Snowville, Snowmageddon, and Snowcropolis: Winter Weather Update

News Alert: Southeastern USA hit by huge snow storm. Many citizens in Alabama & Georgia woke up on Monday morning to discover 8 to 12 inches of snow on their property.

For some this was a most unusual occurrence. Other than heading to their local grocery stores to stock up on milk, bread, and cookie supplies they had no idea how to cope with this amount of snow. Entire bread aisles were decimated. Only a few forlorn potato rolls remained.

And now, straight from the snow ditch, here is my Eye Witness Report:

*Southern school districts canceled school on Monday long before the snow began to fall. So on Sunday night a few neighbors got together to celebrate the snow storm threatening the region. We drank copious amounts of wine, ate foods laden with fat and cholesterol, then danced in the snow like giddy kids rather than behaving like grown ups.

*Monday morning I woke up and walked out into the Winterland. I had never expected to stand in 8 inches of snow again after moving to Alabama. I took pictures. I expressed aloud my awe at the serene white beauty blanketing my yard and neighborhood. My neighbor grumped, "It is just heavy and a pain." I knew I'd have to shovel, but I had three in the attic. And I owned snow boots. I'd lived in the North. I was prepared.

*Monday morning continued: I shoveled snow with help of tired teen. Darling Hubby was out of town for the week. We were alone, but we had hope that reinforcements would arrive. Grumpy neighbor finished his driveway and stomped back inside his house never to be seen again. Then our neighbors to the right emerged with their two children. The one year old cried when she stepped into the snow. The four year old climbed my snow mountains. They were incredulous about my shoveling. I persisted knowing all too well what would happen if it got packed by tires, melted, iced over again. Finally, the husband asked to borrow a shovel. Great, thought I. Help is on the way and we'll work together. Nope. Apparently my fond memories of neighbors helping out neighbors with the shoveling task threatened to remain merely memories. Onward ho! Teen and I dug out her car, parked it in the garage, I finished the driveway just as reinforcements arrived. But they reestablished my faith in humanity during snow events.  We finished up my neighbor's driveway, I loaned out all my shovels, one person returned the shovels along with a fine bottle of wine. She lived two streets over and was very grateful for our help.

*Day Two of Snowville:  School canceled. Teen got sick on Tuesday. We raced to doctor. Strep. We hunkered down and watched other people play in the snow while we watched hours and hours and hours of reality television. Teen slept a lot. I managed to write my word count goal.

*Day 3 of Snowmageddon: School still canceled. Teen feeling better. A diet of Anytizers, cookies, and ice cold lemonade helped her recuperate. I looked over at the wine rack. Plenty of wine remained. Now we watched movies, continued eating foods that were not in the milk and bread category, connected to our friends via the Internet. My GRWA friends were surviving. Their children had overrun their houses. Cocktail tours started earlier and earlier.

*Day 4 of Snowcropolis: Another "snow day." Ennui is setting in. The longer we sit around the house eating cookies and swilling our drinks, the less motivated we become. Teen is much better. We shower, throw on makeup, escape the neighborhood in my SUV, drive to Target, eat lunch at Atlanta Bread Co., and go to Hobby Lobby afterward. When we return home, I decorate for Valentine's Day. I need to see some color again.

*Day 5 of Snowland: School is officially canceled. Writers are barely making their word goals, myself included. Teen escapes to the theater with a group of friends. The roads are clear, but not in the eastern part of the city so while learning can't occur, watching  movies and hanging with friends is not a problem. I eagerly await Darling Hubby's return. A teenager is easier to manage than children under the age of ten during this kind of week, but I miss having "adult" conversation. When he does arrive home, he teases me and says, "You just missed your drinking buddy." Possibly true.

Snowmageddon is officially over. Disrupted schedules are slowly returning to normal. Church has resumed, meetings are being held, and school will be session on Tuesday (Monday is a holiday for us). Teen has Destination Imagination and HS Musical Rehearsal on Monday. I'm heading to the gym to try to undo all the damage the cookies and wine have done to my middle, and Darling Hubby is catching up on paperwork on his day "off."

Snow in the south is a force to be reckoned with and I hope I can put my snow shovels back in the attic for the rest of the winter season.

Driving Lessons

My darling daughter is learning to drive. I've been her primary teacher for a few months. I remember the first time I took her out. There are claw marks on the door handle! But with each trip out, she's gotten better and more confident. I believe I've managed to get through the experience without getting too many gray hairs. My door handle is starting to return to its original shape as I become more relaxed with her sitting behind the wheel. In addition to my personal lessons, we've paid for her summer school driving lessons. Today she gets behind the wheel of a huge Ford Expedition.

Fortunately for the people at large, she is not leaving the parking lot till Monday.

She's nervous about driving a different car. I don't blame her. Driving is a scary deal until you master it. And even then, despite many years of experience, driving is potentially dangerous, even deadly. The most experienced driver is no match for the inexperienced or incapacitated driver.

It occurred to me that learning to drive is much like mastering the writing craft. How?

*You can't go anywhere until you switch on the ignition and turn on the car. Well, you can't become a writer until you stop talking about doing it and you start actually putting words on paper. How many people have you met who "are going to write a book?" How many of those people have written a book? Talk is cheap, switch on your writing ignition and get started.

*You can't go anywhere until you put the car into DRIVE and move forward. If you are writing and you're not submitting your work, you aren't going to get anywhere. You'll be stuck in your writing driveway with a manuscript. You have got to get your work out of the garage and send it somewhere. You have got to risk rejection just as a driver has to risk the road if you wish to reach your destination.

*Driving is a skill you must master one step at a time. You can't become the next NYT best seller until you hone you craft and build your skills. I am not the writer I was 4.5 years ago when I wrote my first manuscript. I hope to be a much better writer than I am in 5 years. How? Practice! Practice writing every day and you will be become a better writer.

*People drive at different speeds. Some people hit the accelerator and reach their destinations fast. Other people go too fast and they crash and burnout. Some people go very slow and watch other cars go around them, but eventually they might get there. Other people follow the speed limit. They are less likely to crash and most likely to reach their destination at the right time. My dad used to say, "Better late, than never." I agree. Find your comfortable writing pace. Go at your speed limit. You will get there.

*No matter how skilled, drivers are not guaranteed a safe ride. There is always danger and problems you will encounter along the way. Potholes, road rage, poor road management, other accidents along the way, flat tires, no gas stations to refuel--they are all out there. Be aware of the dangers and pitfalls when you get behind the wheel and prepare for them mentally. Writers must refuel, dodge negativity, fill their minds with positive thoughts, avoid creating negativity and prepare for all possibilities.

*There are always detours when you're driving. The same can be said about writing. Life happens. And sometimes the detours offer a better, different way to reach your destination. Be willing to adjust your driving and writing goals. Be willing to adjust the way you believe you will get to your destination. Everybody has a different, unique way of reaching their goals and destinations. Be flexible about how you will reach your destination.

Today my daughter is getting into a Ford Expedition and learning how to park, perform turns and more. Next week she will be out on the road with 5 other teenagers (God bless the coaches who are teaching them!). In a year she'll be driving her own vehicle to school. If I hadn't sat in the car with her for that first lesson, in the church parking lot, with my hand gripping the door and my heart lodged in my throat, she would not have the confidence or skills to drive.

Don't be afraid to take changes on yourself. Write your stories, send them out into the world, keep learning how to write and improve your craft. Develop your skills and confidence will naturally grow out of that development. And don't forget to enjoy the scenery along the way as you drive toward achieving your dream.

Happy Writing!

A Few Good Books on My Nook: Read to Write Well

I blogged about my brand new toy, THE NOOK after Mother's Day. The timing of the gift coincided with my renewed desire to read more books, not just for analysis of my genre, but for pure pleasure. For quite some time, I had spent hours writing. I had spent hours reading blogs about writing. I had spent hours learning about writing via online courses and reading books about the craft.

I had not spent a lot of time READING. What had once been a passion for me had transformed into only work. I resolved to change that in the new year. And I've been happily reading books by Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts and slews of other writers. I've read YAs for fun, Women's Fiction and pure romance.

Remember Romance? Remember when it was simply about a boy meeting a girl, falling in love, falling in love with their love, feeling sad when they reached their romantic black moment, wondering how they'd patch things up, and finally cheering for them when they reached their happily ever after?

I do. I have missed the purity of the original romances I read when I was a teenager, a young adult, a new mom and an active school parent. Sure, I like action stories. I read them. I love thrillers written by Grissom, Clancy (guess who the Dowager Feline is named after LOL), and Ludlum. I enjoy a great read with epic sweeping themes. The classics. Love them.

But I really love a great love story. Best of all, all of this renewed reading has affirmed a decision I made about my writing. I want to write about love. The relationships and the characters matter to me. The plot is secondary to my characters. Sure, I know I have to have the external plot, but it's the love story that sweeps me away as a reader.

Good to know if I'm writing love stories. Good to know if I want write great love stories.

So I've made a conscious effort to read every day, for an hour, minimum. And not just at night when I'm bone tired and falling asleep, but reading during the day when I am alert. Reading to escape. Reading for fun. Reading to get lost in a story that fills me with hope.

Okay, so here are the books I've read so far on my NOOK.

The Bride Quartet Series by Nora Roberts.
*Vision in White
*Bed of Roses
*Savor the Moment

Loved all three and can't wait for the 4th book to come out in November. They are written in classic Nora Roberts' style and yes, there's a bit of head hopping, but it's seamless. And she gets people and relationships and love and all the gunk that happens between two flawed individuals as they struggle to find their way to lasting happiness. I love her stories because they are pure romance. Period. And if I should have the pleasure of meeting her in Orlando, by accident, in an elevator or wherever, I will seriously have A FAN GIRL moment. And I am not typically a fan girl kind of person. But I do believe I would hyperventilate if I met her and she spoke to me.

I just finished a wonderful romance by Emily Griffin called Something Borrowed. It reads like a chick lit with a ton of romance. There aren't any bombs or SEALS in it. There's a friend getting married, a selfish girl at best who has a best friend, the heroine, who is learning to free herself from her self-imposed "good girl" rules. And wow, does she ever find a fabulous way to do it! Read the book cover to find out about her story.

On the docket? I've got the following books queued:

Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery
Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren
Best Friend, Future Wife by Claire Baxter
The Next Best Thing by Kristin Higgins

I know reading for pleasure will enrich my writing. So what's on your bookshelf? Or in your E-Reader? And if you're a writer, I hope you're reading, too!

Writers, WIPs, Wrangling & Work

I'm back from my workshop in Atlanta, but I am not jumping back into my writing. Why? Because the answers I sought only led to more questions about my story. I am glad I went to the all day workshop, but now I must examine my story a bit more closely and make sure that my plot is strong enough.

Intuitively I already knew my story has plotting issues. This is what happens when you don't shore up all the lovely scenes in your head with solid structure points. And every time I go back into the story to fix a major plot point, it affects the entire story. As one writer friend said, it's like pushing down a domino and then a whole row tumbles.

I know my beginning, my set up, my ending and my pinch points. But the middle is a bit iffy. I believe it's a decent midpoint, but I brought the middle to the workshop to make sure it was decent. And the leaders said I needed more. A bigger reason for why my heroine wants to do what she does. I need a very compelling reason for her decision to stay in the area she is living in. But I balk now at the idea of adding a HUGE plot element to fix the story. Why? Because another author who critiqued my work said to "keep it simple." And there will be "more than enough conflict" to compel the reader to read.

I've brainstormed fun ideas to shore up the story with one CP. Suddenly I am on the Internet researching Burlesque dancing (don't ask--long story). Another CP said "if the writing is compelling, the reader will read it anyway and why does anyone read the books they read?" Back to keeping it simple, right?

Repeat after me: writing isn't for sissies or the faint of heart.

In the meantime, I got contest entries back for my opening. I scored well. My "writing voice" was strong and they scored me high in that regard. Whew. One problem solved. I didn't final, but I didn't expect to as the story was still in major revision at the time I entered. I sent in the first 10 pages to see if I was going in the right direction before I was told by the author I had a two tone story. I've worked my little writer fingers to the bone to fix the tone, but that was before the entry flew to the coordinator.  So I was pleased that the comments and scores were pretty decent. Lots of perfect scores from two judges, one of the judges (a published author in romance so gotta heed that one) marked me low on my characterization and the other two marked me high. Two loved the original plot, but the author was iffy on the originality (there are only 12 stories in the world, the trick is to tell them in unique ways). Well, the plot is different now, but that's okay. I believe the issues with characterization are cleared up by fixing the tone.

Right, so now I have even MORE information to digest and deal with before I trudge onward. And I eagerly (not) await my other contest scores (I know I didn't final because they called the finalists on Sunday and I didn't get a call). That entry was the same entry I sent to the critique author and has been changed already. I'm sure that one will not do well--I am praying for decent and constructive feedback.

Repeat after me: not all contest judges strive to be constructive and some of them are soul crushing critics who may not realize the pain they inflict isn't necessary. I try to be constructive when I critique. I usually succeed.

Ironically, I judged another category in that contest. I hope my entrants receive my critique with spirit it was given. I want to build people up, not tear them apart. Why pi**on somebody's parade? I sincerely hope I have judges who judge like me: with kindness in their intent.

On the way home from the workshop, my writing friend and I chatted about what we had learned. We had a four hour drive so we chatted a lot. We clarified her plot points (Larry Brooks' book continues to help me understand plot and I wish I had read it BEFORE I wrote this MS).

But mine? Hmm, not so much. I did decide that I am not writing a thriller or RS (why are nearly all the examples for writing taken from thrillers and suspense movies?) and that the main conflict is, as always BOY MEETS GIRL, BOY AND GIRL WANT EACH OTHER, BOY AND GIRL CAN'T HAVE EACH OTHER, BOY AND GIRL FIND WAY TO BE TOGETHER. THE END. All the other plot stuff is just that, plot stuff. Romance readers want to be entertained, and they want a credible plot, but most of all they want to fall in love with our hero and they want our heroine to deserve him. They want the LOVE to be compelling.

Romance is MORE about characters than it is about plot.

So here I sit, at my computer with a lot of questions. And a lot of ideas and a lot of information. I sit here and wait for contest results to come back so I can digest them and think some more.

Repeat after me: writing doesn't always mean writing words and counting them. Writing takes a lot of thinking, daydreaming, wondering and mulling.

And today I will do a bit more wondering and mulling. I've also decided to talk to my hero and heroine. I'm going to sit down with my Main Characters and ask them a lot of questions. Why? Because I have realized that I have played Goddess of their lives too many times and it is not working for me. I've tried to direct their lives with plots and schemes and ideas. And they aren't cooperating. Therefore I will step aside and let them take charge. I need them to tell me why I should write their story.

Stay tuned. I'll let you know if they reveal their story to me later. I hope they do because I entered this MS in the MAGGIES and the contest deadline is June 1, 2010. There's nothing like putting all our proverbial derrieres into the fire to get the job done.

Top Ten Reasons I LOVE to Write

You know we can talk about the toil and trouble of writing. And yes, slaving away for hours and weeks and months and years on words to build books and stories is tough. Unrewarding if not paid. Still scary if published. And a masochistic trip with personal whips provided for personal self-flagellation. But we continue to slog away--regardless of where we are on the journey.

Here are my top 10 reasons why I continue to plop my ever-growing behind down on the chair and put my hands on the keyboard:

10: I have a very good excuse to drink copious amounts of coffee and tea.
9: Talking to the people in my head is okay if I write down what they say.
8: When my DH tunes me out, I tell myself it's cause Hugh Jackman comparisons are blase to him.
7: Movies, books and travel are "deductible" expenses cause they are RESEARCH.
6: People think I might have something intelligent to say at parties.
5: I get to go to amazing conferences and conventions and workshops.
4: I meet the best people at the conferences, conventions and workshops.
3: I am never bored-ever.
2: I get to write for hours in my pajamas knowing I could get paid to do this!
1: Fill in the blank--I have so many more reasons! I love to write... the rest is gravy!

What are your reasons for getting BICHOK? *butt in chair, hands on keys*

K.I.S.S. & Tell

Revision is an interesting process. I've discovered that when it comes to the PLOT revision, reading a craft book alongside the writing work helps me to generate new ideas and fix my MS's holes. Sometimes I take a course online during this time. Sometimes I just read and learn.

While revising, I am always on the phone or pinging emails to my CPs. They are all working on their WIPs and going through the same process. All of our voices bring new thoughts and solutions to the table. All of us find different ways to get to the heart of the matter.

So where is the KISS?

Well, for me it's in the phrase: KEEP IT SIMPLE SILLY. The  more I learn, the more I realize that writing does boil down to basics. There are some amazing methods to approach writing, but they all derive from similar roots. I can call a plot point a twist point, a pivotal plot point, a false victory, a turning point... a whatever... But bottom line: the idea is the same. I have to have sections in my book that bring about changes internally and externally to my main characters and all of these changes must deepen the sympathy my future readers have for my characters.

Goals? Motivations? Conflicts? Internal and external? They all come from some deep well within ourselves. If we don't mine our own hearts and experiences, we aren't bringing an honest revelation to the table, either. At times it takes some wonderful teacher to lead us to that discovery. Other times, it's an aha moment within our own brains that crystalizes the soul baring drive to write the story. Is our theme throughout our writing about betrayal, hope, lost souls finding home, overcoming injustice, saving people, truth and justice overcoming dishonesty? What? When we discover this, we are on a roll.

Sounds simple doesn't it?

But that's the part that's hard to tell. When does the writing shift from complex to simple? When does the book take on an amazing life of its own where the characters are really telling ME how to write their story? I think it happens all along as long as I don't force the issue. As soon as I try to fake it, I lose it.

I lose the essence of my people. I lose the essence of their story.

Revision opens up new pathways, new directions, new goals. Revision brings along interesting developments, unexpected characters and evocative emotions. Now the questions is: are you ready to expose them to the light?

Mission Confirmed

Yesterday I went to the Heart of Dixie's first meeting of the year. We had a lot of business to cover because we missed our January meeting due to snow conditions (in AL!). Afterward we were treated to a great discussion about the creative brain and how to keep our brains in gear for writing. So many things can impact our creativity: lack of sleep, health conditions, hormones, medications and stress. Even the published author who shared her information to us had her own story of how she had to battle to regain her writing mojo after losing her thyroid to thyroid cancer. Wow. But she did it. If she could battle back to regain her desire to write every day, then I feel even more inspired to keep my fingers on the keyboard.

Sure, there's not a lot of money in it (read zero for now) and the publishing industry is suffering from the economic meltdowns so there aren't a lot of doors opening right now for new writers, BUT the doors are still there.

After the meeting was adjourned and we had put up the tables and chairs, I was happy to talk with other authors, published and unpublished, about their experiences and their plans for the future. I came away from that meeting feeling energized and more than ready to keep pursuing my dream. For you see, if I just keep swimming in the low tide and wait patiently for the next wave to come in, I will be ready. If I quit now because the tide is low and I am  not getting anywhere, well too bad for me when I do miss the next wave.

I have reevaluated my writing goals and I believe I've made some wise decisions for this year. I am taking control of the things I can control and letting the stuff I can't control go out of my mind. I cannot control the ePublishing industry, iPad, Amazon, publishing, the business. None of it. I can control writing, learning my craft, submitting and entering contests. Based on what I learned yesterday, I believe I don't need to be in a hurry to set up a web page or create an Internet presence beyond my blogging.

After all, what am I promoting? Nothing. Yet. But I will do the following: I will continue blogging, sending in articles to the two chapter newsletters and obtain a domain name for when that time arrives.

Another thing I will do is maintain a patient attitude about the end result. I have one wonderful book out there. I'm proud of it. I have another book I want to revise and make stronger for the CR market. I have a fourth MS that I'm writing for the sheer joy of telling the characters' story. And I have another CR, ST that I will write as well. During the summer, I will begin processing my YA idea. I am rewarding myself with that book. I've wanted to write this one for a while, but I am still seeking a credible plot. I have the idea and the method of execution firm in my mind, but the plot must be strong enough to stand alone and be part of a larger series.

Stay tuned. Writing is a game I love to play. I am never setting aside my passion for this craft. It brings me joy and pain; friends and comrades; highs and lows. The process is a wrenching and excruciating ecstasy. I will not surrender my dream just because the world is not aligned with it today.

Surgery Statistics--Novel and Real

*DH is recuperating nicely. Who knew a new hip could be put into a man in less than two hours.
*Who knew they'd release said man so early from the hospital?

Confession: I am not a nurse for a reason, but I try.

*I have applied my own scalpel to my MS
*cutting is such sweet sorrow

Confession: I'm not an editor for a reason, but I persist.

*I have neat statistics thanks to my CP. I know exactly how many words I have cut.
*I know how many words I've written since January 1, 2010.

Confession: I have cut half as many words as I have written :(

*Woot, I am edging close to 60,000 words!
*Boohoo, I know I will be cutting more!

Confession: surgery recovery sucks (real -- ask DH --and imagined)

So all is well in my little world. I am working despite my DH's surgery and recovery. I am an adequate nurse and an adequate writer. I hope to improve in all areas.

Best of all, I see where I am going in both jobs. The end is in sight. Just as my DH's mobility improves every day that he gets up and clomps around the house with his walker, so does my writing. Every day that I pull out my writing cane and work, my writing does improve.

Inspiration

I'm waiting for my darling husband to recuperate from his full hip replacement surgery. Meanwhile, I've had time to write (woot--big surprise) and read blogs about writing. Now in today's crazy publishing world there might be a bit of AACK, why BOTHER moments as unpublished writers (heck, for that matter, for published authors, too).

Confession: I am not published (yet). I am not business savvy (ever... helloo? I need an agent). I don't have patience or time to try to understand the recent publisher/amazon/author/reader issues.

This post is for ALL writers because whether we are published or not, we see that brass ring, the possibility becoming more and more difficult to attain and maintain. We can continue to work on our writing, learn our craft, hone our stories, perfect our pitches, fix our problems BUT the industry keeps on changing on a dime. A thin dime. One that is spinning super fast.

So, without further ado, I believe we ALL need some inspiration; published or not. The following blogs might be of help:

Nathan
Gwen
the Blood Red Pencil

The truth is, we write because we are pulled to write. We seek an audience because we truly want to reach an audience with our message, and we are blessed by the numbers. The more we write, learn, submit, grow the greater our chances of our writing reaching an audience.

Go Vols! Orange You a Volunteer?

When I lived in Knoxville, TN, the college football team, Tennessee Volunteers for UT, ruled during football season. The locals had sayings like "Orange You a Volunteer?" and Rocky Top Tennessee was a song they sang with gusto and pride.

Tennessee Vols came by their name honestly: history shows them helping out at the Alamo. And future generations have always stepped up to the plate to give aid and assistance in various capacities.

Actually, I find the USA itself to be a country filled with the volunteer spirit. Our rescue teams were the first to show up in Greece, Turkey and now Haiti. Individually, we are a nation of spirited "givers" in churches, schools and organizations. Even our beloved writing organization, the RWA and its sister chapters can't run without its volunteers.

I know. I'm one of them. But not in a big way. How I help is small compared to the help so many others give and to the time others give to RWA and my local chapters, Southern Magic and Heart of Dixie.

So before I go on, let me say THANK YOU. You all rock.

That being said, I want to say, before one volunteers to do a task, know how much time it will take and how it will interfere with your goals; especially your WRITING goals. I evaluate every volunteer duty I agree to do, within the RWA and in my community, in terms of the impact it will have on these things:

1) My family
2) My health
3) My writing time

I also evaluate anything I am asked to do in terms of how they fit into my TOP FIVE PRIORITIES. They are:

1) Family's emotional and physical  health, including my own.
2) Pursuit of a professional writing career
3) Household maintenance-clean, shop, run child here and there
4) Preparing my DD for college; traveling to visit colleges
5) Positive social interactions

If the volunteer activity doesn't enhance or fit into my top five priorities and/or the volunteer activity INTERFERES with these priorities, I say no. No explanations necessary. Period.

Why? Has anyone met that volunteer who says YES to everything any one asks of her/him who then drops the ball because they are TOO BUSY and they use work, life etc as the excuse? I know people like that. I've also made that mistake. I thought I'd stopped making the mistake, but I did say yes to a few things last year that interfered with my writing and my enjoyment of my family because I was so caught up in the moment. I fulfilled my obligations in one instance. In another, I quit citing family reasons. And the next time someone asked me if I would do something, I asked "what is entailed?" And I asked "if life hijacks me, are you okay with me quitting?" After I received my answers, I said yes to both requests.

Face it. One feels a bit "important" and "special" when one is asked to help. One wants to "belong" and volunteering is a way of making friends and becoming part of a group.  People are vulnerable to this compulsion. I was. Especially after a move where I had to make new friends and wanted to fit in.

Lesson learned. I had forgotten my priorities. And before I started this new year, I made sure I had them listed and TAPED to the the cabinet door next to the fridge and my calendar, also next to my writing area, and IN MY PURSE.

I'm not saying don't volunteer, I'm saying volunteer wisely. This is super important for writers, published and unpublished, to remember before they say yes. Many of us have jobs and families taking time away from our writing. If we say yes to everything, when do we write?

Ultimately, if something is going to happen, more than one person should run the show. Many hands make light work. If there aren't enough people saying "yes" then we need to stop and evaluate the production of the show.

So volunteer. Be part of the team. But remember your top priorities and understand how saying yes will impact them. Ask a lot of questions. Evaluate your time commitments first. Say you'll get back to them after you check your calendar. And remember this too, it's okay to say no without explanation.

To Write Well is to Revise a Lot!

Writing is not easy. It is not for sissies. It is not for the weak of heart. A lot of would-be writers never finish their first drafts. They start many novels, but get mired in the middle never to escape the bog of doubt and fear that they've lost sight of their vision. A few struggle past and pull themselves out of the soul sucking middle ground and race happily to THE END.

Yay! First draft! The writer is officially DONE.

But not so. No. Unfortunately, after a breath of air and a break from reaching the story's resolution. One learns if one is a writer with the guts to go the distance again. Not just once. Not just twice. But often times three, four, five and six times. Maybe more. Each time issues with the story, the characters and the plot are ironed.

Someone once asked, when is it finished? I say not until it's sitting on a shelf in a bookstore or on-line with an e-publisher ready for someone to buy, read and yearn for more of the author's writing.

However, as a writer, I must say that for me the end comes when I've polished it to the point where the only way I'd rip into a plot again is if an editor and/or agent said, "Love your voice, but we want you to do X to make it better." In other words, I want to be under contract before I revisit the book for a billionth time.

And at a certain point, it's time for me, the writer, to take what I've learned and move onto the next project. Hopefully, all will happen faster. There will be less revisions to the overall plot and characters as I grow as a writer honing her craft.

For now I slog on. I have beaten back this story a lot. I've rescued my characters three times. I've reinvented the plot three times. I'm back in for more work. Deep work. Hard work. Unrewarding work (no pay here). One pat on the back I will receive will come from other writers who know all to well the pain of revising (cutting our beautiful words, letting go of the original ideas and moving on--HARD).

The other pat will come from me. To myself for having endured again. And for trying.

That's all I can do. That's all any of us can do.

How do we do this?

At times, for me, it's the mere fact that I refuse to give up on my characters. This is their story. Other times, I refuse to give up on myself. I started this journey. I want to finish it.

And you know what? The craziest part about being an unpublished writer wrestling with words is the greatest reward after multiple revisions is that I get to start a brand new book.

I get to do it all over again.

Goals and Affirmations

First, I managed to whack out some words on the computer today. Whew. Writing goal met. Personal life goal of going to the gym? Nope. Too busy catching up on errands after I finished writing.

As I write, I am reading Maass's book, WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL. Much of what I read challenged me, forced me to think in many directions regarding this book, my life (hey, I can apply the principles to real life battles), and my future writing.

First illumination from Maass:

How can you catch the mood of our times? ... be sure that your breakout novel will speak to contemporary readers? By being awake to life as it is around us. By living in our times... How can you engage your readers in your fictional world if you, the author, are not engaged in your own world?


Oh, how true these words are to me. I cannot draw from a wellspring of NOTHING. I am committed to the world at large, I fight my battles, I read the newspaper, I have opinions (many I keep secret here, but they crop up in my writing on a regular basis). I LIVE.

This knowledge gives me hope. Writing in a vacuum is not for me. I must engage in the world around me as I am one who needs the interaction. I love to hear people's stories, their histories, their reasons for their choices. I love to talk, but only to disarm others. I want to hear their stories. I care about humanity. I believe in justice. I fight for it in my community as a parent and a citizen.

Every once in a while, I wish I could just turn off this need to make a difference, however small or large, in people's lives. I can't do it. This drives me. Gives me purpose. I believe this drives my writing and gives me purpose in my writing, too.

Yes, I am new. I only have four books... the first one is badly written, the second one is not so bad, the third one is affirming my efforts as a writer, and current WIP is a constant surprise to me. But this current WIP, while difficult and painful to write, is exciting me because I'm attempting to push past the boundaries and build my writing muscles.

... the moral underpinning ... comes from within (me).


I remember struggling for this story to emerge again after a bad critique. And I went back to the basics. At the bottom, underpinning it all, I knew why I had to write the story. And it boiled down to my characters and the depth of their emotions wells up from mine. I'm in love with my characters. The rest of the book, the plot and the setting, is building around them.

In 2009 I learned a lot, and I experienced a lot of firsts. I loved getting so close to the idea of being published and finding an agent. Oh, the heady joy of it all. But the greatest lesson I learned was to push the envelope as a writer. To find that well within me. To patiently mine my heart and emotions and history for a greater story.

And this learning will continue.

Catching Up

This Christmas break has been busy for me in that we had to travel to Texas and we usually don't go anywhere during the holidays. While there, I managed to get a lot of work done during the early morning hours. When we returned home, I focused on one thing: my family. This is Christmas and we're usually busy scrambling all over the place as we run from home, to school, to dance, to voice, to shopping, to friends, to home, to malls, to school, to meetings, to .... to.... to ... you name it, and we're there.

But this is a time to regroup for all three of us. We're all busy and seriously need time to catch up on our sleep, our time together as a family and on our little this's and thats that we put off during the busy days.

That's what I mean by "catching up." How are you all catching your breaths? Spending more time with family and friends? Reviewing and reflecting on goals accomplished? Reading? Cooking real meals? Fixing little things around the house? Playing games and doing puzzles? This is a season for renewal. And I use it for exactly that one thing.

I know I'll be busy again and running all over the place in my little truck with Darling Daughter in the passenger seat. I'll be scrambling to meet my new goals, working toward gathering information for my husband's upcoming hip replacement, girding myself for my FIL's upcoming health problems escalating, fortifying my mind for the days ahead, and focusing on generating more words in my writing.

So now, Catch Up Time is very much appreciated.

Tis the Day after Christmas and All Through the House....

.... only I am up. I am the early bird of the family and I treasure this time alone. I catch up on emails, forums and blogs. I love the quiet cool air and the hush of the halls. It's great solitary time to work as well. I am looking forward to using the time wisely in the days ahead as I edge toward the new year.

While we were in Texas, I managed to work on my current WIP. I finished cutting and pasting my last half of the WIP! Amazing what having a hotel room with space, two sleepy family members and being an early riser will do for one's ability to get work accomplished. So, despite the very sad reasons we were there, I did manage to work, too.

We drove back on the 23rd. That was a very long day. But then we were home and ensconced in our house by 5:30PM. On Christmas Eve I went shopping for food and did laundry (the bane of my existence). We brought down all of our presents and set them under the tree. After cookies and milk and tossing Reindeer Food (my fifteen year old believes in tradition), we were off to bed.

Santa arrived and we all reaped a mighty stash of presents. Woohoo! Then we went off to the movie theater and watched SHERLOCK HOLMES. Oh my, Robert D. is adorable. They did a great job of retooling the old icon. Loved the film. Then it was home to chillax, eat dinner, work puzzles, read, do nothing.

I love this time of year!

I love having time to sleep and do nothing and relax.

I love knowing that when the New Year arrives, I'll be ready to roll with the current WIP because I committed to writing a little every day, more on some and none on others, but I managed to work a lot in. That's the key. I will know my peeps when I start up the new year.

I hope you all know your peeps, too! I hope you have a wonderful break, and I hope you have a fabulous new year celebration.

A Little Bit Goes a Long Way

I'm in Texas visiting my father in law. He looked much better than I had expected, and was very happy to see us. Fortunately, he is letting DH and his brother drive him to Shreveport to the VA Hospital for his appointment on the 22nd. We're glad we're here to help and we know what his plans are for the future. A relief. We shared a photo book I had made for him and gave him a few things like a super comfy track suit and he's happy to wear it. I always think of Bill as a guy who just knows how to have fun and he's pretty miffed that this happened, but he's still got spirit.

Before we went to see him, I managed to work on my current WIP yesterday morning. One of the advantages of being an early riser is having time to work while everyone sleeps. We're lucky because my DH travels so much we have a free upgrade on our hotel room. So we have two rooms and privacy. I can work without disturbing DD who is a teen and sleeping a lot (their brains grow so much during this time, they have to catch up when they can).

It was good seeing my niece, nephew, his wife and his little girl yesterday. It has been a long time since I have stepped foot in Texas. I had good reasons for avoiding the state, but now I am prepared to come here a minimum of once a year. DD needs to know her Texas cousins. She is their ONLY cousin and now that she is getting older, I think it is important for her to know them. She can already discern why and how we're different. I think the biggest thing she noticed was the quick judgment they reserve for others. This comes, I believe, from parenting styles and also untapped world view. My DD has a lot of experiences in which she's traveled to different countries, different states and participated in different cultures. I think this expands her ability to empathize and accept other people's choices.

Travel expands the mind in much the same way reading expands the soul.

I think that's why I love to travel myself. And writing is like traveling into other people's lives and bringing them to the surface. As a writer, I believe I have to be open to differences in others. And I have to be open to accepting their choices. This brings color and depth into my writing. In fact, having lived a lot of different experiences, I believe makes me yearn to write.

Writing is an extension of wanting to understand, accept and bring to light other peoples' truths.

AACK Attack of the Busies

Due to too  many items on my plate, I must keep this post brief.
Yes, I've managed to get through most of the items on my to-do list. Yes, I managed to add another item to it that I really wanted to avoid adding (more trouble). Yes, I think my head is still connected to my body.

No. I haven't written. No. I haven't prepared to write. No. I'm not sure what I will accomplish when I do head to Texas.

But I am bringing my work with me and catching up after an insanely busy week filled with internal conflicts and external adventures.

Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, I give you The Chipmunks... 

Christmas Cave In

Well today it officially hit me. Christmas Cave In has arrived. I have fought it valiantly. I wrote almost everyday, and I managed to juggle the chaos of preparing goodies and Christmas shopping for our family well.

Until today.

I finished the first half revise, cut, move, chop and block. I read through the rest of the MS. I am ready to roll. But more importantly, I have to squash two weeks of Christmas into one. Today I realized that something had to give or I would lose my head.

Literally.

DH is in DC and working, DD is studying for Finals and I am in aack it's Christmas already mode. I finished two more recipes (one I will share... one remains with me till... well... illegal use of ellipses I am sure... ), I shopped for DD's final scarf exchange, a birthday party, prepped for DH's trip, made pretzel rods, made chocolate cookies (sorry, not sharing), took care of silly neighborhood issues.

And I am ready to roll for the next half of the MS, but I have to do the following:

*return a gift
*buy two ornaments per tradition
*buy a gift to replace returned gift
*go to Nashville to shop for Christmas, see a friend, buy booze (hey it is cheaper there!), get goodies for FIL
*shop for FIL
*mail Christmas cards (will they ever arrive???)
*iron (bleh)
*more laundry
*cancel paper and mail
*organize packing lists
*pack
*shop for stockings
*finish cooking goodies (don't ask!)
*teacher gifts
*neighborhood gifts
*clean house (bathrooms and floors)
*wrap presents
*uh, uh uh--oh go through in box
*tell insurance my DD has her driving permit and put her on insurance
*attend winter concert
*get hair done (at long last)

Well, at least I'm not hanging out doing nothing............. (More illegal ellipses)

So. I. Must. Stop. Beating. My. Writing Head.

Okay... (just love playing with the ellipses)....

Here is the Pretzel Rod Recipe:

Pretzel Rods (1-4 bags-if you insane like me... well... 4)
2 Cups to many of chocolate morsels (white, dark, milk --I prefer dark)
Christmas Sprinkles

Melt chocolate in microwave according to the directions on the package (I melt a small bag at 2 min, 70% power and stir, add more time as needed/same power). Dip rods into the melted chocolate (please stir first!). Put dipped chocolate rods on cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles (or toffee bits etc). Put into fridge to set. Boom... easy! Kids like this one!

Tomorrow? Praline Pecans.... and I hope my head stays on my neck....

Truffle Truffle Toil and Truffle

Another baking day and holiday recital day at the house. Of course, no writing today, but oh, the fun of making Oreo Truffles with my DD. The recipe is super easy. I wish I could take credit for it, but one of my writing friends at the Writing Playground shared this last year on their blog, and I couldn't resist making it.

Now Oreo Truffles are a total staple.

I'm sharing the recipe because it is yummy and it is very easy to make. Even a child could help make these delightful treats. My DD makes them and gives them away to her friends at their request. Here's the recipe:

OREO TRUFFLES

1 Package of Oreo Cookies

1 8 oz block of philadelphia cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat)

white, dark or milk chocolate (white chocolate hardens the fastest)

Grind the package of Oreo Cookies (3 sleeves) in food processor till it is super powdery. Pour into a bowl, add one block of cream cheese and mix by hand. Roll into small balls and put onto a cookie sheets  covered in wax paper. Freeze for 30 minutes. Melt chocolate (dark, white or milk) and dip each frozen ball into it. Put onto wax paper lined cookie sheet, put in fridge and harden (can do overnight).

Voila! Total Yumminess!!

Now The Writing Playground is special to me because it is comprised of members of the Heart of Dixie. Two of the writers are published and all the rest are PRO. One of them is even a Golden Heart finalist. Check out their blog site. But don't stop there. Check out their web page.

The Writing Playground has tons of great recipes for successful writing, too! One of my favorites is not on the website (or at least wasn't last time I checked). Kira Sinclair gave a CRAFT CORNER at one of our meeting about how to put together a simple and effective synopsis. Bar none, this is my go to lesson for all my synopsis work. In addition to that, they've lead author discussions and prepared my chapter for pitching at the National Seminar.

They Rock!

This holiday season is about sharing, but when we belong to writing chapters where we are treated to all the knowledge they have to offer us. I appreciate all the RWA and the writing chapters offer us. I hope that if you are writing, you have found the support network you need to stay in the game.

Happy Holidays and Enjoy the OREO TRUFFLES!

A Little Bit Naughty & A Little Bit Nice

Yesterday I was a little bit naughty. I did write (the little bit nice part for the day). For about an hour. I finished another chapter's chop and block and reset and cut.

Then I went out for lunch with two girlfriends and we chatted for two hours. Wow. What a luxury. I was so happy to just "be." When I got home, I picked up the house, and I made a lovely meal for the family. Not a hastily cobbled together one, but a full on gourmet favorite. Yummy!

I skipped my blog altogether just to hang out on the sofa and watch TV with my daughter. It was so much fun. No computers on our laps (we're huge MACbook fans -- each have one) and no status checks on Facebook, either. No blogging. No responding to people on their blogs.

We watched Glee. My all time favorite show of the year. We also watched Criminal Minds. My other all time favorite show. What can I say? We're an eclectic and diverse family.

Today I had to take my DD to the Driver's License place to get her Learner's Permit. Sorry folks. She passed. We are talking about a girl who has broken two, no, make that three, bones by literally tripping over her feet. We are talking about a girl who almost suffocated herself in the changing room at the mall while trying on a dress (now and forever known as "the demon dress"). We are talking about a girl who tripped in the same changing booth and bumped her head.

Shopping with her is always great fodder for future YA ideas. She will be immortalized (disguised, but...).

Yes. That girl is learning how to drive.

So here's where I was a bit more nice than naughty. We got to the DMV and DD had all the paperwork according to the manual she'd studied. Unfortunately, the rules changed since September and we had to have an additional piece of paper from her school proving she was in school. Now the DMV (Dept. of Motor Vehicles) is about 30 minutes from door to door. Darling Me asked if she could take the test while I hurried back (of course driving the speed limit *wink*) to get the silly slip of paper. They said yes.

Thus time I would have spent writing/reading at the DMV was spent cruising to and from her school to bring a piece of paper signed by a clerical aide stating that she was, indeed, a student (apparently her most recent, all A progress report wasn't adequate enough). DH knew I was upset about the time lost, but offered to meet me later (to shop for same girl's Christmas), and offered to come get me an hour later so I could squeeze in some writing time (I love it when they show their belief in me by supporting my need to write).

DD passed the test. I was so happy for her (despite my concerns for all the innocent drivers who are blissfully driving unaware of this newbie's future reign of terror), and we celebrated by shopping a bit and being happy (plus she got to miss most of her honors chemistry--double bonus). DD had a great day. She's happy.

I am, too. For during the time I was driving back to her school, I thought how lucky am I? I can pursue my own passion and dreams, but I don't have to take away my time from being the mom she needs me to be when things like this happen. And she's growing up. Soon I won't be chasing down roads driving her forgotten articles to school, hauling teens to malls and dance and school. Soon she'll be chasing down the roads and I'll be a worrying wave goodbye.

So I treasured today's bit of nice.

And I was nice again. I managed to squeeze in a bit more writing (chop and block/move and paste), meet my DH to shop for our DD, and feel like I had accomplished quite a bit after all.

Slow and steady through these times. But even a little moves us forward. Tomorrow, I'll have one less scene to visit as I trudge toward the finish line. Not the first time across. Nor the last. But at least it is one less time to do it once I get there.

Whew.... onward ho! Countdown begins: 14 sleeps till Christmas Morning!!!

Jingle Bell Juggling of Priorities

The week did start off with a not so nice start--never a good time to hear yucky news. But this is a part of life. We don't get to write happy endings in the real world. Perhaps that is why I like writing fiction--I get to be Supreme Ruler of my Mini Universe. And the good guys and gals always win in the end.

Sigh.

But despite ick news and the upcoming chaos, one thing must continue happening. Writing. I know, right?How can I write when I am worried? Well, worrying won't make the matters facing me about my FIL go away. They'll overtake and overshadow my life. I have zero control over those events.

I do have control over my response to those events. I do have control over what I do with my time now. And I do have control over my glorious obsession and pursuit of my lovely goal. Yesterday's news was a reminder to me: we only get one shot to live. If we are lucky enough to live in a situation where we are privileged to pursue higher goals like expressing ourselves creatively, then we are indeed blessed.

So--chin up and first things first. I called my darling FIL--he's in good spirits. We had a "man that was a crappy week for you talk" and discussed an upcoming visit before Christmas (on the road again). That's all I can do there--let him know we love him.

Second on the list, call my CP in AL and discuss our goals, the market, publishing, our writing direction and her quick thoughts about my first 29 pages (editing for MAGGIES and other contests). Then after far too long a talk for her as she had to get ready for a lunch (but oh it is wonderful to talk about writing), I started in on the current WIP. Organizing my next few scenes and chapters, clipping them together, slashing words, making notes about cuts and more. Now I have something to input into the computer tomorrow.

The goal for this month is "flexible writing." And that's all I can ask of myself. This isn't the time to go nuts and start a massive new project. Nope. It's about keeping the peeps in my head, tossing around ideas and working slowly toward the new year. Do I beat myself over the head if I don't manage to write at all? Nope? The goal is an hour a day. Some days might lead to more hours, others not any at all. But by January 1, I will be ahead of the game because I gave myself permission to follow my "a little is better than none at all" rule.

Try it. I learned how to write in a box when I went through a massive move over a year ago. I learned to take fifteen minutes here and there--I learned to stop to read ahead and edit hard copy. I learned to go back and input my changes and make notes about the story.

Sometimes when crazy happens, order can be imposed. Now I know the direction, tho' not all the scenes of this current WIP. I know I need to do some research, but it doesn't have to happen now. And best of all, I know I have renewed my focus for the upcoming year.

I'm excited about the new direction and about my mini list of goals that are building in my head. Oh, the fun I'll have creating my spreadsheet for 2010. Best of all, I get to reflect and review over all the accomplishments and goals attained in 2009. Wow, I can't wait.

This is why it is vital to keep going--when you can--during high seasons and times when life just isn't cooperating. You will slowly plod along and get through the muck and the fireworks. And you know, sometimes it is good to slow down and move the great conductor's rhythm. Surrender to the flow you are in--work with it--think of it like a rip tide. Don't fight it, float out with the pulling waters, and then ease back to shore.

And here's the best part, by writing even a little today, I managed to feel good about that goal. And I managed to feel no remorse about putting the valuable time into being a DIL, a mom shopping for Christmas, a wife comforting her husband, and a woman taking care of herself.