There is a thread for "what are you reading," thus, what are you writing? A book, a proposal, a grocery list, a warrant...

I'm working on a new novel. About sixty pages of ink spilled so far and counting.

Hi, i never really make note....let me see.

1. To-Do list at work (i'm almost re-writing it every other day, in a slightly Obsessive-compulsive manner)
2. Colleagues' birthday cards
3. My Moleskine datebook
4. Random lines of thought on scrap paper

I'd be happy to see additional ways to use my FP...since i have only recently started (acquired my LAMY about 2 weeks back), i carry it around so that i can use it whenever i can

Various lists

Post cards (always post cards!)

Letters

General Journal

Horse Training Journal

Creative writing (whenever inspiration hits - which is not often, lately)

------------- Judybug

Battling with the crossword having just updated my to do list.

At the moment:

Assignment drafts.

Diary entries.

Story drafts.

I write as many of my assignment and story drafts by hand as I can. It's more fun and it makes me think clearer, I reckon.

Shangas,

What kind of story drafts? Fiction? Reportage? Editorial?

Two writing projects for today are as follows:
(1) a few of snail-mail letters to friends from the FPN and Pentrace Snail-mail lists.
(2) Finishing off a short store based on a horrible experience I had , when I was growing up in India. At 16, I saw a drunk city-bus driver and the drunk conductor, who had run over and killed a woman and her little son, chased down, dragged back to the accident scene and lynched. Yup, the angry crowd just beat them to death. It was a very frightening and scary experience, yet, all present at the scene of this horrific incident seemed rather pleased with the fact that "justice" had been obtained.
Lets see how much I end up doing.

At the moment I'm working on several things.
1) a novel, 125 pages and counting
2) a work of nonfiction
3) a journal/blog

Uh, fiction, creative non-fiction, historical fiction, mystery, adventure, action...all the typical boy-stuff.

There is a thread for "what are you reading," thus, what are you writing?
I have a (mental) list of friends/family that I try to write a letter/week. I also have some notecards that i use from time to time. Both are Crane products.

I keep a Moleskine journal. It's the 3.5x5.5 size and I usually use onepage per day but do not limit myself if a lot of thing happen one day!

My wife and i recently completed a 5200 mile 19 day motoring tour of the West. I used the Moleskine info book to keep track of things and record thoughts.

I have evn transcribed the Constitution,Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta just for fun. I also have Moleskine Cahiers for specialty uses into which I write. I ahe one for monthy bills-one page per month. I have one named "Sausage Journal" that I use to make noted of my sausage-making experiences. I started a new one recently for keeping up with my herb and spice blends that i make. We ahve an herb garden and I try to dry my own herbs and experiment with various blends. PLUS I always carry a cahier in my back pocket for whatever. My MB Starwalkers are in my front pocket ever ready to write.

Shangas,

Who is your publisher?

Hah, I'm not published Writer. At least, not yet.

I just finished the first draft of my graphic novel (200 handwritten pages without much scene description - I am leaving that more to the artist). I am also working on my novel. I started it for NaNoWriMo last year, but stalled a bit and realized there were some issues with it. I have a plan for fixing them and started work on it again yesterday. I also have a short story that wants to turn itself into a novel (or more like, make itself the prologue of a novel). I am letting that one percolate on the back burner while I finish the first draft of Mortal Voice.

I am also keeping a daily journal, and trying to be a good letter correspondent.

I was hired to draft a philosophical survey, which I'm putting a cap on at the moment.

On a more interesting note, I'm applying to a number of grad schools for screenwriting within the next few months, and am in the process of finishing a full-lengther as my admission "sample." I had previously been working on a novel, and gotten about 70 pages deep before I realized I needed to stop, or else I wouldn't finish the screenplay in time for the fall admission deadlines. So, I just adapted the story I was working on.

I find screenwriting liberating, in the sense that it's not as dense or demanding as traditional prose. Of course, the format has its fundamental limitations, but I digress.

Tonight: little notes that go in the packages I'm shipping.

Over the next few days: critiques for manuscripts in a workshop I'm helping to run over the weekend. Some will be typed, but I'll use an FP for margin notes, and a different color for each read-through.

I use FPs for all my writing at work - notes, edits etc. Also for most writing at home. I've taken to carrying around a PFM loaded with bulletproof ink for those occasions when I need to sign a credit slip.

My joy though, is using my fountain pens to write and edit short stories. The first drafts are always written longhand then transcribed on the computer. I find that my connection to the story is much more immediate when I write with a FP. Also, they are much easier to lug down to the neighbourhood cafe.

---highjack alert---

There seem to be a lot of accomplished writers on this board. Is there any kind of FPN writers community? A sort of loose network of people who will review work and share tips.

Just wondering because I've had a hell of a time finding decent writers to interact with in my little burg.

---end highjack alert---

And that's what I'm writing.

Eben

Endless FPN correspondence - snail mail & postcards (I've been away for two weeks and have to catch up)

At least two journals in my purse at any time

For the past few weeks and the few weeks to come revision for exams... unfortunately I have very little time (that is why I have not been on often). I am always writing notes down and writing stuff out of books, essays etc. I cannot really pick up a Calligraphy pen to write any Calligraphy without feeling guilty that I am not revising, I do intend to get my mind off it a little more though, perhaps I will do some this weekend.

Haiku, recently. Low quality, high quantity.

Finally, today, returning to the outline of a novel (which I call my "Nick and Nora in the 21st Century" proposal). Yes, my avatar reflects this (as does my screensaver). For the last few years, I've planted pictures around myself to inspire me to keep going on X proposal.

Every day, I also compile a "To Do" list (which becomes a colorful exercise with fountain pens).

coco

Mostly:

1. Trying to finish my 2007 NaNoWriMo story. (I feel pretentious calling it a "novel"!) I usually get in fifteen or twenty minutes during lunch, and another half hour to an hour in the evening. It's slow going, but at least I'm making progress. I have other unfinished stories waiting in the wings, too. One of these days...

For this writing, I use an A4 sized Rhodia in a cheap portfolio that makes it easy to toss it in my backpack. I also keep notes, outlines, time-lines and scene sketches in a miniature Moleskine for quick reference.

2. On-going journals - I have a large Moleskine for regular journaling, and a logbook in a composition notebook. The log just has basic facts - what the weather was like that day, what I accomplished, books I started or finished, etc. It's nice as a quick reference looking back. I do more whining in the journal.

3. Poetry. Strictly for my own consumption. I've carried a small notebook with me for this purpose off and on for years. I just picked up a little No. 11 Rhodia pad to replace the cheap memo pads I was using, and I'm sooo in love with these little things! Love the smooooth graph paper, the size, the durability. It fits nicely in a pocket.

Yes, I have too many notebooks. I have more, too.

Oh let's see, the never ending 'to do' list, postcards and letters galore and the ongoing journaling.

In fits and starts I'm writing out my current frustrations in life and how to achieve my goals and dreams. I'm at some kind of muddle in the fog; writing helps me map the muddle.



Eben:

I'm new here and so can't speak with authority. There are a bunch of traveling journals, post card / letter circles and so forth for people who enjoy the act of writing with fountain pens. There may be an active critique group lurking about. If you're looking for one, just raise your hand and say, "I'm starting a writing group. Who wants in?"

I am revising an article to send off to the Journal of Latin American Studies, as well as writing a book on indigenous participation in the economic development of the Andes in the nineteenth century. Actually, a fascinating subject (at least for me) - I have had to figure out the economy of mule and llama drivers, which has been fun and a challenge (it's the chapter on the transportation system).

I'm also commenting on a book manuscript that a press sent me - I get to use all kinds of inks with my comments!

Erick

After years of hammering out short stories and, more recently, poems, I just started my first novel last week. I'm glad to say that the pen that began my first novel was my jade senior Sheaffer's Lifetime Flat-Top, my trusted daily writer. It was a tough choice between that, the Targa, and the Lamy 2000, but I feel like I've made a decision I can live with.

I probably should be thinking about my story - not me pens!

Best,
Summer Greer

Matius,

What is your novel about?

After finishing a 100,000-word-plus fic and its sequel, I'm now beginning two novellas set in that backdrop.

Lots of the first draftage (and ALL story bible notes) were done in varioius fps with all sorts of colored inks.

I recently completed the first draft of my first novel. I was at work on it for the past two and half years. I wrote the whole thing (400 pages!) with a variety of fountain pens but the last pages I wrote with my just gifted MB. Now I am typing it on my laptop. I hope to finish the typing, rewrites, and revisions by end of the year. Later I'll think of sending it off to publishers.

One thing I want to say is that writing is very hard but I love it and enjoy it a great deal. I do it every day without fail.

It might be a good idea to start a 'Writer's Group' on FPN.

Vinod

www.vinodekbote.blogspot.com

Sailor and Venod,

What are your books about in terms of plots, characters, locations?

Would like to hear and discuss.

44

Can I get in on this, too?

Right at the moment I'm writing my sermon notes with my Danitrio Densho Urushi. Life is blessed.

Dave

At the moment i am writing on stones. These i call Stone Poems and i think i've made hundreds! I don't use a FP, exactly, but it's a cousin...the Rotring .25mm Rapidoliner. I also have the .13mm which is an amazingly thin line!

Below stones are shown actual size...

~Jas
Click to view attachment

Hello!

I am currently writing in 3 separate notebooks. One is my personal diary of daily thoughts regarding the things that simply run through my mind and th tidbits of life lessons I learn. Now that I am 30 and married, I have so much more to write in this particular journal be it good or bad. This is my most personal notebook and a repository of my aspirations, frustrations, joys, fears and hopes. It is a large plain Moleskine so I can take it anywhere I feel like retreating during the week when I am not handling clients.

As a physician, I also keep a small leather-bound journal of my day-to-day experience with my work. I try to write into it everyday as I learn new things about my patients, their disease and the theories I come up with in the process of treating them. I practice integrative medicine that is a blend of western medicine, acupuncture, nutritional and herbal therapies. A recently revived and interesting field which I believe requires a lot of recording to expand its credibility and availability especially for the next generation of doctors. I am hoping to pass this on to my son if he wishes to continue what I have started. That is a long way off coz he is just a cute baby right now but a father's aspirations knows very few limits.

The third journal is a record of what I know about our family. I am the only one to undertake this endeavor of writing down what my grandparents and parents have to tell about their lives and experiences. The valuable life-changing lessons that they have learned will likely be lost in this time of ego-centric ism when children care so little about where they came from. I am of Chinese ancestry and much of our family history will likely be lost as the first generation of migrants from the mainland start to pass away. I want to leave this notebook with my son for him to continue to write regarding his family and passed on to the next generation after that. I can only hope that this will be regarded as a worthy endeavor by my descendants for decades to come. This is a beautiful leather-bound journal filled with a generous number of acid-free paper. I am proud to say this quality product is made in the Philippines under the brand of Author's.

So there it is, these are the things I write with my Rotring 700 fountain pen on a daily basis. Is this pen busy or what?



Dr. Jeff

SUGEE!!! SUBARASHII!!!! UTSUKUSHII!!!!

I love them! Jasper, I paint on beach rocks, too, but yours are exquisite.

At the moment, random nonsense, as I am working my way through a batch of sample inks that a fellow FPN member sent to me. Great fun!

It's amazing.

I wonder, what colors have you used?

Yes, and brushes, and paints, too!

Thanks for the comments! I don't use paints or brushes...prefer to use colored pens. Mostly i use the Gelly Roll gel pens made by Sakura (i think there are 10 different colors), but sometimes i use the flexible brush tip pens put out by Tombow and also Staedtler. I like to seal my rocks...first i coat with clear fingernail polish (it's the only thing i've found that doesn't smear the color), then to get a nice matte finish i coat with acrylic matte medium.

There is one particular beach, close to where i live, that has the best selection of smooth, flat, white stones. I was just there, for the first time this Spring, the other day and found a bunch...winter deposits quite a few on the beach. Going to find the stones is almost as much fun as making them.

~Jas

Gelly Rolls? No kidding? I have about a million of those---I saw the slight iridescence of the paint and wondered about that.

Never tried the nail polish sealer, as I usually work on a dark ground like this, done with q-tips:



Or this, with brushes:





It's been a long time since I went beachcombing. Want! ^__^

>> There is one particular beach, close to where i live, that has the best selection of smooth, flat, white stones. I was just there, for the first time this Spring, the other day and found a bunch...winter deposits quite a few on the beach. Going to find the stones is almost as much fun as making them. <<

Your stones are beautiful.

I want to make one myself with one of my own poems and give it to my girlfriend.

One thing though, I don't know about in America but I wonder how many people know that in Britain you can be arrested for taking stones and shells off the beach.



It's true. The local councils own the beaches and all that's on them. It's considered stealing.

I don't think they would prosecute someone for picking up a stone or two but if, for instance, you took a barrow-full for your garden, they would.

But either way, they can do you if they wish.

Thanks for posting these...they're wonderful! I've never tried any realism on stones...i love the Madonna & Child one! Where do you get your stones? What kind of paints do you use?
I've only done a couple black stones (nice, smooth ones are hard to find)...this is my favorite...
~Jas
Click to view attachment

Wow...that seems strange to me...not being able to take stones or shells. I do try not to be greedy, though, and only take what i know i will use. If they're not that perfect when i get home i let my son do art on them.
Perhaps you could scan your stone when you're done with it? I'd love to see it...and your girlfriend will love it! (i would if i got one!!).
~Jas

Jasper- even in the USA, itis technically illegal to take anything from a a national forest, that is administered by the US Forest Service. I learn this last July 4th weekend. Usually, during the summer, We go from Ann Arbo r to Grayling, where a friend has a home of the Au Sable river.
Last year , during the July 4th weekend, we were fly-fishing,and then we went hiking through the National forest. There , at one point, we found driftwood on the banks of the Au Sable. And as I was carrying 2 pieces back, I ran i nto a Forest Service Ranger ,and he informed me that what I was doing was illegal. However, since it was only 2 small pieces of driftwood, he informed me about the Law,and let me go.

Wow...i had no idea. I wonder if that applies to State Parks...do you know? Maybe i'll just start wearing pants with big pockets, to be safe.

I've never seen a naturally-black beach rock that was smooth enough for painting purposes. When I want a dark ground I just use the same old acrylic paints that I use to add detail. I have a variety of brands, both artist and craft grade (I like the craft grade for background color, as it's already the correct consistency.)

I love that black stone! And the work you did on it.

Oh, and the beach is just a beach---not a NP or anything. Nobody even blinks when you cart off a bucket of rocks "(Plenty more where that came from!")

Writer 44,

Like all first novels mine too is an semi-autobiographical story about some of my experiences. I worked for a couple of yeas in an advertising agency as a copywriter before moving to another job which requires me to work with farmers in villages. I tried to fictionalise these experiences. There are not more than a handful of main charecters.

As for plot there isn't much. Setting is in a village and also the city I live in- Hyderabad. I've still a long way to go before I finish it. But I'm at it everyday.

Vinod