tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post8334823283924236955..comments2024-03-28T17:06:34.405-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: ON WHAT LIES BENEATHJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58644676715738594312008-07-23T23:19:00.000-04:002008-07-23T23:19:00.000-04:00So here's a totally unrelated fact that my honey t...So here's a totally unrelated fact that my honey told me today:<BR/><BR/>Hail starts out as a little piece of dirt or debris in the atmosphere. It gathers moisture and freezes as it falls, but it's not very heavy so it bounces back up--then up and down and up and down until it gets heavy enough that it finally falls to the ground. That's how hail gets to be the size of golf balls or baseballs.<BR/><BR/>But isn't that how writing works, with a grain of an idea, and it bounces around and we build and build....Okay--sort of related!<BR/><BR/>I would go into major debt for fabulous new shingles that might have been hand-weathered by Tibetan monks or something. I'm a sucker for an old house!Laura Benedicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08474185786017084327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5622157664339630132008-07-22T12:28:00.001-04:002008-07-22T12:28:00.001-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Susannah Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660387525544941776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12985975973901698152008-07-22T12:28:00.000-04:002008-07-22T12:28:00.000-04:00"Who did this work?" My husband says that's what e...<I>"Who did this work?" My husband says that's what everyone from your contractor to your dentist says when they see "what lies beneath."<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>Yeah. Airplane mechanics, too, peering into the engine after a pilot has seen a gauge redline or heard a guddling sputter in flight.<BR/><BR/>Good times.<BR/><BR/>---<BR/>I was just thinking about a Victorian B&B I know here in Texas that was covered in Truly Awful mod-blue siding in 1967. They are restoring it the way Sheila cites. Front first, then back, then sides. They had the siding painted (there's siding paint now, where apparently there didn't useta be) and restored the house in $-viable sections, concentrating first on curb appeal and then guest enjoyment in the back garden. Maybe that would work for the shingle conundrum? Though I have no idea how the transition areas between shingles and siding would work at the joining corners.<BR/><BR/>There's a reason I'm not in construction/renovation: zero talent.Susannah Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660387525544941776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57500546292857535372008-07-22T12:22:00.000-04:002008-07-22T12:22:00.000-04:00"My momma said, 'Life is like a box of chocolates...."My momma said, 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna find!"<BR/><BR/>I have always found this opening line of "Forest Gump" fascinating!<BR/><BR/>And, so it is. Hank, when you do the movie for "Prime Time" you can say with an uncanny level of authenticity - "Like is like a New England House..."<BR/><BR/>Of course, as you all know, there are no accidents in life. So, everything is there for a reason. I think you captured it well by referencing both editing and the money pit. Both in excess can be pits - money or time. The trick is in knowing what the balance is. As you know a great idea can be diminished by over editing as well as under or poor editing.<BR/><BR/>I liked Jan's comment about getting it all on paper. Sometimes that's the only way. Especially, a work that is 'story' driven because the scenes can follow once the depth of the story is fleshed out. I would keep track of what flashes in terms of scenes as I write. Sometimes the scene itself can be a motivator.<BR/><BR/>As far as the house goes - What a lovely house. I'm assuming the front of the house faces the car in the drive. So that would make the one side visible from the street. Hmm... that does create some blend issues. I can understand why JRW readers would not want to hear the 'restore price'. Finding grey weathered New Englandy singles itself is a task. Since I am the master of optimized procrastination - do not rush into something before weighing the pros and cons. I usually have quite amazing solutions arise in that period that looks like delay or procrastination.<BR/><BR/>BTW - That also includes editing for me. Especially major edits.<BR/><BR/>For me the question would be - 'What does the house represent to me?" I'd look for the solution that makes it my house in the complete sense - including real estate value. Could you force yourself to paint the grey weathered shingles - wow, that caused a shudder in me. Still, there needs to be an overall solution that works for you and the house - and in editing you and the manuscript, as well.<BR/><BR/>MikeMike Vecchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016079615702702269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25973886828919893762008-07-22T06:30:00.000-04:002008-07-22T06:30:00.000-04:00"Who did this work?" My husband says what what eve..."Who did this work?" My husband says what what everyone from your contractor to your dentist says when they see "what lies beneath."Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35758032717999786572008-07-21T23:37:00.000-04:002008-07-21T23:37:00.000-04:00Dani--that's genius!Will you come back and guest b...Dani--that's genius!Will you come back and guest blog for us--about blogging? (Let me know..and we'll plan!)<BR/><BR/>(How meta can you get!)<BR/><BR/>Wednesday: how a debut author balances the buzz of her just-published mystery--with the mystery of taking care of her kids!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35059452247004064002008-07-21T17:57:00.000-04:002008-07-21T17:57:00.000-04:00Let's be creative. I'd go for a completely differ...Let's be creative. I'd go for a completely different, yet somehow coordinated, look on each side. You could have the Victorian front, the Japanese back, a French Provincial side, and the Italianate other. With complementary gardens. It could happen, right? Better yet, each project only involves 1/4 of the whole, so less time and money for each phase. And think of the theme party possibilities. Oh, yeah... writing. Um. The Traveling Salesman Mysteries? Descriptive flavors in your own home setting? You could probably write remodeling expenses off on your tax return using this ploy. ;) Or not. <BR/><BR/>Dani<BR/><BR/>http://quickest.blogbooktourguide.ever.comDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17230464936153396292008-07-21T16:38:00.000-04:002008-07-21T16:38:00.000-04:00Thanks Susannah, I'll look up that forum! And you ...Thanks Susannah, I'll look up that forum! And you get some rest..<BR/><BR/>And Sheila--that's lovely. And very comforting. Thank you. Perfect. Now I'm going to look up spokeshave.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85696099168542754052008-07-21T08:51:00.000-04:002008-07-21T08:51:00.000-04:00Oh, did I mention I'm a shingling expert? I even ...Oh, did I mention I'm a shingling expert? I even own a spokeshave for trimming (look it up).<BR/><BR/>I cringe every time I see a lovely Victorian wrapped in plastic. I'm appalled at the sheets of stamped plastic that mimic fishscale shingles. Like anybody is fooled.<BR/><BR/>If you want to stick with the editing analogy, I'd say: go with your first impulse. Buildings as originally built had an internal integrity, and later "improvements" seldom make things better.<BR/><BR/>BTW, there's a great old New England tradition of putting the "good" stuff on the front where it shows, and putting the plainer stuff on the other sides. So if you go for a fancy front, you're in good company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82824279882531403842008-07-20T20:35:00.000-04:002008-07-20T20:35:00.000-04:00When we were looking at a period-relevant remodel,...When we were looking at a period-relevant remodel, this forum was very helpful.<BR/><BR/>http://www.oldhouseweb.com/forums/<BR/><BR/>Though I live in Texas and the group was helpful here, they are particularly versed in New England period homes (or they were when we were using the forum as a resource), and may be able to give you some been-there-restored-that advice.<BR/><BR/>What a lovely home you have, even photographed in transition.<BR/><BR/>I'm just back from a conference and so saturated that I can't even think about the question as a metaphor for writing, but the responses are provocative!Susannah Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660387525544941776noreply@blogger.com