#blogitjuly Tell Us A Story

I'm going to cheat for this episode of Blog It July...I'm just going to tell you the start of a story.

Mr. Smyth had the job of driving me to my new school and residence. My foster parents said I should feel lucky, not about Mr. Smyth, with his rickety oldhorse cart, but about the opportunity to attend this school. I felt anything but lucky at this moment, as I clutched the invitation – sweat and fear ruining it for any keepsake – and wondered, for the hundredth time, why they would want me.

We left behind a bustling thoroughfare and turned onto a desolate lane. Mr. Smyth slowed the horse to a stop at the only drive I saw, an enormous wrought iron gate barring the way.

I considered this closed gate and looked back at the equally closed Mr. Smyth, he nearly smiled, but instead reached behind the bench, grabbed my bag and heaved it. I watched its graceful arc and hard landing at the gates. A good aim, that Mr. Smyth, I thought as I continued to sit and fidget with my skirts and invitation.

            “Well…” he said. “What are you waiting for, a hand down? Get off girl.”

            “It does not look as if anyone’s expecting me,” I craned my head and looked down the long drive and then back at Mr. Smyth.

            He raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Has anyone ever expected the likes of you?”

            Oh. I thought not. An examination of my own life never led to good. “Thank you for,” the right word eluded me, “escorting me, Mr. Smyth—” he interrupted with a guffaw. “I’ll be going now.” I hazarded a smile, he did not reciprocate.

            Lifting my skirts, I hopped down from the cart. Mr. Smyth did not wait to see if I could get in the gates, he barely looked to see if I landed.

            Beyond the gate and down the drive was an imposing stone structure – some might call it a mansion if they didn’t know its purpose. Or name. Not that either was advertised:

            Miss Carmella’s School for Exceptional Girls and Above Average Boys

            That much I did know. I searched the gate for a bell, or lever, or even small hidden doorway, finding none of those things, I resigned myself to simply waiting, something that could be considered almost a luxury at the Theatre. Then the rain began.

This is (possibly) the opening to a YA steampunkish/paranormaly romance (yay!):

Goddess In The Mechanica

I'm at a little over 26,000 words, rough, rough, rough draft. There's a cool school, mythological DNA alchemy, a mechanical spider, Airpirates of the Mississippi (!), and a mad scientist. 

#blogitjuly ...WORD

What is your word for the year (a word that keeps popping up, something that you want to work on, something to inspire or direct you…)? Why did you choose it?

My first word (because, I can't have just one) is:

Multipotientalite*

*here's where I learned the most about it But after I first read it, I saw it in lots of other places, blogs, tweets etc. The funny thing is I was always worried that I had too many passions.

writing

making jewelry

making crafts

sewing

(If I owned a cool camera, photography would probably be in there as well.)

And then I heard (through Heather Wambach ) the word:

Possibilitarian

*ding*ding*ding*

A most beautiful word! Every time I see it or say it I want to turn into a fairy godmother and burst into song:

 skip to the 5 minute mark!

Possibilitarian makes me all tingly and anticipatory and expectational. Greatly Expectational.

I think I'm starting to work toward this idea of possible things, just the fact that I'm a part of Blog It July is huge--huge, I tell you. I have "put myself out there" more times this year by creating jewelry and crafts and giving them to people and by submitting fiction (and getting some great rejections!). Next up, accomplishment aprons!

Now, all I need is a kick-ass camera and I'll be golden.

What's your word?

 

 

 

 

 

Blog it July! What do you want to be remembered for?

My husband talks about this a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. He seems to be concerned that he'll never be a James Taylor, remembered for iconic music or an Albert Einstein remembered for genius and beauty--and even though he talks about it (a lot) I never really thought about it specifically. And I guess, when I think of being remembered, I think of my family and friends.

How would they remember me?

This is what I care about. What do I want to be remembered for by the people who matter most to me?

I want to be remembered for being the best me I could be. For laughing too loud and making other people laugh too loud. For not succumbing to suffering when faced with immeasurable sadness. For loving life. For having style (whether I do or not, I want people to remember me for that), for listening, for loving them.



Now, if I were to consider people I don't know, well, I'd like to be remembered for writing a heartbreaking work of staggering genius, wait...no, that's not right, there is no staggering genius dying to be let out of my noggin. And I don't actually write heartbreaking anything.

There is, however, some paranormalish teen romantical stuff that likes to come out to play. So, you know, it might be cool to be remembered for writing pretty darn okay books...that were made into kick-ass movies, that made people laugh and made me incredibly rich.

Okay. My dream after (or while) writing pretty darn okay books is to develop some kind of art space(s) for at risk kids and young adults--a safe place to come together, create art whether that's painting, poetry, photography, mixed media, quilting, handcrafting--anything. A place to create and heal. That would be cool to accomplish (and be remembered for).

And I think my family and friends would agree.

Apparently, I lied. I guess I have thought about this!

So...what about you, what do you want to be remembered for?

Here's a link to the creator/dreamer-upper of Blog It July, Heather Wambach at Write.Sew.Drink.Repeat



  

A Check-in With my Brain (ROW80)

What I don’t know (a sampling)

I don’t know How many angels can dance on my pin head

I don’t know what “easy as pie” means. Does it mean, as easy as making pie? Because, that is not easy—unless you cheat and buy a frozen crust and canned fruit filling.

Now, eating pie? That is easy. Maybe the saying should be:

Easy as eating pie.

I don’t know how to let the bright shiny things be. Just let them be!

I don’t know how to express my love for and stupidity about Quantum Physics and String Theory including other universes

I don’t know where the show “Firefly” could have gone if not cancelled. OKAY, they gave me “Serenity” but, come-on!

What I do know (a sampling)

I do know when I write, I write, which in turn makes me write more.

I do know every time I send something out I am braver and braver (also willing to take more risks—because they’re really not risks since I’m not published yet!)

I do know when I feel a part of a community and with some healthy competition I write more.

I do know that I can write whatever the hell I want and if I want to write a Steampunked mythological zombie-fied automaton novel of revenge, I fricken can! Or, you know, a romance is good too.

Row 80 Check-in, Late Again!

I blew right past last Sunday's check-in and now I'm late for Wednesday's.

Clearly, something's wrong. With me. ::sigh::

I was doing pretty good through Sunday too, really should have posted on a high note.
Last week, I did get three hours butt in chair--with some good advancement in the editing/rewriting.
Then, kaplouey!!!

I'm changing my goals...again. 

There's a part of me that is so disappointed in myself, for not rocking this last goal, for changing my goals again, for so many things... luckily, there is a louder, bossier part of me that says, "who gives a rat's ass? Do, what you have to do. And if that means changing your flipping goal every check-in, so be it!"

Without further ado, my new and improved goals:
Writing:
(Got this from Chuck Wendig's terrible minds kick butt blog)
Edit 5 pages a day
If writing is needed--added scene, expand a scene, write 350 words a day

Exercise:
Minimum of 22 minutes a day of one of the following:
Brisk walk
Run
Ice Skate
Stationary bike
Yoga
Pilates

Here I go again...I'm off to check on all of you.

The Lost Check-In

Holy lost check-in Batman! I completely forgot to post (or check-in with other ROWers) on Sunday!

What is up with that?

I don’t know.

Last check-in I decided I needed to change, re-word and re-imagine my goals. Here’s what I came up with:

BUTT IN CHAIR THREE HOURS A WEEK

Not on Facebook, not on Twitter, not on Pinterest

Working on manuscript—some manuscript lurve

I did get some work done this past week, got a couple scenes fleshed out, but I know I can do more. If I just stay in my chair.

Hope everyone had a more productive week than I did! Tell me about it.

Hello Wednesday!

Well now it's Thursday...nearly Friday!

Okay.
Wrote three more pages so far this week. Think I have to re-write my goals, I'm making that one of my goals for the rest of this week: rewrite goals!

That. Is about it.

Except

I'm in the middle of another change. At the beginning of last year I had a huge change--I was promoted and moved to a new library. Writing it makes it sound insignificant, but it wasn't. I had been at my old library for 15 years, I had connections with the patrons and the staff was my family.

Now I've made new connections and I love my "new" library...so, of course, I am gearing up for another change. I've been asked to supervise (circulation staff) two smaller libraries (I co-supervise at a large library right now). So, now two more libraries to get to know, staff and patrons alike.

I am bittersweet. It feels as if I have just found my land legs and now it's back to sea. But I am always up for a challenge and I know how lucky I am to have work--especially work I enjoy. I hope to be able to focus on writing again. Soon.

How's everyone else doing?

ROUND & ROUND & ROUND OF WORDS

Hi Rowers!

A (short) List of Awesome:
Made dinner with youngest, in which a bacon weave was involved!

Filmed dog and youngest in popcorn catching contest!

Goals:
Having a weird time, pulling the proverbial teeth to get anything written. I have a you-know-what storm of happening right now, but I don't think that's it.

I was thinking about this as I folded some laundry--some good ideas can come whilst folding boxers--my characters came to mind and how they might feel about me NOT writing.

Which is when I started asking them questions...
Look, I know that sounds flaky, but it happened, and I went with it.

Here's what they said:
Me: So...what are you guys doing?
Van: What are we doing? What are you doing? Seems like a whole lot of nothing.
Eva: That's harsh. You don't have to be mean Van. Although, he kind of has a point.
Me: Okay, okay I know what you mean. I can't seem to get back in the story.
Eva: What helped you before?
Van: I hope it was the sex.
Eva: Oh, you!
Me: He's kind of right, when I made the big push to finish a lot of it was sex.
Van: Yes!
Me: But I think more than anything I love the banter.
Eva: Yes, I love it too. Never thought I was one for bantering, but he just brings it out in me.
Van: Really, I'd never guess.
Eva: There you have it, and that's why I have to say it to her.
Van: Touche.
Me: Ha! Okay, maybe I can do this now.
Van: Well, I hope so, I really want to get back to the...banter.
Eva: Hahaha...me too!

And then I wrote, now this was pretty late, and I only wrote one page, but it was one page that wasn't written before!

I realized how much I miss these characters, and I want to make their story as rich as I can. So, I'm doing it for them. 

18 THINGS (You Should Know About Writing)

Addensum: Hi ROWers! My check-in is after Jamie's great post

I am so happy to have Jamie Ayres here today with her fabulous self talking about 18 Things...you should know about writing, to coincide with her 18 Things YA book release! And now, here she is:

18 Things

You Should Know About Writing

1.      Agents/Editors say give us the stakes first. The Hunger Games is a great example. *Spoiler Alert* Prim gets picked at the reaping, Katniss takes her place. The author doesn't start at the moment her name gets called. It starts the day of the reaping so we have a few pages to get familiar with Katniss, know what the Hunger Games are, know the odds of her getting picked and how she protected her sister so Prim’s name is only in the drawing once. This makes the moment when Prim’s name gets called even more powerful, in a way it wouldn't have if we didn't know the circumstances leading up to that event.

2.      Create characters that are interesting, though they don’t need to be likable  They should be compelling and inspire the reader to want to read more. The hero/heroine should be identifiable from secondary characters. Secondary characters shouldn’t take over the story.

3.      Know your characters. Do they have any quirks? Words they use too much? Imagine their personalities and spread their voice throughout the whole thing, so it’s really them when they ‘speak.’ Use a plotting table to help you organize your characters and their scenes, here's one in this post!

4.      Dialogue should always serve a purpose. Every quote should move the story along, show character, or share new information. Also, be a conversationalist. Noah Lukeman, author of The First Five Pages, states: “The most common malady is use of dialogue to convey backstory. The solution is to follow this rule: Dialogue should not be used to state things both characters already know, that is, one character should not remind the other character of something. It is an obvious ploy, intended only for the reader.” (page 94) In summary, no dialogue information dumps!

5.      Avoid dialogue tags. Always avoid things like responded, assessed, confirmed, and whatever else there is. He said/she said. Those tags disappear in the prose and make writing flow.

6.      Know the difference between beats and tags. Tags are said, asked, etc  Beats are actions identifying the speaker without needing to use a tag. With tags, you want to keep it simple. Use said most of the time, unless you want to show something in the voice or tone, but even then, use it carefully. Things like smile shouldn't be used as a tag. You can’t smile a word. Actions like smiling, sighing, pacing, are beats. Here’s the difference: “I love you,” she said. TAG. She looked down and sighed. “I love you.” BEAT. When using a beat, there’s no need to use a tag. Pick one.

7.      Avoid impossible simultaneous actions: Closing the door, she hugged him. As written, this is impossible. If she’s closing the door, she can’t hug someone at the same time. In that use, use either “and” or “then.”

8.      SNT (Show, Not Tell). Think of Twilight. We are in Bella’s head, LIVING each moment as she experiences it. The action is ACTIVE, not passive. Many writers make the mistake of telling the story rather than showing it. This happened, then this happened, then this happened. Find all the was/had/have/were and delete them to avoid passive sentences. Ex: He was walking. Change to: He jogged/strolled/paced/ambled.

9.      Each scene needs a beginning, middle, and end. It needs a purpose, it needs to do more than establish tension, and it needs some sort of resolution. It really should end on a hook that makes the reader want to read more. Don’t just blend scenes together with time passing in between, with no clear purpose or impact. Show the character’s journey, their pain, and their triumph. Make them as memorable as can be.

10.  In Techniques of the Selling Writer, writing guru Dwight V. Swain teaches us to spotlight three things: desire, danger, decision. Someone wants to attain or retain something. Something else threatens his chances of doing so. He decides to fight the threat. The thing Character wants, the danger threatening fulfillment of his desires, and the decision he makes, determine what specific readers will enjoy the story. You have to give your reader a reason to worry.

11.  Don’t take on too many things in one novel. If there’s too many storylines and minor storylines, it could cause the main story to not be developed fully. The beauty of fictional novels is you can always have sequels!

12.  Write with all the senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. The Bookshelf Muse is a great resource for this!

13.  Use Adjectives sparingly. Especially avoid redundant modifiers: small puppies, yellow daffodils, cheerful smiles. Instead, choose adjectives that are unique and add comprehension.

14.  Avoid adverbs. Constance Hale notes in her book, Sin and Syntax, “Adverbs are crashers in the syntax house party. More often than not, they should be deleted when they sneak in the back door.”Most over-used adverb intensifiers: absolutely, definitely, particularly, actually, basically, decidedly, quite, very, really, totally, madly, dearly, utterly, absolutely, completely, mainly, usually, too.

15.  Avoid the Preach ‘N’ Teach mentality. People read fiction as an escape, so don’t try to shove a lesson down their throats.

16.  Do a Find on the word ‘that’ in your manuscript and remove any unnecessary usage. Read the sentence without ‘that’ and if it still makes sense, delete ‘that.’’

17.  Don’t head-hop. Stay in one character’s POV (point of view) within a scene. Also, make sure you use only information the narrator can know.

18.  Don’t bog your story down with backstory/flashbacks, which are often frowned upon. The main problem with backstory/flashbacks is there isn't a lot of action. They’re fine for a change of pace, but they shouldn't be the vehicle for the entire novel.

*What about you? Is there anything else I should’ve included in my list of 18 Things? Keep in mind agents/editors get HUNDREDS, yes, hundreds of queries every week. Your work can’t be good. It needs to be flippin’ fantastic to stand out. The competition is fierce, and there is no room for error.

Okay, enough said. Feel free to throw darts at my image now out of frustration (believe me, been there, done that, still not through learning yet).

Hope we can still be friendsJ

~Jamie Ayres 

 Jamie Ayres writes young adult paranormal love stories by night and teaches young adults as a public school teacher by day. She lives in southwest Florida with her husband and two daughters. 18 Things is her debut novel. Visit her website at www.jamieayres.com.

18 Things is available here:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Add 18 Things to your TBR list!

Goodreads

ROW80 check-in:
List of Awesome
Jamie Ayres doing a guest post here!
My youngest turned 14
I've finally cracked the no research thing and have some cool stuff
Well into writing (yes, I know, starting isn't completing) the next big scene that's missing.
Short check-in. Hope everyone is doing Awesome!

Sunday, Sunday... or Monday

Quick and dirty...and, um, late check-in.

Finally started to do some research, yay!
Did not write a new scene, boo!
Sponsorship, yay!
Life balance/order, yay-ish! This is not so cut and dry--have some soul-searching on this, but feeling confident.

Have been busy getting a guest post together from the lovely and talented Jamie Ayres

Her new YA 18 Things is released and we're celebrating! She'll be here tomorrow Tuesday February, 5th! With a cool 18 Things You Should Know as a Writer post. Check it out tomorrow!

Off to check-up on how you all are doing!

What Just Happened?

So, if my goals had been to get my house sparkling and organized, groceries bought, some meals made and in the freezer and every bit of laundry done, I would have nailed them.

Yay! For my house and family
Boo...For my writing.

And, even though those things needed to be done, preeeetty sure it was resistance nudging me to do them. I was too busy to write, couldn't possibly sit down for a second, I had things to do!

Important things.
Things that have nothing to do with my dreams.

Well, that's not fair to my family. I love having a welcoming home, home-cooked meals (most of which are prepared by my husband) and organized closets--and I love doing these things for and with my family.

I also like being a well rounded, well read,  creative doer. And that's for my family too.
Because, if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

I'm recommitting to my goals (re-wording them as well).

• write one new scene a week
• research one item a week (from list for WIP)

That's it. For writing. I have some other goals for other creative endeavors, but these will come first.

Hope everyone else is having a productive ROW!

CONTROL? I DON'T NEED NO STINKING CONTROL

There is a moment of clarity as your car careens sideways across a street that is now a skating rink, right before it jack-rabbits up the curb scooping out snow and packing it in around itself:

Huh, you say to your brain, I have no control!

The next thought is...well, maybe we'll leave that one alone. Suffice it to say, no one was hurt, I met a lovely woman (whose yard my car landed in), I was not the first car in her back yard...nor the last, I had a nice chat (really!) with a city salt/plow driver, he was kind enough to take three passes with the salt truck on that crazy iced-up curve, and I got to stay in my car as the tow truck driver winched my car out and then dragged it out--it was fun. Really.

Life is like this.

And sometimes writing feels this way too. Which isn't altogether a bad thing. When we take our feet off the brakes of our imagination, brainstorms, first draft or fifth, we can end up in unexpected places!

Now, on to my check-in for ROW 80 

First basic pass on manuscript: complete 

Had to add this next step: 

Second pass, making extensive notes in notebook--which big scenes need to be added, what new research is needed, where to really deepen POV: more than halfway

What I'm loving the most about this process (a process I put off and off and off because I didn't know how to start) is I'm finally seeing the book and how it will/could look. I've been writing this book forever--constantly setting it in a corner for unruly behavior and then picking it back up again a year later. I love it that now I can see its potential.

Can't wait to see how everyone else is doing...

BAD ASS...NO, SERIOUSLY

This blog (and writer) have been many things, okay, maybe not many but certainly a few things. None of which were any one thing -- you know what I'm talking about?

Jack of all trades master of fricken none. Dang.

So, I had a mini epiphany, and believe me when I tell you, I know -- I've had them before. And, again with the dang. I don't feel confident to give writing advice, sheesh! I stumble upon most things that work for me. I'm not always up on cool blog posts, I get behind. My life can be sort of interesting, if you're me. Which you aren't.

What I can do -- I think -- is find really awesome books, books for research, maybe even books for writing. Very cool books come across the service/circulation desk at ye old library, from whence I receive my paycheck. And I want to share those with you. They might not even be books that I would need for research. They might be awesome books on...covert ops for the CIA, or wine making, or Inventing the Century...right? Right? And if I happen to find a cool website or, you know, real life site, I'll share that too.

So, I'll start off with two books that go together, because they were written by the same person! And are ridiculously entertaining and educational. Warning: really foul (hysterical) language.

The first is: BADASS. I love history (not so much when I was in school, but now I do) I especially love history that is written without the goal of putting me to sleep! So, not only is this a book on pretty wild historical figures, it's written in such a smack in your face, laugh your ass off way that you can't help but want to keep reading.

The second Ben Thompson book is: BADASS The Birth of a Legend. This book, written in the same way, is about...you guessed it Legends. From mythology to literature, From the Mighty Thor to Professor Moriarty to Captain James T. Kirk. Serious awesomeness.

Check out these books -- if for no other reason than entertainment (but you will learn something, I promise!)

Got research? Tell me about it, what and how, I'd really love to know!

ROW80/Red Door(!) Check-In

Aack, I'm late! Probably because I did a dismal job on my writing goals:
1,417 words added. I guess it's not horrible...not horrible is okay.

Still reading both craft books.

Finished painting the entire back of the house -- porch and everything. At one point I was almost in tears -- transitioning from high ladder to porch roof...gah! I don't mind the roof, especially ours, with a nice little pitch -- I was on a high ladder all day and I think my adrenaline got the better of me.

Extra added bonus of a shiny newly painted door -- red! I have always always always wanted a red front door.

But nothing else is painted on the front of the house yet.

I go back to work tomorrow, plan on stocking-up on all the research books I need. Which gets me more excited than I can tell you.

How's everyone else doing?

VIVA LE RESISTANCE! Er, PERSISTENCE! Yeah, that's right..

So a group of us are starting a Fast Draft session starting... Now! Jenny Hansen started the ball rolling and I am 100% committed to this thing. Just as soon as I can fight through all this underhanded sneaky resistance. I am home sick, like, can't talk sick, tired, sore throat, coughing sick. I could have been lounging all morning writing, but I noticed the dog had dropped clumps-o-hair, so I vacuumed.

Then I realized dirty baseball uniforms

needed to be washed...along with towels and unmentionables etc., etc., etc.

Now, I'm exhausted, and I can hear "resistance" chuckling. Chuckling I tell you. So, I thought I'd write about the damn thing and hopefully exorcise it: Out evil editor and saboteur and maker of doing dreaded housework, when I could totally get away with doing none! BE GONE! No really.

Steven Pressfield wrote a book to save us all, called: The War of Art

I know, in your brain, you're going, no she's wrong, it's called The Art of War, and was written like a bajillion years ago. Yes, but Steven Pressfield has made a lovely play on words with his title and a valid point:

Sometimes producing art feels like war.

Only in that you have to battle yourself and your well-meaning -- or not so much so -- loved ones.

So, if you've never done Candace Havens' Fast Draft or even heard about it. Check it out. Plus, read The War of Art, it will change something inside of you -- but the trick is to keep the change.

I think I've tucked-in resistance for a nap, and I'm off to write.

How does resistance rear its bulbous head in your life, and can you beat it into submission? Tell me how you do it.

MY "GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT" *

* I first heard this term from Jennifer Cruise, a long time ago, but here's a cool video current video link


So this has to do with my personal "girls" in the basement, the subconscious trio of story idea mongers -- I can see them and I want to share them with you:

None of which are what I see in my mind, but they come close

The top pic is clearly the bad-ass, I am not a bad-ass, yet, sometimes I wish I were, also, my writing NEEDS a bad-ass, to get things done, no matter the cost. Also someone to blow things up. She likes it when things blow-up.

The second pic is the thinker, she too helps in getting things done, she views the carnage of things gone horribly wrong...and figures out how to move the story forward in between "things getting worse-er."

The third is my dreamer, listening to her own voices and taking leaps of faith and coming up with implausible plots in story-land. Preferably without explosions.

When I stay out of their way, cool type things happen, the story moves forward, things explode, surprises are revealed, characters pop up -- the Master of Swords? Who the hell is this and what does she do? She?... See what I mean?

My foible is refusing to give up total control. I over-think to the point of Not Writing Anything.

Nothing.

If I could get out of my own way and let the girls rule for even a tiny bit, I think I could get so much more written.

I took Candace Havens Fast Draft workshop a few years ago... I have never, ever, everer, written so much in so little time as then. Why didn't I continue to use it? It scared me. No control, I mean things, words, sentences, plot twists came out of my fingertips (certainly not my brain) from nowhere. It was scary.

Which is why I need to try doing it that way again. Just let the girls drive.

What stops you from getting things done? And who are your girls?

WHY PAINTING IS LIKE WRITING, PLUS ROW80

It sounds like the start of a bad joke:
Why is painting a room like writing a book?
I don't know, why is painting a room like writing a book?

 I hope you weren't waiting for a punch line -- I'm fresh out of punch lines, too tired from painting.

Okay, okay.

WRITING A BOOK      

What should I write?
Idea!
PREPARE
Research/Brainstorm
GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Notebook, notecards, sticky notes, whiteboard, pens, computer
WRITE
Halfway through your idea changes
Suddenly in a tight corner -- how do you write out of this?
Move things around
Want it done so badly, it's all you do in your spare time
First pass -- done!
Needs fixing
Re-write
Think you're done, until someone else looks at it!
Fix the misses
Done! Still, it never matches what you first envisioned

PAINTING A BIG ROOM


What should I paint?
Chose colors
PREPARE
Tape baseboards, remove wall plates
GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Paint, brushes, tape, rollers, ladder, screwdriver, hammer, cloth, newspaper
PAINT
Halfway through, you realize you have to paint the room 2 different colors
Suddenly in a tight corner -- how do you paint behind the weight machine?
Move things around
Want it done so badly, it's all you do in your spare time
First coat, in certain lights it looks done
Needs second coat
Think you're done until your husband comes in w/ the mega light
Fix the mixes
Done! Hey, it looks better than what you thought it would.

So, here's what I learned. It does eventually get done. If you have the right tools, it's a hell of a lot easier. If you prepare, it goes so much faster (sure it's a pain, but worth it in the long run). It feels damn goodly to be done.

So, yesterday, I loaded Pages on to my iPad -- it's easier to bring to work than the laptop -- I can bring it anywhere. That's part of the right tools. I'm concentrating on the re-write right now. that's part of needs fixing. Plus, the whole thing just made me excited.

That's it -- sort of a check-in.
How are you doing?

She Shoots...She Scores! Goooooaaaaaallll!

Wishin' and hopin' and dreamin'...are all good things, but I need something concrete and apparently with an end date attached, and schedules maintained and some kind of measurable GOAL.

Yes, it's that time again, the start of a new round of words in 80 days -- ROW80! Click on the pretty ROW80 pic at top of page and you can find out all you want to know about this fabulous group.

It always feels so good to start fresh, cleansed of all my writerly sins, like: sloth and...sloth.
So this round I'm setting my goals a little differently. Stop your snickering, I am.

Working on two (2, count 'em) manuscripts. The first one is a complete -- ahem -- YA paranormal, BETWIXT, that needs a complete re-write. The other, my YA paranormal historical steampunkish...thing, GODDESS IN THE MECHANICA -- this one still needs some brainstorming and outlining and, you know, the writing of the frakish thing. Parts are written, I just need to understand more of it.

Okay.
Sundays   Anything goes -- if I get stuff done, it's a bonus.
Mondays 8 a.m. edit BETWIXT for 1 hour.
Mondays 9 a.m. brainstorm/outline GODDESS for 1 hour
Tuesdays Lunch break toss-up: either edit or write
Wednesdays Lunch break catch-up on other ROW80ers
Thursdays 8 a.m. edit BETWIXT for 1 hour
Fridays (every other) 9 a.m. brainstorm/outline GODDESS for 1 hour
Saturdays  Anything goes...

Also, weekly:
Ride stationary bike 3x
Write one blog post beside ROW80 posts
Write one blog post for new venture w/ mom and sister: Those Kennedy Women!

I have never been this specific before...let's hope it works for me!
What's gonna work for you this go a round?

FIN.

Not really, just for this ROW80!

How did I do?
Not really sure, had lots of poofy dogs, lots of life and lots of doubts.

However, I have a new understanding of my WIP and what I need to do, and, more importantly, how to do it.
I also realized how to fix a finished manuscript. Figured out what was missing, like, a plot, motvation and mythology.

I was going to take next round off and then I thought, why? Where would I get my motivation, my pats on the back, or my kick in the arse? Right here dummy. At ROW80.

So, I'll see you next round!

Slackerdom...

1. Sung to Silverbells:
   
   Slackerdom….slackerdom, it’s ROW80s push to the last week…bumbumbum. You’re a bum…Such a bum, can’t even write a damn page.
   I was going to go on, but I’m slacking and just don’t feel like it…
   
   I just posted this as a comment over at Jenny Hansen's blog More Cowbell and I realized it summed up my feelings, plus I thought it clever...for a slacker.
   
   I have done some things.
   I wrote 2 pages of new material for my WIP.
   AND started a haphazard outline -- pure slackering.
   
   Yet, I've continued to hold down my full time job and decorate and part-ay. AND Christmas shop. Whoo!
   
   So...how's everyone else doing?