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Writing My Ass Off
I have been writing a lot this past week or so. I am really doing my best to be done with the first draft of the second novel by September 1. It would be really great to start my career with one novel and have the second one ready to go shortly thereafter. After the first two novels, I think I'd like to release the first volume of poetry. Ultimately, in five years, I want three novels and three books of poetry. That's a pretty decent goal to have, eh? Especially if I am self-publishing.
I had a conversation with Shari today. Every now and then I need to discuss "art" with her. Although she was a business major, she minored in English and has a really good eye for plot development. Anyway, it was good to know that she and I were on the same page about this one particular element of my novel. I am pretty stubborn when it comes to...well, when it comes to anything, but especially my craft. I take very few people's opinions to heart in this game. Well, probably more people than average, but...a lot of people who think they know me probably don't, at least when it comes to writing.
How many people know that I really like science-fiction and horror and that after my initial projects are out, I'd like to turn my attention to those genres?
Ummmmmm-hmmmmmm. Didn't think so. Ha ha ha.
Posted by Rashid on July 31, 2004 at 8:32 PM
The Website and More
Man, I gotta hand it to my sorizzle fa shizzle. She is doing a Phi-nominal job on my website! She is definitely kicking my arse in front of the technological curve. I love it! I also just uploaded a crap-load of pictures to the gallery.
Other random notes from the past few days:
Why does Teresa Heinz-Kerry remind me so much of Dr. Geraldine Slaughter? I know, her name doesn't even sound real. Dr. Slaughter was an administrator at my high school while I was there. She wasn't very tall, had longish, bouncy hair like Teresa, and was sorta stern. I think she'd tell a kid to "shove it." he he he
It wasn't a great day fraternally, but as usual, I am persevering. (And only a frat nerd like me would cringe because I used another organizations's principle to describe my current situation, lol)
I lost my remote control for a few days, but I found it this morning. It had fallen behind the bed. Man, that messed me up for two whole days.
I really wish I was in good health, but I'm not. I'm not dying, so don't get scared. But I really wish I wouldn't get bronchitis. I think it's definitely tied into allergies or something. I just hate the feeling of congestion and coughing.
I have had three major ailments in my life (not counting the mental ones, ha ha): migraine headaches, bronchitis, and stomach problems. If I ever say that I am sick, it is usually one of those. Honestly, if I have a migraine, you just won't see me, because I will be laying down in a dark room with a cold compress on my head. Also, I do a better job at monitoring what I eat, at what times of day. That definitely has an effect on when I might get a migraine. As far as stomach problems, I don't really get them like I once did. I was a really stressed out teenager, and that's how it would manifest itself.
But bronchitis is the worst. Well, I'd really rather not have any of my main three problems. The migraines are the most painful, but the bronchitis is the most aggravating. With a migraine, I might miss a day of work. With bronchitis...I might be messed up for weeks.
Luckily, right now, even though I am not in perfect health, I can function.
Once I am able to, I am definitely going to take better care of myself. I eat well, but I definitely need to exercise more and start taking vitamins again.
I'm so hard headed, though....
Posted by Rashid on July 29, 2004 at 11:46 PM
DJ Parler
I've probably never mentioned how much I love DJ Parler.
I had a really nice 40 minute conversation with the brother. I was really glad I decided to call him. He seemed to be really excited about the book and whatnot. I expected him to be, but he also gave some good advice, too. He works in the music industry, which has a lot of similarities to the book industry.
He also made a good comment about how happy he was to see more books on 125th street than crack. I feel that. A while back, reading wasn't as cool as it is now.
DJ Parler is the homie. Me, him, and my ex-roommate lost a friend in a car accident last year, and I feel like I've gotten closer to him since then. I'd hate to say "because of" Maya's death we are closer, but for me, losing her made me realize how much I need to hold the people I love close to me. DJ Parler is one of those people.
Actually....DJ Parler and one of my girls from college sorta made this triad. Me and my friend liked throwing parties, and we always got him to be our DJ. I remember one time...it was Easter weekend, 2000. Georgetown always had a mini-break around Easter, so those of us who stayed behind were always bored stiff. All I remember is me and my friend visiting Parler and being like...."You KNOW you ain't got no gig tonight...you might as well just bring your equipment down to the community room and throw a party."
And he did! For freakin' free!
Later that night, Parler gave me 151 for the first time....and the lesson from that experience is "Never let the DJ mix your drinks."
Posted by Rashid on July 27, 2004 at 4:18 PM
Going to the Post Office
I'm going to the post office today to mail Soror her shirt that I really should have mailed to her a few months back. Oops. She visited DC on the weekend that the Ques, Deltas, and Zetas all came out at Howard. After the Deltas came out, we went to the Guild, across the street from Howard. She paid for the shirt with her credit card and I said "Suuuuuuure! I'll pick it up next week and drop it in the mail, SAWRAH!"
Well, needless to say, that was April, now it is July. I went back to the Guild last week to pick it up, and it looks nice.
I am also going to mail my manuscript to Neil. He is interested in designing the cover, as is another friend of mine. I kinda asked them both on the same day. I am interested in seeing the designs that they come up with. I feel like Neil is gonna have some funky, Asian influenced design that could work well. But I also feel like Scott might have some really intense concept, as well. I don't know....I like them both and if they both have really awesome designs, I'm really not trying to reject a friend. At the same time, it's all bidness, I suppose. I'll love them both regardless.
I am hoping that while at the Post Office, I can get a PO Box. That will be incredibly necessary in the coming year when I take pre-orders and mail orders for the book. But the ghetto ass Post Office in my neighborhood said they don't have any boxes available. Doesn't that suck? They are the "mean" Post Office anyway. When I say mean, them negroes are MEAN. I have to use the ill Georgetown voice on them sometimes. You know, the hoity toity "I can't believe I'm even speaking to you, but I will if I must" voice.
So, I might just go up the street to the next neighborhood over. There is this reaaaaaaaly nice Delta who works in the "good" post office. Plus, this one is cleaner and looks bigger, like they might have more Boxes. So, we shall see.
Posted by Rashid on July 26, 2004 at 1:53 PM | TrackBack
White Boys
White boys are so pretty
White boys are so sweet
White boys drive me crazy
Drive me indiscreet ---- White Boys, from the musical Hair
Lately, I've had this "thing."
For twenty-five years of my life, I've been pretty much exclusively attracted to men of color. Okay, not the whole 25 years, but at least since puberty. I was raised in a 99 percent black environment here in DC...all I knew was black men and black women. My whole family is black except for my great-grandmother and an aunt by marriage.
Even when I went to college, I was mostly attracted to men of color. 'Ceptin' for this one dude who was Ukrainian, maybe? We kissed once. But once I turned 21, it was nothing but the Black and Latino brothers. FOUR YEARS at a white college, and white men never turned my head.
But now, I'm sorta....feenin' for one?
As much as I loathe the objectification of black men in popular media, here I am getting real enthusiastic about Dean Cain (part Asian), Ben Affleck, and Tobey McGuire.
It's not a universal kind of thing....I don't want EVERY white man. And I don't want a white man exclusively. I still see me spending my life with an African American or Latino man.
But I think I need to date some Caucasoids soon.....