Whew. I feel like I need to take a deep breath and actually let it out instead of holding it. Seems like I've done too much of that!!
My ornament painting for Babes in Toyland is over....thank you God. Not that I don't enjoy it or the income that comes from it. But it's invasive and all-encompassing and I do nothing but that for a month and a half every year, and I'm always grateful when it's done.
I haven't been writing, and that bothers me tremendously. I've played with ideas in my head, but that's as close as I've gotten. I've continued to query my first book, but that's the business end of this world, and I'm really missing the craft side.
Christmas chaos is now descending and we'll all lose our minds and our money for a little while, but I'm hoping to get my brain wrapped around my second book again. Either that, or start over with something else, because I need it....I need the creation process. Know what I mean?
(Hi this is Sharla's daughter! Lol!)
Okay, Crazy Girl had to chime in there.
Anyway, what are your plans for the holidays. Writing plans, that is. Are you beginning, ending, querying, editing.... doing nothing? What is your pen doing for the holidays?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Yellow Brick Road
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!! Are you eating turkey tomorrow? I am and I'm not. Where I'm going, they are having cabbage rolls. Don't even ask. But it's okay, because I'm making a turkey and ham and sweet potatoes to come home to that night to get my traditional meal. Because it's just not right if you don't have turkey leftovers for sandwiches. It may not even be legal.
ANYWAY!!! I have started reading a book today, that gives me mixed feelings. It's fun and witty and it is laid out well... but my writerly voice keeps poking me. Without naming names...this is a very well known and trendy author, that receives alot of buzz. I've never read anything by this author till now, and I was excited to start one. Like I said, the writing is witty and enjoyable and right up my alley. But the writer in me keeps pointing and saying, "What the heck? You'd get slammed for that!"
What I'm talking about is massive info dumping. Huge. The kind of huge that if we as unknown writers did this and submitted to a critique group, the red pens would fly. A prologue and first chapter that is so laden with it, that you almost cringe.
I'm reading this thinking... this is a major author, so I'm going to keep reading, and the story is great and I'm hooked, but my lord I know of some people who would rake this over the coals if this was submitted anonomously.
Which makes me think, why did the rules not apply? I think that with some movies too. I watch every TV show and movie with the writing in mind. I'll watch movies and immediately think about the people writing it. Either it's brilliant writing or I'll think wow, someone wrote that and sold it? How?
Do you ever think of this? Are there any books you read and wonder how they got in "the club" doing the same no-no's we are constantly told not to do? Just curious.
Not that it changes anything. I'll still keep plugging away, always working to better my craft, trying to find the yellow brick road! LOL!
ANYWAY!!! I have started reading a book today, that gives me mixed feelings. It's fun and witty and it is laid out well... but my writerly voice keeps poking me. Without naming names...this is a very well known and trendy author, that receives alot of buzz. I've never read anything by this author till now, and I was excited to start one. Like I said, the writing is witty and enjoyable and right up my alley. But the writer in me keeps pointing and saying, "What the heck? You'd get slammed for that!"
What I'm talking about is massive info dumping. Huge. The kind of huge that if we as unknown writers did this and submitted to a critique group, the red pens would fly. A prologue and first chapter that is so laden with it, that you almost cringe.
I'm reading this thinking... this is a major author, so I'm going to keep reading, and the story is great and I'm hooked, but my lord I know of some people who would rake this over the coals if this was submitted anonomously.
Which makes me think, why did the rules not apply? I think that with some movies too. I watch every TV show and movie with the writing in mind. I'll watch movies and immediately think about the people writing it. Either it's brilliant writing or I'll think wow, someone wrote that and sold it? How?
Do you ever think of this? Are there any books you read and wonder how they got in "the club" doing the same no-no's we are constantly told not to do? Just curious.
Not that it changes anything. I'll still keep plugging away, always working to better my craft, trying to find the yellow brick road! LOL!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
A perfect writerly world, it's not...
It's Friday!! And in a perfect writerly world, that would mean two upcoming days of solid writing. Well, to be honest, in a perfect writerly world, I wouldn't have to go to work today, I'd be writing all day today as well!
But it isn't that perfect writerly situation for me, or for most people I would guess. Unless you're Stephen King or Nora Roberts or JK Rowling. And if you're those people, I doubt you're reading my blog! Or maybe you are? Now, wouldn't THAT be cool?
Anyway... since my real life world consists of a day job, Friday night football game to watch my daughter march, Saturday morning fishing (yes!!!!!! SO excited), and then painting ornaments for the dance studio's annual Christmas production, Sunday morning church, and more painting ornaments... and probably some undesirable chores throughout...and bathing the dog... all that put aside, I'm hoping to get some quality writing in. Or editing actually, since I'm revisiting the old right now.
But you know....that's okay. Because if I didn't have all those things to do, that would mean I didn't have a wonderful family to take care of, and a roof over my head (okay maybe I'd still have a roof, just a maid) and a life to live in addition to this writing thing I love. That would be pretty lonely. So I'll embrace my crazy schedule, and continue to plug writing into the empty slots I can find.
So what are YOUR plans this weekend...writerly or otherwise?
But it isn't that perfect writerly situation for me, or for most people I would guess. Unless you're Stephen King or Nora Roberts or JK Rowling. And if you're those people, I doubt you're reading my blog! Or maybe you are? Now, wouldn't THAT be cool?
Anyway... since my real life world consists of a day job, Friday night football game to watch my daughter march, Saturday morning fishing (yes!!!!!! SO excited), and then painting ornaments for the dance studio's annual Christmas production, Sunday morning church, and more painting ornaments... and probably some undesirable chores throughout...and bathing the dog... all that put aside, I'm hoping to get some quality writing in. Or editing actually, since I'm revisiting the old right now.
But you know....that's okay. Because if I didn't have all those things to do, that would mean I didn't have a wonderful family to take care of, and a roof over my head (okay maybe I'd still have a roof, just a maid) and a life to live in addition to this writing thing I love. That would be pretty lonely. So I'll embrace my crazy schedule, and continue to plug writing into the empty slots I can find.
So what are YOUR plans this weekend...writerly or otherwise?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
No--NaNoWriMo and tunnel vision
Haven't blogged in a week....so sorry! Real life has been nuts, writing life has been tunnel visioned, and basically I evidently don't multi-task well.
I've found that I either hit up AW message boards or blog, but rarely do both. For some reason, the two don't mix. And lately I've really been hitting the AW boards, working on improving my query letter and synopsis, and critting others. And going through my first novel again, just to see if it can get better.
I learned last year about December through mid-Jan pretty much being a wash on submissions because agents are wrapping up for the year, so I'm focusing on getting submissions out there before they close up shop.
And last year I told myself I'd do NaNoWriMo this year, but with refocusing on the old novel and still dedicated to the new one, I just couldn't see spreading myself that thin starting a third right now. And I have to say to all who ARE doing it...Kudos to you! November is a crazy time of year for most people with the holidays coming...at least for me it's insane without writing even entering the picture. My hat is off to those who can do it!!
I know this is a bunch of rambling blabber, but guilt over not blogging does that to me! Now I need to get back to work for the people that pay me, because unfortunately my bank account requires it.
C'ya!
I've found that I either hit up AW message boards or blog, but rarely do both. For some reason, the two don't mix. And lately I've really been hitting the AW boards, working on improving my query letter and synopsis, and critting others. And going through my first novel again, just to see if it can get better.
I learned last year about December through mid-Jan pretty much being a wash on submissions because agents are wrapping up for the year, so I'm focusing on getting submissions out there before they close up shop.
And last year I told myself I'd do NaNoWriMo this year, but with refocusing on the old novel and still dedicated to the new one, I just couldn't see spreading myself that thin starting a third right now. And I have to say to all who ARE doing it...Kudos to you! November is a crazy time of year for most people with the holidays coming...at least for me it's insane without writing even entering the picture. My hat is off to those who can do it!!
I know this is a bunch of rambling blabber, but guilt over not blogging does that to me! Now I need to get back to work for the people that pay me, because unfortunately my bank account requires it.
C'ya!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...
It's a beautiful non-muggy day here in Southeast Texas, and I'm having a heck of a time staying indoors! So I've had my laptop outside with me, and I've been working diligently on my first-book query. Since I've pulled that book out of the archives and been tweaking it, I realized my query needed alot of work. I cringe now to read my old one, knowing I sent it out to 40+ agents and no WONDER it received such lukewarm response.
I don't know what I was thinking last year when I thought it was good enough. And right now I'm pretty happy with it, so I'm hoping a year from now I won't be saying that again!! LOL!
If you're interested, I have my query out for critting at AW here. Stop by and gnaw on it a little!
So I'm back to digging out my old agency list and adding some new names, and throwing my baby out there to the wolves again. Oh, and I need to pull up that ....ahem ...cough ...synopsis... whew that was tough. Need some water now.
Yeah, I need to get that back out and update it too.
I'd almost rather go dust.
I don't know what I was thinking last year when I thought it was good enough. And right now I'm pretty happy with it, so I'm hoping a year from now I won't be saying that again!! LOL!
If you're interested, I have my query out for critting at AW here. Stop by and gnaw on it a little!
So I'm back to digging out my old agency list and adding some new names, and throwing my baby out there to the wolves again. Oh, and I need to pull up that ....ahem ...cough ...synopsis... whew that was tough. Need some water now.
Yeah, I need to get that back out and update it too.
I'd almost rather go dust.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Are you treading or do you need a snorkel??
What are you writing about right now?
Okay maybe not right now since you're here and not there...but currently. What's your genre, how far into it are you, and at what stage of swimming are you?
1 = Just beginning, your toes touching the water with that exhilarating rush of "this is so AWESOME!"
2 = In up to the knees, wading and breathing hard and not wanting to leave.
3 = Up to the waist, realizing you have started and can't turn back, loving your story but not sure how to continue.
4 = Chest deep, breathing hard again but for a different reason. Back on focus but stressed about getting to the end.
5 = Over your head but so immersed you're giddy... could be the lack of oxygen...
6 = Breaking the surface! Yay! You're at the finish line! But hey...revision time...that's why the shore is so far away.
7 = The long swim back, plodding through those edits.
8 = Flopping onto the beach, covered in sand, stung by jellyfish, too tired to move, baking in unrelenting sun and waiting....waiting... otherwise known as Query Hell.
Personally, I'm between plodding and flopping on one, and waist deep on the other.
Now for something completely unrelated and fun and because the holidays are approaching I'm reposting my praline recipe. Enjoy!
PECAN PRALINES
MICROWAVABLE!
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 cups sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups pecan halves
Use 3-4 qt microwavable dish (it looks too big but it grows). Stir buttermilk, sugar, salt and butter until mixed. Add pecans and stir together. Cook on high for 12 min, stirring every 4 min. Stir in baking soda (kids love this because it foams up and grows) until foamy and consistent. Cook on high for 1 min. Beat or stir briskly (I stir, it's easier with the pecans) until thick. It will thicken as it cools. Drop on foil before gets too thick. Cools within a half hour. Yum!
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