I am finally back in the swing of things with my writing and it feels great. I've been doing a little preliminary work on my website and stuff, so some changes should be coming soon.
Thanks to Cole's encouragement I signed on to commit to writing a minimum of 100 words per day. That way, on days where I have plenty of time and creative energy I can write more, but on days where I don't, writing that 100 words will at least keep me in the story.
It's also time for our new classes at LRWA. February has 2 terrific courses. Here's the details:
February 2007 — Happy Hookers: Engaging the Reader from Start to Finish
Presented by: Terry Spear
Deadline: February 1
Course description:
Slow starts and sleepy endings to scenes and chapters can ruin a manuscript’s chance of being published. Conversely, solid hooks can make the sale - as workshop instructor Terry Spear demonstrates, with six publishers currently hooked for six manuscripts. Setting such practical matters aside, what author wouldn’t be thrilled to hear someone say, “I couldn’t put the book down”? Strong hooks are a vital ingredient in strong writing. In this online class, which features lectures, discussion, practical exercises, and handouts, she’ll teach students how to captivate readers with great openings, scene hooks, chapter cliff hangers, and intriguing back cover blurbs. Participants will master the hook in all its environments, from the query letter through the novel.
AND
February 2007 — Plotting Strategy – Put your Characters in the Driver’s Seat
Presented by: Sharon Mignerey
Deadline: February 1
Course description:
This is a 4 week workshop with 2 classes per week.
Characters, not plot, drive a story forward. If you’ve ever received a rejection to the effect of “this story seems contrived” or “your characters don’t seem real” you may have events rather than character motivation propelling your plot forward. This workshop includes the following modules, each with exercises designed to practice the skills and facilitate sharing among the participants.
If either peak your interest, you can check them out at LRWA's website.
edited to add: Well, looks like my OCD kicked in and I went ahead and started to work on the blog changes. It's a WIP and so is the new website. You can check it out here. Let me know what you think!
April
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Getting Something Done?
Well, I've actually gotten some writing done. It's nice to FINALLY update my work ticker for Killer Design with an additional 2,750 words! And it's even better that I'm finally writing again.
I followed Emma's advice and I refused to allow myself to do any of the things I usually do to avoid doing what I should be doing. And I'm writing and it feels spectacular. One more scene and I'll be able to send my lovely cp a chapter. That's if she can still remember what happened preceeding this chapter. :-)
In the meantime, hubby and I ran away this weekend. We went to a local coastal town and just played. No agenda, no one else to worry about. Just us and whatever we felt like doing when we felt like doing it. It's been forever since we've been on a trip like that. And we decided we needed to do it more. But I'm feeling refreshed, rejuvinated, and ready to write!
How's your writing energy?
April
I followed Emma's advice and I refused to allow myself to do any of the things I usually do to avoid doing what I should be doing. And I'm writing and it feels spectacular. One more scene and I'll be able to send my lovely cp a chapter. That's if she can still remember what happened preceeding this chapter. :-)
In the meantime, hubby and I ran away this weekend. We went to a local coastal town and just played. No agenda, no one else to worry about. Just us and whatever we felt like doing when we felt like doing it. It's been forever since we've been on a trip like that. And we decided we needed to do it more. But I'm feeling refreshed, rejuvinated, and ready to write!
How's your writing energy?
April
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Monday, January 08, 2007
Where Was I?
Since it's been THREE WEEKS since I have written anything in my wip, I've been trying to get back into the story. It hasn't been smooth going.
Sure, I've worked out some plot issues in my head thanks to some light bulb moments, but I'm just having trouble getting into that groove. You know, the one where you're on a roll and you don't realize an hour has gone by. That one.
I guess I'm having trouble remembering the mood I was in, if that makes any sense at all. I wish I had made notes about where I was headed before my screen went out. That's what I usually do when I know I won't be writing for a bit. I write a brief outline of what's next and when I come back it's all ready. Argh.
How's your writing going? And tricks for getting back into the groove? Have I asked that question before? Probably.
April
Sure, I've worked out some plot issues in my head thanks to some light bulb moments, but I'm just having trouble getting into that groove. You know, the one where you're on a roll and you don't realize an hour has gone by. That one.
I guess I'm having trouble remembering the mood I was in, if that makes any sense at all. I wish I had made notes about where I was headed before my screen went out. That's what I usually do when I know I won't be writing for a bit. I write a brief outline of what's next and when I come back it's all ready. Argh.
How's your writing going? And tricks for getting back into the groove? Have I asked that question before? Probably.
April
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Back Ordered...
We made our way home from bowling this weekend. It was a great trip, made even better by a big win! After getting home, we crashed as a result of the time change and 11 hour drive. I'm not sure I'm really back to normal... although normal is all together relative, right?
As New Year's day wore on, I grew more and more eager for today. The day I was supposed to get my handy dandy laptop back so I could WRITE. It's killing me really it is. Then at 2:00 today, as I'm thinking about calling hubby and telling him I'll drop by his office and pick it up because I can't wait till 7PM to have it, he calls me. And tells me he has bad news. My first thought of course is that something happened to the hard drive and all is lost. No, he says, "The part is on back order. He's not sure when it'll be in." And I say, "Noooooo!!!!" Even though this isn't as bad as my first thoughts. It still crushed me.
So here I am sitting at my desk at work blogging when I should be handling all of the work that piled up while I was gone. Pooo...
In the mean time, Jenna Petersen is giving her course: The Great Agent Search for our online courses this month. The class starts on the 4th and there's still time to sign up if anyone is interested. Just go to Lowcountry RWA's Online Courses.
How about you all? Starting the New Year off with a bang and lots of writing?
*Edited to add: Late this evening, the computer guy received my part and now I have a working computer again! WOO HOO!!!!!!!
April
As New Year's day wore on, I grew more and more eager for today. The day I was supposed to get my handy dandy laptop back so I could WRITE. It's killing me really it is. Then at 2:00 today, as I'm thinking about calling hubby and telling him I'll drop by his office and pick it up because I can't wait till 7PM to have it, he calls me. And tells me he has bad news. My first thought of course is that something happened to the hard drive and all is lost. No, he says, "The part is on back order. He's not sure when it'll be in." And I say, "Noooooo!!!!" Even though this isn't as bad as my first thoughts. It still crushed me.
So here I am sitting at my desk at work blogging when I should be handling all of the work that piled up while I was gone. Pooo...
In the mean time, Jenna Petersen is giving her course: The Great Agent Search for our online courses this month. The class starts on the 4th and there's still time to sign up if anyone is interested. Just go to Lowcountry RWA's Online Courses.
How about you all? Starting the New Year off with a bang and lots of writing?
*Edited to add: Late this evening, the computer guy received my part and now I have a working computer again! WOO HOO!!!!!!!
April
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
This computer is for an adult...
That's what my hubby said to me tonight. Actually, he said, "You only click once, remember, this computer was made for an adult." He was talking about his spiffy Mac Powerbook which to his despair I'm using at the moment to compose this post and happily double click away. :-)
I'm using hubby's single click Mac... Which I explained was set up for just single click because the owner was too simple minded to understand the concept of double click on a pc (all in good fun, of course)... because my poor little Toshiba's ballast/backlight has gone out. It could be due in part to my puppy dog who has been pretty determined to prevent me from writing lately. So determined, he paws my computer. And funny thing... all of a sudden a gliche arises. Argh!
So it's heading to Mr. Fix-It. Tomorrow hopefully. I read that it wasn't too costly and the symptoms are exactly what I'm experiencing. So let's pray it's easy and chea... oh yeah, and fast. That's what hubby is pryaing... that it's fast. I think he thinks I'm cursed and anything technical I touch won't work. I did ask him how to turn it on just to tease him and I looked at his wireless mouse like it was a foreign object brought back from Mars. That probably didn't raise his confidence in me too much, but it sure was entertaining to watch his reaction. Hmmm... I'm gonna go see what other fun I can get into.
If I don't get to check back in, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year! We're heading out of town the day after Christmas. We're going bowling! For those not into college football, it means we're headed to a bowl game. But I'll be back by the 1st!
April
I'm using hubby's single click Mac... Which I explained was set up for just single click because the owner was too simple minded to understand the concept of double click on a pc (all in good fun, of course)... because my poor little Toshiba's ballast/backlight has gone out. It could be due in part to my puppy dog who has been pretty determined to prevent me from writing lately. So determined, he paws my computer. And funny thing... all of a sudden a gliche arises. Argh!
So it's heading to Mr. Fix-It. Tomorrow hopefully. I read that it wasn't too costly and the symptoms are exactly what I'm experiencing. So let's pray it's easy and chea... oh yeah, and fast. That's what hubby is pryaing... that it's fast. I think he thinks I'm cursed and anything technical I touch won't work. I did ask him how to turn it on just to tease him and I looked at his wireless mouse like it was a foreign object brought back from Mars. That probably didn't raise his confidence in me too much, but it sure was entertaining to watch his reaction. Hmmm... I'm gonna go see what other fun I can get into.
If I don't get to check back in, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year! We're heading out of town the day after Christmas. We're going bowling! For those not into college football, it means we're headed to a bowl game. But I'll be back by the 1st!
April
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The Number Four
Marybeth tagged me with this so here goes:
Four jobs I’ve had:
1. Toy Store Clerk
2. Ad Sales Rep.
3. Waitress
4. Real estate
Four Places I’ve lived:
1. Hmmm... my hubby is looking over my shoulder and shaking his head at this one because I've never moved more than 15 miles away and he says I can't say where I live on the internet. As though it's that hard to find out anyway. I knew I never should have told him about an author I know getting stalked by a prison inmate!
2.
3.
4.
Four favorite foods:
1. Chocolate candy
2. Chocolate ice cream
3. Chocolate milk shake
4. Chocolate cake
Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. Sixteen Candles
3. Ever After
4. The Saint
Four TV shows I enjoy:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Ghost Hunters
3. Studio 60
4. The Office
Four places I’ve traveled:
1. New York
2. Jamaica
3. Grand Cayman
4. Mexico
Four places I’d like to visit:
1. Ireland
2. France (southern)
3. Germany
4. Italy
Four websites I go to (almost) daily:
1. Yahoo.com :-)
2. truthorfiction.com (I'm trying to cut down on my rumor spreading)
3. colereising.com/blog
4. eHarlequin.com
Four people I’m tagging to do this too:
1. Cole
2. Karen
3. Sarah
4. Julie
And anyone else who wants to :-)
April
Four jobs I’ve had:
1. Toy Store Clerk
2. Ad Sales Rep.
3. Waitress
4. Real estate
Four Places I’ve lived:
1. Hmmm... my hubby is looking over my shoulder and shaking his head at this one because I've never moved more than 15 miles away and he says I can't say where I live on the internet. As though it's that hard to find out anyway. I knew I never should have told him about an author I know getting stalked by a prison inmate!
2.
3.
4.
Four favorite foods:
1. Chocolate candy
2. Chocolate ice cream
3. Chocolate milk shake
4. Chocolate cake
Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. Sixteen Candles
3. Ever After
4. The Saint
Four TV shows I enjoy:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Ghost Hunters
3. Studio 60
4. The Office
Four places I’ve traveled:
1. New York
2. Jamaica
3. Grand Cayman
4. Mexico
Four places I’d like to visit:
1. Ireland
2. France (southern)
3. Germany
4. Italy
Four websites I go to (almost) daily:
1. Yahoo.com :-)
2. truthorfiction.com (I'm trying to cut down on my rumor spreading)
3. colereising.com/blog
4. eHarlequin.com
Four people I’m tagging to do this too:
1. Cole
2. Karen
3. Sarah
4. Julie
And anyone else who wants to :-)
April
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
It's Christmas Time...
As we speak, a cinnamon spice cake is cooling on top of our stove and the smell is making me crazy! I was working on a ginger bread house, but while it was "setting" the dog decided the icing mortar needed some work, so it had to be trashed. He never gets on the table. But I guess that icing was just too tempting.
The cake is for our office party tomorrow, so I won't get to eat it all by myself. But that's a good thing... For my diet.
I've put aside the wip temporarily to deal with the idea in my head. There's some issues I want to work out with the plot of the wip and I plan to work on that too, so I'm not putting it aside completely. And I'm not a habitual putter-asider, so hopefully I'm not starting a trend. But the other story is calling calling calling, and I can't ignore it any more.
Christmas shopping is ALMOST done. Woo Hoo!!
We decorate each year. I love Christmas decorating. But there's a limit to how much decorating I'll do. Last year a friend shared this with me and although I posted it last year, I thought I should share it again. It definately goes beyond my limit!
Wizards of Winter
Anyone know someone who decorates like that?
April
The cake is for our office party tomorrow, so I won't get to eat it all by myself. But that's a good thing... For my diet.
I've put aside the wip temporarily to deal with the idea in my head. There's some issues I want to work out with the plot of the wip and I plan to work on that too, so I'm not putting it aside completely. And I'm not a habitual putter-asider, so hopefully I'm not starting a trend. But the other story is calling calling calling, and I can't ignore it any more.
Christmas shopping is ALMOST done. Woo Hoo!!
We decorate each year. I love Christmas decorating. But there's a limit to how much decorating I'll do. Last year a friend shared this with me and although I posted it last year, I thought I should share it again. It definately goes beyond my limit!
Wizards of Winter
Anyone know someone who decorates like that?
April
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
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