The Writing Life: punctuated by lack of sleep and food cravings, work gets done.

[lagilman]

So.

Woke up at 3am. Chatted online for a bit with a fellow insomniac. Crashed for about an hour of actual doze-time. Woke up, read over my beta's comments on a short story, started the thinking process up again on how to fix what we both agreed was the problem area. Fed cats. Showered. Was about to make coffee when pleasantly interrupted by a knock on the virtual door.

Finally got to coffee, and thinking. Writing. Deleting. Chasing my tail on this one, in that I know what's to be done, but can't quite find the words for it. I'm very particular about the words. Words are what leads me to all else, the sound and the fullness and the placement and the texture of all the words, individually and together and apart.

linen doves
crumped in my hand
released, fly


I love this story, for all that it's making me crazy finding the right words. It's growing, getting darker and larger and more true to itself. And letting me see further into this world than I had been able to see before, unfolding like origami paper so that I can see how it's all done, then folding itself back up again.

even if we
don't know what we hear,
trees make noise.


And I keep thinking "I need a rare-cooked slab of steak. And some halvah. Where are my serving boys, to bring me sustanance?" The cats, although loving, know not where to find halvah. And if that's not the opening line to something, I don't know what is. Next story, maybe.


After this one. And the revisions letter for Morgain's I/n/d/i/g/e/s/t/i/o/n/ Revenge that I'm still waiting waiting waiting on.

Comments

[windrose.livejournal.com]

The cats, although loving, know not where to find halvah. And if that's not the opening line to something, I don't know what is.

LOL! It sounds like something I'd want to read. :-)

[deire.livejournal.com]

I love the haiku. And yes, the cats finding halvah could become a short story. Which reminds me that I need to bring the halvah with me for Adam when I visit next time.

[lagilman]

Adam G? Interesting, as I got my craving for halvah from my dad. I suspect a genetic predisposition... *grin*

[liuseth.livejournal.com]

What is Halvah?

[lagilman]

Sweetmeats of the gods (and no, don't ask me why it's called a sweetmeat while sweetbreads are not bread at all, either...).

Ground sesame seeds, and honey, with pistachio or almonds, and cinnamon or cardamon, blended into this long loaf from which you cut off slices at a time. It's absolutely divine, crumbly and sweet, and a little bit greasy, and not to be confused with the abominations they sell prepackaged and coated in chocolate (ugh).

I can only consume a few bites at a time before overloading, but oh! Such bliss.

I had brunch with my folks a few weeks ago and the place we were at sold it the traditional way (carved off this monster log) and my dad and I just stood there and drooled. Wish I'd bought some then, although there's no way I'd have any left at this point...

[liuseth.livejournal.com]

So i'm guessing from your descriptions it's a *little* similar in taste to a pastryless baklavah?

Sounds absolutely delish! I can imagine it goes down really with with some good quallity coffee :)

[lagilman]

So i'm guessing from your descriptions it's a *little* similar in taste to a pastryless baklavah?

Not really -- all the ingredients are ground into a paste, and then formed into the loaf, so the texture is totally different. Someone once described it as "pate for dessert."

[liuseth.livejournal.com]

Ahh Ok.

I think i'll look to find some here. I definitely would like to try it.

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

Where are my serving boys, to bring me sustanance?

Did you ring the little crystal bell? They won't come unless you ring.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Where are my serving boys, to bring me sustanance?

That really is the question for the ages.

[badgermirlacca.livejournal.com]

So no sticky fingerprints on the envelope, huh?

You should have indulged.