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I copied last night when I should have cut, so I discovered that I didn’t get as many new words as previously thought. Still, I’m ahead of where I was yesterday after writing the first version of the cleaning of the Augean stables, so that’s good. I’ve also worked a bit on adding to the scene that introduces Hera. Initially it was a student in Hera’s motivations, but it will become a full blown therapy session which will introduce the opposition team of mythological guys that will run through the books, if, in fact, Cats Curious has enough success with the books to make it a series.

So, word count:

35,826 / 75,000 (47.0%)

No one’s guessed the first labor of Hercules yet, so that question will stand for another day.

Herculean wisdom today:
“Did Arnold get into trouble?”
“Sure did. His dad sent him away to live with relatives.”
“Hmmm,” said Bianca from the doorway. “So, that’s what happens to kids who get into trouble. I get it now.”
“You,” said Nonna, shaking a spatula at Bianca. “Come set the table.”

Even in Herculean times, crossing your parents could have consequences, but if your relatives cook better than your parents, maybe it’s not so bad?

Well, one of my birds came home to roost.

Kenny Hanour, assistant to Jenny Rappaport let me know that Substance is not for them. I have two more agents still out there, one with a full, and one with a partial. Also, an unknown query yet.

Moving right along, then, I’ll post some progress tonight, later.

Catherine

We’re back, and we’re writing. First of all, let’s talk about word count.

35,397 / 75,000 (47.0%)

***

I’ve just started another Nonna tells Tony story: this one the Augean stable. But we’ve already covered trivia for the Augean stable, so I’ll ask you this question: What was the first labor of Hercules?

***

Herculean wisdom:
“Tell me the story of the Augean Stables,” said Tony. “Since I’m working.”
“I don’t think that’s a food preparation story,” said Nonna.

Your appetite *can* be affected by mythology, so tell gross and gory stories with care!

Tomorrow, then!

Catherine

Occasionally we have those days where things come up, and we don’t get to write. Today was a mixed bag. Familial entanglements from the last couple of days took me traveling. When I arrived home, I caught up on some internet things. I expect to be peripherally involved in some things the next few days that will be unpleasant, but I will do my best to persevere on the book. But I’m pleased that I’ve built some words up for a margin of error, and that I’m being productive.

That’s the last you should hear of angst. I’ll keep it over in the other journal. We try to keep this one professional.

However, since I was in Des Moines today, I stopped at their Half-Price Books, and serendipitously found a biography specifically about Mark Twain and his daughter Susy, which means that short story is fated. Sometimes these things are surprising, these signs.

By the way, Mochi Monkey scores correctly on the trivia. Hercules takes the boar to Eurystheus.

Watch my fingers fly tomorrow!

Catherine

Here it is. Me looking professorial, the Endowed Chair literature for this year.

Catherine

I’m sitting in a coffee shop in a campus town to the south, working on HH:PW. Yeah, it’s a poser thing, but I did have to come in for my Russian lesson, and we do have a teacher cookout at Bryon’s school tonight, so here I am. I had a most scrumptious vegetarian Indian lunch, and I can’t do that at home, so there are advantages.

***

It occurs to me that the reason I haven’t heard from the agent I mentioned in earlier entries is because I haven’t sacrificed a body part. I didn’t have to sacrifice a body part for Cats Curious, it’s true, but when Drollerie accepted Sister Night, Sister Moon it was the day after I had my gall bladder removed that I received the offer. What do you mean you don’t see correlation?

A couple of other things. Three instructors at Kirkwood had a piece appear in Indelible Companions, so we will probably be having a reading sometime in the near future. I’m trying to get a well-scanned copy of my endowed chair announcement in here. Bryon gave it a try at school, but it’s not the best. We may go to the trouble of hooking the scanner all up at home, but I sort of hate to do that to him, so we’ll see. You’d think Kirkwood could just post it somewhere, but no…

***

Right. Hercules. Yeah. On the surface, it looks like I only wrote an additional 300 words, but I cut about 500, so it’s about 800. I’m making note of what’s more final, and what’s more tentative as I go. I’m feeling very much on track.

Word count:

33,828 / 75,000 (44.0%)

Trivia: Tina was spot on. Hercules used a spear. What happened after Hercules caught the boar?

And today, a snippet. This is the second part of the recess wrestling match. Enjoy.

Mike and Tony made crowd noises, roaring above the boos George and Alex put out. “And in this corner, two hundred sixty pounds of crazy, hairy pig, the Wild Boar!” George danced around, his arms extended in front of him in parody of great girth. Alex chewed on a fake cigar. “Boar, take out that fake Hercules,” he said.

“I’m gonna make me some ham steaks,” said Tony.

Continue reading “Herc-o-meter: My First Endowed Day”

Today’s writing work: first draft of Stymphalean birds, begin the revision of the Hairy Pig (Erymanthian Boar) recess wrestling match.
On the cutting room floor: Tony’s English class.
New hotness: interspersing Leo’s practice with Ernie Boar with the kids recess wrestling. Insert Tony’s nemesis.

Tomorrow’s plans: work on Stymphalean bird expansion, continue work on Hairy Pig.

LOVE Scrivener’s ability to highlight the places I need to revise in the outline.

***

Word Count:

33,510 / 75,000 (44.0%)

Trivia for you: What weapon does Hercules use to flush the Erymanthian Boar out of the thicket?

Herculean Wisdom: Tony always thought that saying school started in the summer was a bold faced lie. Before they had run away from home for the year, Mom and Dad had loaded Tony and Bianca up with long sleeved clothes and jeans. Bianca wanted to wear her new school clothes, but school always began in the summer, when there was no air conditioning and students puddle into oozy, drippy frog monsters who are supposed to be interested in learning something, but in reality want to go swimming in the black lagoon.

Remember this when you’re dressing for the classroom this week or next!

I managed to write tonight. I’ll confess, my heart wasn’t in it. I’m becoming more and more enthused about the project, but something personal took the wind out of my sails tonight. This thing comes up every once in a while, and I suppose the only reason to bring it up here is to make note that we have to keep plugging away as writers, sometimes when we don’t feel like we want to. If I can stow this some place for my next project, this awful heart wringing, and remember it when I need it, it can make for a very powerful story indeed. It’s just not what I need right now while I’m writing a light-hearted book for children.

It’ll be perfect for Mark Twain’s Daughter, the short story I want to write about Susy Twain’s death from meningitis. Samuel Clemens isn’t the total loser my own parents were, but to suggest living with him was easy on his daughters is, well, there should be parallels that I can use. Method writing.

Okay. This is not the entry to talk about Hercules in. So, I’ll be back to spam you with another entry shortly. Meanwhile, I guess the salient point is that we can use it all in stories, even the baggage we have that may not be fair, right, or our fault.

Moodily and Broodily,
Catherine

32,478 / 75,000 (43.0%)

A few more words tonight, moving us toward the Stymphalean birds labor, and an introduction to Leo’s workplace and his interest in Diana. We’ve also introduced Hannah, who has secrets of her own.

Toasted now. Must stop. Tomorrow will finish this scene, and work on the wrestling match/recess match with the Hairy Pig. This should be a good time. Hope to also begin Tony’s main conflict at school.

Catherine

Well, I’ve revised the first two scenes, and I’ll work on the rough of the Diana/Hercules zoo scene tonight.

Here’s our current word count:

31,560 / 75,000 (41.0%)

The Lernean hydrea did have 9 heads. Mochi Monkey and Yvonne both had the right answer.

Next question: what did Iolaus and Hercules do with the immortal head?

***

I thought you might enjoy reading part of the first scene of the story.

***

“It had nine heads,” said Nonna Sofia. “If you cut off one of the heads, two would grow back, and one head was immortal.”

Tony stopped wrapping the noodles around his fork. Nonna Sofia’s homemade spaghetti had the right amount of bite. Tony’s nose savored the fragrant tomato sauce. His fork clanked a clam shell as he moved it, and his attention refocused on dinner. Surgically precise, Tony plucked one end of the shell up and licked the tangy sauce off. Nonna offered him crusty bread drizzled in whole garlic lumps and butter. While his parents were in Europe, he was going to get fat this year. Fatter, George would say.

Continue reading “Herc-o-meter: Revisions!”