Just a couple weeks ago I decided to publicly commit to doing NaNoWriMo this year. And I made that decision knowing I would be traveling the first few days of November and would probably have to play catch-up when I got home, but since my writing progress this year has been slim to none, I hoped it would be the boot to the keister I needed to get going.
Turns out that was a mistake. The boot came in the form of Bouchercon, which is where I was when NaNo started. It was inspiring to be back in that community again and one of the writing decisions I made while there is to focus primarily on short stories for the next year. My goal is to get published a few more times so that I'll have books to promote and be eligible to be on panels at the writing conferences I attend. That is something I can do to boost my career. Doing NaNoWriMo - while I think it's a good thing for people who want to take a shot at writing the first draft of a novel - isn't really going to affect my writing career.
In addition, the project I was going to work on for NaNo got put on the back burner when another idea I had jotted down a few notes for a while back suddenly decided to appear very well formed in my brain last night. I don't know why it suddenly came to life, but it did and I'm certainly not going to fight it. I'm about 99% sure I'm going to write it as a pilot script, which would be great for competitions in 2020. It's going to be secondary to short stories, but since it's fresh in my mind I want to get going on it. And since we're talking about 60 pages, like short stories, it's something I can keep a handle on, unlike my attempts at novels. So despite having had every intention of doing NaNo this year, the reality is that I think the shorts and pilot are professionally my best bets.
I'm trying not to feel like I'm flaking out on yet another commitment, but it's hard not to feel like I did just that. But I really feel like this plan is best for me right now.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have some writing to do.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Friday, November 8, 2019
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
The Brother and I checked out The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza when we were in Dallas. It was walking distance from our hotel and it's something everyone should check out at least once. If you go, be sure to do the audio tour. It's really well done and they don't charge any extra for it (entry is $18).
You are literally on the sixth floor of the former Texas School Book Depository Building (now the Dallas County Administration Building). The corner where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed President John F. Kennedy is sectioned off by plexiglass walls, but the rest of the floor is home to the museum.
Despite the horrific history of the place, the museum is really well done and I'm glad I went. In addition to providing a history of the Kennedy presidency leading up to the assassination, as well as the aftermath, the museum has some amazing artifacts. Check it out:
It was supposed to be a charmed period for America. You know, Camelot:
Hmmm, sounds kinda familiar:
An invitation to the luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart. The presidential caravan was on its way when Oswald changed history:
The President and First Lady making their way through Dallas:
And then:
That's the window:
Some of the artifacts:
This is the actual place setting that was awaiting the President at the Trade Mart:
That iconic photo:
The aftermath:
A model showing the trajectory of the shots fired:
On the street below (Elm Street), there are X's on the pavement where Oswald's bullets hit:
On the far right is our hotel (The Hyatt Regency Dallas) and Reunion Tower from out in front of the museum:
Because I was traveling, I skipped the bookstore part of the gift shop because I knew I would run wild. I already had four books from Bouchercon and was concerned about getting everything in the suitcase. Unfortunately, the Sixth Floor Museum gift shop is not online, but I was told it will be in the near future. I'm looking forward to that.
You are literally on the sixth floor of the former Texas School Book Depository Building (now the Dallas County Administration Building). The corner where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed President John F. Kennedy is sectioned off by plexiglass walls, but the rest of the floor is home to the museum.
Despite the horrific history of the place, the museum is really well done and I'm glad I went. In addition to providing a history of the Kennedy presidency leading up to the assassination, as well as the aftermath, the museum has some amazing artifacts. Check it out:
It was supposed to be a charmed period for America. You know, Camelot:
Hmmm, sounds kinda familiar:
An invitation to the luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart. The presidential caravan was on its way when Oswald changed history:
The President and First Lady making their way through Dallas:
And then:
That's the window:
The view from the sixth floor:
Some of the artifacts:
This is the actual place setting that was awaiting the President at the Trade Mart:
That iconic photo:
The aftermath:
A model showing the trajectory of the shots fired:
On the street below (Elm Street), there are X's on the pavement where Oswald's bullets hit:
On the far right is our hotel (The Hyatt Regency Dallas) and Reunion Tower from out in front of the museum:
Because I was traveling, I skipped the bookstore part of the gift shop because I knew I would run wild. I already had four books from Bouchercon and was concerned about getting everything in the suitcase. Unfortunately, the Sixth Floor Museum gift shop is not online, but I was told it will be in the near future. I'm looking forward to that.
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