up in college for music; long story) I knew that I had a few good stories in my head, but I needed to develop a method for identifying the big idea chunks in a sequence so that I could break them down into smaller chunks like sentences, paragraphs, and chapters which is what I’m really good at! I excelled at taking small ideas and blowing them up into massive narratives or descriptive pieces especially if they were about things that I knew about. For example, I wanted to write a story about a character who was neutral in gender because I felt that I have lived through that (before identifying as transgender) and had so many personal experiences and references that I could use to expand upon the world in which that type of character lived, what they thought about him/herself, how he/she was treated differently by the public, and just generally how awkward of a position it is to live like that. The idea has developed into something else entirely, but because I’ve been in school, I haven’t had a chance to do anything with it yet. However, it spawned a second story concept that I am going to try to develop once I move from here in September.
I’ve also been curious to know a little bit more about your transgender perspectives and experiences. I read a few of your posts over time and have essentially concluded that we are both in disharmony in regard to our biologies. If I am intruding upon your privacy by opening this line of conversation, I apologize and will not badger you any further. No harm done, right? So, I hope to hear from you again soon! *hugs*
Dana!!
Actually, I probably should've said this story is rather large and has about five main characters so the Beauty and the Beast part is only for two of those characters. Mainly the cat (beast) is sexist and mean to the wrong woman and she turns him into a cat. What's kind of funny is I have a character in the story named Beauty, but she isn't the female officer. I didn't realize how similar the story was to Beauty and the Beast until after I named the characters lol. I actually made the characters and stoy-line when I was fifteen (25 now) and wanted to animate it into a cartoon series, but after I took a few animation classes, I realized I just didn't have the patience to animate and preferred character creation and story-telling so I turned my career to writing. This also meant I had to get more into reading so the past few years I have been reading more instead of just watching movies. I will definitely check out the books you mentioned. I'm still trying to find my writing style, but people have told me I'm blunt and I've heard I still tell instead of show so that is one thing I still need to work on the most. You are more than welcome to look at my wattpad, but in order to comment it, I believe you have to make an account. (It is free). If you do get around to looking over it, I'd just like to be sure I'm keeping it interesting and have proper grammar. I have been told I use too many exclamtion points, but I've been more careful of that lately. My beginner mistake was basically saying "he said" or she said" after every dialougue line not knowing that it was redundant and I am trying to swtich perspectives correctly. Making a story with five main characters is going to be tough I hear as far as switching perspective goes, but I'm willing to re-write as much as I need to lol.
I never liked making outlines at first, but ever since I made one for my recent short story (I write short stories to practice perspective) I can't stop making them and made one for this story. I do agree that filling in gaps are hard and another thing I did was work so much on the "good guys" and their character development that I fear my villains are a little bland. I'm hoping I'm wrong and/or that having good "heroic" characters will make up for this. I really love your idea on making a story about a gender neutral character and would definitely read it. I don't know if you saw my post about an offensive character (you might have commented on it) but when I am a better writer, I definitely plan on making an LGBT story as well. The offensive character is an antagonist though, which I wasn't clear on at first when I posted. I really love making characters and story-lines based off things that I've gone through and it sounds like you do as well with the gender neutral character. I am sure I'll be interested in your second story as well in September so please keep me posted. =)
I actually have a Short Story that I shared trying to bring awareness to a couple conditions as well if you'd like to check that out. It has a character with Asperger's. It's nowhere near as planned out as Hero is, but I just had to write it anyway. As far as my transgender perspectives and experiences, you may have seen that I come from a christian family and have come out to my mom fully, but not my dad. I've felt like a male in a female's body for almost my whole life, but I didn't really know what it was until middle school. That's when it became an issue, really. As a child, I actually would play with a doll, but I HAD to be the father doll or a male doll like ken. When the PC game The Sims became a thing, it felt like a real life saver for me because I couldn't be a "real man" but at least I could be one in a life simulation game and even have a family. Kind of rambling now lol. That's just some of what has gone on, I have questioned being bigender because there was one guy I was willing to stay a girl for, but then he came out of the closet AND told me he wouldn't date a trans, only pure men. =/ Made me hate being a girl all the more honestly because I'd see him post how gross girls are and stuff. I know everyone has their preference and that's not really what bothered me, what bothered me was that I never felt like a girl in the first place so I was pretty much angry at life/God for quite a few years. I will more than likely make my LGBT story based on that experience to be honest. Sorry, I basically wrote a book here lol.
Hey guys, I added a few sentences to the blurb in hopes that it would improve it and make the book sound more interesting. Does it work? Please let me know because I'm trying to get more reads and someone told me my blurb is too short/needs more info.
New Blurb: Family tradition has forced nineteen year old Emerald Gem into a career she never wanted - the police force. To complicate matters, her partner isn't the nicest of sorts - a talking, sexist cat. Can this unlikely pair solve their differences and work together like real partners, or will it always end in disaster when the two are put together? What happens when they meet a mysterious boy with a stutter who owns another talking cat? Will they be able to help bring justice to someone who has suffered a great family tragedy? With teamwork, perhaps they can.
Hi All
I have always thought, that irrespective of success with transition, the 'real elephant in the room' is a convincing 'back story' (for ourselves, and not to deceive/mislead others). Obviously it would be fantasy, but I would love to 'rewrite my autobiography'. I have such a notion based on the 'lives of others', where I am a middle aged mom with two lovely twenty something daughters, and a caring husband. However, you soon find your'other self' has had it tough! As Pasty Kline sings, 'it's hard to be a woman'! It's a starting point to help understand yourself! Anyway it's a nice place to go, be it fiction or fantasy. Our lives are never fully lived in real time, but rather the expectation of pleasant things to come! It's great choosing names for everybody too!
Food for thought
Sally
All i can suggest is to key pushing the story forward...possibly outline it... and then rewrite, All authors rewrite.
Gerri Kay
I agree with Gerri. I've had to re-write my story so many times but it's well worth it in the end. (Or at least that's what I like to believe). Starting a creative writing class in about a week or two and am pretty excited for it but I anticipate having to re-write even more as the instructor will probably have a lot of pointers/advice for me as a beginner writer. I keep being told my idea is "too complex" for a first book (just a little update) so am writing something a little more simple for the time being until I'm a better writer. This also means I have to postpone my LGBT story because I want it to be my very best work... Trying to be patient lol.
In regard to the method of writing, i.e., writing an outline first or not, too complex for a first story, etc., in Diana Gabaldon' s The Outlandish Companion, she give an interesting look at how she wrote a very complex first story without using any sort of outline and got a great publishing deal right away. Her own story sort of goes against the grain of every bit of logic the self-help writing books provide.
Hello all, it's been quite a while since I was last on this website. I apologize for my absence, but I've been so busy with my first college class I've taken in a few years lol. I took a creative writing course in hopes of becoming a better writer and found someone who is sort of helping me out "mentoring" me. The Hero the Cat Cop story I'm still eager to write, but even my professor told me I should probably start with Short Stories and work my way up to such a novel. I must have heard this saying a dozen times: "You've gotta learn to crawl before you can walk." I've been hearing good things on my Short Stories that I've written up and one of them is actually based on something that happened between a friend and I... I really hope to publish it as my first book now. I've mentioned the story on here before, but the title is - Obsession. I've been told a good site to try for publishing is a site called Writer's Digest. I'm thinking of trying there, but I am also still considering the self-publishing. Honestly, right now I'm mostly catching up on my reading because since I started out as an animator, I've read maybe 2 books in my life haha. I'm learning quickly that reading is a good way to improve my writing and I avoided it like the plague at first, but finally got over my laziness and just got down to reading. Thanks so much for all your suggestions! If I'm successful at publishing Obsession I'll be sure to share on here since it's about LGBT and even touches a bit on BDD and the wrong reasons to transition. Thanks again for the replies!
I'd make a new thread for this post, but I was thinking instead maybe I'd share a poem here to share what else I've been working on lately. I write a lot of poems about my characters from all of my stories, but this one is actually about me.
Myself
Every time I look in the mirror I feel disappointment.
I see a frail and unattractive feminine body.
When I imagine myself, my real self, I smile.
I see a muscular and proud man.
I was not prepared to see the truth
The truth that would meet me in my dreams that night.
It was two a.m. when I finally fell asleep.
Another day living in a body that was not my own.
I felt relief to be in my dreams. My escape from the real world.
I smile to myself and wish I could stay there forever.
It was at that moment I felt someone staring back at me.
Was it a boy? Man?
He looked young so I couldn't tell his age.
He wore glasses and had acne filled skin.
He was almost as skinny as I was. Not a bit of muscle on him.
I felt sick with realization.
Realization that this boy was me.
As soon as I blinked, he was gone.
I awoke in a cold sweat.
Was that really the kind of boy I would be?
Unattractive, skinny, and weak?
The very opposite of my father.
Would I always live in my father's shadow?
Hi Kris,
I am new to the forums and what with being somewhat confused where I belong (in every sense) and a bit shy, I didn't get round to introduce myself anywhere yet (my fickle internet connection doesn't help either), but I'd like to comment here as I am also a writer.
It is really difficult to launch into a long novel straight off (although it might work if you have the inspiration and are diligent enough - you need both, the inspiration and the hard work), and short stories or novellas are a good way to get started. They have their challenges too, mind, it can be difficult to find a balance between a snappy but satisfying plot and still giving enough space to the carachters so the reader can relate to them.
But it's a good format to play with.
Selfpublishing is the easy route to have your book out there, but not necessarily the route to selling it. It takes an amazing amount of marketing and networking to sell a book, and publishers do help with that (although not as much as they used to). It is immensely frustrating to submit your MS and being turned down again and again, not to mentin painful, but if ever you do get a yes, that's pure bliss (until the reviews come in, than it can revert to painful quite quick... but that's a risk you have to take).
If you do decide to selfpublish, before going to "press" (most selfpublishing is digital, these days), don't skimp on preparing your MS, with as thorough editing as you can afford (find editing partners, if you can't afford professional editing), proper formatting (the smashwords guide to formatting is pure gold) and a decent, professional looking cover. It all makes a huge difference.
I wanted to comment on your poem too, I so can relate to your feelings, although my own relationtip with my gender is a bit more smudgy and come and go than that. Still, I can relate. Years ago I did a series of paintings of an imaginary lover who was in fact, to be honest, my imaginary male self. In truth, i'd have to grow a foot (not to mention grow a beard and a few ther bits and pieces, lol) to look like him. But I do have the muscles at least, thanks to a lot of tough outdoor work
It's hard, hard, hard, to escape the shadow of your father/mother/family. I ran as far away from them as I could and yet when my demons come calling, I know that that where they come from. Still, I hope you find your way to freedom or at least some more serene frame of mind. Hugs.
Hello Katia, thanks so much for the reply and insight. It's always good to hear from another writer. I can be extremely timid/shy as well due to my Asperger's Syndrome so I completely understand that. I would've loved to start my publishing journey with my novel but in all honesty I'm starting to realize people seem to be more interested in my Short Stories as with those I like to create characters who also have Asperger's and/or gender identity or some other trait that makes them unique. As I've started to read more, I've come to realize my main issue (or at least a big one) is setting my scenery. It's too much like my characters are just in a blank area, y'know? Or, when I do have a scene, I have trouble bringing it to life. I do believe reading is helping me out a bit with that luckily, though.
I honestly am horrible at advertising so that does worry/concern me a bit as far as if I went the self-publishing route. I'm mentally preparing myself to be turned down again and again, but I have to make a full manuscript first lol. I keep having to go back and re-write a lot of my stories. I think the only one I've ever had a complete manuscript of is a novella called Best Enemies. It still has a bit of editing needed, though as well.
I feel you on the imaginary lover thing and the identity troubles. I am so SO short so I feel so emasculated in this body for that reason alone, but I recently learned that Prince was my height... I guess that makes me feel a little better that I wasn't the only "man" who's 5'2". I'm working on getting muscle now finally, but it's taken me forever to get across to my mom how I feel. (She still can't call me her son). I won't rant on my family troubles, but a big thing that I've had to go through with this and my family is religion.
Thanks again for your advice on this. It all helps as I'm still very much a beginner with writing lol. So many ideas, but don't have many of them fully written out as of yet. I hope you enjoy your time here on this site and you find yourself as well. Hugs back.
Hi Kris, interesting what you say about setting the scene. In a way, I have the opposite problem, I am good (obsessive actually) at worldbuilding, and good at fleshing out characters, but I am crap at "plotting". I am a hopeless "pantser" (I write by the seat of my pants
) so every story I write is a journey of discovery as much for me as it is for the readers (more, because they don't get to see all the dead ends and wrong turns). This can be maddening, but in the end I find it brings me to places (narratively and emotionally) that I had not anticipated, and it makes my writing that much more alive (and less formulaic). I wonder if it is really worth trying to "fix" your issue. Much theatre is played with hardly any backdrop or props. If the characters are well turned and the dialogue/action is really good you may get away with minimal scenery and actually do something in a unique style that fits your talents. You don't need necessarily a lot a props to tell a good story. I am not saying it is THE way to , but something to mull on between draftsIdeally, we should be good at anything, but we aren't, we are just human, so if you have to work your ass off, do it to be really good at what you are good at, rather than wasting lots energy to become moderately proficient at what does not come naturally to you. Well, at least that's my school of thought, but maybe I am just a slacker.
There are tall girls and short boys... I find that being male is more about swagger than anything else, but then, I am not usually consciously trying to "pass" as male (although I often did and do, more or less involuntarily, and yes I am 5' 2'' too!). The first time I met my husband, until I started talking, he was not sure if I was a man or a woman. As a child and teenager everybody assumed I was my mother's son, until she introduced me as her daughter, which invariably raised eyebrows. Even now, at 40, if I muss my hair and wear jeans and a baggy sweater, I look just like a boy. Height and build have little to do with it(my real trouble is the voice... I sound like Minnie Mouse). So don't feel so bad about your body. You will find a way to work with it.
I hear you on the religious entanglements. I grew up in provincial Italy, of all places, the sorriest, stickiest, stinkiest pit of catholic medieval darkness you'll ever find in the western world. Shudder. Shudder, shudder, shudder!! Yaikes.
Hello again Katia, that's actually pretty cool you have the opposite problem in my opinion haha. I do wonder/hope I can get away with minimal scenery because I do have fleshed out characters, but for the most part, that is a critique I get. "There's no setting in this story!" I've heard a few times lol. I think the reason I have trouble describing scenery is because of my Asperger's. (I hate to always blame my disorder) but I'm just always in my own world and not paying attention to the real world around me enough to be able to describe it in good detail lol. I've been told I can use this to my advantage by having my character's with Asperger's giving little description because it's credible to their character, but this only helps with those particular characters. I just finished reading a book called The Outsiders and the author brought their setting to life so well! It definitely felt like an actual place so I'm hoping a little bit of that talent rubbed off on me from reading it lol. I had to work way too hard with animating so I know what you mean lol. I mean, if I was still working on that, I probably wouldn't have a series out until I was fifty. Although writing is proving to be challenging in its own ways, I'd say it's a much better fit for me than animation although I still love animated series and feel like my Hero the Cat Cop series really would do best as such. My hope is that maybe someday an animator will be inspired by my book and make it into an animated series. (Probably just a dream, though lol).
I wish I passed as a male easily heh. I mean, now that I've cut my hair it's a lot better, but I am still one of those people that need to take T shots, I think to actually pass. I have a feminine voice, too, and it tends to be a bit too quiet. I feel a bit better about being 5'2" now so thanks! For me, even though I never passed as a boy, I've always felt like I've been treated like one. For example - In school, I only had male bullies and my father always treated my as one of his "guy friends" unless of course, I was in trouble. Ugh, I just shared a chapter of my latest Short Story (needs editing) where the father character says something to his daughter about women sexually. The main character is based on me and my life so it's kind of like a memoir turned into a Short Story.
Sorry to hear that. I didn't have to deal with Catholic beliefs, but my parents and I used to attend a Baptist church. We stopped going after my parents divorced, but my parents were still pretty strict when it came to LGBT.
Hola! Don't worry too much about your disorder, from what little I know of it, it seems to me that you are coping very well
As for the 5'2'' issue... you know, one of the malest men I ever known was called Fabio and was my riding instructor when I was 20. He was a former professional jokey and he was hald a head shorter than me (an achievement, for anyone not a hobbit). He was not muscular either (although he had enough sinew to equip 3 average sized males). But for all that, boy oh boy, that guy HAD IT, if you get my drift, lol. Just because you are small, it's not as if there is less of you. It just gets more concentrated
Perhaps the best exercise I can suggest if you want to work on your scenery skills is to make a habit of describing in written word places you visit. Have you ever written in cafes, malls, parks etc? Perhaps you should try. Sit writing somewhere new and make a point of observing and writing a paragraph or two about it. It's a bit like sketching from life, a very different process from drawing things from your own fantasy. Just an idea
Thanks for the compliment lol. I do a lot better online than when I'm talking with someone face to face, but I'd say I've come a long way with age. Lol, I used to stare at the ground during an entire conversation, but I can make eye contact quite a bit better now.
That's very helpful to know! I wish I was better at sports, but really the only thing I'm good at is running. Still a sport at least lol. We used to have to run eleven miles in cross country practice. I ran fine but didn't stay in cross because of being so... Well, anti-social and I didn't like having people watch me run. I still love to do it, though. It's actually one of the ways I think of new story ideas haha. xD
That's a good idea for an exercise, thanks! Every little bit of writing and reading helps at this point lol. I did have to write notes and people watch for one of my college classes, but I never really wrote about the scenes. Will definitely try that idea out!
I really like your poem!!! (smile)
I am not a writer, but rather something of a musician whose "skill" resides not so much in the lyrics/singing, but rather interpreting the written words and finding the "proper" melodies for them. I read into the themes for moods, expressions, scenery, etc. and then can put together chord progressions, tempo and timing, and all to enhance that what was written. In lieu of being creative with lyrics, I kinda have a bank of my own tunes made for certain moods that I often play on my deck on a nice day when I feel like expressing myself and/or releasing energies, tension, or even pure joy.
I believe those that can express their feelings thru the written word are truly gifted and has always been something I've admired! Keep doing what you believe in for there are no limits to how fulfilling this can be to yourself and for others to gain from reading what you write!
Best wishes always...
Traci xoxo
Hello Traci, thank you so much for your kind words. I really needed to hear them as I was recently having some doubts on writing my latest Short Story. It started out as a memoir and I'm going to be discussing things that happened in my childhood that will probably give my father a bad image... I almost don't want to write it because of this since he's gotten better over the years, but ultimately, I feel like the story just has to be told, especially if it will help even just one other individual who suffers from BDD or Gender Identity. I'm glad to hear you like my poem so thanks! I think it's awesome that you work with melodies. I wrote a poem back in High School that I wanted to make a song out of, but I just couldn't get enough interest in guitar and making music. I've always just been more into writing and story-telling, I guess lol. To be able to work with melodies I imagine you are extremely talented as well.
Best wishes to you too!
I started to write a book about my life, the trials and tribulations of being mis-gendered
Fridays child fair of face.
Born 1120 am Friday 19 August 1983, Star sign Leo, born in the Chinese year of the Pig. The band and song in vogue that day, was the Police, with Every Breath you Take, rather apt.
Oblivious of current trends at the time and unaware of what life had in store for me, I probably gurgled and cried my way through the next couple of years. Most of my memories of the first few years , are from photographs, I saw later in my life, not from actual memories of events. apparently my first word was dadda. On reflection I was being groomed from an early age to fulfil his hopes and dreams of glory, aspirations he was unable to attain for himself, a surrogate, improved version, of a man I would come to hate and revile. I think I was about 4 my first real memories, of being marched up and down the living room, with a toy rifle, presenting arms and saluting. when other boys were running around in their gardens with friends, shouting out bang, bang and playing at being soldiers or cowboys giggling and laughing, while I was being derided, bullied, crying for getting it wrong. also my first memories of my sister 2 years older than me, dressing me up in her clothes, both my mother and father from what I remember were more amused rather than showing any real consternation.
It is hard to put exact time tags on events at such a young age, but I must have been about to start school, I had longish blonde hair somewhat curly, it was always too much trouble for my mother to take me to get my hair cut, because I would scream, wriggle and kick out. THAT day my father held me down by the neck with one hand and chopped and hacked at my hair with a pair of scissors with the other hand, that should have been an inkling as to what was to happen over the next few years.
I never played with dolls, I was'nt of a feminine inclination. although always frightened of failure I enjoyed target practice, dressed in my little soldiers uniform and air rifle. being taken to the local clay pigeon shoot when I was about 7 or 8, the dressing up sessions with my sister continued, she would squeeze into my shorts and school jumper and I would dress in her pants and dresses, because of the perceived pressures of conforming to the ideology of a Rambo persona from my father, these little sessions were conducted when he was at work. they made me feel comfortable, I never had any sexual feelings, never knew what a transvestite was, Our little sessions were fun, innocent fun.
to be continued..........................
Kris...
Perhaps I could take a stab at your HS poem and set it to music? Not sure how I could get it to you when done, but if you're OK with it, I'd like to try! (smile)
Traci xoxo
Crissie...part two please! (smile)
xoxo
That was very well written, Christine! Makes me want to get back to my Short Story... I got cold feet after I received a comment about my dad lol. "WTF kind of dad is this?!" I suspect I'll get a lot of comments like that so I might as well just get used to it. Definitely interested in more of your story!
Traci, I'll post my poem as I love sharing them, but if it doesn't go with music well it's not a big deal lol. I am actually hoping that a couple of my poems I can turn publish-worthy because I've been told a lot of authors start out sending Poems and Short Stories to Magazines. *Crossing my fingers lol*
Title: Your Night is Every Night
Although it is your birthday,
I've just got to say,
Your night is not just tonight,
It's every night.
Every single day
I pray.
I thank God for the joy and love in my life.
But saying these words to you cuts like a knife.
Because you don't know.
You have sorrow.
Your birthday is a day everyone celebrates you being born.
But I must warn,
What I'm about to say may make you confused.
Don't feel you have to choose.
What do I have to say?
Your night is every night.
Your arms embraced around me tight,
It feels right.
Your night is celebrated and recognized by me every night.
Now blow out the candle light,
Stay in sight.
Have no fright.
I will always be here.
I know your birthday is special.
Even though at times you are skeptical.
You ask yourself,
What is my purpose in the world?
I ask the same thing of myself.
I've found one answer that's unfurled.
We show the world what love is.
Whether it's friendship or romance,
I'll always be in this trance.
I want you to take my feelings in sight
With all your might.
I want you to know that every night,
Is your night.
Your night is every night.
Hold my friendship and love tight
And take flight.
I will always be here for you.
Every single night.
Because your night,
Is every night.
OMG!!!!!!! I LOVE it!!! I hope I can do this justice....(smile)
I think I'll use the following "verse" as the reoccuring "chorus" and if it's OK with you, add/delete words in parenthesis for rythmic liberty for myself...the chorus pieces will be inserted between verses and probably alone at the end...
"Your night is every night.
Hold my friendship and love tight
and(let you and me) take flight.
(For)I will always be here for you... every single night.
Because your night Is every night.
Because your night Is every night."
Let me know what you think...I think it's beautiful!!!
Traci xoxo
Traci, I'm so happy to hear you loved it! I'm sure I'll be impressed with any music you could make go with it. I could never do it, personally lol. I like the idea of what you have so far and don't mind you adding/deleting words. I figure for it to be a song some of the words probably don't fit/work heh. Thanks so much for the compliment and again, I'm so glad you like it. Also, thanks for taking the time to add music to it!
Kris...thnx for your permission...
After I posted, I spent three hours outside on our deck in a delightful breeze under the canopy of a large shade tree playing my guitar...I fumbled and stumbled and ended up learning some of the late Chris Cornell stuff with Audioslave in lieu of tackling your poem. I get so easily distracted! LOL
I will get there but it has to come with some internal inspiration for me to get on a roll...(smile) It can be difficult to juggle another's feeling with mine, but I look forward to the challenge! (smile)
Traci xoxo
Traci, you're very welcome! That sounds very peaceful. It's been raining on and off here so I haven't been outside much, but the temperature has been pretty nice the times I did make it outside lol. I'm glad to hear you learned some Chris Cornell with my poem at least lol. It is difficult to get feelings across to others in all writing I'm finding out as I write more and more. I really want my Short Story to be emotional so I need to master this skill the best I can before publishing. I know songs can make different people feel different ways, but when writing this I was trying to get across the feeling of unconditional love even if it has to be a friendship. (Turned out to be unrequited love which is also what my Short Story is about a bit). I appreciate the work you've put into it so far so thanks again!
Kris...I'm only at a point where I'm trying to juggle to words into a sort of rythmic flow bypassing your intent/theme for the moment...I definitley picked up your message of an undying love regardless of the world or circumstances around these two people. For one, it knows no limits to what this person will do for the love. For the other, perhaps this person feels "unworthy" of receiving love or maybe just does not understand what love means? Maybe this person has been hurt before and rejects anyone getting close? You haven't given much of a hint as to why "these words cut like a knife", but that allows the viewer to interject their own ideas as to why it is so, thus a mystery unsolved! Was it a former lover, something from their past? Is it a family issue or a bad parent? Is it a physical problem or handicap that lessens the self esteem? So much to run with...(smile)
That said, there's no shortage of catchy songs that leave interpretation wide open to the listener! In fact, people have spent decades and decades debating the meaning of the artist with no real solution ever finalized! Perfect!!!!!
Traci xoxo
I only posted the first part of my attempt to write a book in this forum, other parts were added to the full memers forum, I did'nt want people outside GS to have access to it. Later it will get amusing, astounding, shocking for some, with a few wows and quite a few yuk's.
Crissie...I wish I could have known you when I was young and doing pretty crazy things! Living in or around NYC as a part time Tgirl in the late 60s-early 70s in my late teens and early 20s was...ahhh...ummm....fun! *giggles* I know we'd have hit it off for I was pretty back then! LOL
xoxo
Traci, no rush at all on adding music to it. I'm just glad to hear you liked it. Yeah, it's funny to know exactly what I was saying with the poem, but I just wasn't crystal clear with the words lol. I guess it works out like you said. I think you described the person who's supposed to be singing it quite well, though!
Crissie, It sounds like a great read!
Traci, I am in awe of what you can do, I am endowed with many artistic talents, but music was left out of me by my maker! I can't live without it, but I can't carry a tune in a bucket. Even dancing... well, my knees want to dance, by my head is not following. Very frustrating.
Kris...Two ways to takes this musically, at least in my brain. One is the use of "dark" minor chords which cry out from the hurt of not being able to connect with one's love...the other is using bright, "cheerful" major chords celebrating one's love for another!
Any feelings on how you'd prefer to interpret it?
Traci xoxo
LOL Katia...do not ever underestimate the ability to dance with two left feet! (grin) And you do understand how difficult it is to carry anything in a bucket, let alone an elusive tune that tries at every opportunitiy to escape from that bucket! (smile)
As for the dancing, I suggest you go to a club where all the patrons have taken in a bit too much alcohol to where their dancing ability is quite impaired! Then, when you get out on the floor, you can do anything you wish and look no worse than anyone else! LOL
I feel truly blessed to be able to express myself thru music...I know it is a gift and I never take it lightly! (smile) There is nothing I'd rather do than to be able to sit down on a beautiful day and play for hours...I understand where all the song birds are coming from as they chirp and sing all day long!
There have been numerous people in this site who are very talented in music. Our own Lucy Diamond, a UK girl, plays keyboards in a very good band and does an awesome job! Maybe there's a connection between our gender thing and creativity/arts???
Traci xoxo
I fear my dancing career will have to wait until I can go to Antarctica and migrate with the penguins... then I will definitley blend in
I am absolutely convinced that most (all?) people out there have a pinch of the opposite gender embedded in their soul, but artists are far more likely to let it out... we have the irresisitble urge to express all that is inside us, while most "ordinary" people just get on with their day...
I think its a positive lust for life, not to be confused with the anagram slut....at least not for ones entire life, lol
Katia...you're white! That kinda explains the dancing thingie! LOL
Crissie...I agree with you...thankfully I outgrew the "slut" part! LOL But the lust for life has only gotten better running on estrogen for almost 8 years now...everything is so much "clearer" and all of the prior angst, anxiety, aggression, etc. has evaporated replaced by a renewed vitality and vigor. I wish each day were 28 hours long just so I could do everything! (smile)
Traci xoxo
Traci, I'd say it should be a bit on the darker side just because of how everything has turned out and what/who it's based on. I say this because maybe once I finally share my Short Story, Obsession, I can point people in the direction of this and a few other poems that are about the two main characters. I also wish there were more hours in the day... I can be such a procrastinator and I need to kick that habit! Lol.
LOL on procrastination...actually, I think Crissie started a thread on procrastination in this site years back...hopefully she can find the link!!! (smile)
I'm pretty much with you on going "dark"...no matter how many times I read the poem and then try to come up with a Vance Joy "riptide" type of song, it just doesn't "connect" with me. I tried it a few times and ...nothing! Then out of a whim, I went "dark", almost bluesey in an E minor key and it opened up doors...I'm now playing with "capo'ing" on different frets to try to get into my pitch and range vocally...but as of right now, I have something to work with! (smile)
Traci xoxo
Haha, if there are tips on getting rid of procrastination, I'm all for checking it out! I find I work my best when I have a deadline because if I don't have one, nothing will get done lol.
I'm not overly surprised happiness and joyful sounds/music doesn't go with the song considering the characters and situation although it would have been interesting to hear a happy version while knowing what I wrote it about lol. Bluesy definitely sounds like it'd fit nicely and I can't wait to hear what you come up with. =)
The challenge will be trying to make it rythmically flow! Fingers crossed...gonna sit on it for a few days and let "inspiration" sink in, or at lease let it play in my head in various tempos...it's tough when they are not your own words. At least we seem to be on the same page as to where the words come from...(smile)
Traci xoxo
