Movie Month

Although I love going to the theater, I very rarely actually go – until now.  For some reason I have been a movie fiend lately.  I realize this is probably due to the fact that I finally have money to go to the theater and enjoy myself without calculating what’s left in my bank account.  Yay for full-time jobs and a summer filled with movies worth seeing!

The last three movies I saw in theaters were Independence Day: Resurgence, Swiss Army Man, and The Secret Life of Pets.

The License Plate Game: Solo Game Play

First, I want to start off by giving an update on my new job.  I still really enjoy it and everyone I work with, but it keeps me super busy.  I’m up at 5, leave for work around 6, get to work around 7:45-8, get off around 4:15-4:30, and get home around 6:30.  I am on the computer all day so the last thing I want to do when I get home or on the weekend is get on my computer.

That being said, I have been working on a post for a few weeks now by collecting all of the fun license plates I see while commuting.  So even though I haven’t posted anything, I’ve been constantly thinking about it!

Work Week 1: COMPLETE!

This week I started working as an Editorial Assistant at SAGE Publications.  Not only am I finally in the field I have been dreaming of for years, but the people I work with are wonderful.

Information Overload

My brain has too many tabs open.

Too many things are grabbing my attention

and I’m processing slow.

It’s a drag.

Like a virus clogging up synapse highways.

The Shock and Awe of Employment

When I was in my undergrad at CSU, Northridge (Go Matadors!) I discovered a passion – editing and proofreading the writing of others.  Or more specifically and as others might put it, fixing people’s mistakes.

Since then, I have offered my services as a freelancer to friends, family, and friends of friends.  Most of the time I did research or term papers but on occasion I would get to do fun stuff like create, proofread, edit, and distribute a birthday fact sheet or proofread/edit creative writing such as short stories and novels.

Sadly, I did not have the time to consider completing an internship in the editing/publishing field during my undergrad because I was commuting to school which I was attending full time and working part time whenever possible.  So naturally when I graduated and started looking for a job in my desired field I lacked the necessary experience which I would have gained from an internship.  Hindsight truly is 20/20.

“The Seventh Inning Stretch”

My grandfather recently passed and I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump.  So the last few weeks I have made it a mission of mine to do more writing and be more creative.  I came across this prompt in my Pinterest from a while ago and thought that it might help get some of the weight I’ve been feeling about his passing.  I originally pinned this prompt because I found it to be interesting (although not fantastically new in any way) and when I came across it the other day it seemed morbidly fitting for my mood.  The good news is, my grandfather was always a very happy and light-hearted man and his funeral was much the same. 

Everyday Beauty and Ignorance

 

A co-worker recently made me aware of a 2007 social experiment done by The Washington Post in conjunction with Joshua Bell.  Naturally I had to investigate the truth of the e-mail I was sent and found an article on The Washington Post webpage that verified to validity (at least somewhat) of the e-mail.  Bell, a popular and incredibly talented violinist, was asked to dress modestly and play in a well-populated Washington, D.C. Metro Station during morning work rush hour.

 

The short clip published with the article portrays his beautiful artistry and the lack of public interest.  The experiment was to bring into question how people would respond.  The article written by Gene Weingarten presents a plethora of questions regarding the experiment:  “Do you stop and listen?  Do you hurry past with a blend of guild and irritation, aware of your cupidity but annoyed by the unbidden demand on your time and your wallet?  Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite?  Does your decision change if he’s really bad?  What if he’s really good?  Do you have time for beauty?  Shouldn’t you?  What’s the moral mathematics of the moment?”

 

I think that humans are inherently drawn to beauty but the demands of

Forbidden Basement Pt. II

First, let me preface this by saying that I have had a lot going on lately and offer my apologies for making my readers wait so long to read the second half of the story.  I meant to get it online two weeks ago but never got around to it.

But the good news… here it is!  It’s really more like the last 4/5 of the story because it is so much longer than I intended.  So thank you for reading and I hope the lengthy cliffhanger was worth it when you read the rest.  Enjoy!

“Forbidden Basement” (continued) by Sabrina Buie

Harper pulled her long cardigan tight around her and kept her arms crossed as she stared into the dark abyss of the basement.  She could see the faint glow of muddled sunlight coming in through a small window somewhere down there.  A few stairs down there was an old dusty light switch.  She stepped cautiously down to the third step and reached out to flip the switch.  It made a light click, but nothing happened.  She flipped it off and on again a couple more times.  Still nothing.  The moonlight streaming into the basement was not comfort enough for her to venture any further into the dark, dank basement so she backtracked quickly up the stairs and closed the door behind her. 

Amateur Writer Phase 2

In September of this year I shared with readers my amateur attempt at writing a novel.  Since then, I started and finished the final quarter of my graduate program, started working part time, and had overwhelming family issues to handle.

As you might assume, I have not added very many pages since I last posted.  However, I have added to it!  That’s something, if you ask me.

I’ve determined who my villain is (I think this is finally set in stone) and the background story of my protagonist.  Also in the works is a romance between my protagonist and her ultra-hot, mysterious, southern neighbor.

Some things I’m considering:

• Perhaps my protagonist needs a dog.  A big, fluffy, lovable “guard dog.”
• Perhaps the fluffy dog will have a sophisticated name combined with a clumsy personality.
• Perhaps my protagonist needs a different occupation.
• Perhaps the romance of the novel will be something of a Stephanie Plum nature – complicated but layered with humor.
• Perhaps, the novel needs more round and interesting characters, unless I decide to keep it in heavily drenched in the psychological.  In which case most of my characters could be flat and merely props.

These are just a few things I’ve been considering.  I’ve also been considering posting a portion of what I have written for outside critique.  But I so hate rejection and as of right now I quite enjoy what I have written.  It needs work – a lot of work.  But I enjoy it.  I think it has potential.  Even if that potential ultimately leads to self-publication and it only being read by friends and family.  That would be a success to me!

I will report again once three more months have passed and we shall see where the novel has progressed to.

Happy reading, writing, living, and loving!

Enjoy the sun and moon, WriterlyBite patrons.

❤