Crisis of the faith.

That sounds dramatic, doesn’t it?  It’s hardly true.  I’m just irritated because I have to work on other people’s stuff today.  And not my own.  Which has been the story all week.  Monday it was frozen pipes at a friend’s house, yesterday I had my boss summon me in to work (the nerve…) and today he’s demanding my presence again.  Which wouldn’t be so bad, but I have a college essay to edit for the son of a friend.  And I really don’t want to do it.

I suppose that’s where my crisis comes from.  It’s not a very good essay.  No.  That’s not fair.  It’s a very clear, well-written essay, but it’s a little boring.  I mean, the kid’s got a great history and he’s writing his essay over diversity and WOW does he have diversity, but the essays a little biography of himself, without any real introspective on what diversity means to him.  Which to me would be the point.  He makes all these little interesting comments and facts about his family, but then doesn’t explore those completely.

God.  I sound so old and frumpy.

So what do I do?  Should I give him my honest opinion?  (Which would be to tear it up and start all over again, even if it is due on January 1st?)  Or do I edit this one, despite not thinking it’s the best he could do, and just be as helpful as I can?  Doesn’t help that his dad is in on the mix and wants me to be painfully honest…  I think I’ll do a little of both.  Talk to his dad, tell him what I think, then do some honest editing and then recommend that he re-think what he’s doing and suggest that he explore other options.  Hm.  Maybe I don’t sound old and frumpy–maybe I just sound how I usually do…snobby.

Blogs I like

In an effort to be both productive and useful when I really don’t have anything to say, I’m going to give a quick list of some of my favorite blogs out there.  (I’d like to think it’s because I’m too busy writing, but it’s not true–more than anything, I’ve just been staring at the computer screen.  I’ll type a sentence after about ten minutes, then go do something else, feel guilty, come back and sit down, and then another ten minutes, another sentence.  Lather, rinse, repeat…)

 

http://www.missyfrye.net/Blog/

This is one of the blogs that’s on that list.  I really like Missy.  She’s got a lot of information on her blog, there’s excerpts from books, videos about writers, suggestions for writing exercises…  It’s pretty interesting and fun.  And she’s not too shabby to follow on Twitter either.  If she’s actually working on writing and tweets about it, it’s amazing how guilty that makes me feel.  Sends me right back to the computer.

http://pubrants.blogspot.com/

THIS is my all-time favorite.  I LOVE Kristen.  She’s funny, informative, and she doesn’t waste a lot of time.  Her blog is clean and simple.  Plus, she gives a good angle on what it’s like to be an agent, and how much stress they’re under.  It really shows how much time she spends on her writers, and how devoted she is to them.  Just gives me a warm fuzzy.

http://www.chelseacain.com/

And although I hate to admit it, I haven’t actually read any of Chelsea Cain’s books.  I know, I know.  It’s shameful.  But I was a devoted follower of her column in The Oregonian and was really upset when she stopped writing it.  Honestly.  Only thing worthwhile.  I have Sweetheart sitting on my desk though–I’ve just been doing so much of my own research that I haven’t had time.  But I love her website.  She just seems so fun and genuine.  Especially her most recent advice:  http://storyfix.com.  (You may have to scroll down a bit until you find her–it was a few days ago.)  I laughed because so much of her advice has to do with wine, and then she makes the exact same comment in the comments section.  Pretty amusing.  So I have the idea that we would get along great, especially since I would be one of those writers holding the glass of wine because I didn’t know what else to do with myself at a party like that, tilting it and looking drunk…  See?  She’s my new BFF.

Jesters and Fools in Fiction

When I get tired of reading dense, scholarly tomes about fools, I turn to my collection of books that include jesters and fools in fiction. I’ve found some excellent jesters and fools in fiction, and I’ve found some bad. I tend to really enjoy the older books, but there’s one modern series that really captures what I’d like to do.

My First Forays Into Jesters and Fools in Fiction

I heard about a book called Troubadour by Richard Burns and bought it, then realized there was a first one to the series called Khalindaine, so I made the mistake of buying that one, too. No–I shouldn’t be so cruel. But honestly. Starts with an intriguing scene, then the whole first chapter is plodding through description after description of the river and the palace and the city…

The troubadour shows up at the end of the chapter and makes me laugh, but then the second chapter goes someplace else and proceeds to describe what it looks like. Hey! I want Streetpoet back! At least he gave us some action and funnies! I think I may just have to go through and read his parts only…the rest may put me to sleep. I think the problem is the high fantasy aspect of it. It’s never been my favorite genre. I seem to recall a few other books that my brothers had that were similar. So bogged down in recreating the place and the writer doesn’t focus on character and plot. I’m striving for something different, so those books got put back on the shelf fast.

My Favorite Novels That Include Jesters and Fools in Fiction

As far as fiction goes, the Alan Gordon Medieval Mysteries series is my absolute favorite.  I bought them all. Even placed the most recent on pre-order with Amazon. He is amazingly good at portraying the scene they’ve set up as entertainers; the dialogue is fast and witty (just what you’d expect from jesters); the love story is sweet; and the mysteries themselves aren’t half bad either. They’re stretched a bit thin in places, but what mystery isn’t? I’m not reading it for critical analysis. But he really does a brilliant job.

The Fool Beloved by Jeffery Farnol book cover features jesters and fools in fiction

I’m reading a few others as well–one of my favorites is The Fool Beloved by Jeffrey Farnol. Wow. So over the top I can’t even believe it. It’s like reading a bad Shakespeare play. But I love it. I don’t know why. Really hard to read the super flowery language, so it’s taking me a bit longer than I expected, but I just love seeing it on the end table by the couch. The book was published in 1949 and smells a bit musty–the pages are all uneven along the edges, not smooth like we’re used to–the cover is the 1949 equivalent to a bodice ripper, I’m thinking. All cowering bad guy and gasping maiden and the fool (Bimbo) advancing menacingly with his marotte. Did I mention how much I love it? The murder scene at the beginning is even done like a play. Off stage left we hear the cries and grunts of pain and running footsteps, and then our hero rushes in too late to rescue his friend. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth, and then the vow of vengeance. Most intriguing, wot?