April Showers Bring Unfinished Tales

 

The above is an unfinished illustration that I was working on a while back for my story serial Once Upon a Spinning-Wheel (under the putative title of Said a Whiting to a Snail well, we’re already safely Through the Looking Glass, so what’s to lose?). The operative word here being ‘unfinished’.

Earlier this morning, it snowed properly for a good hour or so (April brings showers of snow – see, you knew I’d bring it back to the monthly theme), which in my corner of the world is a bit unusual these days, sadly – and it got me to thinking about unfinished projects, things I’d like to do, and things of that kind.

And thus I turned back to this one in my sketchbook (edited here to make it a little clearer) and thought, Hmm (or words to that effect), it really is time I got on with this …

Some things may need to be kept under lock and key till they’re ready – but sometimes, if you don’t share something in some form, it just sort of quietly ends up going nowhere. So, on that principle, I decided to share with you my little secret illustration – but don’t tell anybody, all right? It’s just between you, me, and the World Wide Web.

But what about you, though, kind reader? What unfinished tales or projects might you be harbouring?

Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me – these other fellers I’m not so sure about, but— I jest, I jest!

Well, slightly.

But, as the Whiting said to the Snail, ‘Will you, won’t you, won’t you join the dance?’

Published in Group Writing
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There are 41 comments.

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  1. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    Way back, maybe 35-45 years ago, people at my workplace would call on a local illustrator to make these kinds of distinctions for scientific publications.  She was pretty good at it; I wonder what she is doing nowadays. She was probably around my age, give or take.

    I finally remembered her name. Looks like she is still going strong:  http://guthillustration.com/

    Don’t know if she has any experience with mermaids, though.

    • #31
  2. Captain French Moderator
    Captain French
    @AlFrench

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Now, let’s see, what projects do I have outstanding?

                Write a recipe book

    Spinach Pizza and Other Horror Tales

    • #32
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Captain French (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Now, let’s see, what projects do I have outstanding?

    Write a recipe book

    Spinach Pizza and Other Horror Tales

    No horrors, just great eating.

    • #33
  4. Lilly B Coolidge
    Lilly B
    @LillyB

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    In all seriousness, though, if you think I could be of help, I’d be happy to explore it a bit.

    I have been looking for an illustrator for that series for years (Decades?). My first attempt was with an artist who apparently had no idea there was a difference between deciduous and evergreen trees. 

    That’s the most offensive thing I have read on the internet today! How do people function in the world and not know anything about the trees all around them? This is one of the few times it is helpful to link to the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/26/opinion/sunday/cure-yourself-of-tree-blindness.html  

    • #34
  5. Ammo.com Member
    Ammo.com
    @ammodotcom

    I’m almost religious about keeping my unfinished project a super-secret until it’s done and dusted. I’m afraid anyone’s praise for just having an ongoing project will remove some incentive to get it finished. But if I could draw lobsters as well as you, I’d probably be working on an undersea picture book too!

    • #35
  6. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Polish up your own unfinished post and shoehorn it into this month’s theme!

    There are two major monthly Group Writing projects. One is the Quote of the Day project, now managed by @she. This is the other project, in which Ricochet members claim a day of the month to write on a proposed theme. This is an easy way to expose your writing to a general audience, with a bit of accountability and topical guidance to encourage writing for its own sake.

    Stop by and sign up now for “April Showers Bring . . . .”

    Interested in Group Writing topics that came before? See the handy compendium of monthly themes. Check out links in the Group Writing Group. You can also join the group to get a notification when a new monthly theme is posted.

    • #36
  7. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Ammo.com (View Comment):

    I’m almost religious about keeping my unfinished project a super-secret until it’s done and dusted. I’m afraid anyone’s praise for just having an ongoing project will remove some incentive to get it finished. But if I could draw lobsters as well as you, I’d probably be working on an undersea picture book too!

    Certainly fair enough, I’m a bit that way myself. And thank you, that’s very kind!

    • #37
  8. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Captain French (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Now, let’s see, what projects do I have outstanding?

    Write a recipe book

    Spinach Pizza and Other Horror Tales

    No horrors, just great eating.

    Not many cookbooks have that sort of tagline, but I can see it working:

    Leaf and Let Fry:
    Chef Arahant Presents … 

    • #38
  9. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    Leaf and Let Fry:
    Chef Arahant Presents … 

    Not a bad title.

    • #39
  10. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):
    Leaf and Let Fry:
    Chef Arahant Presents …

    Not a bad title.

    Having seen a couple of your recipes, I was thinking Moar Cheese.

    • #40
  11. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Having seen a couple of your recipes, I was thinking Moar Cheese.

    That’s not bad, either. Makes me hungry.

    • #41
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