Rediscovering Writing MoJo Amidst Holiday Distractions

After I sent off my GH Entry #2, I was hit with the "save Thanksgiving" bug--shopping for turkeys (yes, multiple turkeys for THREE people), buying frozen pies (ain't going to bake for three) and gathering the ingredients for THE MOST AMAZING SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE ever! (I do not lie--it is truly a wondrous food--with no recipe--my DD is in training). But I digress... food... it distracts me. Anyhoooooo.... I enjoyed my holiday weekend. We cooked, we watched the Macy's Parade, we cheered on our football teams, we ate, we ate some more, we decorated for the holidays, we ate leftovers, we went to a Japanese Steakhouse to eat something different, we ate some more.... and then MONDAY ARRIVED.

DD went back to school, and DH went back to work. I faced the mountains of laundry (jeans that probably no longer fit due to eating frenzy), and then I made my holiday lists. But I still faced my current WIP and went through the outline. Ah, a half an hour taken care of. Hmmm... let's add another half an hour and print out the first fifty again just for fun and separate them into lovely scenes. My peeps are talking to me.

BUT there are distractions. And how do I face them, whip them down and remain dutiful to my family through the season?

Distractions:

*tinsel
*shopping
*phone calls
*wanting to play
*post GH Entry letdown
*housecleaning
*cats misbehaving
*worrying about silly things like unanswered agent requests
*wondering if the current WIP is worth the effort
*bit by the decorating bug--I rarely decorate anymore, but suddenly, I am looking for furniture
*missing my old, instant gratification hobbies like scrapbooking -- and puzzles. I love puzzles.
*the Internet
*forums--so many LOOPS, so little time
*FaceBook--at least I don't do that CHEF game or the FARM one, I'd never write if I did....
*emails
*ennui, doubt, old worries, what ifs? All there...

TIME TO GET MY WRITING MOJO IN GEAR... but how?

*turn on the timer
*do a lesson for an online class
*fix small problems first
*tell myself I can't dictate the market, I can only write my stories
*talk to CPs about the unanswered full request and plan a solution (got one!)
*review old craft books throughout the month
*review old craft on-line lessons throughout the month
*remember this is supposed to be fun and laugh
*celebrate prior successes
*anticipate a future success
*pray for GH judges who appreciate story and craft
*pray for GH judges who aren't turned off by sexual content
*research other category lines/reconsider my direction for the next story (less sex? more sex? sex?)
*never give up, never surrender

Finally, I managed to play around with my WIP and work through some scene elements, I spoke to my CP in VA about my current WIP and how to transform it into a SINGLE TITLE (be still my ever beating heart and fear not), and I ran errands. Errands reminded me why I love to write.

I hope you all got your MoJo going on and got some writing, any writing, done today.

Happy Holidays and stay tuned... and keep me posted! Are you writing? Are you managing to look at the MS and pat it over the head and say, "That'll do?" Keep on -- even one sentence is better than none at all during this time.

For All the Writers, Agents & Editors Reeling Over HQN's New Venture

For writers and agents this past week has been interesting. We've all had our say about HQN's latest venture, pro/con--angry/sad/unsure--disbelief. Yet we've continued to forge ahead with pursuing our goals, one and all. I love my professional organization, RWA, and I love my writing comrades. Whether I know you in person or only via the wonderful world of the Internet, I am connected to host of strong people.

By far, writing has become more than a dream to be published. It's become a place I call home with a lot of talented individuals who care about this industry and nurturing each other toward reaching the goals we've sent. Regardless of where one is in their writing career, published or  not, we all share a common bond: we have people in our heads and we are compelled to tell their stories.

And we have a group of people, Agents and Editors, who love to bring these stories into the world. The right stories. The ones that hit their nerves. Our first readers and our greatest champions when we strike a chord in their hearts.

We're on a journey. Occasionally, we hit bumps and potholes. HQN's announcement was a HUGE POTHOLE/BUMP/OH SH** THE SKY IS FALLING MOMENT. But it has passed. We're still writing. We're still moving toward our goals. And we're safe in the knowledge that we have an amazing umbrella of protection.

RWA and the Chapters to which we belong.

Meanwhile, whenever you're worried or feeling blue or you get an R with INTEGRITY, then this song's for you... play it, gaze at the beautiful man in it, and then move on to your destiny....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj1tOiG9Xys

Another Free Day

Well this is so much fun! I actually had time to hunt down my info for the PRO pin so I got that taken care of today. I registered from the RWA Conference today as well. I am so very excited. It'll be July 15-18... can't wait to soak in the atmosphere!!

Best of all -- it is FOR ME. What a wonderful reward to give myself for all my hard work these past few months. And I know I will be working super hard in the months that lay ahead of me.

For now, I am rather enjoying the easy assignments, letting my brain rest and be organic with the BIAW course I am taking. I haven't got a lot to write about other than my heroine and a seedling of an idea, but I feel I will be more ready to write about her and him and the story in 3 weeks.

Today we did an assignment where we listed strengths, successes, and 20-30 things that make us smile.

I realized I am persistent, focused, and organized--self-discipline is my middle name. I believe I have what it takes to write and finish a book after writing and finishing three of them. Now I have to believe, based on the success of my hard work in the past, that I will sell one. It's a matter of WHEN, not if, for me.

Meanwhile, it's nice to call friends long-distance and catch up on much needed household chores.