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Well, as promised, I'm going to blog today about other goals/dreams for 2009, besides my writing.
One thing off the top is to get back to doing my exercise on my Tony Little Gazelle. I did it for 3 or 4 months midway through the year, but after that, I slacked off. I'm disappointed in myself that I quit, but it seemed I lost sight of that when the kids started school and things got busy and hectic.
So exercise- big on the list of priorities for this coming year.
Taking care of my health is another thing. Dental work would probably be high on the list, too. My teeth are in bad shape and I know that can lead to severe health problems if I don't get it taken care of, so I'm going to look into having them taken care of sometime this year.
Decluttering my home- The place is a mess and needs a good overhaul on clearing the junk and only keeping the things that are necessary or wanted. My spare bedroom is jam packed with stuff- some of it old and wore out, like my old stereo. I'm sure the speakers would still work on another stereo component, but the radio/cassette and cd player is kapoot- there's old shelves and clothes the kids have outgrown, which I'm planning to give away anyhow. My stepson's clothes will go to my step-FIL's neice for her boys. My daughter's clothes will have to wait till I can make a trip up to Lawrenceburg to give them to one of my friends for her youngest daughter.
The bedroom and my closet could also use a good decluttering. I need to go through my clothes and pack away any blouses I don't wear or haven't worn in a while. No need for it to be taking up space if I haven't and probably won't wear it this next year. Besides, if I clear that out I might be able to make room in my closet for the boxes of stuff that's scattered around the bedroom! LOL
Truth is, like I said, the entire house needs a good cleaning and as soon as I take down my holiday decorations I'll probably give it all a good straightening up.
Of course, my family is also a priority and so that's another goal for the year- Spending quality time with my family. That includes going back to my hometown for a visit during spring break when the kids are out from school. I've got a big girl who'll be graduating kindergarten this spring and my boy will be moving on up from 4th grade.
I'm thankful that my aunt who has brain cancer is coming up on her 5th anniversary- a survivor. My other aunt had lung cancer, but with chemo and radiation, she's gotten a clean bill of health. My uncle, who has rectal cancer is still hanging in there and doing better since he got a colostomy bag, which has improved his eating habits so he doesn't get sick and makes he feel a little bit better.
My hubby had a close call this year and almost wound up with pneumonia again, but is doing much better and we've all been sick, so I'm hoping for a healthier year to come as well, for all of us.
I guess there's not much else to say though. I have a full plate of things I'm hoping for in 2009 as I'm sure everyone else is....so here's hoping the "dish" ends up being enjoyable for all.
Happy New Year Everyone! See you in '09!!!
That was the remark I made on my blog last year about what I expected out of this year as far as my writing was concerned. It wasn't necessarily resolutions, cause they just fill me with disappointment in myself if I don't do exactly what I plotted and planned out. No, instead, I will call them my hopes and desires- those hazy, misty dreams that I'm determined to fulfill.
As I had said in my blog last year...I used to do resolutions, but I never kept any of them, so I don't technically "set" resolutions for myself, but prefer to just keep the list "at the heart of the matter" so to speak.
And so- did I accomplish the things I hoped in this past year? Well, I've written 4 novels this year alone and I'm working a 5th one. I did do a lot of edits and revisions on all my stories, but the polishing enough to send any out? No- not this time around.
I researched publishers and agents midway through the year after I finished the fourth novel I had written this year (8th in total) and discovered something I should have known/thought about a bit sooner than before I wrote 8, going on 9 novels. I need to lengthen them a bit more than 50-55K or so. There's only a fair few that accept manuscripts with that kind of word count and I need to make sure I've got enough of a story to leave my options open to submit to other places when I get my first rejections.
So what do I hope to do in 2009?
Finish this 9th novel I started and won with during NaNo and then start doing more revisions, additions of scenes, editing and polishing of all my novels to start this year off. At this point, writing the next novel can be put on hold, even though it's part of my new four book series of which my 9th novel is the first. Perhaps I will give myself the first half of the year to work the revisions and get up my courage to start submitting. After that I could possibly write 2-3 more of the novels I intend to- if I get 3 written, that would finish out the 2nd four book series I plan to write at this time.
Of course, I will also give myself the freedom that, IF one of my unwritten characters starts to talk to me or beg for their story to be told, I will go on and write that novel, when it's ready to be written. It's how I've written most of my novels so far- I am at their beck and call and when the pull is strong enough and the call comes, I have to answer it. I am a slave to the written word.
Of course, I better enjoy this "freedom" to write at will while I can. I don't have any real deadlines, other than those self-imposed, but I know that if and when I do get published, there will be times when I have to multi-task between edits of a soon to be released as well as the current WIP and so on and so forth.
So I'm ready- ready to work through my novels and prep not just my novels, but myself, for the next road in my journey to publication.
Tomorrow I'll post about my other hopes for the year to come, but for now, I think I've rambled on enough. Have a wonderful day!
- My Chicky Chicky Boom:
contemplative
Just found out on Amazon that two of Janet Eaves' other stories from the Ladies of Legend Series- Beauty and the Beast and Harvest Moon, have been released in print as a 2-in-1 book! These two stories, if I'm not mistaken, come right after the Finding Home Anthology, but before the Christmas Anthology. The only one not yet in print is Maddie James' Murder on the Mountain, which I'm also eager to get and comes after Janet's two, but also before the Christmas one-
Though not part of the Ladies of Legend series, but by one of its authors, The Blank Book by Magdalena Scott is also available in print through Amazon as well.
So as not to jam this blog up with links, I would also recommend doing a search on Amazon for Maddie James and Jan Scarbrough's releases, too- Four wonderful writers and lots of stories to choose from!
Night Huntress, the 5th book in the Sisters of the Moon Series by Yasmine Galenorn is coming out January 6th!
I've been keeping up with this series since the beginning and absolutely love all three D'Artigo sisters- Camille, Delilah and Menolly as well as all their friends, family and aquaintances.
Yasmine weaves such a wonderful world that it's as if you have been woven into the sisters' world as well and you are right there- going along on the wild ride as the sisters fight to protect two worlds that mean so much to them from the evil lurking beneath the surface- the things of fairytales and nightmares.
I'm especially looking forward to Night Huntress- Delilah's second book in the series. I've been eagerly anticipating this books release since I finished Dragon Wytch months ago. So much is going on in the story and I just HAVE to know what happens next.
If you love fantasy and adventure, you should definitely check out Night Huntress- Heck- check out the entire series!
I'm still working on my novel, pushing toward "The End." I'm sitting on just over 71K right now, but haven't had time/energy to work on it in the past week and a 1/2. Kids' had birthdays and I haven't felt good at all. Good thing I'm not on a deadline to finish this one.
Just figured I'd check in to see how the NaNo livejournal challenge went and am glad to hear we did well enough for the $1K donation to the Young Writers Program! That's great news.
Congrats to ALL who not only won, but also those who attempted the challenge. There's a lot to be said for even making the effort.
Have a wonderful holiday!
I'm ashamed...but yesterday my thoughts just didn't want to sit still or concentrate on writing. I emailed back and forth with my best friend, checked amazon for gift ideas to tell my MIL about for my hubby- who doesn't really want much of anything and what he does want, I've already ordered for him.
I talked to my mom on the phone and then put out my wooden snowman decoration in the yard, in the rain...along with my solar snowflakes, though they are having to charge before I can turn them on. Hopefully tonight.
It's raining today, so I doubt I'll be putting the rest of the decorations out like I had planned. So, instead, I'm going to try- really try- to get my head back in my novel and get at least 3-4K written today. Hubby is cooking today- cavatini, so I don't have to worry about cooking, so I should be able to get something done.
I've got less than 10K to go now. It would be lovely if I could get in the groove and get to 50K today. Wouldn't that be something?
I do have some laundry that I need to take care of, but I can balance laundry with writing.
Well, I hope everyone has a nice Saturday- if you're getting rain or snow flurries- I hope you're enjoying the day indoors, relaxing and staying warm.
~T
- My Chicky Chicky Boom:
determined - Musical Inclinations:Robin Thicke
9th- 2,517
10th- 4,000
11th- 3,227
12th- 1,804
13th- 2,003
Of course today is the 14th and it's still really early, so I don't have a word count yet. My current total is 39,336, so I'm going to be bouncing over the 40K mark today in no time. I've got just over 10K to make it to the 50K goal. Yay me! My 3rd NaNo win!
Once I'm over the goal, I'll be changing my word count goal to 85K on my progress meter, so I can continue toward the other main goal- finishing my 9th novel in 2 years.
This past week has been up and down for me. I feel like I'm getting somewhere, but at the same time, I feel like my wheels are spinning and spinning and I'm not getting anywhere. Anyway...not much else going on besides writing and taking care of stuff around the house. Hope everyone has a great Friday!
- My Chicky Chicky Boom:
busy
Nearly forgot to post over here! LOL Here's a recap of week one-
NaNo Day 3- I got 4,720 words- new total 11,396
NaNo Day 4- I got 4,008 words written, bringing my total to 15,404
I wasn't sure I would get much written those two days because I was feeling drained(been sick) and I still had both the kids home with me. They drove me up the wall. But I still managed.
NaNo Day 5 was a major bust on the writing front- after cleaning my daughter's room for about 6 hours, and having hubby home not feeling well and fixing supper and watching Bones and Ghost Hunters, I just wasn't up to writing much at all. My head was in a fog. I wrote 628 words before I had to shut it down and go on to bed feeling groggy and sluggish.
I woke up the morning of NaNo Day 6 feeling no better- I could barely wake up and was dozing off as I helped my daughter get dressed for school. Usually the sleepyhead- she kept clapping her hands and making me laugh to keep me awake. She's my little sweetie. The day was a little more productive, but the words were coming as slow and as sluggish as I felt. I had vapor rub on my neck and chest and sipped tea and sucked on a cough drop. It wasn't very conducive to writing, that's for sure, but I did finish out the day with 4,617 words added to the story bringing me up to 20,649 words.
Just why I had to get sick the week before NaNo started I will never understand. It's done a number on my ability to get any writing done even though I am ahead on my word count. Every word, sentence and paragraph comes like I'm bleeding them out, slowly, agonizingly.
I got to enjoy Ugly Betty and Supernatural and got a lot pumped out on the novel front. What a wonderful thing to feel like I got something accomplished.
NaNo Day 7- Slightly less productive- 3,182 words. Got the grocery shopping done in the evening and relaxed. Starting to feel a bit better.
NaNo Day 8- an off day- I wrote 1,954 in the morning before lunch. Brought my total to 25,785 words. A little over halfway to the to goal for NaNo at least. I'm still planning to continue the story after that point though and reset my goal after 50K for 80-85K.
After lunch, hubby was online watching stuff on YouTube for a while, so I didn't complain cause I'm ALWAYS on the computer writing or checking email, etc. Later in the afternoon, after talking to my sister I got a wild hair and decided to take down the fall stuff and clean the shelves where the Christmas Village goes.
Next thing I know, I've dusted the shelves, rearranged them to clear off the bottom two and hung clean curtains along with the pale blue with white snowflakes panel my mom found for the backdrop to the village. Next thing I know, hubby is cutting the "snow" sheets to fit the shelves and I'm hunting village pieces.
I'm about a week ahead of my normal decorating, but I felt like I "needed" the warmth of decorations- that little "umph" that lets me know I'll get to enjoy my decorations instead of throwing them up and pulling them down in no time flat. I'll be able to get back to writing once I've gotten things "squared" away.
After I put my daughter to bed, I put the Christmas tree together while we watched Sweeney Todd. (sounds like an odd combination doesn't it? LOL) I tried to get the tree to fit in the corner a little farther back because this year my stepson is in the room past the tree. Normally the tree nearly blocked the doorway when it was just the spare bedroom, but now that it's his room, I gotta make sure the path is clear for him to get in and out of there so I bent the limbs upward a little to tighten the tree up a bit.
I also put the treetopper and lights on it last night. Today will be to tackle the garland, bows, ornanments and other decorations. I'll probably wait to do the outside lights and decorations till next weekend, but for now the spirit of the season has gotten hold of me. Going to try to get some writing done this morning and then work on decorating some more.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
- Where I Be:Butt in Chair
- My Chicky Chicky Boom: busy
- Musical Inclinations:Robin Thicke
Yesterday- Day Two of NaNo was a splendid day- coughing my head off, sore throat, body aches and pains. Yeah...I'm NaNo'ing sick. I started getting sick last week and it seems to have escalated as the days went on. Seems to me I was sick last year when NaNo began. Lovely...just lovely.
But...the bright and shiny moment came last night when I jotted down my word count for the day. 4,914 words- Grand total so far- 6,676 words. Already into Chapter 3. I'm actually 2 days ahead- even though I felt like crud yesterday and was writing in between laundry and cooking. Dave did the dishes for me though, which was just so sweet.
Have the kids home today. They're watching Bee Movie on HBO. I've got some more laundry to do- but I'm going to get my hiney in this chair and type away!
Have a wonderful day! I'm off to NaNo....
NaNoWriMo is almost upon us.
I keep thinking- How can I still be this excited about NaNo?
This is the 3rd year I'll be participating and I'm still just as antsy and eager and nervous and thrilled as I was the first year I attempted it- thinking I wanted it so badly, but didn't think I could possibly accomplish it in just a month.
And then I did.
And then I did last year, too.
It blows my mind to think that 2 years ago, before NaNo started, I had barely finished my first novel. Since my participation in NaNo, I've written 7 more novels and this will be number 9 I'll be working on during November.
Of course, Halloween is the night before and we're taking the kids trick or treating. My baby girl is going as a cheerleader and stepson is going as Darth Vader. Hubby's going as a zombie and I'm going 80's retro- big hair, bright make-up, funky clothes.
It's sure to be "interesting" to say the least. Much as I don't want to take time away from the start of NaNo- we've got to go grocery shopping Saturday (since our normal grocery day is Friday night, but that's the night of trick or treat) and we're going to drop the kids off with hubby's mom in the afternoon so we can get what little is left of the Christmas shopping done.
Yes- we're ahead on the shopping this year. I've got a lot of stuff ordered on the net, so I'll be having to keep an eye out for all the items arriving over the next few weeks.
I've also gotta straighten my daughter's room and get it organized. My cousin is giving us a twin size bed for her that is in storage at the moment. I've already ordered a brand new Tinkerbell bedset for it and I'm hoping we'll get it before the holidays.
I also have to go through my closet and pull some stuff out that needs to be put in the basement because it's just taking up space in my closet and plus I need to make room to hide presents this year. Last year I used the spare bedroom to hide all the presents- This year my stepson was moved into the spare room and daughter was moved to his old room, so the spare room is right out in the open in the middle of the house. Kinda hard to hide stuff in plain sight.
So, amidst all the stuff I need to get done this weekend, I've also got to fit in time to write. Can I do it? Oh, I'll find a way...No doubt.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday!
- My Chicky Chicky Boom: busy
Well, it's rolling around to that time again. NaNoMania!
Over the past year- I finished the NaNovel I was working on and then wrote a 4 novel series about sisters. They are a bit shy of a decent word count though, so I've got some editing/revising and adding to do to them.
I'm eagerly anticipating NaNo- already ordered my shirt and got it in the mail yesterday. I'm raring to go. Got the novel idea in mind and just itching to get started in just about a week!
This will be my 3rd year doing NaNo and I'm glad I found it when I did. The thrill, the confidence and boost to the ego when I accomplish what I set out to do. It's amazing.
In just 8 days- Let the Nano'ing begin!!!!
Today, 5 years ago, I had my daughter. Of course, five years ago it was a Friday the 13th, but there she was. The light of my life- a piece of me that will live on. Tonight we'll be doing her birthday "party" like we did for Chris a couple of days ago. Grandparents, presents and ice cream cake.
In other news~ I'm officially a member of RWA and KYRW. We also now have a myspace profile for KYRW. See link below.
Kentucky Romance Writers Myspace
I'm still taking in being a member, feeling a bit overwhelmed, but still tickled to be a part of it and have had quite the warm welcome from other members.
Yesterday was the first time in a while that I was able to concentrate my current WIP, 4 that I started during NaNo. I went through about 140 pages..possibly more. I lost track. Right now I'm mostly correcting misplaced words or adding or deleting where I saw editorial mistakes and just trying to get my head back in the story so that I can move forward with finishing it.
I would like to at least get this draft done before the year is over. Not sure whether I can manage that with the holidays coming up, but I'm sure going to work my hardest to complete it. Then it's back to editing and such on all 4 novels after the beginning of the year to polish till they shine and I feel ready to try submitting.
I'll admit, it makes me nervous as can be to imagine doing so. I just hope that I'm also well prepared for a lot of rejections. LOL I like my writing-most the time, but I'm not foolhardy enough to believe I'll be picked up directly.
So...I am off to cross-post this to my other two blogs so I can cut my time online today and get back to doing more editing on my novel. Hope everyone has a lovely Thursday!
- Where I Be:small town somewhere
- My Chicky Chicky Boom: accomplished
- Musical Inclinations:Daughtry
I've been wondering why I've been remiss to work on my novel since I hit 50K in November during NaNo. Today it was like lightning struck me...
While on Petticoats and Pistols reading Stacey Kayne's blog, wherein the discussion centered around what kind of hero we all like, I realized I love the rugged emotionally wounded hero. The general idea of what I said was that to me an emotionally wounded hero's transformation to breaking down the wall around his heart makes him "stronger" in my eyes than the sensitive man who loves wholeheartedly all along because it takes more strength and courage to open up and love after being hurt than to have always loved without misgivings.
Ok, so it's not EXACTLY what I said, but the idea is still there. And that's when it dawned on me....my hero in Haunted Melody- Wes- he's been loving and waiting for Melody to come back all along...always loving her....He's the "sensitive man" who has had it easy in loving her...I need to come up with some turmoil, differences in his character so that this works or it's going fall short of what I want to see and would never make it as a published novel...ever.
As I sit here, I realize I didn't make him strong at all. He's been "weakly" awaiting her return, in hopes that she still loves him just as much. There needs to be more conflict...more of each of them tearing down the walls around their hearts that have kept them apart for years. I don't want him to be a jerk, but he needs to be "less open" to her return, less open to giving his heart to her after she ran off and left him without rhyme or reason.
It didn't occur to me that Wes was such a weak character. I will definitely have to take action about that and well, that gives me something to go on now. I was in a rut in regard to this story, knew that there was a good reason I wasn't getting anywhere and now I know what it is.
Wes Stanford needs a character overhaul.
He'd better look out...cause I'm coming after him! LOL
Have a great weekend!
Today my good news pertains to my application for RWA. I got an email this morning with my member #. I'm on top of the world at the moment. So exciting. I'm a member of RWA...That's going to take a bit to get used to that! hehe! To most around me in my "normal" life that probably doesn't seem like much, but I've wanted to join since I was in my early 20's when I first discovered it. It wasn't until now that I've taken it more seriously...just as I'm taking my writing more seriously, that I decided this was the next logical step for me.
Now to join KYRW!
- Where I Be:In My Happy Place
- My Chicky Chicky Boom:
excited - Musical Inclinations:Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy
Oh, I think about writing or working on it everyday. I couldn't count how many times I stare at the screen and think...just open the file and get back into the story. What were Wes and Melody up to when you last saw them?
Last night as I went to bed, I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, there's a reason. Maybe it's because I feel that if I work on it now, I'll have a boring, letdown of an ending. Of course, this is the first draft, so it shouldn't matter. I'll be going back to it later to revise and change things up anyway and maybe later I will think of a much more exciting ending, or if not exciting...at least a more gratifying ending.
It's not that I'm not happy with what I've written so far. I'm sure it could be better, but for the most part, I am satisified. Maybe though this year the distraction of holiday decorating and gathering has gotten the better of my writerly side.
I'm all wrapped in up ribbons and bows and sparkling paper and twinkling lights and Christmas cards.
Today though, I need to try my best to put my brain back to work. So I'm off and gone-
Have a good Hump Day!
I'm not done with my novel, but hope that the next few days will give me the opportunity to finish it, since I haven't had time to since I hit 50K.
Will get back to my novel before this month is out though. My arms and fingers are sore though from all the stuff I've been decorating. Who would've thought strings of lights and garland would be so hard on your fingers. I have hangnails out the wazzoo, broken nails almost to the quick and every knuckle and joint hurts.
Well, enough with my whining...I will post more when I have written more on my novel.
If I don't post before then, Happy Thanksgiving!
- Where I Be:in La La Land
- My Chicky Chicky Boom:
exhausted - Musical Inclinations:Between the Lions Theme
This novel I did for NaNo this year may well be the shortest of my novels. I feel the end of the story looming closer than I did with the others. It's like that impending feeling you get when you're wrapped up in a movie and don't realize it's almost the end, until it is the end.
My other novels all ran somewhere around 70-80K. This one feels like another 10K could finish it off at 60K. Not sure yet. I know this is just first draft, so it's not like revisions, editing, dumping some things and adding others couldn't bump the word count though. I'm sure when I go back and start reading it I'll find empty spots and realize-
Oops! I meant to mention this or include this scene...
Or it needs beefing up here or toning down there....
The argument didn't last long enough...
But then neither did the love scene....
LOL
Plot holes.
They're kind of like potholes. You HAVE to fill them in with good concrete or asphalt, or the story is going to be like a bumpy ride down a neglected highway. The reader isn't going to want to travel that road again (or any other road you've fashioned) if you don't make sure they have a smooth ride, enjoy the scenery and come to the end of the road and look back and say- "You know what...I'd like to travel that road again someday."
When I love a book, it's because I enjoyed the journey, didn't crash my car into any "plot"holes or find myself grimacing or grabbing at the dash to steady myself during the trip. And a good book will take you smoothly from start to finish. You'll say "That's a keeper" and you'll put that book on a shelf so that you can drive that road again in the future.
It's a beautiful thing.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday! We're over the hump!
50,008K/50,000
- Where I Be:traveling that highway
- My Chicky Chicky Boom: accomplished
- Musical Inclinations:Chris Gaines (aka Garth Brooks)- Driftin' Away
Can't validate it on NaNo's site till the 25th to be declared a winner, but I already feel victorious! 2nd year in a row!
Now to just finish writing my novel!
- Where I Be:Happy Happy Joy Joy Land
- My Chicky Chicky Boom: accomplished
- Musical Inclinations:Inner Child- Justin Guarini
I wrote 9,561 yesterday. Oh, yeah, I almost made up the difference of the couple of days I wrote little or nothing at all and I just have to make that 2,554 today to hit the goal! Yay!
Of course I'll still work on it after that and attempt to "put a finish on it" before the month's out.
I don't think I've written that much since back in July/August when I wrote my 3rd novel. I hit 10K in a single day...but boy did my wrists pay for it the next day! LOL
Off to check email and blogs and then get to work.
47,446K/50,000K
- Where I Be:so close to 50K I can taste it!
- My Chicky Chicky Boom: accomplished
- Musical Inclinations:James Taylor- Like Everyone She Knows
