Miss Georgiana Darcy

My Favorite Literary Heroes: Sydney Carton

2012-02-23T07:58:00.000-05:00

In connection with The Literary Heroine blog party, I am starting a series of posts on my favorite heroes, literary or otherwise. They will be posted in no particular order, although the absolute favorites do manage to sneak in near the top.

Sydney Carton

I've liked Sydney ever since I first read A Tale of Two Cities. But, on first glance, there doesn't seem much to like about him. Yes, he did save Charles Darnay's life at the cost of his own, but that, some might say, was at an impulse and it wasn't like he enjoyed his life anyways. The 'far, far better thing' seems to be the only good thing that he ever does. His life before his death is wasted.

Sydney Carton is brilliant. I think the real thing about him is that he saw the meaninglessness of life without God.

"'Meaningless, meaningless,' says the teacher. 'Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless! What do men gain from all their labours at which they toil under the sun?'" (NIV)

Sydney was brilliant enough to realize that life without God is meaningless. And if it is meaningless then it wouldn't matter what he did with his time, whether he spent all his life getting drunk or did something that benifited his fellow man.

Human love begins to take Sydney out of his meaninglessness. But even there his beloved marries another man. This is one spot where Sydney Carton shows his true character. He wants Lucie to be happy. Many lovers want their beloved to be happy - just with them.

"But God was kind, He had for you a better plan

And saved you from the pain of loving me."

MELT. God was kind. He had a better plan. Not just 'maybe it's good that this happened after all' but 'God was kind.' He did the best thing that could be done, and Sydney is content with that.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others,

it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

With human love, Sydney Carton begins to find meaning. And self-sacrifice for love makes him see a higher love, a love that truly gives life meaning.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

Literary Heroine Blog Event!

2012-02-20T10:16:00.000-05:00

The Literary Heroine Blog Event at Accordion to Kellie!

1: Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!

Something completely random? That won't be hard. Randomness is a part of my character. I do not say that it is a vice, or a virtue, I merely say it is a part of my character. *snaps out of Rigaud mood*

Introduce myself? My name is Maria Elisabeth and my age - well, with three (I mean two) younger sisters ( almost) grown up your ladyship can hardly expect me to own to it. As you might have seen, I quote everything and anything whenever I possibly can. I love writing and have a very ahem! stubborn inner editor. I have made a pact with myself to click the 'send' button the minute an email or a post is typed up, or I would be at it, changing a word, frowning darkly at the emoticons or taking out an awkward sentence. In short, there would be no blog post. But when it is confronted with a piece of my own fiction-writing, it falls down and plays dead. Odd, that. I love music and, like Emma Woodhouse, hardly ever practice. In short, I am an incurable romantic, with a crazy sense of humor, trying to serve God on this journey called life.

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?

Strong faith, a sense of duty and honor, plenty of personality quirks, something for the reader to relate to, and gorgeous dresses don't hurt either!

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.

Esther Summerson. She's sweet and kind, but can stand up for what's right and gives herself a hearty scolding when she's not being what she should be. I try to be more like her.
Amy March. I know many people don't like Amy, I can relate to her very well. I love drawing, would be delighted to go to Europe and can thoroughly sympathize with Amy's desire to be a true lady.

Marguerite Blakeney. Marguerite and I are so similar it's scary. My looks are almost like her: (this is the one spot where you're supposed to ignore the movie, please!) tall, golden glory of hair with tints of auburn, blue eyes..... Like Marguerite, I can be amply sarcastic, even witty, and occaisonally come up with a brilliant comment, but when I'm actually in danger you can count on me to do somethign impulsive that really shouldn't be done.
Rilla Blythe. Rilla is often ignored for her mother Anne Shirley, but she is very likeable in her own right and very like me too.

Five of your favorite historical novels?

El Dorado, Persuasion, Little Dorrit, The Spanish Brothers, I Will Maintain,

Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?

Yes, yes, I am very predictable. You know the answer already. :P

Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Let me see. Those books have absolutely amazing main characters, but not much in the way of secondary characters. I think I will have to be predictable again, and choose Lord Antony Dewhurst from El Dorado

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?

I'd go to Europe - France particularly - and I'd write novels on site. Yes, I mean on site. If I mention an address or a landmark I will be sitting right by the door with my laptop, while everyone else thinks I'm crazy. I'd also go to plenty of museums and maybe do a little shopping - did anyone say unlimited funds? Say you did, please!

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?

Baroque/Georgian/Regency/Victorian somewhere in Europe, preferably England or France.

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?

Singing, of course.

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?

At the risk of being very predictable, I will say Marguerite Blakeney. Just imagine the dress!

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?

Did someone say chocolate? Dark, please. :)

Favorite author(s)?

Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Baroness Orczy, Marjorie Bowen, C.S. Lewis, Grace Irwin, G. A. Henty, Janette Oke, Allen French, Elizabeth George Speare, L.M. Montgomery, and Rachel Heffington.

Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?

A laptop, books, and chocolate and - you did say unlimited funds, didn't you? - some good friends, bloggy and not.

In which century were most of the books you read written?

The nineteenth, with a large chunk from the twentieth.

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…

Sir Percy Blakeney. Yes, I am predictable.

Describe your ideal dwelling place.

I'd like a mansion (think Pemberley-style) with a very pretty park and gardens and when I got tired of that I'd move into a cottage, Thomas Kinkade style.

Sum up your fashion style in five words.

Feminine/frilly/imaginative/vintage-inspired/odd

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?

Oooh, yes. I have settled opinions on names; hardly ever will I like a name just because a likeable character has it, and when a likeable character has an unlikeable name............

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...

Perhaps someone downright creepy, like Rigaud, or someone quiet, but horribly clever like Chauvelin, or someone you and the heroine nearly break their hearts over, like Willougby.

Three favorite Non-fiction books?

The Bible, Don't Waste Your Life, and Do Hard Things

Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?

Sitting under a tree, with an amazing book and chocolate.

Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.

If you could tell me what my true character is, I could put it in a hat! As it is, I don't know.

Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.

Other than getting this-here bloggie, nothing that I'd like to mention.

Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. -1 Peter 1: 8,9 (NIV) I learnt this one in the 1 Peter Project, an excellent memorization challenge!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 (NIV)

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33 (NIV)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T07:30:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Among other Valentine-related things, don't forget to check out Rachel's Heigh Ho for a Husband blog event!

Total side note, but don't you just love her dress? Beautiful....

Here's a thought-provoking poem I'd like to share with you about real love. From this blog, written by her little sister Tabitha Bell.

Your valentine said he would risk his life for you,
Mine gave His life.
Your valentine bought you a card at Wal-Mart,
Mine wrote a book.
Your valentine painted on canvas,
Mine painted the sky.
Your valentine said that he loves you,
Mine created love.

Blessings,

*images via pinterest*

New Design!

2012-02-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

I was getting tired of the old blog design, and it was rather cluttered, so I changed it around. I hope you like it!

Dickens Week Tag

2012-02-06T07:46:00.002-05:00

Here are my answers to Alexandra's Dickens Bicentennial Celebration Week.

1. How were you first introduced to Dickens?

When I was really little we had a silly picture book version of A Christmas Carol and one look at the illustrations in it was enough to make me decide that Dickens was crazy. When I heard fellow-bloggers talking about Dickens books and characters I decided to give it a second try and I read Great Expectations. Not exactly Dicken's best work, in my opinion, but it was good enough to make me read A Tale of Two Cities, and then I was hooked.

2. Which is your favorite Dickens novel?

I'm wavering between A Tale of Two Cities and Little Dorrit. Really, how can you choose, with such amazing books?

3. How many Dickens adaptations have you seen?

*squirms* None actually. *Blushes,*
I'm hoping to watch one sometime, but I'm a little hesitant to plunge my mom, who I always watch period dramas with, into the hours and hours of movie, when she doesn't really like Dickens. And, I mean, Bleak House has fifteen episodes! I have Little Dorrit on order from the library, so that should get us started.

4. Which Dickens adaptation is your favorite?

Um, see above.

5. Have you seen multiple versions of A Christmas Carol? Which version is your favorite?

I haven't actually watched any. What I really like about A Christmas Carol is his amazing writing style, something that a movie just can't capture.

6. Who is your favorite Dickens hero and (if applicable) who does your favorite portrayal of him?

I'm wavering between Sydney Carton and Arthur Clennam. Arthur is an amazingly-gentlemanly gentleman, so kind to Amy Dorrit and so horribly treated by circumstances. Anything bad that could happen, happens to him. (Well, almost.)

Sydney Carton is brilliant and lazy. He's his own worse enemy really, and I still don't know how I can stand him. But what he did in the end and that heartbreaking last chapter at the end of the book........ Beautiful.

I'm trying to tell myself that I really should like Charles Darnay, after all, he has everything that Sydney Carton doesn't, but I never really liked him. I wonder why.

7. Who is your favorite Dickens heroine and (if applicable) who does your favorite portrayal of her?

Esther Summerson, hands down.

8. Who is your favorite Dickens villain and (if applicable) who does your favorite portrayal of them?

Oooooh, villains! Let me see. I've always had a partiality for Rigaud/Blandois/Lagnier. His moustache went up under his nose, and his nose came down over his moustache.

9. Have you seen any musical adaptations of any of Dickens’ stories? If so, which is your favorite song from it?

*squeals* So there are musicals for Charles Dickens stories. Lovely lovely lovely! I remember hearing vaguely about them, but that was before I really cared.

10. Do you have a favorite Dickens quote? If so, what is it?

Do I have a favorite quote? Here goes.

Whatever was required to be done, the Circumlocution Office was beforehand with all the public departments in the art of perceiving—HOW NOT TO DO IT. (Little Dorrit)

"Bird, be quiet!" (Mrs. Merdle)

....the chief Barnacles being rather hurried (for they had it in hand just then to send a mail or two which was in danger of going straight to its destination, beating about the seas like the Flying Dutchman, and to arrange with complexity for the stoppage of a good deal of important business otherwise in peril of being done).... (Little Dorrit)

"You can't just come in and say you want to know, you know." (the lively young Barnacle)

Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.
Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail. (A Christmas Carol)

I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh, beginning anew, shaking off sloth and sensuality, and fighting out the abandoned fight. A dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but I wish you to know that you inspired it." (Sydney Carton)

"I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
The murmuring of many voices, the upturning of many faces, the pressing on of many footsteps in the outskirts of the crowd, so that it swells forward in a mass, like one great heave of water, all flashes away. Twenty-Three. (A Tale of Two Cities)

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." (Sydney Carton)

"It did better than that. It rained Esther." (Ada Clare)

Beautiful People: Madeleine de la Trenelle

2012-01-30T08:36:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to make sense of my newest novel idea. The ideas are rather jumbled in my head, so what's better than to do a Beautiful People for the main character?

Just so that I don't throw you in head-first, the setting is revolutionary France, with a smattering of England. The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel will feature prominently, but Sir Percy Blakeney will not. Here that? You won't. I'm not ready to take you on as your author. There's no place for you in the story, thank-you-very-much.

On second thought, that sounds a lot like something Chauvelin would like to say. But he's not in the story either, thank-you-very-much too.

This is how Madeleine looked before her story really started - except that she actually has dark blue eyes.
Now she looks a lot different.

1. If character's house burned down, and they were left with nothing but the clothes on their back, what would they do? Where would they go?

The house that Madeleine's living in, you mean? She doesn't own it anyways, so she'd just make sure that everyone in it was out, and then find a different place to live. The mansion she owns is way too big to burn down all at once before people realize about it and put it out. The steward would repair all the damages, and Madeleine wouldn't be at all concerned in it.

2. Are they happy with where they are in life, or would they like to move on?

Move on? Move on to what? Madeleine is carrying out the dying wishes of her fiance, and while she'd hate herself for doing anything else, I wouldn't say that she's happy with where she is in life.

3. Are they well-paid?

Madeleine doesn't get paid for what she does, but her income in tremendous. Oh wait, don't tell anyone, that was a secret. :P

4. Can they read? She can, and many years ago she used to enjoy it, but not now.

5. What languages do they speak? French, English, Italian, and a smattering of Latin.
6. What is their biggest mistake? That she got into this situation in the first place. (don't you wish you knew what is is?) As her author, it will be hard to get her out of it. But then again, it isn't really her fault. It's the French Revolution's fault, and the king's fault, and even her fiance's fault. No, not really, I do like Henri, but......
7. What did they play with most as a child? Henri, who became her fiance, and her cousin, who's name doesn't matter, because she changes it so often.
8. What are their thoughts on politics? Confound their politics, frustrate their knavish tricks.... that's pretty much it.
9. What is their expected life time? A few days, perhaps, considering the situation she's in. Is she going to live longer than that? Oh yes.
10. If they were falsely accused of murder, what would they do? How would they react? First of all, she'd hear of it before she was actually accused and then just disappear. If she was accused suddenly in a dark street, she'd pull out a sword. If she actually did land, in jail, she'd bribe the guards. But then, its against her principles to land in jail, so it wouldn't happen.

Sincerely, me

2012-01-27T07:05:00.002-05:00

**blog idea from a whole bunch of lovely bloggers**

Dear Charles Dickens, could you tell me how you manage to take three times as many characters as I'd think would be necessary, add a chain of events that would be wildly improbably in one of my novels, and still are able to connect the threads of plot into a neat little box with a happy ending inside?

Dear Kraft Canada, 'light' peanut butter is one of the most illogical things I've ever used. The amount of oil I had to add to the peanut butter balls before they'd stick together was ridiculous.

Dear Sir Percy Blakeney, I have almost weeded you out of my next novel. Being already in love with Marguerite, you are not available for the position of romantic lead. Find me someone else.

Dear Judo, why do you like starting before I have time to do my hair? I know its not a fashion show, but, in the words of a hero whom you all probably are tired of hearing about, "My dear Fouquet, if I'm going to take a ride on the tumbril I'm going to go properly dressed.

Dear Chester, you are so absolutely gorgeous. So sweet and devoted, but your friend is that too, and his eyes just make me melt.

Dear followers, in case you were thinking I had a romantic dilemma, don't worry. Chester and his friend are dogs. :)

Dear On the Contrary, also known as The Frenchwoman, also known as A Woman in Shadow, called for convenience The Novel Without a Title, could you please decide your title and stick with it? Oh, and the name of the heroine too. I'm perfectly ready to let you have your way, but could you at least tell your author what is is?

Dear short story contest hosted by my library, why is the maximum 1000 words? Nano has ruined short stories for me. I probably couldn't write something like that to save my life. :(

Dear Les Miserables, I'll read you as soon as ~~I force someone to drive~~, ahem, go myself, to the library.

Dear lovely fellow-bloggers, stop making me laugh.

Sincerely, me

No, no Edward, not that way. No LIGHT propitious SHONE!

2012-01-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

I think I feel more sympathetic towards Marianne Dashwood's view of 'insipid reading' now. Imagine someone taking your favorite poem (or novel) and reading it in a monotone in the exciting parts, speeding it up it the parts where it needs to be read slowly to capture the poetic beauty, and emphasizing the wrong words. Is this to be borne? But it must not, it shall not be.

I normally love books from Librivox, what ever the reader, but not with poetry. To be sure, Marianne would give the insipid reader Cowper. And I would give the insipid reader Longfellow. But if he is not to be inspired by Longfellow!

Imagine a reader, (two different readers actually) blundering their way through Evangeline and Excelsior. But no, it is not Evangeline, it seems to be 'Evangelyn.' And in the best passage, when even the most-hard-hearted reader must be melted to tears by the pathetic beauty, what does the reader do but speed up! A woman is not quietly moving about a hospital at last finding her lover! Oh no, you read it quickly so as to make you imagine the same lover is going to come up with a shotgun. And when there is a word with a line all to itself and an exclamation mark behind it - an exclamation mark, mind you - then the only thing to do is to drop your voice and read it in a monotone. Of course.

Moral of the story: read poetry to yourself.

This is one of my favorite poems. Beautiful, symbolistic, hauntingly simple. Don't just skim through it (like I often do) but read it slowly. Memorize it, preferably.

Evangeline (Introduction)

This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,
Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.
Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean
Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest.

This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it
Leaped like the roe, when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman?
Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers,—
Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands,
Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven?
Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed!
Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty blasts of October
Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the ocean.
Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand-Pré.

Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, and is patient,
Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of woman's devotion,
List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines of the forest;
List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy.

------------------------------------
Now go and read the rest, especially the ending passage. Beautiful.
Blessings,

P.S. Just to be honest, the audio recording wasn't that bad. Perhaps not quite as insipid and ridiculous and I mentioned, but bad enough to keep me from listening to poetry aloud. Unless I read it, of course. :P

Since I am so ridiculously crazy.....

2012-01-17T21:19:00.000-05:00

Here are the buttons I'm entering in Miss Dashwood's Period Drama Buttons contest. I must say, I had way too much fun with these.

I know it is horrifying to take dear Mr. Knightley's words and put them on such a ridiculous proposal, but here they are. If Mr. Collins had loved Elizabeth less (which is impossible) he might have been able to talk about it more (also impossible, very fortunately.)

Another horrible useage of poor Mr. Knightley's words, but I can confidently assert, on the authority of Sir Percy Blakeney, baronet, that Chauvelin's cravats were badly done, indeed.

(And besides, I find that picture hilarious. Sir Percy's look of horror is priceless.)

I know that Lord of the Rings isn't exactly a period drama, but I think I can call this a common saying. I quote Gollum almost every day. :P

I apoligize for the bad quality of the picture, it was the best I could find (shamelessly stolen off youtube, actually!) and this quote from The Young Victoria just had to go with Miss Bingley. Yes indeed. "Mr Darcy, come advise me......"

Don't I have any respect for the poor movies I'm messing up?

None at all :P

But I don't actually want the Day Dream sunk, just to clarify. :D

I hope you enjoyed seeing these. Which was your favorite?

Announcing...........

2012-01-07T13:48:00.000-05:00

My newest blogging adventure!

The Day Dream {a Scarlet Pimpernel blog}

Come on over and take a look!

Blessings,

New Year's Blessings

2012-01-01T07:05:00.000-05:00

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip

He who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, He who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you

the Lord is the shade at your right hand.

The sun will not harm you by day

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm;

He will watch over your life.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

{Psalm 121} (NIV)

Blessings,

Literary tag

2011-12-31T08:33:00.117-05:00

I saw this tag on Miss Dashwood's blog (who first got it from Charity) and as they both tagged anyone who wanted to do this, I thought I would. The rules are very simple: you have to choose twelve characters and then answer the questions about them.

Characters:
1: Sir Percy Blakeney (The Scarlet Pimpernel)
2: Mrs. Jellyby (Bleak House)
3: Captain Frederick Wentworth (Persuasion)
4: Emma Woodhouse (Emma)
5: Herbert Pocket (Great Expectations)
6: Davy Keith (Anne of Avonlea)
7: Eleanor Tilney (Northanger Abbey)
8: Marguerite Blakeney (The Scarlet Pimpernel)
9: Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities)
10: Marilla Cuthbert (Anne of Green Gables)
11: Mr. William Collins (Pride and Prejudice)
12: Esther Summerson (Bleak House)

And the first question is:
1: Who would make a better college professor: 6 (Davy Keith) or 11 (Mr. Collins)?
Certainly not Mr. Collins! A grown up Davy might do a pretty good job; he'd make his students laugh, although I'm not sure if he'd teach them anything.
2: 12 (Esther Summerson) sends 8 (Marguerite Blakeney) out on a mission. What is it? Does it succeed?
Esther sends Marguerite to help the Jellyby children and of course she manages, with the help of a great deal of candy and sending Mrs. Jellyby off to Africa on a charitable mission.

3: What is, or would be 9 (Sydney Carton)'s favorite book?
I have no clue, perhaps something with very heroic heroes that make him feel even more useless, although he doesn't strike me as the reading type.
4: Would it make more sense for 2 (Mrs. Jellyby) to swear fealty to 6 (Davy Keith) or the other way around?
Mrs. Jellyby and Davy Keith! Mrs. Jellyby would evade any fealty-swearing by talking about all the letters she had to write, but I can hardly think that Davy would swear fealty to her. If he was somehow tricked into it, he would make up for it by giving her many unpleasant - and original - names behind her back.
5: 5 (Herbert Pocket) is looking for a roommate. Should he board with 9 (Sydney Carton) or 10 (Marilla Cuthbert)?
Sydney Carton, most certainly. The two would get on quite well.
6: 2 (Mrs. Jellyby), 7 (Eleanor Tilney) and 12 (Esther Summerson) are going out to dinner. Where are they going and what do they discuss?
Hopefully Mrs. Jellyby has to stay home because of all her letters to write, otherwise the dinner would be horrible. Whatever Eleanor and Esther talked about, it would be very sensible and sweet.
7: 3 (Captain Wentworth) challenges 10 (Marilla Cuthbert) to a duel. Who wins?
The dear chivalrous Captain wouldn't challenge a lady (especially of Marilla's age) to a duel, so that crosses out this question. But just so you know, he wins Every. Single. Duel. he fights.
8: If 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney) stole 8 (Marguerite Blakeney)'s most precious possession, how would she get it back?
Lovely coincidence! Marguerite's most precious possession stands six foot odd high and hath name Percy Blakeney, but it would be just weird to have him steal himself. As to her heart, he already stole it and I don't think she wants it back.

9: Suggest a story title in which 7 (Eleanor Tilney) and 12 (Esther Summerson) both attain what they want.
In any story with a happy ending Eleanor and Esther would get what they want. As to the title: Sense and Sweetness.
10: What kind of plot device would you have to use to get 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney) and 4 (Emma Woodhouse) to work together.
The plot device of a genius with an amazing imagination.
11: If 7 (Eleanor Tilney) visited you for the weekend, how would it go?
Wonderfully, although I'd feel a little shabby. Miss Tilney always wears white.
12: If you could command 3 (Captain Wentworth) to perform any service or task for you what would it be?
Exist for real, please, and bring Anne to visit me. :)

13: If 2 (Mrs. Jellyby) had to choose sides between 4 (Emma Woodhouse) and 5 (Herbert Pocket), which side would she choose?
Herbert would treat her with just a little civility, so she'd choose him. Emma would insult her outright and give all the little Jellyby's sugar plums.
14: What might 10 (Marilla Cuthbert) should out while charging into battle?
Marilla charging into battle! Somebody sure has an imagination. But I don't think she'd say anything, just charge
15: If you had to choose a song that best describes 3 (Captain Wentworth) what would it be?
I have no clue, but it would be gorgeous, passionate, and sailorish.
16: 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney), 6 (Davy Keith), and 12 (Esther Summerson) are having a dim sum at a Chinese Restaurant. There is only one scallion pancake left , and they all reach for it at the same time. Who gets it?
Odd's life, m'dear, Sir Percy isn't hungry. He's just so very fatigued.... Esther wouldn't take it if she thought Davy wanted it, and Davy would certainly want it!
17: What would 5 (Herbert Pocket) most likely be arrested for?
Debt. No question about that.

18: What is 6 (Davy Keith)'s secret?
I. Have. No. Clue
19: If 11 (Mr. Collins) and 9 (Sydney Carton) were racing to a destination, who would get there first?
I doubt whether Mr. Collins would get there at all (Other way, Mr. Collins!) but Sydney wouldn't do that much better, unless perhaps there was Lucie Manette or something he could do for her at the end.
20: If you had to walk home through a bad neighborhood late at night, who would you be more comfortable walking with: 7 (Elinor Tilney) or 8 (Marguerite Blakeney)?
Marguerite, of course. If anything happens to us, Percy will come to the rescue.
21: 1 (Sir Percy Blakeney) and 9 (Sydney Carton) reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4 (Emma Woodhouse)'s sinister secret organization. 11 (Mr. Collins) volunteers to help them,but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4 (Emma) Meanwhile, 4 (Emma) has kidnapped 12 (Esther Summerson) in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of 5 (Herbert Pocket), they seek out 3 (Captain Wentworth), who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fiction?

This is an idea! Emma's secret organization is made up of matchmakers with a plan to marry off the whole world. Sir Percy opposes them, because, what has the whole world done to be condemned to matrimony? Sydney would be reluctant, because he never does anything anyways and feels that he's useless. Mr. Collin's joins them because he pretends to hate marriage because his fair cousin has refused him. He spies for Emma because she's promised to matchmake for him. Emma kidnaps Esther and threatens to marry her to Mr. Collins unless they stop opposing her. Captain Wentworth first finds Mr. Knightley and then goes to Emma and promises to get married himself if she will stop matchmaking. Captain Wentworth's advice (and especially Mr. Knightley) causes Emma, now married herself, to agree to give up her plan and everyone lives happily ever after.

This book will be called Condemned to Matrimony and it will be an instant bestseller. :)

Just to let you all know........

2011-12-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

I watched The Scarlet Pimpernel.

And I loved it. I'm too busy right down to go into as much detail as I could, so suffice it to say that I LOVED it. You girls give excellent advice. This movie even reconciled me to eighteenth century men's pigtails. :)

The only thing I found to not like (read: absolutely love, except of course for parts of the Armand-Louise subplot) was the fact that they sometimes called Sir Percy Sir Percival. His name is Percy. I don't like the name Percival. 'Nuff said.

As I said, I'm pretty busy right know so you probably won't get a post from me for a while. But before I go, I must remind you that a gentleman always removes his COAT!

Very important advice, but alas, a moment is all I can spare for you dear bloggy-friends,

I want to...... I don't want to.....

2011-12-17T19:48:00.000-05:00

Maybe I do want to........
But then, maybe I don't.

Since those sentences were rather cryptic, I think I should explain.

We just got this from the library.

The odd thing is, I'm not sure whether I should watch it.

"What!" you're thinking, "I thought she liked The Scarlet Pimpernel! I thought she wanted to watch this!"

Well, I did. I know beforehand that Anthony Andrews would be amazingly perfect as Sir Percy, and even though Jane Seymour's looks aren't quite right for Marguerite, I was sure she would be brilliant regardless.

But after reading El Dorado (which the movie is partly based on) and being told some things about the movie from Miss Dashwood I found a completely different problem, by the name of Armand St. Just.

Problem 1: In the movie, Armand is living with a woman he hasn't married. Excuse me! Was that really necessary? In Armand's romance, there was nothing more than ~~a few~~ a lot of kisses and becoming engaged.

Problem 2: The woman is named Louise, and she's an understudy of Marguerite. But I liked Mademoiselle Lange (Armand's fiancee.) Under Sir Percy and Marguerite, she's probably my favorite character.

Problem 3: Armand is a member of the Commitee of Public Safety under Chauvelin. What!!! Armand is, must be, a member of the League. This ruins the whole theme of El Dorado and certainly will make Sir Percy's actions, as well as his and Marguerite's, appear in a totally different light.

This has probably been a very incoherent post, but I want advice from you. How does it portray Armand? Should I watch it?

Remember, I want to be convinced, I just can't convince myself.

Jane Austen's Birthday Letters

2011-12-17T08:04:00.000-05:00

Here are my entries to Miss Dashwood's contest.

Dear Miss Austen,

Many happy returns on your birthday! I have to thank you for bringing my dear Catherine and me together, and for also letting Eleanor finally marry her viscount. But the shocking story you said I told Catherine! I read it - my hair standing on end the whole time. I’m sure my dear Catherine would pronounce it quite horrid. Apart from that, I very much enjoyed your telling of our romance, for the person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.

Yours, &c.

Henry Tilney

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My dear Madam,

I feel myself called, by my situation in life, to congratulate on your advancing age, in which I am joined by Lady Catherine and her daughter, and also by Charlotte.

Lady Catherine is most affable, and her kindness is very offended at the marriage of her nephew to my cousin, especially considering that horrible elopement of her sister. And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect, with augmented satisfaction, on a certain event of last November; for had it been otherwise, I would have shared in their disgrace and not have married my dear Charlotte.

I remain, madam, with respectful compliments, your well-wisher and friend,

William Collins

The story of a very fangirlish fangirl :)

2011-12-15T19:28:00.001-05:00

WARNING: This post will not contain as many spoilers as I would like, but you can't expect a crazy fangirl to not put in any spoilers.

made by Miss Dashwood

also made by Miss Dashwood

You think I'm very obsessed? Well, so do I, but it is very pleasant to be obsessed.

We seek him here, we seek him there,

Those fangirls seek him everywhere!

Is that really not how it goes?

Well, in case you don't know what I'm talking about, I will try to coherently explain.

*tries unsuccessfully to snap out of crazy fangirl mode*

His name is Sir Percy Blakeney. He is really too amazing to be an ordinary human, but so much the better. I like larger-than-life and better-than-life heroes. :) And odd's fish, m'dear, but he really is larger than life. He can find a solution to every situation, is horribly (yes, horribly; some of those he impersonates are quite horrible) good at acting and impersonating, is and impudent, and has excellent taste in cravats. :D

my sentiments exactly

And he is very good at exasperating Citizen Chaubertin.

via

Er, Chauvelin. He is Sir Percy's worst enemy and someone who you love to hate. He is very good at concocting plans against Sir Percy, but his problem is just that. They're against Sir Percy, so he doesn't have a chance.

via

And then there is Marguerite, Lady Blakeney. She and I have much in common, I think, especially our craziness about Sir Percy. But while she always does something impulsive whenever Percy is in danger, I think indesisive me, worrying that it would mess up his plans, would stay at home and cry. Whenever Marguerite does something impulsive I feel like saying:

One of my real stubbornesses about her is that everybody gets her looks wrong. She is beautiful, yes, but her hair is blonde. It has to be. Baroness Orczy speaks of her hair as 'golden glory' and a certificate that seems to have been made for her describes her as having 'light hair, blue eyes.'

So far I have read The Scarlet Pimpernel, El Dorado, and The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. If you haven't read any of these, well, as Alexandra says, get thee to a library!

Blessings,

P.S. If you happen to see me sometime in the near future, I'll probably be doing math. And the math will probably consist of staring at horrible algebra problems and writing over all my scrap paper: "I seek it here, I seek it there, I seek the answer everywhere!"

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen, tag questions

2011-12-13T07:24:00.003-05:00

1 - What was the first JA novel you ever read, and who introduced you to it? Pride and Prejudice, which I read after I watched the 2005 movie at a birthday party.

2 - Which is your least favorite JA novel, and why? (Everybody posts about their favorites... I want to know what's at the bottom of your list!) Oh no, how do I decide........ My least favorite can't be Northanger Abbey, and it can't be Mansfield Park, and it can't be Emma, and it certainly can't be Persuasion, so that leaves me with Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

What! Those used to be my favorites! Oh well...................

3 - Who do you think is the funniest character JA ever created? Mrs. Bennet would be the funniest overall, but for the funniest that I'd love to meet and talk to it would be Henry Tilney.

4 - Which JA villain[ess] do you love to hate? Hmmmmm, I think it would be Mr. Elliot. I have absolutely no good feeling towards him.
Oh, and Frank Churchill. If he would only make himself a little nicer so that I'd have an easier time defending him.....

5 - What's your favorite JA quote? Please don't ask me. I have lots of favorite JA quotes, but if you asked me now I'd probably end up quoting Sir Percy Blakeney. (Odd's fish, m'dear)

6 - If you were to "start" someone on JA, which book would you recommend to them first and why? Probably Pride and Prejudice, because, although it's not my favorite anymore, it's easier to get into and understand than something like Mansfield Park.

7 - What is your absolute favorite JA film adaptation and why? Probably Sense and Sensibility 1995, because it all together is soooo beautiful.

8 - If you could authorize a new film adaptation of one of JA's novels, which would it be and why? Mansfield Park, certainly, so that they can use the script I hope to write. But until the script's done, they can do proper adaptations of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. (No weirdness in Northanger Abbey, please and Anne Elliot must not run all over Bath looking for Capt. Wentworth.)

9 - Which JA character do you most identify with?
Probably Elizabeth Bennet or Marianne Dashwood (or Catherine Morland or Anne Elliot or...)

10 - If you could have lunch with JA today, what question would you most like to ask her?
What's your favorite dish? Um, no. How do you figure out all your plots?

11 - Is there any one thing that you think could have been improved upon in one (or all) of JA's books? What is it and why? She could have written Edmund, Edward, Col. Brandon, and Henry Tilney's proposals.

Oh yes, and she could have made one of her characters a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Henry Tilney, perhaps, or maybe Mr. Darcy.

12 - If you could have lunch with one of JA's characters today, who would it be and why?
Probably Henry Tilney, because he is so pleasantly witty, or Anne Elliot, because I'd really like to see what she looks like. :)

13 - (optional) Why is Miss Dashwood so fond of asking "why"? Probably because.... Counter question: why is Miss Darcy so fond of saying 'probably?'

Blessings,

Some things that made my week.....

2011-12-08T14:39:00.000-05:00

Just a few posts from various blogs this week that I really liked.

Jane Austen Birthday Week at Between the Covers. This celebration has some very challenging challenges including 'read[ing] two Austen novels, five Austen spin offs, sequels, and/or diaries, PLUS watch[ing] an Austen film.' I'm not sure I'll manage that since I've read all of the novels pretty recently and I have a hard time finding good spin-offs.

Lost in Austen book review at Regency Delight. This create your own Jane Austen adventure book sounds intruiging, and I'm greatly looking forward to reading it.

Northanger Abbey Quiz at Old Fashioned Charm. I love the quizes that Miss Laurie does, and although I didn't get a very good score, that just a reason to reread Northanger Abbey, right?

It's the Wee Things at Of Trims and Frills and Furbellows. I LOVE these. I think I'd want to visit Alexandra and ~~steal~~, um, just happen to take, some of these. She's used three of my absolute favorite books, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Random Silliness at Yet Another Period Drama Blog. I laughed so much when I read this. I think most of us are officially obsessed with The Scarlet Pimpernel.

And another thing to make you laugh....
Mr. Woodhouse's advice for someone wondering to what to give his true love for the twelfth day of Christmas at the Republic of Pemberley.

Blessings,

Inspiration has struck!!!

2011-12-07T20:26:00.002-05:00

Or that's what I hope. I now officially have the inspiration for a new novel and if it turns out as I hope it will be amazing. Here are my ideas:

Title: Divided Loyalty: the Story of a Man Without a Country
MMC(stands for male main character, or, in this case, main main character) name: someone whose first name is probably Richard, Rene, or Sidney and whose last name doesn't matter as much, as long as it is thoroughly French.
FMC (female main character, or, in this case, the mainest female character) name: Aurelie ---------
Setting: Europe in the Napoleaonic War, circa 1805 - 1815
Genre: Historical fiction, of course, but with elements of adventure and romance
Tense: It will be in first person past tense, with maybe a few historical elements in third person present tense. It will be different, but I hope great things from it.
What I am trying very hard to do with it: make it an amazing book, and try not to plagarize too much from Dumas' The Last Cavalier. [Note: I do not recommend everything in that book, but it has excellent plot line, characters, and writing style. I wish it wasn't unfinished.]
Summary/Excerpt:

I was born in Austria. My father was French, my mother English. They had barely a year together before I was born and barely a few weeks together afterwards. My father was killed in a skirmish by the English, my mother in a raid by the French. When I grew more than a very small boy I did not care for playing and I had no use for religion, but I hated those who had killed my parents.

When I had just turned sixteen Napolean Bonaparte began another campaign against the English. Most boys would have joined one side or the other for adventure and revenge, but what could I do? I hated them both.

In this war every man has to chose sides. Which side will he chose? And what will happen after he makes his decision?

And that is all I have written. I hope to update soon!

P.S. All my writing and ideas are copyright me. Please do not steal them.

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen and the Stylish Blogger Award

2011-12-05T19:49:00.001-05:00

So, first of all, Miss Dashwood at Yet Another Period Drama Blog is hosting a Jane Austen blog event! It looks like a lot of fun.

Second of all, Miss Laurie gave me the Stylish Blogger Award. Thank you so much, dear!

The rules are:

Thank the blogger who awarded you and link back to them.

List seven random facts about yourself.

Award five other bloggers.

So, for the seven random facts:

1: I have one name that is my real name, one that most people call me, a couple nicknames, one name that I use on my blog, and two that I use when I talk to myself, depending on the mood I'm in. :P

2: As you might have seen, I'm obsessed about names. Naming the main character is one of the most important decisions I make about my novels. And if the name of someone in somebody else's book doesn't fit the character, well, I go crazy.

3: As you also might have seen, I talk to myself. A lot.

4: The amount of blog posts that I've written in my head but never posted would absolutely swamp you. It might be better if I wasn't busy when I thought them up.

5: My hair is so long and thick that after I recently got a layered cut, some of my friends didn't notice but just commented on how long and thick it was!

6: I am obsessed with chocolate.

7: I have 54 followers and I'm so glad for all of you. :)

I award:
Melody
Miss Elizabeth Bennet
Allison
Rachel
Abby

Thirdly, Rachel gave me a writing related tag, but since I've already talked a lot about my nano novel, I hope to do it when I get an idea for another one. Which will be soon, I hope.

EDIT: I found that Miss Dashwood had given me the I'm An Inspirational Blogger Award quite a while ago. Thank you so much!

In which the girl who calls herself a writer tells you she's going to lose nano

2011-11-30T16:06:00.000-05:00

Um, I said that wrong. I'm going to lose NaNo - on one of the sites.
The other one, well - I won it.

I finished my novel barely ten minutes ago with 38,924 words. Or at least, that's according to Microsoft Word. According to the YWP word count validator I have 39,135 words. Oh well, I don't mind a few extra :)

My novel is all nicely finished with a conclusion, an epilogue, and a table of contents (did you know how many 'words' you can get from a table of contents?) and there is nothing more to be put into it, to push me up to 50,000 words. And besides, there's no way I could write more than 10,000 words by midnight, but don't tell anybody; it's a secret. :P

Considering that I got about 39,000 words (3 times more than last years word count) and this is the first year that (age-wise) I was allowed on the main site, I think I did pretty good.

Even if I lost.

But really, I don't mind not having gotten 50,000 words. I was busy this month and S&S week didn't help my word count at all. (Note to self: don't try to write a novel and host a blog week at the same time, both suffer.)
But I'm pretty sure I can get 50,000 next year and for now I have a nicely completed novel and the promise of five free copies of it. That's enough to make anybody jump for joy.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Unnamed NaNo Novel: a tag

2011-11-24T16:28:00.001-05:00

I was tagged by the Anne-girl with a nanowrimo tag! Here are the rules.

Write the title of your novel in the title bar. Well, it's unnamed right now; I really don't have any ideas title-wise right now.
Nominate two other people you know who are doing Nano.Comment on their blogs to let them know you've tagged them. hmmm, I tag Carrie from The Blog of a Writing Maiden and Jessica from Safirewriter. But if there's anyone else who wants to take this tag, please do!
Answer all the questions below.

What is your current word count?

24,155. Yes, that means ouch. I still plan to catch up to 50,000 in the next week, though.

What would you consider is best about your novel: plot, dialog, characters, or description?

As Chris Baty said (the founder of Nano, in his book No Plot, No Problem. I don't remember his exact words) "The things I'm not so good at? Plot, dialog, characters, and description. The things I'm good at? Coffee-drinking and complaining." Yup, that's me.

But I think that for this novel I've made great headway in plot and dialog and I love my characters, although they won't stay consistent and are often cliche.

Which of the above would you consider your weakest point?

I keep forgetting to describe, and then when I finally remember I only put it in for the word count. Another problem I have is not keeping the minor characters and subplots wrapped properly into the story.

Of all your characters who do you like the best?

Oh, you had to ask me that! I must say I love Anna, and she's getting a lot of my thoughts and feelings (rather egotistical, don't you think?) Derek is a challenge, both to me and to Anna, because I'm trying to make him mischievous boy and perfect hero at the same time. Another character I really like is Clarence, but he's trying to take the real hero's place so I'm trying to make him as shady as possible. Sorry for the long list, but I also like Meredith Elliston (a shameless plagarisation of Anne Elliot) and a young society woman named Muriel, although I'm not sure where she's going to fit in the story.

What was the inspiration for your novel?

Well, I first started the novel, and then I got the inspiration. The current piece of writing is so different from the original idea that I won’t even talk about it.

How long have you been doing Nano?

I did the young writer’s program last year and the year before.

What other writing projects have you completed or are in the process of writing?

One novelette of Medieval England, one of reformation-era France, one unfinished Austeneque romance that goes under the title of ‘Regency novel’ and a couple of short stories and poems.

What would you consider the funniest line in your novel?

“And Derek Randall is a – an alligator!”

If Mrs. Wilson was surprised she did not show it. “Why is that?” she inquired mildly.

Anna poured out her story. “He came up to me as I was walking to school. He was carrying his lunch pail and a frog. When I saw the frog he threw it into the bushes, but, Mama, Bertha was carrying his lunch because he said he lost his pail. He had it and it was filled with frogs!”

Mrs. Wilson had to swallow hard to keep from laughing, but Anna was not feeling particularly mirthful. “He put all, – all, Mama, those frogs into my and Bertha’s desk!

Go to the 11th page of your novel and paste the last paragraph here.

When Mrs. Randall had left, Bertha sat down, “Mother means well,” she said, “But I know Miss Elliston wouldn’t want the story repeated, so can you promise me to say nothing about it?”

This paragraph needs to be read in context. It’s just after Mrs. Randall gives Anna a full history of Miss Elliston’s former romance, telling her that she forgot the name of the young man. Bertha knows who it is and doesn’t want gossip to go around about it.

What time period is your novel set in?

The Victorian Era. 1881, to be precise.

Please paste here the paragraph you consider the best.

Oh, please no. I’m not sure which paragraph is the best. I do like the passage I posted a while ago, though.

What are you planning to do when your novel is all written and edited? Writing wise, that is.

Hmmm, I’ll probably be trying to smooth out the chaos and fill in the lines of ‘Regency Novel.’ And I’ll find a title for this one.

Blessings,

P. S. To all of you in the US; have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm in Canada, and we have our Thanksgiving in October, which is good right now, because there's snow on the ground.

Fanfiction contest: WINNER

2011-11-19T16:55:00.000-05:00

You have all voted in the Sense and Sensibility fanfiction contest and the winner is

The Anne-girl!!!

Her poem, 'Ode to the Key of F Major' won with 44% of the votes. You can read her poem here. 'Ode to the Key of F Major' was especially wonderful because the Anne-girl had a very interesting and unique idea, and carried it into poetry amazingly.

The other, almost as amazing entries were:

'Elinor' by Lexi and 'Margaret's London Season' by Miss Laurie tied for 2nd place

'Limericks' by Miss Elizabeth Bennet 3rd place

I loved all your submissions, ladies! Thank you so much for entering!

Blessings,

Nano Excerpt #1

2011-11-17T16:14:00.002-05:00

There are two characters I forgot to tell you about in the last post, and since they're getting more and more important to the story, I'll tell you about them now.

Muriel Blake is young, educated and elegant. She's only had one scene in my novel so far, but she's written a couple of letters to Miss Elliston and soon I'll be able to write a bit more about her.

Clarence Elliston is a pleasant sort of guy who can be serious but not too serious, funny but not too funny. Right now he reminds me thoroughly of Frank Churchill, and everybody likes him. Not me, though. He persists in getting into the story where he's not wanted.

This is an excerpt from the very first chapter of my novel.

Her half-spoken thoughts were arrested by the sight of a girl not much older than herself, maybe fifteen. She was leaning against one of the few large trees in the farm, and her face was white. She looked in disbelief at the man who had sold them the farm. He came up to her.

“I’m sorry, Muriel,” he said, “I had to sell the farm – I have to leave.”

The girl looked up at him with a pale, but understanding face. Anna was shocked at its intensity.

“I have to go away from here, Muriel. I’m going north.”

“North!” the girl gasped, “To where there’s nothing but snow, and trees, and wolves?”

“Yes, and further if I can. But I won’t be such a brute as to ask you to go along with me. You can finish your education with your grandmother in Kingston.”

“And Andrew?” Anna, rather close, but screened from their notice by a large canopy of bright leaves, looked where she pointed, to a young boy playing with a group of youngsters. He brandished a stick and cried, “Let’s get ‘im!” upon which the whole group set in hot pursuit of a rather startled squirrel.

“He’ll go with you, of course. He’s never been much for cities and learning, but he’ll get used to it now.”

“You?”

“Oh, I’ll manage – somehow. Anything to get away.”

There it is! Tell me what you think.

Love,

Should I change my blog name?

2011-11-16T19:43:00.000-05:00

I loved having my blog called 'Miss Georgiana Darcy', but I think its time for a change. My blog is having less and less to do with the real Georgiana, and while I like signing myself Miss Georgiana, it's confusing having my real name and another name just for fun. What do you think? I still don't know what I'd change it to, but I've always loved this nonsense poem.

The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

What would you think if I had 'Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing-Wax' as my blog name? Any comments and suggestions are thoroughly welcome.

And so I sign myself (perhaps for the last time)

P.S. Sometime when I can think you'll have another post about my nano novel, so stay tuned! And, for Miss Dashwood, Anna and Bertha are about fifteen and Derek is just a little older.

My Nano Novel: the Characters

2011-11-15T15:53:00.002-05:00

Anna is a bit older than this, and her hair is a little darker.

This is perhaps what Anna would look like, but her hair is lighter, I think.

A feisty, quick-tempered, inwardly humorous main character, Anna is not romantic like Marianne Dashwood, but she is certainly 'everything but prudent.' She thinks quite a bit, and is always ready to recognize the ridiculous. She is Extremely Vexed with her best friend's brother, a boy by the name of Derek, and she has an addiction to Sir Walter Scott's novels. :)

This hair is definately too dark, but
it sort of reminds me of Bertha.

I think this is how Bertha would look, but I'm not quite sure yet.

Bertha is her sweet and quiet friend; a combination of Ada Clare and Esther Summerson, I think. She observes many things, but will find that some of her observations have rather missed their mark.

Pretty much a good picture, only Derek
is younger and not so dark. And OK,
he's good looking, but not that good
looking.

This is another option.......

Derek is the one always ready for a saucy answer, or a teasing joke. Anna found him amusing at first, but in the recent chapters, after a few (well thought up!) jokes on her, she cannot find anything better than to call him an alligator (I know, Anna's descriptions are rather odd, sometimes.) He seems to have borrowed a bit from Laurie Laurence (at his worst behavior), a bit from Gilbert Blythe, a bit from Frank Churchill, and (I hope), even a bit from Henry Tilney.

Miss Meredith Elliston is a shameless plagarisation of Anne Elliot. She is about thirty three, and moved west with her brother and sister-in-law sixteen years ago to be a schoolteacher. She is capable and, it seems, contented, and very few people understand the true story of her heartbreak. As you might see, I'm not quite sure of her looks, but she is rather plain and pretty at the same time, and she has Anne's Elliot's 'elegant little figure.'

Now, take all these characters, add a couple more who I don't have time to tell you about, send them to 19th century Saskatchewan (then part of the North-West Territories) and what do you think you'd get? Chaos?

Yup. What else would you get with Anna and Derek living in the same town? Derek loves it that way. Anna doesn't.

Have a nice day!

P.S. I'm going back to my novel. Anna and Derek are in a spelling bee together, and Miss Elliston is just about ready to make Anna spell 'animosity'. Yes, she'll do it looking pointedly at Derek. ;P

Sense and Sensibility Week: the END

2011-11-12T15:51:00.000-05:00

Love this picture, by the way!

Thank you to all of you for participating. I didn't know a week could go so fast!
Here are the posts of all my lovely participants:

Questions at

Of Trims and Frill and Furbellows by Alexandra

Elegance of Fashion by Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Old Fashioned Charm by Miss Laurie

Tea Time With Annie Kate by Annie Kate

Regency Delight ~ Jane Austen &c by Melody

Miss Georgiana Darcy by yours truly

Newly Impassioned Soul by Abby

Beautiful Blank Pages by Jemimah

Yet Another Period Drama Blog by Miss Dashwood

Quite a few people also commented with their answers on my questions post, so check that out too!

Modesty - then and now by Lexi. This post is how many people commited to modesty think that if something is 'old-fashioned', it's modest, but that's not the case!

Marianne and the Trial of Love by Lexi. This post is about the romance of Marianne and Willoughby, and their respective endings.

Sense and Sensibility Week by Lauren. This delightful post is filled with S&S related pictures from the Jane Austen House Museum

Sense and Sensibility Book Quotes by Miss Dashwood. I couldn't remember any funny quotes in S&S (the book) but this post has certainly refreshed my memory!

Period Drama Heroines # 5: Marianne Dashwood by Miss Dashwood. A post concentrating on the life and personality of Marianne.

Defending Edward Ferrars by Miss Dashwood. The name says it all!

Thank you to all of my participants, and a special thank you to Miss Bennet for her advice and Miss Dashwood for making the lovely banners.

Love,

Quiz Answers

2011-11-12T15:14:00.001-05:00

1 b Henry

2 a Norland

3 c Esteem, like

4 d It doesn't say (This is the danger of trusting a film adaptation - his name is not Christopher!)

5 c thirteen

6 a Devonshire

7 c 500 pounds a year

8 b,e Mr. Palmer is so droll! and Mr. Palmer is just the kind of man I like.

9 c Marianne (I don't think anybody got this one, but it's true - see chapter 34)

10 d Mrs. Jennings

11 a Harry

12 b three

13 c,d,e his sister-in-law, named Eliza, a near relative (quite a few people missed the 'near relative' part, but Colonel B. did say it, and I'm presuming she was his cousin, because his father was her guardian.)

14 c,d He had been told that Marianne was dying. He wanted to explain himself. (He wanted to talk to Elinor, not Marianne.

15 c because it would be dishonourable

16 a she ran out of the room and burst into tears of joy

17 b esteem and friendship

Isn't it funny that the two last questions show them doing 'out of character' things? Elinor runs out of the room and bursts into tears when she hears some surprising news, and Marianne marries a man with only esteem and friendship.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet 15 1/2 answers right

Melody 13 1/2 answers right

Miss Dashwood 13 1/2 answers right

Miss Laurie 13 answers right
Sarah Grace 12 answers right

Anne-girl 11 answers right

Lauren 9 1/2 answers right

Krista 7 1/2 right

Thank you all for playing! I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Fanfiction contest voting!

2011-11-12T15:04:00.000-05:00

Here are the entries to the fanfiction contest. Three of them are poems, and one of them is a letter.

Elinor by Lexi
Margaret's London Season by Miss Laurie
Ode to the Key of F Major by the Anne-girl
Miss Bennet's limericks by Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Have fun voting!

Note: If you want to enter you still can and I'll sneak you into the poll.

Who's your favorite hero and heroine?

2011-11-11T16:31:00.002-05:00

Colonel Brandon vs. Edward Ferrars

Elinor Dashwood vs. Marianne Dashwood

Who do you like best, and why?

With all due respect to the dear Colonel (whom, I can assure you, I like a great deal) I prefer Edward. He is underappreciated, and doesn't always make perfect descisions, but he always acts like a gentleman, even if he isn't perfect. And, without the crushing sense of his secret engagement and as he grows up more, I think he will be quite less of a social failure than his brother Robert seems to think. Besides, there must be something in him to make Elinor like him so much. And, agreeing with Marianne, I have some objections to a man more than twice my age as Colonel Brandon is. Disagreeing with her though, and to Edward's vindication, I don't think that poetry can be read aloud properly and expressively. It needs to be read just to yourself, or, perhaps, to Elinor alone. And Edward has a nice sense of humor, too.

I'm saying that I like Marianne better than Elinor, though it is rather a toss-up. Marianne is musical, loves poetry and the picturesque, and is fiercely loyal and affectionate. She doesn't say anything but what she means, so you can always count on her honesty, and she goes by extremes, which is extremely interesting. ;P

Who is your favorite? Please comment or, if you have enough time, write a whole blog post about it!

Sense and Sensibility tag questions

2011-11-10T18:56:00.001-05:00

1: When did you first read Sense and Sensibility? Have you reread it since?
I first read it in the spring of 2010; it was the second of Jane Austen's works that I read. I think I've re-read it once or twice since, and I listened to it on audiobook a few weeks ago.

2: When did you first watch Sense and Sensibility? Which adaptation was it?
I watched the 1995 version on my birthday, late 2010, and loved it. More recently I watched the 2008 version.

3: If you have watched/heard of more than one adaptation which one was your favorite?
I'm honestly not sure. I don't remember much of Emma Thompson's Elinor, but I loved Hattie Morahan's, especially since she was the right age. Kate Winslet's Marianne was amazing, whereas Charity Wakefield's comes across more as a overemotional teenager. I'm not sure about Edward, although I loved Dan Steven's portrayal. As for Colonel Brandon, I think Alan Rickman did a great job playing him, but David Morrisey is the age he's supposed to be, so that counts for a lot. The 2008 version was very faithful to the book, and had beautiful scenery, but the 1995 one has an AMAZING soundtrack and there's something almost magical about it - so I can't make up my mind.

4: Which three S&S characters drive you crazy?
Willoughby. He could have been so much - he had every advantage - but he was ruined by himself. arrrrrrrg.

John Dashwood. 'Not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold-hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed.' He knows that he should be doing something for his sisters, but he always finds a way to get out of it. I think it is quite likely that he told Fanny of his intention to give his sisters 1000 apiece just so that she could talk him out of it.

Mrs. Jennings. She has such good intentions, but talks a lot and makes so many problems. As the Anne-girl said in her poem, "So Mrs. Jennings please do hush!"

5: Which heroine are you most like: Elinor or Marianne?
I used to think I was most like Marianne, with her romance and her poetry, and her music, but I'm like Elinor with her subtle sense of humor, attention to social conventions and silly people, and not being intirely open about her feelings. I'd be like the Margaret too, in the 2008 film (Don't say anything until I come back!)

6: Who would be most enjoyable: (or bearable) Mr. Palmer or Mrs. Palmer?
Mrs. Palmer would be the most enjoyable and amusing, whereas Mr. Palmer is boring but, to misquote Elinor, 'I confess that at Cleveland I would not think of tame and quiet people with any repugnance.'

7: What would be your reaction if you saw a re-write of Sense and Sensibility where it was Elinor who married Colonel Brandon?
Well, obviously I thought it was an interesting idea, or I wouldn't have put it in the questions, but really, they're pre-made to be brother and sister, sort of like with Edward and Marianne.

8: Where does Sense and Sensibility rank in your list of favorite Austen novels?
My favorites list is so mixed up right now, but I think that S&S would probably be somewhere after Northanger Abbey, Emma, and Persuasion.

Blessings,

Thursday: Supporting Characters Tournament

2011-11-10T13:42:00.001-05:00

Who is the funnies, cleverest, silliest, most annoying, and all round most favorite supporting character is Sense and Sensibility? In my new poll (on the right sidebar this time) you can vote about it! Here are the characters you can vote about. I didn't put in Willoughby and Lucy Steele since they're villains instead of supporting characters.

Who is your favorite supporting character?

Mrs. Dashwood

Margaret Dashwood

Mrs. Jennings

Mrs. Palmer

Mr. Palmer

John Dashwood

Fanny Dashwoood

Sir John Middleton

Lady Middleton

Anne (Nancy) Steele

Mrs. Ferrars

Robert Ferrars

Have fun voting!

EDIT: I'm sorry that I couldn't put them all in the same poll, so now they're in three different ones, and the winners of those will go against each other in a later poll.

Amazing poem in the fanfic contest!

2011-11-10T08:01:00.003-05:00

Here's another entry to the fanfic contest, written by the very talented Anne-girl. She had such an amazing idea, and she went through with it beautifully.

Ode to the Key of F Major

by the Anne-girl

The key of F of which I speak,

Causes Marianne to squeak.

Causes Elinor to blush,

So Mrs. Jennings please do hush.

The key of F of which I trill,

Giveth many heart a thrill.

Darling Elinor's most of all

Though it cause her face to pall.

The key of F of which I sing,

Is a very major thing.

The Mr. F! Who can he be?

Only Edward, as you see.

Thank you so much, everyone who has entered!

Blessings,

The Cottage

2011-11-09T20:52:00.000-05:00

Don't we rather think that Robert Ferrars' enthusiasm over cottages is a little ridiculous?

Me: well, yes of course. Robert Ferrars is always ridiculous.

via

Yes and no. There was more than one definition of a cottage in Regency England. One was just meant to be lived in (if the inhabitants could live in it - imagine Barton Cottage in S&S 2008 and what the peasants lived in was worse) and the other was meant to be planned and shown off. (Very romantic! Certainly)
I don't know much about Regency architecture: but here're a few things I've found in an internet search.

via

The fancy style of cottage was called the 'Cottage Ornee' (or 'Ornee Cottage or Ferme Ornee) and it was the kind Robert Ferrars would have liked. These cottages would be built for romantic spots and picturesque views.
Some of the cottages were quite spacious and elaborate and cost quite a lot to build. That's why Robert doesn't have enough money for one; it's not the kind of cottage that he can just go and find the tenants on his mother's estates living in.

via

This cottage, according to wikipedia is a 'Ferme Ornee' (Perhaps that was the French for 'Cottage Ornee) and belonged to Marie Antoinette.

See, very 'picturesque' but totally impractical. Imagine any amount of Lady Elliots trying to figure out planning a dance in that building, despite Robert's help.

Here are some examples of Fermee Ornee Cottages:
The Leasowes
Cottage Ornee pictures - Wikimedia
Cottage Ornee - Bing Images
Cottage Ornee - Google Images
Ferme Ornee Wikipedia

I hope you'll forgive me for this digression into Regency architecture and understand Robert Ferrars a little more. :D

Me: I still think that Robert Ferrars is ridiculous.

Well, yes, but that's a topic for another post.

Blessings,

Wednesday: Trivia Quiz

2011-11-09T06:56:00.002-05:00

How much do you really know about Jane Austen's first published novel? Take this facts quiz to find out!

Notes: All questions are based on the book, not the film adaptations, unless I specifically mention it. Since there are so many Very Clever People out there I have tried to make this quiz pretty hard. If you can't answer one question, just go on to the next. Comment with your answers and I'll comment back with your scores. I've made the quiz pretty long, so if you don't have enough time or space to put your answers in one comment you can send them in installments.

Now on to the interesting part!

1: What was the name of Elinor and Marianne's father?
a: James
b: Henry
c: John
d: George

2: The home that the Dashwood's father and later their step-brother inherited was called ____ Park?
a: Norland
b: Walnut Grove
c: Dashwood
d: Delaford

3: Elinor about Edward: I cannot deny that I think very highly of him - that I greatly ___ - that I ___ him.
a: admire, love
b: regard, like
c: esteem, like
d: value, respect

4: What is Colonel Brandon's first name?
a: Albert
b: George
c: Christopher
d: It doesn't say

5: How old is Margaret?
a: ten
b: eleven
c: thirteen
d: It doesn't say

6: Barton Park and Cottage is in....?
a: Devonshire
b: Somersetshire
c: Sussex
d: Oxfordshire

7: What is Mrs Dashwood and the girls' combined income?
a: 1000 a year
b: 100 pounds each
c: 500 pounds a year
d: I doesn't say

8: Which two things does Mrs. Palmer say about her husband's ill-humor, neglect, and rudeness?
a: I must say, I do not understand Mr. Palmer at all!
b: Mr. Palmer is so droll!
c: He wants to be superior in ill-humor to other people.
d: I am excessively diverted!
e: Mr. Palmer is just the kind of man I like.

9: Which character said the quote: "This is admiration of a very particular kind!"
a: Elinor
b: Mrs. Jennings
c: Marianne
d: Sir John Middleton

10: Who do Elinor and Marianne go to London with?
a: their mother
b: Lady Middleton
c: Fanny Dashwood
d: Mrs. Jennings

11: What is the name of John and Fanny's little boy?
a: Harry
b: Georgie
c: William
d: John

12: How many notes did Marianne write to Willoughby in London?
a: too many to count
b: three
c: two
d: it doesn't say

13: The girl that Marianne reminded Colonel Brandon was...... (choose all that apply)
a: his sister
b: his wife
c: his sister-in-law
d: named Eliza
e: a near relative
f: named Catherine

14: Willoughby rode from London to Cleveland because...... (choose all that apply)
a: He wanted to take revenge on Colonel Brandon
b: He wanted to talk to Marianne
c: He had been told that Marianne was dying
d: He wanted to explain himself

15: Why did Edward not break his engagement to Lucy?
a: because he didn't love her
b: because he wanted to annoy Mrs. Ferrars
c: because it would be dishonorable
d: because he loved her

16: What was Elinor's reaction when she heard that Edward was free from Lucy?
a: She ran out of the room and burst into tears of joy
b: she tried to talk, but couldn't
c: she jumped up and hugged Edward
d: she sat down in amazement

17: With what feelings did Marianne accept Colonel Brandon?
a: deep love
b: esteem and friendship
c: total indifference
d: passionate feeling

Have fun!

Blessings,

Tuesday: Quotes from the Movies

2011-11-08T07:14:00.001-05:00

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the 1995 and 2008 versions of Sense and Sensibility. I was originally going to post some from the book too, but the book doesn't really have any 'funny' quotes and all the poignant ones have to be read in context.

1995:
Elinor: Marianne, can you play something else? Mamma has been weeping since breakfast.
Marianne switches to a dirge.
Elinor: I meant something LESS mournful, dearest.

Fanny Dashwood: Oh, a cottage! How charming. A little cottage is always very snug.
(My current background is actually called named after this :)

Marianne: When is a man to be free from such wit if age and infirmity do not protect him?
Elinor: Infirmity?
Mrs. Dashwood: If Colonel Brandon is infirm then I am at death's door.
Elinor: It is a miracle your life has extended this far.
Marianne: Did you not hear him complain of a rheumatism in his shoulder?
Elinor: A slight ache was I believe his phrase

Edward: Miss Dashwood... Elinor, I must talk to you - something of great importance I need to tell you - about my education.
Elinor: Your education?
Edward: Yes, it was conducted oddly enough at Plymouth.
Elinor: Indeed?
Edward: Yes, do you know it?
Elinor: Plymouth?
Edward: Yes.
Elinor: No
Edward: Ah.

Marianne: Is love a fancy or a feeling... or a Ferrars?

Margaret: Please don't say anything important 'til I come back.
Marianne: Fanny wishes to know where the key to the silver cabinet is kept.
Elinor: Betsy has it I think. What does Fanny want with the silver?
Marianne: One can only presume she wants to count it. What are you doing?
Elinor: Presents for the servants. Have you seen Margaret by the way? I'm worried about her. She's taken to hiding in the oddest places.
Marianne: Fortunate girl. At least she can escape Fanny which is more than any of us is able.
Elinor: You do your best. You've not said a word to her for a week.
Marianne: I have. I've said "yes" and "no".

Marianne: And as for you, you have no right, no right at all, to parade your ignorant assumptions...
Margaret: They're not assumptions, you told me.
Marianne: I told you nothing.
Margaret: They'll meet him when he comes.
Marianne: Margaret, that is not the point. We do not speak of such things before strangers.
Margaret: But everyone else was.
Marianne: Mrs Jennings is not everyone.
Margaret: I like her. She talks about things. We never talk about things.

via fanpop.com

Edward and Elinor are baiting Margaret, who is hiding
Edward Ferrars: I wish to check the position of the Nile. My sister tells me it is in South America.
Elinor Dashwood: No. She's quite wrong, for I believe it is in Belgium.
Edward Ferrars: You must be thinking of the Volga.
Margaret: The Volga?
Elinor Dashwood: Of course, the Volga. Which, as you know, starts in...
Edward Ferrars: Vladivostock, and ends in...
Elinor Dashwood: Wimbledon.
Edward Ferrars: Precisely. Where the coffee beans come from.
Margaret: The source of the Nile is in Abyssinia.

2008

Mrs. Dashwood: I suppose you would have us live in a rabbit hutch.

Elinor: No, Mamma, a cottage will do.

Mrs. Dashwood has just announced that they are going to live in Barton Cottage.
Fanny: Opon my word, I quite envy you.
Margaret: Then you should go live there, Fanny, and we'll stay at Norland.

Marianne (dreamily): Willoughby of Allenham. It's a good name, isn't it?
Elinor: Willoughby of Allenham left some very muddy footprints in the passage.

Margaret: Colonel Brandon's coming.
Marianne: Come, Margaret, we're going outside.
Margaret: What for?
Marianne: A healthy walk.

If you have any other favorites feel free to post them
Blessings,

Monday: Fanfiction contest

2011-11-07T18:27:00.000-05:00

There's only one Sense and Sensibility, right?

Well, yes, but so much more can be written about the delightful characters and beautiful scenes.

So in comes - you!

Do you think you can write a poem or story about the scenes or characters before after, or during S&S? A rhyme about Marianne and Willoughby? A short story of Edward's life before he knew Elinor? What about one from Mrs. Jennings' point of view wondering why Marianne doesn't like olives? The possibilities are, literally, endless.

via fanpop.cm

Now, half of faithful Janeites tend to gasp at the word fanfiction, especially sequels, but that's not really what we're doing. We're just trying to exercise our creative talent a little and get to know S&S better. You don't have to shrink away from this contest because you don't think you can do it, or you're too busy. Surely you can write a limerick about Sir John Middleton, or a satirical piece about Fanny Dashwood. The aim is just to get a short and snappy (or long if you really want) piece of fiction and have some fun. We welcome cute, ridiculous, and even satirical entries. (Although do keep them clean, please.)

Just post your stuff on your blog by Saturday (if you don't have a blog, email your entry to me and I'll post it on here, with credit to you, of course.) On Saturday, I'll put up a poll with all the entries, and the public can vote for their favorite!

Remember, the aim is just to have fun!

Very Sensibly Yours,

Monday: Your favorite adaptations

2011-11-07T16:30:00.003-05:00

Many of us have quite a clear idea of what we like and don't like from the last two Sense and Sensibility adaptations. So, to see what are the favorites of all the participants in S&S Week I am putting up five polls on my left sidebar.

What is your favorite version of S&S?
1995 (Columbia)
2008 (BBC)

Who's your favorite Edward Ferrars?
Hugh Grant (1995)
Dan Stevens (2008)

Who's your favorite Colonel Brandon?
Alan Rickman (1995)
David Morrissey (2008)

Who's your favorite Elinor?
Emma Thompson (1995)
Hattie Morahan (2008)

Who's your favorite Marianne?
Kate Winslet (1995)
Charity Wakefield (2008)

Please vote!

Sense and Sensibility Week Questions

2011-11-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

Oh! How could I! I was planning to post this earlier so that you could get them ready early, so I'm very sorry.

1: When did you first read Sense and Sensibility? Have you reread it since? (If you're so dreadfully un-bookwormish as to have never read the book just go on to the next question.)

2: When did you first watch Sense and Sensibility? Which adaptation was it?

3: If you have watched/heard of more than one adaptation which one was your favorite? (Rants allowed)

4: Which three S&S characters drive you crazy?

5: Which heroine are you most like: Elinor or Marianne?

6: Who would be most enjoyable: (or bearable) Mr. Palmer or Mrs. Palmer?

7: What would be your reaction if you saw a re-write of Sense and Sensibility where it was Elinor who married Colonel Brandon?

8: Where does Sense and Sensibility rank in your list of favorite Austen novels?

I'll be posting my personal answers to these questions sometime this week.
Blessings,

Welcome to Sense and Sensibility Week!

2011-11-05T19:45:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Sense and Sensibility! It is exactly 200 years and 1 week after its first publication.

This is the first day of Sense and Sensibility Week. I have quite a few posts and activities ready for the next few days and I hope that you'll all have a lot of fun.

Here are some links to get you started.

Sense and Sensibility e-book at Gutenberg.org The book for free to download. How much better can you get?

The Sense and Sensibility 1995 and 2008 Comparison at Austenitis by Melody and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. A very complete comparison of the two favorite adaptations. For almost all the questions, Melody and Miss Bennet answer just like I would!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

The Sense and Sensibility Discussion Board at the Republic of Pemberley. This often has very good discussion, and these 'Pemberleans' are more than ready to help you with any question you have!

Sense and Sensibility audiobooks from Librivox.org These are quite a few (free!!!) audio recordings. If you don't like the sound of one reader, you can just try another. There is also a dramatic reading scheduled, but it probably won't come out for quite a while.

Jane Austen Tea Series from Bingley's Teas. This isn't totally Sense and Sensibility, but the teas, especially the ones named 'Marianne's Wild Abandon' and 'Treasures From the Colonel' certainly are, and you can easily pretend the very appealing 'Wicked Wickham' tea is actually 'Wicked Willoughby.'

Have a wonderful week. If you have ideas for any S&S themed posts, this week is the perfect time to do it.

Very Sensibly Yours,

Note: I am posting this Saturday night because I will not be available Sunday. All of the other days this week I will be there.

Just a random update

2011-11-02T16:41:00.001-04:00

I've been super busy for the last while with Nano and such, so I don't have time for a long post with a real topic, but here's a random update.

Nano is going pretty well. (You can see my progress here.) I'm getting quite in the hang of it, and really, when I was trying to decide whether to at an extra phrase to this post, my instictive reaction was, "Do it, of course. It will up your word count." Which, although perhaps handy in Nano, is not a particularly good rule for writing. :P

I got a delightful box (which now houses the cards I design) from Rachel for winning a past writing contest. Here's my entry, in case you'd like to see it.