Dead Before Life

July 4th 2013
Sewanee Young Writers Conference

Dead Before Life

by Julia Debski

Day in, day out,

write

Be good, be great, be the best

Don’t eat, don’t sleep,

write

Ideas flood by

Drowning the pen and paper

No sleep, it’s for the weak,

write

Click clack of keys

The children of others being born

Nothing of my own

It was washed away with

The tide

Laugh, cry

Hands shake,

write

Breath life into something that

Does not yet exist

A stillborn baby 

Presented to the world 4 months too early.

Leave It

July 1st 2013

Sewanee Young Writers Conference

Leave It

by Julia Debski

Alice sits in an armchair, hunched over in a dark room. The black curtains are drawn over the windows, letting no light in. Audience can’t see her face. It’s quiet- no music, no animals, no noise from outside. Then a small clock chimes somewhere in the dark.

Alice Oh shut up with that noise! I heard enough of it already.

Clock continues to chime. Alice turns and throws a glass at the clock. It smashes, and the chiming stops. The audience can now see her face- pale, and set in a frown. Haunted.

Alice  I swear to God, if I have one more interruption...

There is a knock at the door. Alice looks like she is considering throwing something at the door as well.

Alice Don’t come in! That’s what the sign on the door is for- stay out!

Betty (offstage) Oh honestly, you are ridiculous. You open this door this instant. We are going sort you out.

Alice I don’t want to be sorted out, damn it!

Betty picks the lock to Alice’s door and enters.

Alice Oh shit, how’d it open? Doesn’t matter. Get out, out! Leave me alone.

Betty No. You can’t just stay in this room for the rest of eternity, that’s insane. You need to get your life started again. 

Alice I’m perfectly happy in here, really. 

Betty You call living in the dark and isolation being happy? Come on, we both know you are far from happy.

Alice I am happy!

Betty You are not!

Alice So what should I do to become happy?

Betty (hesitant) Well you could...

Alice Spit it out!

Betty You could get a job.

Alice Hell no. Absolutely not. No way.

Betty You need to get your life up and running again, and you need money to do that. To go see movies, go out and eat, buy things. You need a job.

Alice (becoming angry) I don’t want to start my life again. Why should I? I don’t want to do any of those things.

Betty You’ve always been such a pessimist.You can’t live your life out in here. Eventually, the money you have saved for the rent will run out. You will need to step outside this room eventually. Come on, we’ll do it together.

Betty moves forward quickly and grabs Alice’s arm, dragging her out of the arm chair and towards the door. Taken by surprise, Alice doesn’t manage to fight back at first. They struggle for a moment before Alice breaks free.

Alice What the hell? Get off me! Don’t touch me! (pause) How can I make myself clear? I don’t want to go out there, I can’t go out there. How can I go out there and live my life when I can never escape what happened? That town, they don’t want me. I’m dirty to them.

Betty You are not dirty. It wasn’t your fault. Don’t let what happened, and what a few people say affect your life. Otherwise you are letting him win. 

Alice Him. We can’t even say his name. He has won. He took what he wanted and left me behind a building. No matter what, I’m better off here.

Betty Oh dear...

Betty moves forward to hug Alice. Alice quickly steps away, holding her hands in front of her in defense. She trips over something, not being able to see it in the dark.

Alice I don’t want a job. 

Betty Okay, so you don’t want a job. But you have to at least start getting out more.

Alice Why?

Betty Because you are stronger than this. I know you. We’ll do it together, one step at a time.

Hair

June 30th 2013

Sewanee Young Writers Conference

Hair

A Play

Oliver: It’s brown, because it’s leather. A really old-like fancy leather book. No bigger than my hand when it’s spread out. Like this, see? From the tips of my fingers to the palm. No, no, it wouldn’t be like your hand. Too small. It smells kind of funny as well, cause its so old. It was made a long time ago. Hundreds of years old. That’s why the pages are all yellowed and faded. It’s really important I find it. I need it.

Aunt Celine: Why on earth would you want such an awful little book? It was terribly smelly, I made sure it was one of the first things to go. You really mustn't worry about such petty things as little books, Oliver. It isn’t wise.

Oliver: No, no, NO! You don’t understand, you don’t get it! I need it Aunt Celine! It is very important. You have no idea. None! Oh no, no, no. What did you do with it? Where did it go? I need to know now. Oh god, look now my hair is falling out. That’s how important it is to me, Aunt Celine. My hair is coming out in my hands! Well that’s just disgusting. Oh god, oh no! Where is my book? I need it. Do you understand? Need it. What’s this? Why is my face wet? Are these tears? I’m crying, aren’t I? Oh god, my little leather book. What will I do without it? Nothing, simply nothing! Wanna know why? Huh, do you? Is that blood? My nose is bleeding, Aunt Celine! Look what you’ve done to me. This is why I need my little book. Wanna know why  it’s so important? I’ll tell you if you tell me what’s caught in my throat. What is it, Aunt Celine, it’s blocking my throat. I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! You wanna know why it’s so important?

If My Writing Was A Place

July 1st 2013
Sewanee Young Writers Conference

If my writing was a place...

The sunset highlights the outline of the trees, making it far more dramatic. Creatures not native to this land, this planet emerge and wander. They chatter and meet, discussing through their language barriers. Everywhere I turn is something new and strange and wierd and wonderful. Some animals glow, others have scales, or feathers longer than my arm. The sun is still setting, never quite making it behind the horizon and keeping us, and the forest, from plunging into the night.

 Magic is alive here, walks amongst the trees, dressed in robes and cloaks. It smiles or glares, to each their own. The not-quite shadows shelter things from view, things we know are there yet don't want to see- death, inequality, prejudice, anger, hatred. Walk too close and it will grab you around the ankle and drag you into the shadows. I still sport a handprint scar on my ankle.

The sun will never set, leaving just enough light for life to continue and magic to thrive. Nor will it ever fully rise, never to chase away the shadow things or release the darkness of the forest.

Absence Explained

I apologize for my absence. Shortly after my most recent post, we were in France for a week, where I did not have my computer. Afterwards we spent a long weekend in Devon, without computer once again. Since then, I have not had a moment's rest and have been barely able to access my computer.

But I will begin to post more about what we have been doing for the last few weeks in a series of posts, staggered over a period of time.

Maybe a post a day? :)

Cheers,
Julia

Quick Update on Our Travels

Cousins @ the Family Party

Sunset in Cambridge

Cambridge

Cambridge- original Tudor house

Cambridge

Buckingham Palace

Entrance towards Trafalgar Square

Now we are off to France!

-Julia

Hampton Court & Ghosts!

Not quite as imposing as Henry VIII, but still...

Today we visited Hampton Court, home to King Henry the 8th and then many of the Stuart rulers (William and Mary, etc...)

It was, simply, bloody freezing. Coming from 80-degree weather to rainy weather with nearly a 40 degree difference is quite a shock to the system. I made the silly mistake of wearing sandals. My toes have still not fully recovered.

Hampton Court is actually quite an enchanting castle, despite the dreary rain of today. In addition, there are GHOSTS, which naturally feeds my creative curiousity. I've come to terms with the fact that regular fiction will not be enough for me- I much rather prefer the supernatural. Mythology, lore, witchcraft, and hauntings are quite my cup of tea.

Jane Seymour

 So naturally, learning how Jane Seymour (Wife #3) wanders the hall above the chapel in which her heart, and possibly some of her other organs are buried is quite intriguing. It is said that the reason she is still here, caught between death and heaven, is because of the extremely guilty conscience over her role in the downfall of Anne Boleyn. She won't be at peace until Anne forgives her, which for obvious reasons, will never happen.

Catherine Howard

Or what about Catherine Howard (Wife #5) seen rushing through the Great Hall to the chapel where she stops suddenly and lets out an unearthly shriek before hurrying back towards the top of the stairs with a ghastly look of despair. Legend has it that on the night after she was arrested for treason, she ran shrieking down the gallery while Henry was hearing Vespers in the Holyday Closet. She begged him to spare her life but was caught by the guards who dragged her away to her execution. So it is a thought that this is a reinacting of the tragic scene right before her untimely death.

Anne Boleyn

Lastly, there is dear Anne Boleyn (#2), who is said to wander around Hampton Court, but not quite like the others. It is said that she appears beheaded in her appearances around her old home.

There are also another 7 ghosts that wander Hampton Court, including a phantom dog and a ghostly cat. Exciting!!

As an afterthought, it is a good thing King Henry the 8th didn't turn out to be a ghost. I think as he was so imposing and terrifying in life, as a ghost he would scare people to death!

Cheers!
Julia

Snippets and Clips

Quick little post for today, as I've decided to revive the blog. (I'm really bad at this, aren't I?)

Some things that have happened recently? Well, first of all...we are going to Europe!! And for being-a-lovely-person-who-loves-her-teachers, I'll be posting some photos on here while we are over there!! Exciting! 

We plan to do a lot. I have some places I want to visit as research for one of my novel ideas (The Royal Mews Girl, I believe I've mentioned it before.) So several museums which include things from the Victorian Era are on my list. We are also planning on heading down south to Devon, with a stop by Stonehenge. (Time to start the apocalypse!)

Also, we will be seeing family. That is probably the one thing I am most excited about. Not only because of the family tree, but also I haven't seen most of them in ages. Plus they inspired a novel idea!

Saintes, France

Then we are also going to be in France, in the town where we lived. That photo above? That will be my view every day. :) 

Something I hesitate to share on here is my growing interest in learning more about sexuality and researching it. As it is something close to my heart, (12 states and just over 13 countries to legalize gay marriage!) I find it a very fascinating topic. I have found a few people who have published work about it and I plan to read more about it. We'll see where it takes me.

(Let's not even talk about the new interest in drag queens, okay?)

Also, I've decided to make The Hazel Tree (aka Cinderella Wolf) part of my Capstone project, so talk about deadlines! Mr. Wilkey, my mentor, has been amazing though so it doesnt seem like quite such a daunting task. It still is though.....I'm just not looking at it directly in the eye. It's going to be fun though...right?

Here is the new cover!

Also, if you guys are interested, here is the link to my new Facebook page. All the cool writers have one now. Click here. It will have snippets of the chapters I write, not only for The Hazel Tree but also for other novels. Also, it will have information as to when The Hazel Tree will be available to buy and where, etc...etc.. :)

Cheers!

Julia

Time to reawaken the blog. First, shall we start with some theme redesigning? :)

Stress of Deadlines

Boo!

Deadlines and time limits are the worst. Even if they are beyond my control, they have an unbelievable amount of influence on me.

School in general. Counting down to summer has never been more terrifying, especially with what lies on the horizon. Also, that ugly grade in Chemistry is a time bomb.

Capstone Senior Project deadlines are coming at me every week. I've been keeping ahead of schedule though so I am doing well.

Early Graduation deadlines. May 17th is when I have to decide if I can graduate in December or not, and the factor determining this is whether or not I get an internship. Which ties into the last deadline stressing me out...

Internship deadlines. More specifically Supernatural and Vampire Diaries. They both finish filming/production in a few short days! (SPN quickly approaching the 183 day mark) and what if my letter doesn't get there in time? What if they don't reply until the fall and it's too late then? (Never too late for the right opportunity! *superhero tune*) Blah, all very boring I know. Just needed to get it out there.

A much more thought out and time-worthy blog post on the way.

Cheers,
Julia