Had a blast - the weather was fabulous, the water was an incredible color blue, the food was plentiful and delicious, and my mom and sisters and I were able to complete whole conversations with no interruptions from kids or hubbies - did I mention it was fabulous?
But I'm back to the real world now and back to working on craft and content. I'm still reading Jack Bickham's book (took a break for a bit), plus I'm reading another on characterization. Plus I'm studying scene & sequel a little more closely. And trying (but failing!) to get some actual new words in my WIP. I just re-joined our chapter's writing challenge to help me get my booty in gear, though.
Stay tuned for progress...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Uh, hi, May...
When did you get here?
Although I can multi-task most things, I can't seem to do it with writing and blogging. I'm either writing or blogging (which is also writing, but not making progress in my manuscript!). I've been writing. Kinda.
Mostly I've been learning. Scene and sequel is great stuff! I'm planning edits, making a few here and there, and plotting out the rest of the story using this technique, so I haven't been blogging.
Hope all is fine with you - I'm going back to my manuscript, but I should be back next week to tell you about the cruise I'm going on this weekend!
Have a great week!
Although I can multi-task most things, I can't seem to do it with writing and blogging. I'm either writing or blogging (which is also writing, but not making progress in my manuscript!). I've been writing. Kinda.
Mostly I've been learning. Scene and sequel is great stuff! I'm planning edits, making a few here and there, and plotting out the rest of the story using this technique, so I haven't been blogging.
Hope all is fine with you - I'm going back to my manuscript, but I should be back next week to tell you about the cruise I'm going on this weekend!
Have a great week!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Hello, April!
Hee, hee!
What's so funny, you ask? Well, I was reading a friend's blog and really liked her idea so I copied the link and came here to post about it. Then I realized I haven't posted since the second week of March, so I wrote the title to welcome the new month, then realized it's April's blog I'm posting about.... I'm so easily amused.
Anyway, as always happens when I get to someone's blog, I tend to read back a while (maybe a lot of whiles) and I usually end up finding something that really resonates with me. This time was no different. April is a writing coach and in the few times I've talked to her about my books, she's asked some question that is so right on that it nearly takes my breath away. In the post I'm posting about April wrote about characterization - something I'm struggling with right now - and I really liked her ideas, so I'm going to use them. Boy, every shopping trip is going to be different from now on. :)
In other news, I'm currently reading Jack Bickham's Writing and Selling Your Novel which is a re-write of his earlier book, Writing Novels That Sell. The first chapter is about professionalism and how important it is to set writing goals, specifically output - a number of pages you will write each day - and sticking to that goal. So, of course, I set a goal. And blew past it today, even though I haven't written in ages - or perhaps BECAUSE I haven't written in ages. It's all dammed up in there and I finally put my butt in the chair and opened the floodgates. A lot came out. A lot of crap, I'm sure, but hopefully some fresh, clean ideas I can use later. One of the quotes I've run across in this book that I love is:
Good novels aren't written -- they're re-written. ~Jack Bickham
Words to remember.
What's so funny, you ask? Well, I was reading a friend's blog and really liked her idea so I copied the link and came here to post about it. Then I realized I haven't posted since the second week of March, so I wrote the title to welcome the new month, then realized it's April's blog I'm posting about.... I'm so easily amused.
Anyway, as always happens when I get to someone's blog, I tend to read back a while (maybe a lot of whiles) and I usually end up finding something that really resonates with me. This time was no different. April is a writing coach and in the few times I've talked to her about my books, she's asked some question that is so right on that it nearly takes my breath away. In the post I'm posting about April wrote about characterization - something I'm struggling with right now - and I really liked her ideas, so I'm going to use them. Boy, every shopping trip is going to be different from now on. :)
In other news, I'm currently reading Jack Bickham's Writing and Selling Your Novel which is a re-write of his earlier book, Writing Novels That Sell. The first chapter is about professionalism and how important it is to set writing goals, specifically output - a number of pages you will write each day - and sticking to that goal. So, of course, I set a goal. And blew past it today, even though I haven't written in ages - or perhaps BECAUSE I haven't written in ages. It's all dammed up in there and I finally put my butt in the chair and opened the floodgates. A lot came out. A lot of crap, I'm sure, but hopefully some fresh, clean ideas I can use later. One of the quotes I've run across in this book that I love is:
Good novels aren't written -- they're re-written. ~Jack Bickham
Words to remember.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Confessions
I just want to come clean and confess that the idea of looking for quotes to put in last week's post came from my friend, Romantic Girl's posts about love and motivation. She includes some quotes and that got me to searching and so on and so on.
Whew! I feel better having gotten that off my chest.
Next up: Reading, not writing. Actually that's not even true. I've actually been listening instead of writing. Another friend, Jane Sevier, mentioned Harlan Coben in a post and how much she enjoyed listening to one of his books so I figured I should give him a try. I have about a 30 minute commute to work so I've been borrowing books on CD from the library to help pass the time - and keep me awake - and cross some of the TBR books off the list (it doesn't do much to clear out my shelf, however).
I just finished Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline and started Back Spin by Harlan Coben today. So far I'm enjoying it immensely. He's got a sense of humor I can relate to - sarcastic. I'll let you know how I like it as it goes on. I also recommend Lady Killer. Ms. Scottoline's characters are smart and strong and I enjoyed the story quite a bit. I've read one of hers and listened to two and have enjoyed them all.
On the writing front I have made some progress. I came up with some scene ideas and am a little bit closer to completing that elusive first draft. This is my third book, yet it's so different from the first two, it's like it's the first all over again. I'm finally enjoying it again, but getting distracted with all these audio books. They're really only supposed to help make the drive to work go more quickly, but they tend to consume me, just as if I were reading a real book. :)
Whew! I feel better having gotten that off my chest.
Next up: Reading, not writing. Actually that's not even true. I've actually been listening instead of writing. Another friend, Jane Sevier, mentioned Harlan Coben in a post and how much she enjoyed listening to one of his books so I figured I should give him a try. I have about a 30 minute commute to work so I've been borrowing books on CD from the library to help pass the time - and keep me awake - and cross some of the TBR books off the list (it doesn't do much to clear out my shelf, however).
I just finished Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline and started Back Spin by Harlan Coben today. So far I'm enjoying it immensely. He's got a sense of humor I can relate to - sarcastic. I'll let you know how I like it as it goes on. I also recommend Lady Killer. Ms. Scottoline's characters are smart and strong and I enjoyed the story quite a bit. I've read one of hers and listened to two and have enjoyed them all.
On the writing front I have made some progress. I came up with some scene ideas and am a little bit closer to completing that elusive first draft. This is my third book, yet it's so different from the first two, it's like it's the first all over again. I'm finally enjoying it again, but getting distracted with all these audio books. They're really only supposed to help make the drive to work go more quickly, but they tend to consume me, just as if I were reading a real book. :)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
This time when it feels like I've missed a week it's because I have
How many posts can I use the tag "excuses" on? This would be why there's no book out there in the stores with my name on the spine. :)
February is a month of many celebrations in my house: birthday, V-day, anniversary, birthday. Each week holds something new. By the end of the month I'm wiped. But it's a new month now, so I'm back. Not very exciting, but here and ready to blog some fascinating tidbit.
Right after I come up with it.
Where my mind has been lately:
Happiness - how do you acheive it? is it long-term or a fleeting thing you have to chase daily? what do you to be happy? what makes you happy? does happy = contented = joyous ??? they somehow seem different to me, on the scale of contented, happy, joyous
Do the right thing, people - what would the world be like if everyone did the right thing? boring, probably, but heck, it seems like I hear more and more stories about greed, corruption, theft, murder....you get the idea. as part of my job I get these daily summaries of all the bad news all over the world - every day. I need some sort of counter balance that sends me all the good news that's happened. Oh, but wait. For some reason that's not news. Yes, there's some out there, but most of what you see is bad.
And now to counterbalance that vibe I'm going to leave you with a few quotes that resonate and bring me that fleeting happiness...
The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath
-so get over it.
Easy reading is damn hard writing. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
The story I am writing exists, written in absolutely perfect fashion, some place, in the air. All I must do is find it, and copy it. ~Jules Renard
-totally relate to this - heck, it's perfect in my head. If I could just do a Vulcan mind-meld with the computer I'd be set.
February is a month of many celebrations in my house: birthday, V-day, anniversary, birthday. Each week holds something new. By the end of the month I'm wiped. But it's a new month now, so I'm back. Not very exciting, but here and ready to blog some fascinating tidbit.
Right after I come up with it.
Where my mind has been lately:
Happiness - how do you acheive it? is it long-term or a fleeting thing you have to chase daily? what do you to be happy? what makes you happy? does happy = contented = joyous ??? they somehow seem different to me, on the scale of contented, happy, joyous
Do the right thing, people - what would the world be like if everyone did the right thing? boring, probably, but heck, it seems like I hear more and more stories about greed, corruption, theft, murder....you get the idea. as part of my job I get these daily summaries of all the bad news all over the world - every day. I need some sort of counter balance that sends me all the good news that's happened. Oh, but wait. For some reason that's not news. Yes, there's some out there, but most of what you see is bad.
And now to counterbalance that vibe I'm going to leave you with a few quotes that resonate and bring me that fleeting happiness...
The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath
-so get over it.
Easy reading is damn hard writing. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
The story I am writing exists, written in absolutely perfect fashion, some place, in the air. All I must do is find it, and copy it. ~Jules Renard
-totally relate to this - heck, it's perfect in my head. If I could just do a Vulcan mind-meld with the computer I'd be set.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Catching up: kids, goals, backstory
It feels like I've missed a week, but according to the calendar I haven't. My kid has been sick this week, so it's dragged, but she's feeling better and returned to school today. Yay!
I met my most recent goal by getting my entry into the Sheila under the wire, so I'm waiting (im)patiently until May 1st when they announce finalists. Yeah. What was I thinking? :)
Next up: backstory. I'm listening to a thriller right now that has a TON of backstory. Each chapter, nay, each SCENE has backstory in it. It's pissing me off! I work hard to avoid backstory - weaving in only what's necessary and then I spend my hard-earned, uh, time (since I checked it out from the library) on a not just published, but a best-selling author, only to be bombarded with it. Ugh. It's frustrating.
And yet a bit inspiring, too.
I met my most recent goal by getting my entry into the Sheila under the wire, so I'm waiting (im)patiently until May 1st when they announce finalists. Yeah. What was I thinking? :)
Next up: backstory. I'm listening to a thriller right now that has a TON of backstory. Each chapter, nay, each SCENE has backstory in it. It's pissing me off! I work hard to avoid backstory - weaving in only what's necessary and then I spend my hard-earned, uh, time (since I checked it out from the library) on a not just published, but a best-selling author, only to be bombarded with it. Ugh. It's frustrating.
And yet a bit inspiring, too.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Half a goal met
Oh, and btw, I did find a contest I want to enter (see 1/22's post). So I'm writing two posts tonight to procrastinate instead. :)
The Sheila contest from the Valley Forge Romance Writers has a Pocket editor as a final judge in the Romantic Suspense category, so if I can sneak some writing time this weekend and get a synopsis whipped into shape, I'm going to enter.
Whew! It's kinda scary posting goals here for the world to see.
Not that the world is looking. :)
The Sheila contest from the Valley Forge Romance Writers has a Pocket editor as a final judge in the Romantic Suspense category, so if I can sneak some writing time this weekend and get a synopsis whipped into shape, I'm going to enter.
Whew! It's kinda scary posting goals here for the world to see.
Not that the world is looking. :)
It's not the writing that gets them.....
I saw a blurb somewhere the other day (very specific, huh?) where Stephen King was talking about J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer and how they were both targeting the children/young adult market, but he said the difference was that Rowling can write.
My first thought was who cares? Meyer is just as successful as Rowling - maybe a tad less since Harry Potter pulled in both boys and girls and Twilight is attracting mostly just the girls, but still. What I wouldn't give for a fraction of that success! I read the whole Harry Potter series and I've read two of the Twilight books. I'm reading Twilight (the first in the series) again with my second daughter so this is all very fresh in my brain.
HP is a wonderful, fabulous story and I love Rowling's imagination and the world she created. I'm amazed by how plot points in the early books still have revelance in the last book, and I was so caught up in the adventures I could hardly put the books down.
Twilight is similar. Yet so different. And I'm sorry, but you can't compare the Twilight movie to the Harry Potter books, so don't even try. To compare, you have read the books. Not that I'm going to compare the books. I'm just stating my opinion on why the Twilight series is so popular. Now, I know that I haven't finished the series yet. I know what happens in the last book (darn spoilers!), but I haven't read it. So, judge me if you must, but this is just my opinion, not policy. :) Okay, on with the post.....
So, why does Twilight work? For me it's the first love aspect of it. The angst. The holding back, afraid you feel it more than he does. Add to this the fact that he could kill you at any moment and isn't sure he trusts himself not to until the middle of the book and it just turns up the emotions. First love is wonder. Insecurity. Obsession. And Meyer covers these well. Yes, she uses too many adverbs. Yes, she often tells instead of showing. But still, the story grabs you. It's hard to put down. You want to know what's going to happen next. There's danger, intrigue, and all those wonderful emotions that are brand new to some of these readers and fun to remember for others. :)
Is Meyer's book perfect? No. But is any book perfect? No. I guess when it all comes down to it, the bottom line is that I still hope my books are a fraction as successful as hers have been. I hope the reader gets sucked in and can't put it down and wants to buy the next one. And the next one.
My first thought was who cares? Meyer is just as successful as Rowling - maybe a tad less since Harry Potter pulled in both boys and girls and Twilight is attracting mostly just the girls, but still. What I wouldn't give for a fraction of that success! I read the whole Harry Potter series and I've read two of the Twilight books. I'm reading Twilight (the first in the series) again with my second daughter so this is all very fresh in my brain.
HP is a wonderful, fabulous story and I love Rowling's imagination and the world she created. I'm amazed by how plot points in the early books still have revelance in the last book, and I was so caught up in the adventures I could hardly put the books down.
Twilight is similar. Yet so different. And I'm sorry, but you can't compare the Twilight movie to the Harry Potter books, so don't even try. To compare, you have read the books. Not that I'm going to compare the books. I'm just stating my opinion on why the Twilight series is so popular. Now, I know that I haven't finished the series yet. I know what happens in the last book (darn spoilers!), but I haven't read it. So, judge me if you must, but this is just my opinion, not policy. :) Okay, on with the post.....
So, why does Twilight work? For me it's the first love aspect of it. The angst. The holding back, afraid you feel it more than he does. Add to this the fact that he could kill you at any moment and isn't sure he trusts himself not to until the middle of the book and it just turns up the emotions. First love is wonder. Insecurity. Obsession. And Meyer covers these well. Yes, she uses too many adverbs. Yes, she often tells instead of showing. But still, the story grabs you. It's hard to put down. You want to know what's going to happen next. There's danger, intrigue, and all those wonderful emotions that are brand new to some of these readers and fun to remember for others. :)
Is Meyer's book perfect? No. But is any book perfect? No. I guess when it all comes down to it, the bottom line is that I still hope my books are a fraction as successful as hers have been. I hope the reader gets sucked in and can't put it down and wants to buy the next one. And the next one.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
POV
I just finished reading Suzanne Brockmann's latest book called "Dark Of Night" - and loved it - as I do all her stories! The woman is a master of the deep point of view (POV). Master, I say.
She really gets into her characters' heads, thus pulling us, the readers, in with her. It's wonderful. Impressive. And loads of fun. I can read her books over and over again because I consistently get yanked out of my world and into hers.
Another book that really nailed POV was Elizabeth Bevarly's "Taming the Prince" (Desire #1474). Her heroine is a prim and proper girl with a bit of a British accent, while her hero is cool. Just one of the guys. A real down-to-earth dude. There is never a question in any scene who is talking. Each character's speech is so distinct it's like you're hearing it as you read. Fabulous! I re-read this one periodically for inspiration, too.
Got any great examples of POV?
She really gets into her characters' heads, thus pulling us, the readers, in with her. It's wonderful. Impressive. And loads of fun. I can read her books over and over again because I consistently get yanked out of my world and into hers.
Another book that really nailed POV was Elizabeth Bevarly's "Taming the Prince" (Desire #1474). Her heroine is a prim and proper girl with a bit of a British accent, while her hero is cool. Just one of the guys. A real down-to-earth dude. There is never a question in any scene who is talking. Each character's speech is so distinct it's like you're hearing it as you read. Fabulous! I re-read this one periodically for inspiration, too.
Got any great examples of POV?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I don't have time for pens that don't work.
You know the ones I mean. You pull out a pen to jot down a note or an idea or gosh, even a whole scene, but after the first word the ink fades to nothing. On the corner of the page (or index card or napkin or prescription) you scribble madly trying to get something to start flowing again, and maybe it does - for another word or so.
Chuck it. Throw it in the trash. Or across the room. (Please don't just drop it in the street, though - I'm not condoning littering here, people.) Get a new one - one that works - and get that idea written down.
I have several cups of pens (ink, markers, fountain: all kinds), but I bet more than half of them don't work. My goal as a recovering packrat is to start tossing the writing implements that don't write. Who needs them? No one. Except maybe some artist who's creating an altar to the unuseable pen. That person is not me. Although I have all the raw materials! :)
Anyone have a suggestion for a great pen for everyday use? I'm not looking for a Montblanc. I don't want to spend a ton, but I know you get what you pay for. The freebie pens typically don't stand up to the test of time - except I did find one that I LOVED from a hotel. Maybe I should go back there and grab a few from the front desk.
I'm looking for something that flows freely, has a cap (cuts back on that annoying clicking) and keeps writing day after day. Any suggestions?
Chuck it. Throw it in the trash. Or across the room. (Please don't just drop it in the street, though - I'm not condoning littering here, people.) Get a new one - one that works - and get that idea written down.
I have several cups of pens (ink, markers, fountain: all kinds), but I bet more than half of them don't work. My goal as a recovering packrat is to start tossing the writing implements that don't write. Who needs them? No one. Except maybe some artist who's creating an altar to the unuseable pen. That person is not me. Although I have all the raw materials! :)
Anyone have a suggestion for a great pen for everyday use? I'm not looking for a Montblanc. I don't want to spend a ton, but I know you get what you pay for. The freebie pens typically don't stand up to the test of time - except I did find one that I LOVED from a hotel. Maybe I should go back there and grab a few from the front desk.
I'm looking for something that flows freely, has a cap (cuts back on that annoying clicking) and keeps writing day after day. Any suggestions?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
I got nothing this week. Except cedar fever. And it's sucking the life out of me. I've only done a smidgen of the writing I planned to do. Only a smidgen of the planning, too.
The worst part is that with weather in the 70's in the afternoons (almost 80 yesterday), I fear the cedar blooming is just gonna get worse. Ugh.
I'm at the point where I'm hoping this is the flu so that it will go away. Before, say, March. :)
Next up: find a contest for my current WIP. I'm looking for the right agent or editor as the final judge. This manuscript (ms) doesn't fit into any of the nicely defined categories I typically see in contests, but it could maybe swing it as Mainstream with Romantic Elements or something along those lines.
Okay, good. I've posted a goal. Now I just gotta get on it.
The worst part is that with weather in the 70's in the afternoons (almost 80 yesterday), I fear the cedar blooming is just gonna get worse. Ugh.
I'm at the point where I'm hoping this is the flu so that it will go away. Before, say, March. :)
Next up: find a contest for my current WIP. I'm looking for the right agent or editor as the final judge. This manuscript (ms) doesn't fit into any of the nicely defined categories I typically see in contests, but it could maybe swing it as Mainstream with Romantic Elements or something along those lines.
Okay, good. I've posted a goal. Now I just gotta get on it.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Blogging - A Study in Perseverance
Here's how my blog entry went today:
8:15 am - see reminder, but ignore it to check email and pay bills
8:50 am - remember I was going to leave for work at 9:00 but I haven't even gotten in the shower yet; see reminder again and make a mental note to do it tonight
8:40 pm - as I'm reading through something I should have critiqued a while back, remember I was going to blog tonight - I even have a topic that's been brewing since Saturday (so why didn't I just do it then, huh?)
8:41 pm - open IE and go the the "Blog Sign-in" bookmark. Sad that I have to do that, but I used to waste hours trying to find the sign-in page through other peoples' blogs.
8:42 pm - ah, yes, my blog....I should check out Deepish Thoughts and see if anything's new since last time (yes!)
8:45 pm - now I need to check Lexi's blog and see what's happened. Oh, look, comments on one of her posts.
8:50 pm - Oh yeah, THAT'S who Avery Beck is.... cool, she sold another book! Neat website.
8:55 pm - Hmmm, website designed by Stonecreek Media.... I'll just go see some of their other work.
9:10 pm - There's Avery's site! Ooooh, who's Gregg Olsen?
9:30 pm - Wow. I should read one of his books. Hmmm, let's get back to the Stonecreek Media site and see what else is there.
9:40 pm - Cool. Murder She Writes - I should check that out. Oh, look. Allison Brennan blogs here. Last night at the ARWA meeting Jan Hudson mentioned Allison Brennan writes thrillers with some romance in them and I made a note to check her out. Let's go see her website.
10:05 pm - OMG it's 10:00 and the kids are still watching TV!
10:30 pm - Okay everyone's in bed. I should really go write my blog now. Right after I check out this one link.....
8:15 am - see reminder, but ignore it to check email and pay bills
8:50 am - remember I was going to leave for work at 9:00 but I haven't even gotten in the shower yet; see reminder again and make a mental note to do it tonight
8:40 pm - as I'm reading through something I should have critiqued a while back, remember I was going to blog tonight - I even have a topic that's been brewing since Saturday (so why didn't I just do it then, huh?)
8:41 pm - open IE and go the the "Blog Sign-in" bookmark. Sad that I have to do that, but I used to waste hours trying to find the sign-in page through other peoples' blogs.
8:42 pm - ah, yes, my blog....I should check out Deepish Thoughts and see if anything's new since last time (yes!)
8:45 pm - now I need to check Lexi's blog and see what's happened. Oh, look, comments on one of her posts.
8:50 pm - Oh yeah, THAT'S who Avery Beck is.... cool, she sold another book! Neat website.
8:55 pm - Hmmm, website designed by Stonecreek Media.... I'll just go see some of their other work.
9:10 pm - There's Avery's site! Ooooh, who's Gregg Olsen?
9:30 pm - Wow. I should read one of his books. Hmmm, let's get back to the Stonecreek Media site and see what else is there.
9:40 pm - Cool. Murder She Writes - I should check that out. Oh, look. Allison Brennan blogs here. Last night at the ARWA meeting Jan Hudson mentioned Allison Brennan writes thrillers with some romance in them and I made a note to check her out. Let's go see her website.
10:05 pm - OMG it's 10:00 and the kids are still watching TV!
10:30 pm - Okay everyone's in bed. I should really go write my blog now. Right after I check out this one link.....
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
How are your resolutions going?
My co-worker lamented yesterday about the crowd at the gym in the afternoons and how she was going to have to get up early to get in her workout until they all got tired of trying to get in shape.
I laughed. Then I did a few sit ups this morning. Maybe tomorrow I'll get up even earlier and get on the Wii Fit.
As for my resolutions, the second day of writing at the coffee shop has commenced. I didn't actually write yesterday, except to get more of the outline in the computer. No actual manuscript pages, though. And today I'm writing the blog. That technically counts toward my resolutions, though, since one of them was to blog more.
Today I need to do a little more outlining. Maybe by tomorrow I'll actually get to some real writing. Maybe.
I laughed. Then I did a few sit ups this morning. Maybe tomorrow I'll get up even earlier and get on the Wii Fit.
As for my resolutions, the second day of writing at the coffee shop has commenced. I didn't actually write yesterday, except to get more of the outline in the computer. No actual manuscript pages, though. And today I'm writing the blog. That technically counts toward my resolutions, though, since one of them was to blog more.
Today I need to do a little more outlining. Maybe by tomorrow I'll actually get to some real writing. Maybe.
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