Merry Christmas!!

It's been a busy holiday season. November was a big blurr. Writing a novel in one month takes alot out of you and then throwing Thanksgiving, food and family in the mix really tests your commitment. But I did it! : )

My goal for the coming year is to get all these stories in tip top condition and send them out. Can't get them published if they never make it into the hands of those who can make my dream come true. I know rejections are a part of the process so I'll be getting a thicker skin and take each for what they are. Opinions. Take what I can to make the story better and let the other stuff go. I think that's the hardest part. Letting it go.

Wishing you many Blessings and Wonderful Memories!!

NanoWriMo

Deep into my story for NanoWriMo. Only stopping for a second to write something other than this story I "will" finish before the end of November comes around. There. Now I've made a commitment in writing. Gotta finish now! : )

Still editing and revising with my critique partners as well. I never thought I'd ever be this busy writing. Wow! I'm loving every minute.

Back to work!

Finished!

At last, the Fast Draft story is finished. I have a beginning, middle and end. Now to let it sit and work on other projects for a while. Then I'll go back and edit, revise and add. The writing is the easy part. It's all the hard work afterward to make the story the best it can be that brings out all the sweat and tears.

I'm about half way through getting the first book critiqued. I've learned so much since writing that first manuscript. It's really exciting to see how my craft has improved over the years. You've got to keep writing to get better. I can see that fact so clearly now.

And Nano starts November 1. So I'm plotting out the book on paper this time. Trying to make it easier for myself to stay on track. We'll see what happens. : )

Friday at last. These weeks seem to drag. At least for me. And I still don't get as much done as I'd like to. Organization! That's what I need. Maybe someday I'll come up with a schedule that works. Right now too many things pop up out of the blue on a daily basis to make and stick to one. I know, I know, my life would be so much easier. : )

Working to find the time to finish WIP and revising everyday. But no new pages. And that really bums me out. :( NaNoWriMo will start Nov. 1. So I need to be finished to focus all my creativity on something brand new for a whole month!

Time Gets Away!

September came and went and I'm still trying to figure out where all my time was spent. : ) Kids can sure keep you busy.

Still working on revisions with my critique partners, finishing up the story I started in Fast Draft, and getting ready to take the NaNo WriMo Challenge. A book in a month shouldn't be that hard after Fast Draft, right? 7 pages a day for 30 days should do it. Getting all my research sorted out so I can just focus on the writing.

As soon as I finish up with revisions it'll be Agent Query time. Yikes!

Yeah for Critique Partners!!

I'm on cloud nine! Critique partners are treasures. If you don't have one, you need to search high and low and never quit until you find one. I've had such a productive week and it's all due to the fabulous ladies I've started sharing work with. It's scary at first. But it is amazing how each one of us is rooting for everyone else. It's a team! Yeah team! Go! Fight! Win!

I've revised three chapters on the very first book I ever wrote and find myself falling in love with the story all over again. I'm still working to finish my fast draft WIP, and polishing up the book for the Linda Howard contest. I've never written so much in my entire life. You'd think I'd be tired, or crazy by now, but it's an energy booster like no other. One I hope never ends. : )

Getting Back into a Routine

It's the second week of school and things are getting back to normal. I've been writing everyday and the story is progressing nicely. Still have no idea about the ending. But that's the way I like it. I' write by the seat of my pants. No plotting, no research, no detailed character sketches. I tend to write everything as I go, learning about my characters in the process. It leaves quite a bit more work in revisions, but if I do all the details first it slows the story down. Sometimes to a dead stop.

Today was also my first day with a new critique group. I'm excited to get other opinions, and improve in my craft. With this one and the great ladies I met during fast draft I'm really being held accountable. And its GREAT!

Day Three!

Kids have been in school now for three whole days. They all like their teachers and are enjoying it so far. That will change the minute homework jumps into the mix.

Writing is going well. Not reaching the ten a day, but I am getting words down on paper every single day and that is a huge accomplishment for me. I'm continuing with my fast draft buddies to finish this book and then we will be ready for revisions. So much fun. But it's all a part of the process.

Back to work!

When It Rains, It Pours!

Well the weekend went every way except the way I planned. I didn't make my 200 pages and I'm bummed about it, but I do have 130 new pages. So I'll stop beating myself up over it around lunch. Then I'll sit down and get busy to reach the 200 and then some. I'm shooting for 10 pages a day. Should be easier with the kids now back in school. It's so quiet around here. I miss them already. :(

I know. I'm crazy!
:)

Fast draft is coming to an end. And I couldn't be happier. I'm shooting for 200 pages and I'm almost there with two days to go. It's amazing what happens when I actually keep my behind in the chair and write. Have no idea why I still find so many other things to do instead. I mean, I hate cleaning house, bathing the dog, organizing closets, etc. : )

August has turned out to be a productive month after all. I'll be sending the first chapter from one of my completed manuscripts to the Linda Howard Award of Excellence Contest. So keep your fingers crossed. And I have a brand new story to start editing and revising. All this and I still managed to get the kids ready for school on Monday. Whew!

I Made It!

I did it! I've completed the first week of fast draft. I now have 76 brand new pages! Yeah! It is so exciting. And not only that, but I've met some more great writers in the process. I can't believe I tried to write for so long on my own. It's really encouraging to find others out there just like me who are struggling through the same things. The need to write, the resistance you go through to write, the disappointment in rejection, the finding time to write, and the joys of people wanting to read more. The last making it all worth while. : )

I'm so fired up for this week!

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!

It's Friday. My brain is numb. My fingers ache. I spilled coffee on my keyboard. (But it was the dog's fault, not mine) The rain won't stop, and now we might be in the path of a hurricane. Gee! It's a conspiracy! I make a commitment to write and the whole universe spins out of control. But I'm not stopping till Fast Draft is done and I have my manuscript ready. Well, ready for revisions. Then the real fun starts. NOT!



Tired, frustrated, but pushing on!

Wednesday?

I think that's right. Where have all the summer days gone? The kids will start school soon and the house will return to normal. At least our view of normal . :)

I'm moving right along with Fast Draft. Fourteen unedited pages yesterday. That's pretty good considering I had to stop and play referee at least ten times. One of my Fast Draft Buddies recommended putting the "Red Paper of Death" on my door. Stop-No Blood-No Fire-No Entry! Thanks Theresa!! Works like a charm.

Off to work now!

Setting Up Is Hard to Do

If only I was computer literate. This stuff drives me nuts! And takes up the time I should be writing. I'm told the more I try the faster I'll get and the more I'll like it. We'll see about that.

Started fast draft yesterday. I set my goal for ten pages a day and actually wrote twelve. So I'm excited! But today is a different story. This blog is the most I've written and it doesn't count! Bummer! After lunch, I'm not moving until I get my ten pages! Kids beware. Mommy means business!! : )

New Blog?

Ahh! I'm still trying to figure this out. What a mess. Hang in there. I'll eventually figure it out. :)