Inside Ellie's Head

It's About Time... to start...

For many months now, I have postponed writing an actual and complete book proposal. Instead, I write the book. I want to send word to publishers of the books existence. Yet instead of putting together the proposal, I write another chapter. Well, now I'm near completion... actually I have one and a half chapters left to write, but still I'm closer than ever before and it's about time I started... not the writing of another chapter but the writing of the proposal. 

After all: No proposal, no book. 

I'm fed up with myself and my fear of rejection. Today, I say: "Let them reject!" At least if I send them a proposal, they'll have something to reject. They will also have something to accept and they may even find out about a great book that they may want to publish. 

So I shifted writing gears today... and I'm happy to announce that I have written about 7 pages of proposal material! Some more writing, some more market research, some more editing, and I might just end up with something I'll be proud to send out.

The Great Giant Redwoods

The road up the coast of California was breathtakingly beautiful. As we drove up we witnessed the fog creeping up the mountain like a wounded water demon taking his way up to his cave hiding place after a day at battle. When it became sunny, we could see the shore for miles. The water so cold and vibrant like an untamed animal. Jagged rocks protruding at every mile and so much wildlife enjoying the sun, the ocean, and the freedom of being alive. I think we were transported into a different era. A time before technology, politics, and pollution. 

Here's an excerpt from my journal written while were were cradle by the ageless wisdom of the redwood trees in the land of the giants:

"5/24/8   20:00 ish

We sleep deep in the belly of the redwoods tonight. We have been swallowed whole car, tent, gear, and all. In the belly of the redwoods, there are the trees reaching hundreds of feed into the sky. The sky in turn pushes down on them with a thick layer of heavy cloud as if to say: "No more! Grow no more!" I think it might rain tonight. I am actually hoping for it. Heavy rain pouring and gliding down the sides of our two-person tent. I'm told the stove will be fine in the rain ("it is covered") and the lighter that's been left on the table outside is not our only one... 

The days are getting longer and longer as we head north and west. Today we arrived at the most western point in California and perhaps the most western point on our entire trip with the exception of Vancouver Island. At ten minutes before 9 PM, it is still light out. It will probably be another 30-45 minutes before we have complete darkness. It is also getting cooler. At 6PM tonight we could see our exhales rise up as we ate dinner outside of our tent in four layers of clothes, closed-toed shoes, and gloves. It is hard to believe that only 5 days ago  at 4:30 AM I walked out of a hot Pasadena apartment onto even hotter streets in shorts, a tang top, and sandals. It had been over 100 degrees F the day before and that morning it must have been at least 80 degrees. And now, five days and over 700 miles later, we lied in our cozy tent in multiple layers and bundled up in think sleeping bags, trying to keep the frost out of our bones and not going to the bathroom until absolutely necessary." 

Mortified: Angst Written

Have you read your journals and diaries from your teen years lately? Bring them out! What will you find? And once you've had a good laugh, bring it to a Mortified event and let the angst-filled recourse of your daily teenage struggles evaporated in the laughter of dozens of strangers.

It's not so bad what you went through. Not after so many years. And besides, you've turned out alright. Right?!

To find upcoming events and locations visit their website and Get Mortified!