Shannon B. Chenoweth

Check-in time! Week 2 went well! I wrote my morning pages seven out of seven days. I’m not writing them first thing in the morning as Cameron recommends, but I do get them done by mid-day or early evening. Just as I experienced the first go around, I believe doing the pages is helping my writing and life.

My Artist Date was a success as I posted yesterday. Any time alone with my camera makes a good time in my book. I do need to vary things up a bit in the future though, do some other creative outings. I’ll have to come up with a list for myself of possible Artist Dates that I’d enjoy.

I did a number of the weekly tasks Julia Cameron lists to do. They did aid me in my journey for the week I believe as well. I only wish I had more time to get all of them done. Sadly, there are only so many hours in the day. Never enough time to get all the things I’d like to get accomplished done.

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On July 26th, I restarted Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Originally, I had planned to begin on Sunday, but I didn’t complete the morning pages, so the journey officially began on Monday. Previously, I did the course but only made it to week 6. This time around, I plan on completing what I start. It does help your creative process, so I definitely recommend it to everyone.

The first week went well. I did my morning pages each day (less for Sunday) and did my Artist Date on Saturday. I spent time exploring the outdoors a bit with my camera. I love going out with my camera, so I’m sure that will be a popular Artist Date for me. It really allows me to relax and just enjoy myself. I’m looking forward to week two and what it brings to my creative journey.

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Some of you may or may not be aware that I have been working on a novel based upon a true murder that took place in Asheville, North Carolina in July 1936. The crime in question is that of the brutal killing of Battery Park Hotel guest, Helen Clevenger. Clevenger was a college student from New York in town visiting her Uncle. As the story goes, Helen was shot and beaten in her hotel room by a hotel bellboy, Martin Moore who later confused, saying that the murder was a robbery gone array.

I did quite a lot of research on the crime and the case during late 2008 and throughout 2009. I quickly came to the conclusion that there were far more questions than answers in the murder. Further, I’m not convinced that it was Moore who killed Miss. Clevenger. With these thoughts in mind, I contacted the Bumcombe County Court in hopes of getting hold of any court documents and/or police reports that have not been published. After a few phone calls, my aspirations of writing a true crime story on the event were crushed. The court records and accompanying police reports have long been destroyed.

Where does a writer go from here? After becoming quite invested in this story, I knew I couldn’t just stop and close up shop there. So, I embarked on writing a fiction tale based upon some of the events of that time. That was the book I worked diligently on during NaNoWriMo 2009 and continue to work on to this day. Not many a day goes by that I don’t think about my novel or the Clevenger case. When I was living in Western North Carolina, I found myself very drawn to the Battery Park Apartments (the hotel is now apartments for retirees). Even upon a brief return last May to pick up my remaining belongings from a friend from my move back to Florida, I had to see and photograph the Battery. The allure of the former hotel is felt in the Paris of the South, and I only hope my work of fiction can depict that feeling to the reader.

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About five months ago, I blogged about basically closing up my comic book writing projects and instead directing my focus onto novels and short stories. Well, I am happy to say that I have changed my mind on this front. My comic book ventures are now heading back onward into the light of day. There have just been too many opportunities and ideas that have come up in 2010 that I can’t dismiss. That’s the simplest way to explain it.

THE LINE. My cop book is already back in full swing. Eric will have issue #4 done by year’s end. I can’t give a more detailed time table than that right now. I am already seeking a new artist for issue #5 and beyond, as issue #4 will be Eric’s last book of The Line. Also, I am seeking a studio and/or publisher for the book.

HYPERSONIC. As I stated previously, Hypersonic was always going to be completed regardless of where I decided to venture creatively. So, I’m writing and revamping issues #2-4 presently. Stay tuned for updates here as well as on my co-creator and artist, Chris McCarver.

Those are the two books I’m putting my heart into this summer comic-wise. I will also be working on my novels and short stories. I have wanted to do a web comic with an artist for a few years now, so am inching along on that idea as well. Sadly, there are only so many hours in the day, so the web comic is further down on my “to-do” list these days.

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April 29th One-Minute Writer Prompt – Cartoon voice
What type of cartoon character would your voice be perfect for?

This is something I had not previously considered. That said, I’d say a bird, a la Tweetie bird. I would be the sarcastic, yet funny parrot sitting on a perch all day spouting my opinions and thoughts to any and everyone who might be nearby, regardless of whether they wanted to hear them or not.

April 28th One-Minute Writer Prompt – Volcano
Volcanoes can really mess things up. What do you think should come out of an
erupting volcano instead of lava and ash?

My first inclination on this was chocolate. Who doesn’t love the sweet stuff? Especially dark chocolate, yum! After some thought though, I am going with fruit. I just cannot get enough of fresh fruit nowadays. Fresh berries and melons are definitely my favorite choice for a pre-lunch snack. What could be better than having an erruption of blueberries, strawberries and watermelon a plenty? Not only could you enjoy them raw, but think of all the great things you can make with fruit. The possibilities are endless!

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One-Minute Writer Prompt: How-to
What skill do you really wish someone would write a how-to book about?

The skill to discover more time in the day! If someone knew how to do this and could write a how-to book for others such as myself to also acquire and be able to utilize this skill, that would be so great. Of course, there isn’t a way to find more hours in the day…that is, unless you had a time machine. Just imagine, being able to go back and not only do tasks better, but ultimately having all the time in the world at your fingertips. Now that, would be a great thing to have!

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Prompt for 4/7: Spoiled
Are you “spoiled” in any way?

I believe that most of us are spoiled in some way. We have someone, whether it be our parents or significant other providing some of our wants to us. Wants, not needs. I hope everyone experiences at least one moment or time of being spoiled in their life. We all deserve to get something we truly wanted but didn’t need at least once.

Prompt for 4/6: Daddy
Recall a very early memory of time spent with your father.

My best memory spent with my dad is when I was a pre-teen. He took me to a New Kids on the Block concert. Not only was it a big deal that he took me to this crazy girl event, but before the concert he made the night even more special. He stopped at the local mall and bought binoculars. My dad knew that there was no way his 11-year-old daughter was going to be able to see those New Kids without them. He made the evening a special one for me and I will always remember that.

Prompts are from the One-Minute Writer.

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November is NaNoWriMo where crazy writers like myself take on the challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Now, April is Script Frenzy, the sister event to NaNo. This challenge is to write 100 pages of script in 30 days. You can write whatever sort of script you’d like, but the goal is to just hit that 100 page goal.

I have signed up for Script Frenzy and am still working out the details of what my story is going to be about. I’ve been stuck on private eyes as the basic jumping off point for my script. Now, I’m just waiting for my plot to come together. Tonight, I pulled out my books on private investigating to not only get going on the P.I. story basis, but in hopes that I might get some more inspiration going.

Fellow writers, are you embarking on Script Frenzy next month? I hope as many scribes as possible take on this challenge as I think it’s a great opportunity for writers of every style and genre.

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Just a quick update to say that I’m going to start blogging for one of the Asheville websites. This is a great opportunity and I’m excited about it. My postings there will consist of this and that relating to Western North Carolina. I will be updating my twitter account whenever I post a new blog for the website, so please make sure you are following me on twitter. I will most likely post more about it here again in the coming weeks.

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One-Minute Writer Prompt:
If you became a spy, what organization/group would you like to infiltrate? Why?

If I were a spy, I would infiltrate Area 51. The place is infamous for UFO sightings and activity. I have always wondered what truly went on within the secret confines of it’s highly secured gates. Obviously, it’s a government base, but with such high and mighty security, there has to be something big going on there. And, numerous people have reported sightings of ufo activity around the base for years. That is a secret I’d love to discover the answer to.

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