Thursday, June 17, 2010
Pirate Festival!
I’ll be putting on me finery tomorrow and strolling about, surrounded by the rapscallions, villains and all manner of scurvy dogs tomorrow. Ah! Paradise.
An entire pirate village, poised at the waterfront of Vallejo, CA… There will be bright tents, banners, flags…character of all sorts. See?
Music, theater, merchants hawking wares of every sort…
And it’s FREE!
What does this have to do with writing? Not much. Other than I write pirate books, always manage to sneak in a bit of piratitude into everything I write. Or at least a tall ship or two… So, I hope to find some inspiration as I wander the pathways, peruse all manner of goods, pause to listen to music, singing…
Sigh. I can really use this time out. Been breaking my brain over the revision class the Bo’sun talked me into, wondering when I’d get comments from the book my agent has…and dancing with the general blahs that cycle through my life now and then. Being clinical depressed isn’t for sissies.
I’m meeting with a writing friend at the festival. Though before she wrote, she painted. And still paints. And she does costumes and she sculpts with modeling clay…and puts steampunk jewelry together from cogs and wheels… Yes, Pat is a renaissance woman. I could feel very small next to her…seeings how I am the queen of lazily doing nothing whenever is possible… But for some reason, she doesn’t inspire that loathing in me. It’s a nice thing, means I can just enjoy hearing all the things she does without wanting to kill her.
Pirate, you know.
I’ll be looking at the festival with a writer’s eye, considering I opened The Kraken’s Mirror at this very festival. And it will be fun to show the pirate life to Pat, as this will be her first time being exposed to the mayhem.
Then Sunday, the husband and I put on our racing colors and head to the Infineon Racetrack for a NASCAR road race… WEEEEE! And I just read a little collection of Valentines Day stories set in the NASCAR world.
(I’m pampering my multi-personality this weekend.)
Been an odd week…so, why not take advantage of that and have an odd collection of thoughts for my Friday blog. (Yeah, I know, nothing really new here!)
Let me see, how can I tie this stuff to writing? OK, here goes. How is the pirate festival like writing a book?
Well, for me, it’s a collection of wandering paths…
Nope, that don’t work.
Screw it. Anyone else have a favorite pastime they like to weave into their books? A favorite obsession or two? Or three? I managed to fit in several to the Kraken books…pirates, book binding, knife throwing… How about a favorite location, vacation spot, dream home? Do you write it real or tart it up?
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47 comments:
I hope you have a wonderful time and it banishes the blahs.
When I was looking into what was in Orlando, I found the 'Pirates Dinner Adventure' and thought of you. Will you be going?
My heroine is an artist, which I know nothing about. Luckily, one of my cp's is an amazing artist, and keeps me on track.
Di
I have no favorite pass times right now except writing and wrangling children.
I did go to Orlando a handful of years ago and did the Pirates stuff there. That was as close to a pirate festival as I'll likely ever get. Unless in the future we get a RWR get together going. We're way more authentic than anything at Disney, after all....
I'm envious of your pirate festival. I wish I could find something like that around here. I'll have to see what Google turns up. I need something FUN to do -- I've been working so hard on revisions, for two different books, and now my brain wants to play. LOL
I always seem to work coffee into my books. LOL And laughter -- since I like that a lot too. :)
Your pirate festival sounds like a blast! I guess I'm more suspense minded for some reason today and your blog and question brings to mind all kinds of scenarios a large event like the pirate festival would be a great setting for - - like all the places for the hero/heroine to hide or disguise themselves while escaping the bad guy(s). Nope, have no purpose for such a scene but will file it away as an idea. Come to think of it, it's either a good idea or a Scooby Doo episode. LOL
In GOGU--the autobiography--Olivia, I'm sure you'll find this odd, had a LOT of my same hobbies and obsessions. Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, watching movies (and quoting them), cooking, making costumes (even when it wasn't Halloween), and Pepsi. (Or Diet Mountain Dew. I'm sure Olivia drank both.) She also hated weddings. I think the only thing she didn't do was write. Which incidentally I'm not doing right now either. Huh.
In A&E, Eve likes to bake. I'm not a very good baker. I'm a better cook than baker because baking is chemistry and much more precise. Cooking has less rules and more creativity. However, I love watching those shows on the Food Network where they bake cakes--and I want to do that. So Eve does.
LOL, Melissa, at the Scooby Doo episode! I like that idea.
And Hellie, I prefer baking, because I like to have a recipe to follow. The "no rules" part of cooking makes me a nervous wreck. LOL
It's not that I don't use a recipe when cooking. I do. It's just if I happen to be missing an ingredient, I feel confident enough to substitute it with something else that will be comparable and be just as good.
You can't sub as willy-nilly in baking. "Oh, I don't have enough white flour. I'll put in WHOLE WHEAT flour!" You can't do that. You alter the chemistry too much of the baked goods.
That's my problem, Hellie, I don't have the confidence to substitute ingredients when I'm cooking -- because I'm not a cook. LOL I can keep from starving (OBVIOUSLY -- helloooo, extra 20 lbs? LOL)
But when it comes to cooking, I'm a plotter, not a pantser. LOL The opposite of when I'm writing.
I realized the other day that I have unconsciously given my characters some of my qualities. Consciously I've given them gifts and experiences I lack. I can't carry a tune in a bucket; one of my characters is a successful singer/songwriter. sewing on a button is a major achievement for me; one of my characters is a textile artist who creates wonderful things with her stitchery. I'm mostly an armchair traveler; one of my characters has traveled all over the world. I've always wanted to have the money and skills to restore a 19th-century house; one of my characters is a restoration architect. I enjoy the vicarious living. :)
Morning! Sorry I be so late...
Di R...I done that, too! I'm not an artist, but I have friends who are artists...so though my H/H may not be an artists (I'm still lacking confidence when it comes to actually describing the skill) they can be appreciative and understand art. Like what I manage to absorb by walking through an art show with my friend, Pat.
Did the pirate dinner theater last year when in Orlando...not bad. I saw many places where my story would have been more entertaining...but then they couldn't let the kids in.
My kiddo has officially graduated 5th grade! It's on to middle school! And teenage-dom. Not as excited about that part.
This blog just gave me an awesome idea. My next WIP is set on Ocracoke Island which is where Blackbeard was finally defeated. Perfect place for a pirate festival. Must throw this into the plot somewhere.
I give my characters my personality quirks, but not my hobbies or occupations. So far, anyway. Now that I think about it, Emma doesn't even have a hobby. But she's a single mom (something I know a tad about) so who has time for a hobby?!
My next heroine is a lawyer, but her real love is making jewelry, something I've never done. Thankfully, Chance and J are great sources for insight and wisdom on the subject.
I can't really cook or bake. Didn't get the gene. My grandmother used to do both when I was a kid. There was always dough rising somewhere in the house. Man, those cloverleaf rolls were awesome. I'm trying to get my mom to send me her old cookbooks so I can throw one together for the family. Maybe I'll get up the courage to try some of them as I go.
Marn - We'd have such fun on a pirate cruise. They have one every year outta Sausalito, north of San Francisco and they slip around the bay, singing chanties and serving up snacks. Would be just the right size fer all a' us and our loved ones...
You could have yer heroine wrangling kids!
Donna - I do me damndest to get coffee and chocolate into my books. Damn the historical accuracy! These are things I need, so my heroine, who is the ideal me, must have them, too.
If a pirate fest not be in yer neighborhood, look fer the SCA or simple Renaissance Faires... Yer in Boston? Well, not far from Mystic Seaport... Find something ta answer the nautical longings...
In fact, Donna, one a' these days I figure on creating a heroine who really knows coffee. Been a barista maybe. I already used me bookstore experience in The Alien Library...
Not that I ever been a barista. I never tended bar but me newest heroine did!
Be all you can be...in fiction!
Melissa - Oh, there be so many possibilities fer murder and mayhem at festival. And if ya have yer fictional event move inta the evening...even better! Of consider an SCA event, where the burning of artificial light is highly discouraged...so it's mostly candle lanters, etc. Makes for a wonderful atmosphere. And no radios...coleman stoves are hidden...authenticity, or at least the appearance of authenticity is the key to a good SCA event.
In Vallejo, ya got the waterfront right there!
*splash!
Oops!
So...writing is like baking? you can't just subsitute ingedients?
I wonder...
Hellie - Hey, write what ya know and love. I love to watch those shows on the Food Network. Don't know how to cook or bake, but I like to watch the shows!
I think when ya visits Hogwarts, ya should consider how best to set some bit a' fun there... What a fun adventure you could have start or stop there...
Janga - Yeah. I love living vicariously through my characters. I like the idea of writing someone who can whip together costumes at the drop of a hat. I can use found objects and do fairly well, but sewing?
It would be fun to have someone who knew how to use a dressmaking dummy, for example. Or coulc do more than gape up at ornate builings and say, "Wow." You know, someone who would actually know the style, era, details of description that move beyond the Wow...
My latest knows how to make books, ala bookbinding, folding, stitching etc. Something I know a little bit about, but have never done. It was intersting, trying to figure out how much detail to include, what terms, etc, so that anyone who knows how to do it won't automatically write me a nasty letter...
I probably failed. But what the hell!
Chance, I think I found me a pirate festival! In Gloucester, which isn't too far of a drive. It's this weekend and next, but since it's supposed to be wicked hot this weekend, I may wait til the next weekend.
I'll report back on my findings! LOL
And big whoohoo for kiddo!
Bo'sun! I thought of you and Okracoke when I wrote this! I actually saw the island mentioned in a magazine I just finished...as a place that is good for a visit...? Must find that mag...
Yeah, I have my heroine in the Alien Library talk about her mothers cinnamon rolls and how good they smelled... A good memory to include in.
I think these little tidbits give our stuff authenticity. Even if we get some details wrong, it shows we are making the effort.
What do you think?
Pirate festival in Gloucester (did I spell that right?)... That would be fun. Thing about pirate festivals, sure ya can dress up in heavy coats and skirts and the like. Or! You can be a simple seaman, and go with cropped pants and a simple white shirt. Just tie it all up with a striped belt a sorts...were sandals and dangle usefull things from the belt.
Instant pirate!
Mmm, I hadn't thought about going as a pirate -- just wanted to hang around some of them. LOL I'll have to see what I can scare up.
And Bo'sun, congrats for the kiddo!
Well, ya want to wear something a' the pirate just so ya don't get taken fer a total rube. Though anyone selling costumes would love ta sell you whatever ya might need...
If nothing else, try a bandana in yer hair...
Now, at the SCA, if ya show up in civies, everyone treats ya like her barmy and naked.
Thanks for all the insider scoop, Chance!
When all else fails, a black t-shirt with something witty on it will make the locals raise an eyebrow and put a sparkle in their eye...
Thanks for the congrats. I just dropped her off at the 5th grade pool party at the fancy racquet club around the corner. HUGE pool for the kids only today. DJ and food and drinks. For some reason, she was horrified at the idea of me staying, so I'm home in the air conditioning for a while. LOL!
Donna - You have to take a pic of how you dress for the festival. I haven't seen anything like these things here. I need to look.
I need to pull out me pirate magazine, where they list the festivals...
Arrr! Me magazine had a link ta pirate events... check 'er out!
http://www.piratesmagazine.com/events.html
Think I saw one there in yer neighborhood, Bo'sun.
Well, I'd hoped to inspire a bit more commenting...but Friday is Friday! And I'm off to walk the dog and get me caffeine fix... Hope ta badger ya all later!
I'll have to save the Hogwarts adventures for something more appropriate, because they won't work for A&E. I could think about adding a "theme park" date to the story though but honestly I don't know how many "dates" I'll be including anyway. The story doesn't seem to be working in that direction.
We have our own little small town festival today actually...the Rhubarb Fesitval where the new king and queen - - wearing lots of rhubarb leaves of course -- gets crowned and has to dance around. LOL This comes later tonight and earlier this morning my son participated in the turtle races - - bring your own turtle. :) His turtle came in fourth but I think the turtle was tired from being in multiple races until my son's 8-9 year old age group! LOL
I guess these experiences would be kind of fun to use for a big city hero or heroine dropped into a small town environment.
Hel, maybe A&E wouldn't appreciate Hogwarts, but I bet you could create a new heroine who would...
Rhubarb festival! I love it. We have the artichoke festival, the strawberry festival... I suppose they only reason they don't have a brussel sprouts festival is it lacks glamour...
*snicker
I think they do something with asparagus and then there is always the world famous Gilory Garlic festival!
Food! Glorious Food!
I tart everything up.
I managed to get my love of computer gadgets into my Twin stories and the love of cars and dangerous objects/things. Guns, knives, ice picks... you name it. I'm going to find a way to weave it in there. Maybe even a fire thrower. Now that would be cool.
Do you watch Mythbusters, Sinsister? Where they nearly always blow something up at the end of the show? Whether it involved something blowing up or not?
Somehow, I can see you on that show...
I've seen it in passing a couple of times. We don't have cable and I'm not much of a TV watcher.
Flamethrowers...guns...c-4... It's so you!
I'm pretty sure it would give me great ideas that would go horribly wrong. lol
They do warn people not to attempt these things at home. They are the experts! But you know horrible things go on all the time after one of their shows.
The other night on Burn Notice, they showed how to get through an electrical fence using spray on foam insulation and special wire cutters... I thought... "Wonder who will try that?"
I can see my travel addiction and scrapbooking hobby making it into my books. :)
Growing up in a small town makes me seriously consider creating a "small town" series since I know them so well.
I also think my geektastic movie and comic book/cartoon mojo will have to show up in a character or two. I mean I need to make them cool right? LOL
A scrapbooking super hero? Why not?
I have my heroine in The Caribbean Series speak seriously about missing movie soundtracks and the great Pixar animated movies... Which she quotes from now and then, just for her personal amusement.
Well, time to get the doggie home and maybe dig into the rum. Been one a' those days...
How about a favorite location, vacation spot, dream home?
Right now Chance, locking my self in the bathroom with a romance novelbottle of rum sounds like a favorite location vacation dream spot right about now!
All I'll say is the DH took the day off...
Make that "romance novel & a bottle of rum".
He was talking to me while I was trying to type. He wanted me to look at the grass. SO I could see for myself how it was mulched to a lovely pile of nothingness.
Yep, Chance, IT has Been one a’ those days…
Yes. It has. I need a hug. And three pitchers of margaritas. Stat.
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