The Happiness Thread

A small one, but I believe appreciating the small pleasures makes for an overall happier life:

That rare, sublime moment when I manage to make my coffee perfectly, with just the right balance of coffee, almond milk, and sweetness, makes me very happy. Yum!

 

I feel like that when I make the perfect cup of tea. Especially if I haven’t had any tea all day. That first sip, the rush of caffeine, the realisation that you’ve stumbled on the formula known only to the Chosen Ones and the Elders...

I imagine that’s pretty much what heroin feels like.

 

I'm going on a solo road trip. Just need to decide on which SUV to rent..... The Audi Q3 or the BMW X3.

 

I just reserved a rental for my trip home next month...a "Hyundai Elantra or similar".

I do spoil myself so on vacation

 

Pretty much.

 

I have been practicing writing now for a year. I have read books about writing. I have a rough idea about how you do it. But I still have no idea about what my novella(short side) should be about. I had a hope it would be something hard SF, but when I look back on the shorts and flash I have written I am way off. Not anything pointing in that direction. Well.

So an hour ago I signed upp for a writing course. It's about finding your idea for your novel. I am a little scared that everyone will be so ambitious (as all of you here on WF) that they are going for novels and I will be left behind with my small goal.
Anyhow this is the most ambitious thing I have done so far. I am a little frightened. Until now this has been only for fun. I hope it stays that way.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I can't seem to get myself to write anything more than short stories. Every time I try I either abandon the idea on the grounds that I don't believe it's good enough, or just lose interest all together.

I'm still ambitious, of course, but just in a different way, and I'd assume you are as well. After all, you wouldn't be on this forum or attending a writing course if you weren't. Just because you aren't writing the next great American novel (pardon my nationalism, it's just the best phrase I know for the situation) doesn't mean you aren't striving to become better and working towards a goal.

 

, there are books about how to write... never read'em. Seems like forcing factory style writing to me.

I have found that I have no clue what my story is about going in.... I just write and usually it comes up, I have no clue what genre my stories are. I only say Hi-Fantasy because they take place on a world I created. but beyond that, no clue about genre.

For my current WIP, It wasn't till near the end did I find out what it was all about and the truth behind the behavior of a mad-Antagonist.

I hope it's fun for you, though I feel the idea of finding your novel can frustrate you if you force it, as I mentioned before and with my own MO. let your story go, write itself and the idea of it will come to fruition.

I myself have learned recently that not everything needs to be a novel, I am learning the beauty of Short Stories and Novellas. Just go with what feels right for you, a short story written well than any full length novel padded with nonsense.

Go GB Reader, Go.

 

I have no plans for anything grand like a novel or similar either. I just write whatever comes to my mind, and that interests me at the time. The downside to that is that I often end up with unfinished pieces, which is part of the reason that poetry works well for me. Each to their own. I don't feel I could write anything if it didn't speak to me in some way. Writing is a very personal thing to my mind.

 

As I mentioned prior, I am learning the beauty of short stories, It's like an episode of Twilight Zone or Fact or Fiction. You could write several short stories and then bound them into a single book, as i've seen others do. and if I can write enough of my own (I have concepts, just need to write them, so far I have 2 short stories with a 3rd short, short story.)

ETA: It's not that I had ever frowned upon Short Stories, it's I never thought about them, till I joined WF. and I like them, for my stories that don't need to be novels. (as the padding would be terrible, )

 

I was actually in the same boat, having never considered writing short stories. But then, in my desperation to stay awake when I had two jobs, one an overnight position, I started listening to podcasts where they tell short horror stories. I immediately fell in love with the format and have been writing it ever since.

I think we, as a society, are so inundated with the idea that the only valid form of writing is novels that short stories, novellas, and poetry are all severely overlooked, both by writers and readers. It's a shame, really, because I've read and heard some short horror stories that put even the most prolific horror novelists to shame.

 

Very much enjoying a evening of sitar music. It makes a nice change of pace, and it hasn't given me a headache.

 

I"m @50k in my WIP.... !!!!! and still going, plenty more to go, though I am almost to the end of Part II itself.

 

Depends on where you're going. For some destinations, I'd keep as low a profile as possible to blend in enroute. Your destination may be wonderfully safe or even upscale, but ya gotta get there.

 

They got those Thai boys and their coach out of the cave safely.

Y'think you beat me to that "Notable Death Thread" posting? I doubt it, I've got my obituary tentacles everywhere.

And a bookshelf full of genocide histories but....

But.

A retired Thai Navy SEAL diver died in the effort.



and that fucking sucks but he was the best of the best, trained, and a complete and utter volunteer, retired, went back to help and...

...They got those boys out.

And that's a good thing.

 

I said it before, and I'll say it again. Michael Baker (a Facebook friend of mine) is one of the most awesome writing mentors I've ever had the honor to know. He's done for me in seven months what I could not do in the *fourteen years* I've wanted to be a writer. I owe him a drink and then some.

Seriously, get yourself a writing tutor (or any tutor for whatever your passionate about.) You will not regret it.

 

There aren't the words right now...but I am definitely beyond happy!

 

Enjoy some soppy shit:

 

A month of sunshine until the clouds appeared over Manchester this morning. England dumped out of the World Cup, head foggy for yesterday's beer and curry indulgence. A gloom recipe, yet I'm happy...happy reality's returned. Can deffo have too much of a good thing methinks to set one's bar out of whack. Besides, I've an each way silverlining bet win to collect on Croatia making the final.

 

Karaoke-night!

 

When he gets back from Russa, me and Harry Kane and the boys are gonna march on Windsor, take that banner and shove old Harry Windsor on the Trump jumbo. Then we're gonna start again at day zero.

That's what I was thinking, and then Roxette popped into my mind.

 

Ah, Roxette....

 

I will shout "Swedes" here, but only because I had people doubting me in the past!

I've gotten a lot more "patriotic" recently. I think it's over teaching Lost my language and culture.

 

That's why it's there for your karaoke