My first poetry reading

Last night, I went to Aqua Books to read some of my poetry in front of a live audience for the very first time. I was terrified, I was overwhelmed, and I was seriously considering backing out. But, I got up on stage and read my poem despite my trepidations. Now that the experience is over, I must say, it was awesome!

There’s nothing like listening to an audience respond positively to your writing. The poem that I read is called Florence, and there are parts of it that are supposed to be funny. I knew that I was taking a chance reading it, because there is always the possibility that an audience will have zero sense of humour, but it went over quite well. People laughed when they were supposed to, made “hmm” noises when they were supposed to, and listened silently when they were supposed to.

Initially, I thought that I would be terrified when I stood up at the podium. In actuality, I was quite calm. There was something natural about sharing my poetry with this particular audience, and I was even cracking jokes beforehand.

Of course, it helped that my entire family was in the audience.

Aqua Books has an open mic night every month, and anyone is free to walk in, get up on stage, and share his or her work. Each reader has four minutes, which is just about enough time for an introduction and a longer poem or shorter story. It goes by very fast, and before you know it, you’re sitting back in the audience listening to someone else.

We also heard from one of Aqua Books Writer’s-In-Residence last night. Her name is hannah_g (all lowercase, with an underscore) and she’s from Bristol, England. She read a few excerpts from the short story she is currently working on, and then she sang a few songs she had written to the accompaniment of a friend’s guitar. She was very talented, and the piece of her story that she read was very, very good. It was about Winnipeg in the 1920s, and everyone was laughing by the time she finished her set.

Aqua Books is just a cool venue in general. I absolutely love going there. The restaurant – Eat! Bistro – serves great food and beverages, and it’s located at the rear of the building. There are tons of used books everywhere, because it is a used bookstore, after all. And events – like the one I participated in last night – are held upstairs in one of two rooms.

The room that we were in is the larger of the two. It has an elevated stage at one end, with a desk, bookshelf, and old-fashioned stand-up radio. There is a bar (thank god) and kitchen at the opposite end. I think it can hold about a hundred and something people. Ah yes, and I forgot to mention the podium. I think Kelly Hughes stole it from a church’s pulpit.

Overall, my first live poetry reading went well. I think I did alright, and I plan to try again next month. Stay tuned!

If you’re interested in participating, send me an email or check out the Aqua Books website for more information.

Insomnia

Lately, I haven’t been sleeping very well. It’s a strange situation, and one that I can’t remember experiencing before. I will lay down at night, tired and ready for bed. But, instead of falling asleep like normal, I will remain awake for hours. This has been a recurring problem for the past few weeks, so I think it’s time to put my life and daily activities under the microscope.

My first thought was that I’m depressed about something. After careful consideration, that can’t be it. I am completely happy with my life at the moment. I have the freedom to write as I please, I just moved in with my boyfriend, and it is summer. No, I’m not depressed. I can’t be.

My second thought was that it’s way, way too hot in my apartment to sleep comfortably. We have an air conditioner in the living room, but only a fan to keep the bedroom cool. There have been nights when it has been a bit warm, but it certainly hasn’t been hot enough to keep me awake for the few weeks that I’ve been having sleeping problems. No, the summer heat is also not the reason.

So, why can’t I sleep?

I have been wracking my brain and considering all the possibilities over the past few days. And I think I have finally found an answer. As I lay awake at night, and the world is quiet around me, there is one thing that doesn’t stop talking. My brain. Ever since I started writing full-time, I can’t seem to shut off my mind. I am constantly going over character development, piecing together poems, and thinking about blog ideas. Some of my best work has manifested itself in the early morning hours, and I’ve actually gotten out of bed to write on more than one occasion.

Since I have that figured out, what I need to know next is this: what do I do about this?

Creativity is fantastic, and I love the fact that I’m always thinking about writing. But, how do I shut off the creativity when it’s time to go to sleep?

As I am writing this blog, a thought popped into my head. I wonder if the writing floodgates would have opened so suddenly and thoroughly if I had spent my summer working full-time and writing in my spare time. I highly doubt I would have made as much progress, and I bet my mind would have been centred on the job I was doing instead of the stories I was writing.

Authors talk about the “creative process,” and I am beginning to believe that the process does exist. I have written over 55,000 words this summer. After school let out in May, I slowly began to organize my notes and dabble with ideas. Now that I’ve had a few months to adjust to this type of lifestyle, I’m writing thousands of words each day. There was one morning when I actually wrote a draft of an entire story. That’s 13,000 words, in case you were curious.

It’s becoming more and more evident that my creative process involves an overactive mind and a lack of proper rest. This isn’t exactly what I planned on happening when I began this experiment two months ago, but I’ll take it. I believe that my writing is better than ever, and I have no idea when I will be able to spend four months jobless again.

I still haven’t figured out a way to shut off my brain, so I guess I’ll take the insomnia. For now. I might be a little cranky the next time I see you, so please, be nice. And, I’m always open to suggestions on how I can solve this little problem.

Now, I’m going to drink my eighth cup of coffee, and attempt to begin my day.

P.S. Does anyone remember the film The Secret Window with Johnny Depp? (photo above) It's based on a novella by Stephen King, and is about a successful writer who hides in a cabin and suffers from writer's block. I believe he goes nuts at the end of the film. If I start to exhibit similar strange symptoms, let me know before it's too late... Thanks!

Films take on new meaning

The main problem with writing a book that takes place in a time when I wasn’t alive is this: I don’t have firsthand experience about what life was really like.

I don’t know what people wore, how they spoke, or how they acted. The first story in my book takes place in 1919, the last in 1994, so I have been relying on second-hand accounts, articles, and photographs for information.

Last month, however, I discovered a different, much more efficient way to research the past.

Films.

It all started with The Untouchables. The story I was working on at the time took place primarily in Chicago in the 1930s. I had just visited Chicago, so I was familiar with many of the sights, but I wanted to ensure I had everything exactly right. I also wanted to ensure I wrote about the gangster attitudes and mannerisms properly. So, I rented The Untouchables and watched it 10 times while taking notes.

Next, I watched My Best Friend’s Wedding, to analyze the interior of Chicago’s Union Station. The station became a major setting in my story, so I wanted to describe it correctly. I will admit that the film wasn’t as good as I remembered it to be, but the fact that it was filmed in Chicago made it worth watching. The part when they were on the river cruise was especially helpful, because when I took the same cruise it was much too cold to pay attention to anything. I hid below-deck and drank Baileys and coffee.

I watched Goodfellas next, which provided additional gangster information. It was also quite entertaining, and I have to admit that I really like Ray Liotta. Did you know that Goodfellas won Joe Pesci an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role? It was nominated for six, and is still known as one of the best films ever made. There were also over 300 f-bombs, in case you were curious.

I finished my gangster-research kick with Scarface, because Al Pacino modelled part of his character Tony Montana after Al Capone. And, one of Capone’s nicknames was "Scarface," so the film seemed fairly relevant and important to watch. Scarface is also known as one of the best films ever made, like Goodfellas (but, don’t even ask about the f-bombs in this one...)

I’ve really watched some important films lately! The things I do for research...

After exhausting my gangster resources and finishing the story, I started watching old romance films. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday, and Sabrina completed my research on male and female dress in the fifties and sixties, and also provided insight about dating and relationships during that time. The Da Vinci Code and From Paris with Love provided some needed information about the layout of Paris, which is a huge part of my sixth story. I was there last summer, and know my way around fairly well, but I wasn’t exactly taking notes as I wandered the streets.

Now, I’m engrossed in my next story, and am already looking at what films I will watch to assist with its completion. The story will be the first one in my book, and takes place in 1919. I’ve already watched Titanic, because the characters came to Canada from England by boat, but I’m unsure of what to watch next.

It’s funny that watching films is actually helping my creative process. I take the content at face value and don’t put stock in the dialogue, but focus my efforts instead on the scenery, clothing, and filming locations. A lot of time, money, and energy are dedicated to ensuring that period films are historically accurate, so I’m confident that the notes I’m taking are mostly correct.
This system might not be for everyone, and it does have a tendency to distract on occasion, but I really believe that I am much further in my writing than I would have been if I hadn’t started using films as a form of research.

Try it out. See if it works for you.

NOTE: While I believe that watching films is great for research, it shouldn’t be the only method used. You should still go to the library and/or consult the local archives. Film-watching is one method, but I utilize many others on a daily basis. I just wanted to clear that up, in case anyone thinks that I’m spending my entire summer sitting on a couch watching television. :)

A birthday shout out

Imagine my surprise when a delivery man showed up at my doorstep this morning and gave me the most gorgeous, well-stocked basket I have ever seen. It included an array of fruit, cheese, tea, chocolate, and cookies, with a Happy Birthday balloon peeking out the side. I signed for the basket, thanked the delivery man, and retreated into air-conditioned comfort where I could dissect the gift and start eating.

I forgot to mention this, but it is my birthday today.

In Calgary (where I grew up) lives a girl named Allison Groeneveld. To me, she's simply referred to as Allie, or "A." We've been friends since we could walk, and have acquired enough memories in the years we've known each other to last a lifetime. Sometimes we go months without talking to each other, but that doesn't matter. We know that we will be in each other's lives forever, which is very comforting.

It was Allie who sent me the lovely birthday basket. It's touching to receive a gift from someone who lives two provinces away, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear or two. It is always wonderful to know that someone far away is thinking of you, and hopefully I'll come up with something equally as good for her birthday!

Here's a picture of my awesome present... :)

Shattering the dream

WARNING: This blog has spoilers.

Like many other moviegoers, I eagerly anticipated the theatre debut of Sex and the City (SATC) 2. I finally saw it a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the only word I can think of to accurately describe the film is this: anti-climactic.

The first SATC film was fantastic in so many ways. It continued the story that ended with the television series, and explained the three year gap between series and film quickly and efficiently. It was a long film – they both were – but so many things happened in the first one to keep the audience interested. Big left Carrie at the altar, Steve cheated on Miranda, Samantha left Smith, and Charlotte got pregnant. There was TONS of content, and it all was well-placed and paced. The timing for the film was also great, and I believe about a year lapsed from the first scene to the closing credits.

Now, many people may hate me for tearing apart the second film, but I feel it must be done. I was very, very excited to see what happened next. Stanford and Anthony got married, which anyone could have seen coming. But, to make the wedding exaggerated and unrealistic, they had Liza Minnelli marry them.

Really? Come on now.

One of the things I loved about the television series was that it was more or less realistic. The characters struggled financially, they couldn’t just have anything they wanted, and they worked hard to become “someone’s” in a large city full of people. Women – and men – could relate to their struggles because they were real issues. SATC 2 lost that reality that made the show so popular.

Oh, yes, and Liza Minnelli also serenaded the newlyweds with a rendition of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Ugh.

Moving on.

In the first film, the four girls went to Mexico on Carrie’s honeymoon. This worked with the plot, and it made sense. In the second film, however, the four went to Abu Dhabi. Samantha managed to finagle a free PR trip, and was able to take her friends with her. The trip was half fashion show, half “look how rich we are.” Each woman had her own private butler, they were dressed to the tits in every scene, and they wandered through the desert wearing heels.

Then, Carrie ran into Aiden.

Their meeting was shown in the trailer, so naturally, everyone was expecting something BIG to happen. Nope. They kissed, Carrie took off, she told Big about it, and he forgave her. That was the huge drama that millions of people paid to see, and it wasn’t worth it.

Things went wrong with the other ladies as well, but like Carrie’s kiss, they were quickly and efficiently dealt with. Charlotte admitted that she couldn’t handle her children, but she got over it. Miranda quit her job, but she got a new one. Samantha was Samantha, and she was fine. She went to Smith’s movie premiere with him, but nothing happened between them.

So, in one word, the film was anti-climactic.

Overall, I feel cheated. The first film was good enough. The second film ruined it for everyone. I sincerely hope a third film isn’t made.

Swarovski's sooo sweet

Yesterday, before heading out into the almost unbearable Canada Day heat, my boyfriend Jeff gave me one of my birthday present’s early.

He gave me the most beautiful pair of blue Swarovski crystal earrings, and I swear I’m never taking them off.

I visited the Swarovski museum last summer when I was in Europe, and I fell in love with the company. They aren’t diamonds, but crystals, and I really like that. Still pricey, don’t get me wrong, but much more affordable.

The history lover in me thoroughly enjoys learning about everything, so I Googled Swarovski to find out more about the company. Here are some of the most interesting bits of information:

• It is an Austrian company that was founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895.
• The crystal stone drew wide attention in the 1920s when the “flapper” style of dress began to include fringed and crystal creations (such as ribbons of fabric studded with crystals).
• In 1956 the Aurora Borealis innovation was introduced. The crystals were coated in a thin layer of metal to give them additional sparkle.
• The company celebrated 100 years in 1995.
• In 1999 they introduced crystal tattoos that can be attached to the body.
• The collection includes all kinds of jewellery, watches, figurines, and much, much more...

Happy Canada Day!

I loooveeee Canada Day!

This year, we have many things to celebrate...

• Tyler & Kristen are getting married in a year, and they've been engaged for a year.
• Matt & Leah are having a second baby.
• Ashton & I finished our summer class.
• Tyler & Kristen recently got a puppy, Rocco.
• My parent's are trying to sell our house, so I will officially only have this apartment to live in.
• The Winnipeg Free Press is publishing one of my freelance pieces, which I submitted two days ago.
• I'm halfway done my IPP draft.

Let's party!