tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77840183239689092662024-03-13T12:25:11.574-07:00A Novel ApproachMany people have influenced my writing career. My goal with this blog is to provide useful information that may help others in the pursuit of their dreams. Along the way, I'll share my experiences in the development of getting my novel published.
I love to hear your comments and suggestions, so don't be shy. We all have something to share. (Contests and submmissions are posted as a courtesy to my readers. Please do your due diligence in researching these opportunities.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-30859442919452115402014-03-20T17:37:00.000-07:002014-03-23T14:01:38.374-07:00Blog HopSo.... it's been a while. A ton of life events have happened, but more on those in a different post.<br />
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I'm going to blog more frequently and my first post back is a Blog Hop that Claudia Shelton asked me to participate in. So check out her writing and soon to be released novel at<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.claudiawriting.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> http://www.claudiawriting.com/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next part of this Blog Hop is to answer 4 questions about my writing process.</span> </div>
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1) What am I working on? </div>
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Currently editing the
second Cece Cavanaugh cozy mystery. The first novel left Cece.... you'll have to read it to find out. And the second one picks up... same deal, read the boo and you will find out.</div>
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2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It’s baby-boomer lit with
an attitude. My characters have fun, but learn life lessons along the way. Plus
they drink good wine. My main characters always learn a lesson and help others along the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
3) Why do I write what I do? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I am a "write what you read" kind of girl. the two main areas where I read are mystery and women's fiction. I'll throw in a historical now and again. And the kid in me still enjoys a good YA novel. I have yet to write a YA, but who knows. Maybe one of these days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
4) How does your writing process work? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Good question. I work best after 7 p.m.
Less distractions. When I start a novel, I begin with a pretty specific
outline, though I use it as a guideline and don’t let myself become boxed in.
If, during my writing, my character changes or something else needs to happen,
then I go with the flow. If minor characters want a major role, I listen to my characters.
After all, it’s their story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I write a quick rough draft, then edit, edit, edit. Mostly I have a tendency to not edit deep enough, then spend additional time getting down to the nitty gritty and really tightening the story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">That's it about me, now go and check out these ladies who are amazing writers with great stories. They'll be posting to their blog next Monday, March 24.</span><br />
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<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><b>Jan Morrill’s</b> historical
fiction, The Red Kimono, (University of Arkansas Press, February 2013),
as well as many of her short stories, reflect memories of growing up in a
multicultural, multi-religious, multi-political environment. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">LINKS:</span></span><br />
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">
<a class="_553k" href="http://www.janmorrill.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.janmorrill.wordpress.com</a> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"> </span></span><span style="color: red;"><a class="_553k" href="http://www.janmorrill.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.janmorrill.com</a></span></span></span><br />
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><span style="color: red;"><span class="null"><span style="color: red;"><a class="_553k" href="http://www.theredkimono.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.theredkimono.com</a></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<a class="_553k" href="http://www.haikubyhaiku.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.haikubyhaiku.wordpress.com</a><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span><b> </b><br />
<br />
<b><b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">Tricia Grissom</span></span></b></b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"> </span></span><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">writes for herself, for the web, and for her cats
- who need food. She's been on a fasting liquid diet, traveled to
Europe, and raised 2 kids. She wrote an ebook about her liquid dieting
experience that is now available on Amazon.</span></span><b><b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><br /> LINKS:</span></span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"> </span></span></b></b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">My book</span></span><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">:</span></span><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Liquid-Diet-Eyebrows-Internal-ebook/dp/B00HNLWIZ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395531863&sr=8-1&keywords=my+liquid+diet" target="_blank">My Liquid Diet</a></span></span><b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><br /></span></span></b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null">My blog:</span></span><b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"> </span></span></b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><a href="http://shouldiselfpublish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://shouldiselfpublish.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a></span></span><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"> </span></span><br />
<span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"></span></span><b><span data-measureme="1"><span class="null"></span></span></b></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-86258298851574209492010-02-25T12:17:00.000-08:002010-02-25T12:49:21.934-08:00Open Mic???<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S4bcr32VsbI/AAAAAAAAAOU/ZrsTB1apWzA/s1600-h/mrgilles.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S4bcr32VsbI/AAAAAAAAAOU/ZrsTB1apWzA/s320/mrgilles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442279846008172978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of mrgilles</span><br /><br />I know this post is probably going to draw some backlash, but that's never stopped me in the past, so.... have at it.<br /><br />I have a dirty little secret. It keeps me awake at night, and I hate myself for it. I've tried to change, to be more open, but I just can't do it.<br /><br />I hate open mic events.<br /><br />You know what they are, right? Usually a coffee house setting, where people sit around and drink java or cappuccino or hoity toity tea and listen as amateur poets, writers or singers stand on stage or sit on a stool and perform. Reminds me a bit of Maynard G. Krebs in Dobie Gillis. Okay, you may be too young to get the reference, but it worked for me.<br /><br />The thought of sitting in an audience listening to an amateur read his or her work sends shivers up my spine. I'd rather have a root canal. And I've had a root canal, so I know of what I speak.<br /><br />I believe open mic nights are the literary equivalent of Karaoke, only without the alcohol. I kind of even understand Karaoke. Enough rum and Coke and I might even be persuaded to get out and belt out my version of <span style="font-style: italic;">I've Got You Babe</span>. On second thought, I don't think there is enought rum in the whole world to make me to that.<br /><br />There are generally a couple of types of people who read at those sorts of functions. The ones whose work is boooooring and they just like to hear themselves talk. So we, the audience, sit and twiddle our thumbs and pray for a power outage.<br /><br />Then you get the ones whose work is really good, but they can't read worth a damn. Why ruin a good story by reading it aloud. Just pass me the paper and let me read it. That's how I absorb best anyway. If you are an open miker, I'm sorry, but it's just my opinion<br /><br />Blame it on my childhood if you like, maybe my mother read to me too much or didn't read enough. Or school, blame it on my teachers and professors for subjecting me to hours of lecture. Or just blame it on me. I hate to be read to.<br /><br />I love words. I love paper and I especially love words on paper.<br /><br />So what do you think of <s>Karaoke</s> Open Mic events?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-50178619685319889942010-02-14T12:30:00.000-08:002010-02-14T12:48:39.481-08:00Book Signing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S3hfgjufv0I/AAAAAAAAAOM/_PA0f_V48lI/s1600-h/laura3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S3hfgjufv0I/AAAAAAAAAOM/_PA0f_V48lI/s320/laura3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438201563000586050" border="0" /></a>Photo by <em> Carrie Schechter Studios</em><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.laurabradford.com/">Laura Bradford</a> will be at <a href="http://www.mainstreetbooks.net/">Main Street Books</a> in St. Charles, Missouri on Saturday, March 6th signing her books SEW DEADLY (<a href="http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/">Elizabeth Lynn Casey</a>) and KAYLA'S DADDY (Laura Bradford). The event time is 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.<br /><br />Laura spoke at Saturday Writers a few years back and did a great job talking about book promotion. I was impressed with Laura's 'go-get-em' attitude, and it looks like it's really paying off for her.<br /><br />If you haven't read one of Laura's books, it's your loss, but it's not too late. Please show your support for this fantastic author and stop by Main Street Books for one or both of her books.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-65914837445840961602010-02-02T09:27:00.000-08:002010-02-02T09:44:45.513-08:00Warren Adler Short Story Writing Contest<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">TRIVIA FOR THE DAY:</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Did you know the first Groundhog Day was celebrated in 1887? Neither did I.</span><br /><br />NOW FOR THE CONTEST:<br /><br />Did you also know it's time for the Fifth Annual Warren Adler Short Story Writing Contest. First prize is $1000. Entry fee is $15.<br /><br />Check out this <a href="http://www.warrenadler.com/writing-contest.shtml">link</a> for details. There are also links to previous winning entries, so you can scope out the competition.<br /><br />Check out this <a href="http://www.warrenadler.com/autobiography.shtml">link</a> for Warren Adler's bio.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-80153548059046046542010-01-24T11:11:00.000-08:002010-01-24T15:33:50.884-08:00Social Networking Class for Writers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S1zWvNKP3GI/AAAAAAAAAN8/HO8LNW7TSZY/s1600-h/wow+class+logo.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 185px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S1zWvNKP3GI/AAAAAAAAAN8/HO8LNW7TSZY/s320/wow+class+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430451357176814690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S1zVAouqYeI/AAAAAAAAAN0/mZ__WrPLeTA/s1600-h/wow+logo.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 106px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S1zVAouqYeI/AAAAAAAAAN0/mZ__WrPLeTA/s320/wow+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430449457611825634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S1zUztRHeaI/AAAAAAAAANs/PYNfRhZ-J10/s1600-h/margo-biosize_thumbnail.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 128px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/S1zUztRHeaI/AAAAAAAAANs/PYNfRhZ-J10/s320/margo-biosize_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430449235491781026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of Margo L. Dill</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">logos courtesy of WOW!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My friend Margo L. Dill is teaching a 4-week course on social networking for authors. Learn how Twitter, Facebook and other techno stuff can help you expand your social network. Margo will show you how to spend a few minutes a day using these tools and others to get great results.<br /><br />Margo is an excellent teacher, writer, conference planner and all around great person. She is also the social media manager for <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/">WOW! Women on Writing.<br /></a><p><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:green;" ><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:green;" >SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR AUTHORS: TWITTER, FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN AND MORE! </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" > by Margo L. Dill<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >START DATE: </span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >Monday, February 22, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >DURATION: </span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >4 weeks<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >COURSE DESCRIPTION: </span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >This class will teach writers how to use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites such as Shelfari or Jacket Flap (students’ choice) to network; to build a following of fans; to start working on a brand/image; and to promote books, articles, magazines, and blogs. Instead of using Facebook and Twitter to write about your fabulous dinner or disastrous day at the grocery store, you will learn to sell yourself and your writing! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >WEEKS AT A GLANCE:</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >Week One: Facebook:</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" > We will discuss how to use Facebook to promote yourself and your writing. We will talk about posting links to your work, using status updates to promote writing, joining Facebook groups for writers, and even starting a Fan page for yourself or your work.<br /><br />Assignment: Create a Facebook profile if you haven’t yet, complete your Facebook profile, make it scream writer!, join at least one writing group and become active!, and start promoting your writing with your Facebook page. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >Week Two: Twitter:</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" > My favorite marketing tool ever is Twitter. Twitter can be used in so many ways as a writer—to promote your work, to follow writers and editors who provide useful information, to find other writers for support, and to discuss writing. You will learn how to do all of this and more on Twitter. You will be introduced to two Twitter tools—Tweetdeck and Hootsuite, and you will register yourself with Twellow.<br /><br />Assignment: Create a Twitter profile if you haven’t yet. Make your Twitter profile scream writer! Start tweeting. Participate in a writers’ chat. Register with Twellow. Try out Tweetdeck or Hootsuite. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >Week Three: LinkedIn:</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" > This week, we will talk about how to use LinkedIn as a writer. LinkedIn seems harder for people to figure out and use to market yourself, but there are ways through your status updates, by checking out your contacts’ contacts, by recommending others and having them recommend you, and by participating in LinkedIn groups.<br /><br />Assignments: Create a LinkedIn profile and/or complete yours. Make it scream writer! Join a few LinkedIn groups. Find more contacts. Check out your contacts’ contacts and link to them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >Week Four: More Social Networking and Evaluation:</span></strong><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" > The content in this week’s class will depend on the participants in the class. The instructor will do a survey to find out what people are most interested in learning about and trying out with guidance: Shelfari? JacketFlap? Digg? Students will also fill out a class evaluation.<br /><br />Assignments: Try out one or two of the social networks that classmates are most interested in. Fill out the class evaluation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span class="costcolor"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >COST:</span></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" > <strong><span style=";font-family:";" >$100</span></strong>, which will include four weeks of instruction on how to use social networking as an author and one critique for each student of a social networking profile page—student’s choice.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;color:black;" >To sign up: <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html#MargoDill_SocialNetworking">http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html#MargoDill_SocialNetworking</a> (scroll to the bottom of the class listing)<o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-4411636283982186162009-12-27T18:15:00.000-08:002009-12-27T18:43:28.131-08:00It's Time to Think About Goals...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SzgXikdsjFI/AAAAAAAAANk/ILZaOhq0yg4/s1600-h/lists.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SzgXikdsjFI/AAAAAAAAANk/ILZaOhq0yg4/s320/lists.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420108034211613778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of Tim Zim</span><br /><br />Goal is a dirty word, I know. When I worked, my stomach would tighten, my eyes narrow and my heart palpitate when my boss said that four-letter word. Goal. Hrrrmmmp. Goal. Then he/or she would proceed to give me a laundry list of items I was to accomplish in the coming year. AND almost all the items I had absolutely no control over. NONE.<br /><br />So you can see why goals make me cringe. I'm the kind of person who takes full responsibility for things over which I have control. Not a problem. If it's in my sphere of influence, I'll take charge and do it to the best of my ability. But don't expect me to solve the national debt, end the war in Afghanistan or balance my checkbook. Okay, the checkbook I do have control over, but I'm lousy at math.<br /><br />But my dear writer friends, we do have control over our writing. I'm much better at achieving my personal goals if I write them down and keep them close. So here's the list I have taped next to my computer. I encourage you to do the same (make your own list, that is.)<br /><br /><br />1. Finish the damn synopsis (Yes, I have started referring to it as The Damn Synopsis)<br />2. Final edit the book<br />3. Attend 1 workshop to work on skills<br />4. Attend 2 conferences when I can pitch the novel<br />5. Begin second draft of second novel<br />6. Participate in NaNoWriMo for 4th year<br />7. Assemble the list of potential agents and begin the query process<br />8. Submit one - two essays per month.<br />9. Organize my office<br />10. Remain positive even in the face of rejection.<br /><br />Okay, so there you have my goals.<br /><br />What are your writing goals for 2010?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-79148251551838226582009-12-08T20:27:00.000-08:002009-12-08T20:48:23.137-08:00It's Time to Start Thinking About Conferences<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sx8rxbz6UcI/AAAAAAAAANc/oMXoVXBtR8s/s1600-h/pens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sx8rxbz6UcI/AAAAAAAAANc/oMXoVXBtR8s/s320/pens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413093405401698754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">image courtesy of paul<br /><br /></span>I know, I know. Christmas isn't even here yet, but it's not that far away. And with the new year right around the corner it got me to thinking about writing conferences. I attended two last year <a href="http://www.owfi.org/">OWFI</a> and <a href="http://www.missouriwritersguild.org/mwg_conferencenews.shtml">MWG</a>. Both are in the planning stages for 2010. Each was good and had lots to offer in the way of speakers, motivation and opportunities.<br /><br />OWFI is a class act and hard to beat. The quality just keeps getting better. MWG was smaller than normal last year, but I still got my money's worth.<br /><br />Last year was my 2nd year for OWFI and my 4th or 5th year for MWG. For me, attending conferences is all about two things, networking and pitching my novel. So this year I've decided to branch out and try another conference or two.<br /><br />Any suggestions? I'm curious about Jackson Hole Writer's Conference, Mad Anthony, Northern Colorado Writers Workshop, Society of Southwestern Writers, South Carolina Writers Workshop Conference.<br /><br />But I'm open to suggestions. Any of you have any tried and true conferences or workshops that you attend?<br /><br />Tell me...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-76953509033818943772009-11-25T21:45:00.000-08:002009-11-25T22:00:25.773-08:00Ta Da - NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sw4WfmgI1xI/AAAAAAAAANU/4z5T7J22UlU/s1600/the+end.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 89px; height: 100px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sw4WfmgI1xI/AAAAAAAAANU/4z5T7J22UlU/s320/the+end.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408284934685644562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image courtesy of minegro</span><br /><br />Is it the end or is it the beginning? I typed my 50,000th word on November 20th just hours before departing for Minneapolis. This is the quickest I've every completed a NaNoWriMo. However, I couldn't validate the results until today. So that said, I WON. Woo hoo, what a great feeling to have a third novel waiting in the wings.<br /><br />That brings up the ...is it the end or is it the beginning. Even though I have the 50,000 words, the novel is far from over. Now I begin the laborious project of adding, cutting, editing and in general getting the masterpiece into well... masterpiece form. After 20 days of writing with my internal editor locked in a drawer, the resulting novel needs more work.<br /><br />So, why try and write 50,000 words in the span of a month (or 20 days for me) if it is going to need to be edited and massaged into shape? Because, if I hadn't challenged myself to going all out, I would still be at the starting line thinking about writing the novel.<br /><br />Where do I go from here? Good question. This novel (working title Dirty Deception) goes into mothballs for a year. Yep, I let her stew for about 12 months. She lingers around on my hard drive while I pull out the novel I wrote for NaNo last year and start the editing process. Dirty Deal (working title from last year) has been laying around relaxing and now it's time to drag her out and see what needs to be done.<br /><br />Why do I let them lay around for a year? Absence makes the heart grow fonder they say. And with my NaNo projects nothing could be truer. If I were to start the editing process immediately I would probably just delete the sucker from my hard drive because after working on it non-stop for twenty days (for hours and hours each day) I am sick of it. So to prevent me from having a meltdown and to preserve my prose, it gets to rest for a year.<br /><br />Now for a well-deserved Thanksgiving dinner for one and all. Remember to give thanks to all that is important to you and yours.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-37545537190728853602009-11-14T15:51:00.000-08:002009-11-14T16:59:29.560-08:00Day 14 NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sv9SKOBsDGI/AAAAAAAAANM/chNvjEFaGE4/s1600-h/fourteen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sv9SKOBsDGI/AAAAAAAAANM/chNvjEFaGE4/s320/fourteen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404128413385231458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">image courtesy of duncan<br /><br /><br /></span>I'm reveling in my aheadedness (is that a word, I don't think so,) but I'm ahead of the curve and my writing buddies. Take that maryji and k9friend1 (I mean that in all sweetness. I'm not trying to be ugly, I swear.)<br /><br />I pulled ahead of maryji yesterday, but she has a good excuse -- company and football. so I'm sure the minute her company leaves, she will kick my butt.<br /><br />k9friend1-- don't know about her. I'll send her a little email and see what's up. Though, I imagine the minute she gets back to writing, she too, will kick my butt. That woman can write some words.<br /><br />I've got company coming tomorrow, so I'm trying to get some extra words in today.<br /><br />The weather here is excellent for November. Windows wide open today and no coats. Makes it hard to stay inside and write. Though it looks like rain all next week, so that will help the word count.<br /><br />I have 1450 for today so far, with another three or four hours to write yet. I'm hoping to pull off 3000 - 4000 today.<br /><br />Keep your fingers crossed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-70921036406978770392009-11-13T19:10:00.000-08:002009-11-13T21:07:09.828-08:00Day 11, 12, 13 NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sv4gIKOqbDI/AAAAAAAAANE/vj4CbJpZD5U/s1600-h/friday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 98px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sv4gIKOqbDI/AAAAAAAAANE/vj4CbJpZD5U/s320/friday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403791927448071218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">image courtesy of sneeu</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The last three days have gone by in a fog.<br /><br />Day 11 - I spent with my friend Barb, who I am so thankful chooses to spend her Wednesdays with me. It's like having a free therapist and getting to each lunch all at once. Let's hear it for good friends who listen even when you rant and rave... :) Word count for Wednesday was 2002.<br /><br />Day 12 - Critique day. Yep, after the gym and critique, I managed to squeeze out only 1586. But I noticed the word count widget is working. Yeah, NaNoWriMo gadget gurus. Thanks. don't ask me what the colors mean. I tried to figure it out thinking it was days I hit a target were one color and days I didn't were another color. And what's the thirds color. Anyway, that's not it. So if anyone can enlighten me, please do so. It's driving me crazy.<br /><br />Day 13 - I am struggling mightily. I'm ready to kill off my main character and throw her love interest off a bridge. Sometime this week I totally abandoned my linear process and jumped write into writing out of sequence big time. I swore I wouldn't do that this year, but I did. I'll have to work on the linking scenes when my brain isn't so muddled. Word count today is 3003.<br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-1388993788122157992009-11-10T21:59:00.000-08:002009-11-10T22:26:02.574-08:00Day 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SvpYlpqMlBI/AAAAAAAAAM8/Pz3AO81e7R0/s1600-h/100_2496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SvpYlpqMlBI/AAAAAAAAAM8/Pz3AO81e7R0/s320/100_2496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402728106845574162" border="0" /></a><br />I've been busy, busy, busy.I noticed my little counter thing is still not working, so tomorrow if I get some time, I'll see if I can download another one.<br /><br />Day 5 - Today was my critique group. No I didn't dare take in what I've been working on for NaNo. I do have some pride. I managed to crank out about 1500 words today.<br /><br />Day 6 - Headed to the lake for a little peace and quiet. It's always easier writing in an atmosphere conducive to reflection. It doesn't hurt that it's in the middle of nowhere and there are no kids running up and down the roads on 4-wheelers. The only sounds are the rustling of the wind through the leaves. Oh wait, the leaves were all on the ground. The sound I heard was actually acorns falling on the metal roof --ALL NIGHT LONG. Due to travel, eating out with friends and the fact that my eyes were sagging by 8 p.m., I only managed a little over 100 words today.<br /><br />Day 7 - Got an early start today. Had almost 1000 words before 8 a.m. Hubby went to coffee with the old codgers, so I hopped up and went to work. The afternoon lagged a little because my neighbor invited me to lunch. But I picked it up again in the late afternoon while hubby was raking leaves. YEAH for NaNo, it gets me out of raking leave. I did feel a tad guilty, but not for long. Grand total today 2300.<br /><br />Day 8 - Neighbors went out of town, so we had no interruptions until hubby climbed in the attic and began tearing up the floorboard. His hammering and prying nearly drove me insane, so I read. Seriously, he should have been out raking leaves. When he realized I'd quit working on the novel, he went out to the barn to work. YEAH! I managed 4009 words today.<br /><br />Day 9 - Neighbors still out of town. I fixed and awesome breakfast then gave hubby the rake and told him to get to work. I moved out onto the porch with my laptop and cranked out 4025 words. Hubby rewarded me with a bonfire and s'mores that evening. He must like me.<br /><br />Day 10 - Travel day and bunko night, plus had a pukey puppy at home. Between all that and a visit to <a href="http://www.cranes-country-store.com/">Crane's Country Store</a>, where I swear I have never seen so many Carhartt items, I managed to get in 1615 words.<br /><br /><br />My grand total for 10 days is 23,765.<br /><br />I did stall a couple of times and resorted to writing a few scenes out of sequence. I highly recommend this in the event your plot is stalling. If you know there are scenes you need, go ahead and write them, you can always go back and write the linking scenes when time permits. I managed 5 of these scenes this weekend, and it helped me to examine my plot and get a better understanding of where I was going with it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-9847814064968431442009-11-04T22:44:00.000-08:002009-11-04T23:05:08.895-08:00Day 4 NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SvJ0k_qO-SI/AAAAAAAAAM0/P8CfjN57j6E/s1600-h/four.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 100px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SvJ0k_qO-SI/AAAAAAAAAM0/P8CfjN57j6E/s320/four.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400507082083334434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of Hilarywho</span><br /><br />Yes, Virginia there really was a Day 3. However, I barely made my word count. Needless to say I did not blog.<br /><br />Day 3 was torture. My character is boring! It's hard to be funny in the face of murder, but she needs to lighten up.<br /><br />Yesterday I worked for every word I put on the page. I struggled, but true to NaNo, I did not edit. Me thinks that is why I struggled. I know my character too well. As I would type a sentence, my internal editor screamed from inside the desk drawer, "she would not do that. Make her stop. She is not that stupid. Give her a funny line. Make the cop kiss her, you doofus."<br /><br />I threw chocolate in the drawer, she shut up and I continued to type. I made it through Day 3.<br /><br />Day 4, a tad better. I got to the point in the story where my character's personality is starting to shine through. (The only sounds that came from my desk drawer were moans of pleasure. I'm hoping it was the chocolate or it could have been the Chippendale calendar I threw in there. Whatever! At least she isn't screaming at me.)<br /><br />My word count...are you ready (drumroll sounds) 10,140. k9friend1 and maryji are still beating me. But as my professor daughter pointed out, "They are probably writing crap. It's much easier to make your word count when you throw down a bunch of crap." Did I say how much I love my professor daughter. Little does she know how much crap dear old mom is writing.<br /><br />Ah, but that is what NaNo is all about.......writing. Letting the words flow onto the computer screen. Foregoing contractions. Adding every adverb and adjective in the dictionary and never, ever hyphenating a word. I can clean all that up in December :)<br /><br />I promised a little widget on the side so you could keep up with my word count. . . it's broken. Rest assured the brain trust at NaNoWriMo is working on it. So when you see it, you'll know it's fixed.<br /><br />Oh, I need to give a shout out to my friend Barb, for taking me away from the computer today and listening to me carry on and complain. That's what friends are for!<br /><br />So, how's your day going?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-58084530793626450222009-11-02T20:26:00.000-08:002009-11-02T21:00:59.603-08:00Day 2 NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Su-xPoX_wAI/AAAAAAAAAMs/e0MdiZEYHS8/s1600-h/two.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Su-xPoX_wAI/AAAAAAAAAMs/e0MdiZEYHS8/s320/two.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399729360334733314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of Rootytootoot</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">TODAY IS: PLAN YOUR EPITAPH DAY (No I did not make this up.) What do you want on your tombstone?</span><br /><br />Took a shower this morning. I'm not one of the NanoWriMoers who can go without the basic necessities like clean clothes, brushed teeth and clean hair. I'll give up word count for personal hygiene any day.<br /><br />Apparently, I'll give up word count for a good shopping spree, too. My daughter's been gone a week, and today was her first day home. She asked me to go shopping today for goodies for her new house. Could I say no? No. So a shopping we did go. But I did use the time wisely. While we were driving to our destination, eating our lunch and agonizing over which curtains would look nice in her living room, I plotted.<br /><br />I'm sure the lady who overhead our conversation at lunch was ready to whip out her cell phone and call 911. It went something like this.<br /><br />Me: If I murdered someone at school, say in the maintenance shed out back, would the cops shut the school down?<br /><br />Daughter: Depends. Is school in session?<br /><br />Me: No, the principal canceled classes due to the flood.<br /><br />Daughter: Did you leave any clues in the actual school building?<br /><br />Me: No, the murder weapon is in the maintenance shed right next to the body. Easy to find, right out in the open.<br /><br />Daughter: You should be good to go. They might close it down for 24 hours or so while they investigate, but you should be back in after 24 - 35 hours.<br /><br />Me: Great, cause I still need to clean up after the flood.<br /><br />Now to put that all into perspective. It's been raining here for about 40 days and 40 nights with all kinds of flash flood warnings.<br /><br />Anyway, that's pretty much how my day went--mulling murder and mayhem while shopping for curtains, rugs and utensil containers. What can I say? Just an ordinary day in the life of a writer. Create a scene and buy some pots and pans.<br /><br />So... I didn't get back to the computer until after six, and I've been slaving away over the keyboard ever since. Except for the side trip to the kitchen for a bowl of pretzels. Oh, and after I started eating the pretzels, cough, cough, cough. I needed a Diet Coke to wash it down.<br /><br />Next year I am seriously considering buying one of those little refrigerators for next to my desk. I figure if I don't have to go downstairs for caffeine, I can add about 100 words to my word count. And diapers, if I drink all that caffeine...well you know what happens. It's not that the bathroom is that far away, but the time it takes could be more wisely spent adding word count.<br /><br />Now for the word count you ask? How many did I get? Well, you all aren't cheering me on, so I only managed 2018 today--482 short of my goal. If I'd had that fridge and the diapers, I could have easily made it.<br /><br />Keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow. NO SHOPPING, NO CAFFEINE, NO POTTY STOPS.<br /><br />Oh and my writing buddies... K9friend1 topped 8300 today. I think she is so wearing a diaper. Maryji is at 4699. Not sure what's happened to Maryji today. She hasn't checked in that I know of. She's probably out buying diapers, so she can push the word count tomorrow.<br /><br />Till then, keep rooting for me.<br /><br />P.S. I don't know what's wrong with the little word count widget I added. I'll keep working on it. I need something to procrastinate on anyway.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-12838460280514442092009-11-01T15:53:00.000-08:002009-11-01T16:16:42.240-08:00Day 1 - NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Su4kVpQVwmI/AAAAAAAAAMk/KXVtJPITL6k/s1600-h/one.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 72px; height: 100px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Su4kVpQVwmI/AAAAAAAAAMk/KXVtJPITL6k/s320/one.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399292957534044770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">image courtesy of Duncan</span><br /><br />Woohoo! I stayed up until midnight last night. Being the rule-abider that I am, I started my novel at 1 minute after zero hour. I didn't last long, and was in bed by 12:45. But I had a start.<br /><br />After a leisurely breakfast, I read the newspaper and scoured the ads for sales. Nothing of interest, so I climbed the stairs and pounded out 2500 words finishing just before supper. Kind of slow for me, but I took several breaks and checked in with my writing buddies K9friend and Maryji. I am not happy to report that both ladies have exceeded my goal and are making me look bad. Though I am glad they are doing so well. I just hate that they're making me look like a slacker. But I did manage to meet the daily goal I had established and the night is still young. I'm hoping to end the day with about 3500 words. I'll be happy at that pace.<br /><br />I have kept my promise to stay off Facebook. I might use that as a weekly reward, but only if I meet my weekly goal. It's just to tempting to click on it and check on everything. Oh, Facebook, I miss you.<br /><br />Keep your fingers crossed. I need all the luck I can muster.<br /><br />Off to the bat cave!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-73087216039338448162009-10-26T19:48:00.001-07:002009-10-30T20:56:17.601-07:00Tips and Tricks for a Successful NaNoWriMo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Suu0dggXivI/AAAAAAAAAMc/v4kaYzGAbRI/s1600-h/nano+2009.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Suu0dggXivI/AAAAAAAAAMc/v4kaYzGAbRI/s320/nano+2009.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398606997368572658" border="0" /></a>Courtesy of NaNoWriMo<br /><br />Can you believe it is a little over 24 hours before <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a> starts. I am stoked this year. I have two wins under my belt and ready for another.<br /><br />It's only 30 days, but it can be a frustrating 30 days as I have found. First of all November is a short month, and it has Thanksgiving and <a href="http://www.blackfriday.info/">Black Friday</a>--two days where I am totally worthless when it comes to writing.<br /><br />Here are my tips and tricks for completing NaNoWriMo.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Start with an outline, idea or basic premise.</span> Don't wait until zero hour on November 1st to start thinking about what you want to write. The only given with NaNo is that you cannot start writing the novel until November 1st, but you can outline and do character sketches to your heart's content.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Have a beginning, middle and end in mind. </span>You may not make it to the end before you use up your 50,000 words, but at least know what the end is. How can you get there if you don't know where you're going?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Turn off your internal editor. </span>This really goes without saying, but I'll say it again. Shove your internal editor in the drawer along with copious amounts of chocolate. Let yourself write crap. You can clean it up later when you aren't on deadline. So you miss a comma or split an infinitive. Who cares? Get the story down and worry about cleaning it up later. Focus on the big picture, not the little details.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Draw up a schedule. </span>You have to write roughly 1666 words a day in order to reach 50,000 by November 30th. If you know you're going to be cooking the turkey on Thanksgiving and have 50 belligerent relatives coming over, chances are you aren't going to be writing 1666 words that day, so spread them out across other days. Plan for it and then spend turkey day with your family. I have an Excel spreadsheet. I know I'm obsessive-compulsive, get over it. I set a daily goal for the entire month and then track it each day. If I lag behind, then I smack myself around and catch up.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Front load your schedule.</span> You're going to be fresher in the early days in NaNo than you are coming down the home stretch. If you can write 1800 or 200o words a day the first couple of days or the first week, you'll be ahead when you start to feel like your dragging. Or if you are employed (some of us aren't) then plan to write extra words on your days off. I always plan to take Thanksgiving and Black Friday off, so I divide those 3332 words up and write them in the beginning of the month.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Do not allow yourself to get behind.</span> Some days it's hard enough to come up with 1666 words, but if you get behind, especially in the waning days of NaNoWriMo, it is almost impossible to keep up your momentum. That's where the schedule comes in handy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Get a Writing Buddy.</span> It helps to have someone encourage you through the event. Misery loves company, right? So get a writing buddy and track your progress with each other. Don't get bogged down in emails and drivel, just check in periodically and give each other a kind word of encouragement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Log on to NaNoWriMo.</span> Speaking of support, <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a> provides it. Whatever you want. They have forums of every sort, cool widgets to take your progress, buddy lists, encouraging pep talks, word count tracker, Municipal Liaisons who organize and support local write-ins. You name it they got it. So go check it out. And while you're there, consider making a donation to help keep the site up and running. (Thanks NaNoWriMo for all you do.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Use a timer</span>. Raid the kitchen junk drawer, and get out that timer you never use. Or download a timer from <a href="http://www.harmonyhollow.net/download.shtml">Harmony Hollow Software</a>. Set the time for one hour and write non-stop. If you need to take a pit-stop or caffeine break, stop the timer, do you business, then come right back and start the timer. No fair sitting in the bathroom until the timer goes off. Once you finish your hour, set the timer for 10 minutes and take a break. Get up and leave your writing space. Grab a coke, stretch your legs, deep breath, put the laundry in the dryer--whatever. When your ten minutes is up, set the timer for another hour and continue. Repeat with 10 minutes breaks until you've written your daily goal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. Don't give up the fun stuff.</span> Are you addicted to email, Facebook, Farmtown, or any one of a number of online distractions. Use them as rewards. When your hour timer goes off and you get your 10 minute break, use it to check your email or play a quick game. But when your break is over, go back to work. NO EXCEPTIONS!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. Reward yourself.</span> Once you've written your daily goal, do something fun. Kick back and relax, take a bath (you know you need one), go for a walk, call a friend, eat a healthy snack.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. Backup your work frequently. </span>You do not want to lose even one single word you've written during NaNoWriMo, so back your work up onto a flashdrive, an external drive or whatever means you have to backup your documents. Don't just back it up on the PC or laptop you're using. Make sure to have an external source. During NaNoWriMo, I back up my to 2 flash drives and if I leave the house, I take one of them with me. Paranoid, I know. but it saves having to re-create a file that you've slaved over.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">13. Select writing music.</span> I have several mixes I use to write with, depending on my mood and the type of scene I am writing. If you haven't tried writing with music, give it a try. If it's distracting you can always ditch it, or change up the tunes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. Don't be afraid to lock the door and turn off the phone.</span> Most non-writers do not understand the the need we writers have to dive into such a project. Heck, some writers don't even understand it. Send an email prior to NaNoWriMo and tell your friends you love them, but you want them to leave you the hell alone until December 1. I would say do this to your immediately family, but you live with them and may have to depend on them to slide your meals under the door or toss in clean underwear periodically.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. Emerge periodically from your office.</span> You need sunshine so you don't get rickets or scurvy or whatever that horrible disease was that sailors use to get from lack of sunshine. At the very least eat an orange now and then.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">16. Finally, and foremost, remember why you are doing this.</span> Can't help you here. I have my own reasons and they probably differ from yours, so insert yours here________________________________________________________.<br /><br /><br />Go forth and have fun. See you at the finish line.<br /><br />Tricia<br /><br />P.S. Come back here often and cheer me on. I'll have a little counter shortly so you can see my progress.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-17215843123019754042009-10-22T14:36:00.000-07:002009-10-22T14:48:47.419-07:00Hello World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SuDTHkeRBZI/AAAAAAAAAMU/-Jlto4ezJis/s1600-h/earth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 162px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SuDTHkeRBZI/AAAAAAAAAMU/-Jlto4ezJis/s320/earth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395544480593020306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of viewmaker<br /><br /></span>Ready or not. I am back. It's been a few months since I've updated the blog. What can I say? Life has a way of getting in the way. Actually it was my novel. I'm on the downhill slide of editing. It's going out to a couple more readers (thanks Kim and Ashley) then that puppy is going to be making its rounds to various agents and editors. So if you have any suggestions, send them my way. It's women's fiction with a cozy bent. But not too cozy.<br /><br />I'm ready to take on Novel #2 which was written during NaNoWriMo last year. It's the sequel to the one I just finished editing, and I am looking forward to digging into it and getting back in touch with the new characters I added. It was really hard to go back to editing Novel 1 after I had written Novel 2, because my character had grown, but I had to remember not to include the growth. hard to do. Plus I added some depth to previous characters and had to leave them shallow. Aargh! It was hard.<br /><br />Actually working on the outline for Novel 3 which I will discuss a little next week.<br /><br />So for now, keep writing and if you have agents/editors who are looking for women's fiction, feel free to name drop. All suggestions accepted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-72049104643949045252009-05-13T17:39:00.000-07:002009-05-13T18:06:03.983-07:00Too Many Miles<span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of Punk27fay</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sgtt2RqC5KI/AAAAAAAAAMM/BszH5gRgTlg/s1600-h/hail.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335478962770601122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sgtt2RqC5KI/AAAAAAAAAMM/BszH5gRgTlg/s400/hail.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div>Sorry I've been out to lunch lately. In truth, I've been on the road. Logged more than 300o miles in the past two weeks. (I'll tell you about the rest of the trip another time.)<br /><br />Started my trip in <a href="http://www.visitnorman.com/">Norman</a>, OK at OWFI. Now if you haven't been to <a href="http://www.owfi.org/">OWFI</a>, you haven't been to a writer's conference. OWFI stands for Oklahoma Writers' Federation, Inc. Those folks really know how to throw a great conference. This is my second year. I didn't think they could top last year, but they did.<br /><br />The keynote speaker was <em>New York Times</em> Bestselling Author <a href="http://www.tessgerritsen.com/">Tess Gerritsen</a>, and she was amazing. Her speech was motivating and peppered with personal anecdotes about her writing.<br /><br />My new favorite author <a href="http://www.jodithomas.com/">Jodi Thomas</a> was there and I attended every one of her sessions. My only downfall was not getting her to sign the book I bought. I got so wrapped up in conference, that I got away without asking. There was even an autograph party, but I wasn't able to stay. I did get Tess to sign hers.<br /><br />Jodi was also motivating and very personable. Her willingness to talk to people just stunned me. Several times she gave out her phone number and told people to call her, especially if they got stuck or felt like their writing career was stalled. (Sorry, I won't give it out, but bet if you check Jodi's website, she'll have a way for you to get in contact.) Jodi, if you read this, I heart you. All the advice you dispensed will be taken to heart by me. And I sure hope to see you in Amarillo next year. Can't make it this year, but I've got my fingers crossed for next year.<br /><br />The Book Doctor <a href="http://www.robynconley.com/">Robyn Conley</a> did two great talks that I attended and also reviewed the first five pages of my manuscript. I received a glowing report and she only found a couple of things. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>All of the sessions that I attended were excellent, the speakers professional and approachable and the buzz of excitement in the air was exhilerating. And they had a great crowd. I met several writers and had a great time. I also took tons of notes. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh, oh, oh... The best part. An agent asked to see my first three chapters and a synopsis. Now the waiting begins.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh, and Ody got hailed on again. Not sure what it is about Oklahoma and my van, but this is the second year in a row, that it has hailed on us in Oklahoma. I'm beginning to believe that it hails every day down there. Thank goodness it was only pea-size. Last year it looked like golf balls. Several vehicles suffered broken windshields. Ody just had hudge dents. This year I couldn't tell, because I never had him fixed from last year. Good thing. Next year, I'm flying.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-87290345911671276062009-04-29T05:47:00.000-07:002009-04-29T06:05:45.583-07:00Word Frequency<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SfhQRfHdYoI/AAAAAAAAAME/nLK15XGZ4p8/s1600-h/words.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330098420333765250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SfhQRfHdYoI/AAAAAAAAAME/nLK15XGZ4p8/s400/words.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of Feuillu</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I'm somewhat of a word hoarder. I find a word I like to use and latch on to it. A few of my favorites are: well, so, maybe, finally, little, and very. Recently some rogues have slipped in like: decided, some, clearly, eye (don't ask) and shrugged.<br /><br />To combat my</span> <span style="color:#990000;">little </span><span style="color:#000000;">problem, I have a list of words that all too often pepper my writing. I try not to use them, but my hands and brain don't always work in sync. Did I say I'm a techno-phobe when it comes to the computer? In the past, I have always performed a "find" and "search" and rooted out the evils doers. It takes for stinking ever to do that.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">But, aha, last night I found a macro that will do it for me. One swift click of a button and all the "wells" are rounded up and highlighted in red. Makes it much easier for me to go back through and slay the ones I don't want to keep and bypass the ones that get to stay.<br /><br />I can tweak the macro to change the word or color. I'm in love...<br /><br />How about you? Doyou have any words that sneak into your writing? Do you let them slide and pick them out in editing or do you kill them right away?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-82407400888732996972009-04-25T20:40:00.000-07:002009-04-25T21:05:46.146-07:00Point of View<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SfPdNp2H4JI/AAAAAAAAAL8/EbamLsGz270/s1600-h/eyes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328846010750328978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SfPdNp2H4JI/AAAAAAAAAL8/EbamLsGz270/s400/eyes.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of herr_hartman</span><br /><br /><br />The topic of point of view at our monthly meeting of <a href="http://www.saturdaywriters.org/">Saturday Writers</a> got me to thinking about my preference for writing in 1st person. I like the immediacy (is that a word?) it gives me. It allows me to be the character. For me it is easier, because I don't have to worry about inappropriate POV shifts. I just ask myself WWMCD (what would my character do?) If my character's not seeing it or feeling it, I know not to put it to paper.<br /><br />However, I've noticed that I like to read a combination of 1st and 3rd person, and it depends on the genre. If I'm reading romance (which I don't usually do) or cozy mysteries, I prefer first person. I prefer to "be" the character or at least see the story from the protagonists POV.<br /><br />But if I'm reading a suspense, thriller or historical, I prefer third person. And I really like multiple POV's. I feel like it gives me a 360 degree view of the story.<br /><br />And I've even read a couple that switch back and forth between 1st and 3rd. Most of those are pretty clunky, but <a href="http://www.harlancoben.com/">Harlan Coben</a> does it in a couple of his novels and does an excellent job at creating a story so smooth you never notice it. He's also a great story weaver, but that's another whole topic. He's my writing hero. And I just discovered him last year, and already I've read all his books. So, Harlan if you stop by and read this, get to cracking on that next book. I'm waiting.<br /><br />What's your favorite POV to write and does it differ from your favorite POV to read?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-31940339402637573262009-04-23T21:58:00.000-07:002009-04-23T22:32:05.392-07:00True Confession Time<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SfFNyUmbeOI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TcixBsMOAjE/s1600-h/confession.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328125361074698466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SfFNyUmbeOI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TcixBsMOAjE/s400/confession.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of jovite</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span>No sordid details. I promise.<br /><br />The other day I sat down to work on edits for my novel and something seemed off. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was different, but I had a hard time concentrating. The words were a jumble on the page (that's why I needed to edit. Duh!)<br /><br />I ran downstairs and got a Diet Coke, grabbed a bowl of pretzels and returned to my computer. My comfortable writing chair felt fine, my screen was at the perfect angle and the light wasn't glaring. Then it dawned on me. I had shoes on. I usually never wear shoes in the house and never wear them upstairs to my office, but in my excitement to finish editing the chapter, I had rushed in after an errand and failed to remove said shoes.<br /><br />Now is that dumb or what that I couldn't concentrate with shoes on. I wrote curriculum for XX (a lot) of years in a corporate setting and always wore shoes in the office.<br /><br />Anyway it got me to thinking about some of my other weird writing habits... Like my chair. My old faithful died a few years back, so I went to several office supply and furniture stores and did numerous test sits until I found the perfect one. Now, if I'm not at home, I have a hard time writing because my butt is not comfortable anywhere else.<br /><br />And my tunes. I have a couple of different mixes that I use depending on the scene I'm writing. If it's introspective, I listen to classical. If it's a tense, I tend to go more for old rock tunes. And romantic, I pick country. But, I always have music on.<br /><br />My clothing. I opt for sweats or pj's. Again, couldn't do that in the corporate world. Yeah, for working from home!<br /><br />Visuals. I used to have a window by my computer, but found it too distracting. I'd catch myself staring out into the yard watching butterflies or thinking about the weeds that needed to be pulled. Anyway, I switched my office around so I can't look outside, but whenever possible, I keep the window open. I love a gentle breeze. But that aside, now I have a wonderful view of my bookshelf, and that makes me happy.<br /><br />And I love fragrances. I keep one of those diffusers on my book shelf, usually with something fresh-smelling like rain or clean cotton. I'm a sap for all that natury stuff.<br /><br />So what are your writing habits? Do you write in your underwear with a lampshade on your head? True confession time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-45422496766227192852009-04-22T17:02:00.001-07:002009-04-22T17:16:05.074-07:00Short Story Contest<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Se-zDVtaMzI/AAAAAAAAALs/Cb2hezGk9Yw/s1600-h/jersey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327673754151170866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 111px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Se-zDVtaMzI/AAAAAAAAALs/Cb2hezGk9Yw/s400/jersey.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of Cowtools<br /></span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Se-y9SJq0-I/AAAAAAAAALk/mBRANl5W1iU/s1600-h/kansas.gif"></a><br /><br /><div>Here's one for all you Sci Fi, Fantasy, Mystery, Suspense or Thriller writers. <a href="http://www.gshw.net/index.html">The Garden State Horror Writers</a> sponsors their 15th annual short story contest.<br /><br />1st price is $100<br />2nd prize is $50<br />3rd prize is $25<br /><br />Each eligible entry will be critiqued by up to three published writers and/or editors.<br /><br />The entry fee is $10 for non-members and $5.00 for GSHW members.<br /><br />Check their <a href="http://www.gshw.net/files/GSHW_15TH_Annual_ShortStroyContest_guidelines.pdf">guidelines</a> for submissions. Be sure to read them and follow to keep from being disqualified.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Contest closes June 30th.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-83987039166689188142009-04-19T08:25:00.000-07:002009-04-19T08:38:03.530-07:00Poetry Contest<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SetE3arCBDI/AAAAAAAAALc/u7n4lMlzBqI/s1600-h/quills.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326426703139046450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SetE3arCBDI/AAAAAAAAALc/u7n4lMlzBqI/s400/quills.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">Photo courtesy of sky_mitch</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><div align="center">Poets Contest Corner </div><div align="center">announces the 2nd Round of submissions </div><div align="center">for its </div><div align="center">Poetry Competition</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Winner will receive $200 Cash Prize</div><br /><br /><div align="left">If there are enough entries, there will be two runners up who will each receive $50 Cash Prize</div><br />Poets Contest Corner welcomes you and invites you to join in our endeavor to bring a little unexpected income by way of your poetry. In these hard times, when the dominant breadwinners may have lost their jobs and the price of everything has gone up, we hope that we may be helpful in a small way.<br /><br /><div align="left"></div>Our intention is to begin small, and with the success of our first rounds, we hope to increase the amount of cash prizes and the number of winners.<br /><br /><div align="left">Please talk it up on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, College Dorms and classrooms— anywhere you can network. The reading fee is only $5, which is very reasonable. This fee is also used to cover our advertising costs. So, the more you pass the word, the less advertising we need to pay for, which means the more the cash prizes can be. We do not want to up the entry fee, as we wish this to be as affordable as possible to all.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left">(Note: Get your entries in early. The judges keep them in the order received. Those received early are those that remain in front of them the longest. )<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div>Check their <a href="http://www.poetscontestcorner.blogspot.com/">website</a> for Rules and Guidelines:<br /><br />Should you have any questions, please email <a href="mailto:poetscontestcorner@embarqmail.com">Poets Contest Corner</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-33391355590162042642009-03-31T20:37:00.000-07:002009-03-31T21:09:20.516-07:00Writers's Conference<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SdLorA4AO1I/AAAAAAAAALU/-diXdoH41Ns/s1600-h/workshop.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319569935544892242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 80px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SdLorA4AO1I/AAAAAAAAALU/-diXdoH41Ns/s400/workshop.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> photo courtesy of Ant Smith</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span>Looking for a writers' conference. I found this one too late to attend (already had plans), but it's not too late for you. It's <a href="http://www.madanthonycbf.org/">The Mad Anthony Writers' Conference</a> in Hamilton, OH., April 17-19.<br /><br />It features <a href="http://leelofland.com/">Lee Lofland</a>, award winning crime and mystery, 30 multi-genre workshops, publisher and agent appointments, manuscript critiques and a Writers Police Academy (how cool is that???)<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/">Jane Friedman</a>, Publisher and Editorial Director of <a href="http://www.fwmedia.com/community/writing">Writer's Digest</a> will be there. I recently attended a workshop led by Jane, and she was fantastic. I learned so much about platform-building, social networking and what turns an editor off. Plus, she is so approachable.<br /><br />The early bird price has expired (sorry, for not posting sooner), but if you postmark by April 15th, it's still as bargain at $125.<br /><br />This one is definitely going on my calendar for next year. If anyone has attended this conference, please let us know details.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-47788091308997600662009-03-30T20:26:00.000-07:002009-03-30T20:42:20.843-07:00Short Story Contest--April 1st Deadline<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SdGPiyGMHGI/AAAAAAAAALM/mmPxpqgtfQE/s1600-h/mama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319190462627322978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/SdGPiyGMHGI/AAAAAAAAALM/mmPxpqgtfQE/s400/mama.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of hint of plum<br /></span><br />Hey all you hip mamas hop over to <a href="http://hipmamazine.com/fictioncontest.html">hip Mama</a> and check out their contest. Top prize is $100. The theme is open but a mama must be in the story. So get on your computer and get those keys aclacking. You can churn out a story in 2500 words or less. Come on, you know you can.<br />Oh, there's an entry fee and a possiblity to get your story critiqued for an additional charge.<br /><br />Sorry for the short notice, but the deadline is April 1st so hurry. You can pay by Paypal and submit online. so check out the <a href="http://hipmamazine.com/fictioncontest.html">guidelines</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7784018323968909266.post-79049634147336251162009-03-27T22:02:00.001-07:002009-03-27T22:21:32.528-07:00Earth Hour<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sc2zmsvqTuI/AAAAAAAAALE/nn1FF0saFxQ/s1600-h/arch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318104212421889762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZphgtyggbZU/Sc2zmsvqTuI/AAAAAAAAALE/nn1FF0saFxQ/s400/arch.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">photo courtesy of rustybrick</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span>Want to save some energy? Join a cause? Do something good for the planet? Tonight from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.(local time), you can participate in Earth Hour. Simply turn off your lights for an hour. You can join millions of participants in conserving energy for this third annual event. Read about it <a href="http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/236/flick-your-switch-off-for-earth-hour.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Can you do it? Will you be able to shut off TV, turn off the computer, read by candlelight? The Gateway Arch in my home city of St. Louis will be dousing the lights along with other such notable landmarks as the Sydney Opera House, Las Vegas Strip, the Golden Gate Bridge.<br /><br />And while we're on the subject did you know that many states are participating in an Energy Star Tax Holiday? If you live in Missouri, the <a href="http://dor.mo.gov/news/2009/EkFZFEVl.htm">Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday</a> runs from April 19 -25. State sales tax will be lifted for qualified Energy Star appliances.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2