I'm Definitely a Pantser

I'm a pantser, not a plotter. It's taken this fourth book for me to realize I'm not going to change in that regard.

I wrote over 500 new words last night. Then proceeded to delete 1000 older words. And you know what? I didn't have a problem with that. That's what happens when you have a breakthrough and realize what you wrote previously won't work.

Granted, I saved the previous version of my manuscript and started a new version before I hit the delete key (in other words – my file GhostlyLiaison10.doc became GhostlyLiaison11.doc). This is something I always do, just in case I need to go back and use something I had deleted earlier (and yes, I'm up to 11 – that's how many times I've gone back and changed something significant).

I'm in a happy place, though. This story is starting to work for me. It's not a struggle any longer. Maybe because I know my characters better now. It's a VERY rough draft, but it's getting written – that's the important part. And once I hit THE END, I look forward to fixing it – giving it meat (like I've mentioned before – I enjoy all aspects of writing – at least I have so far).

But plot the book? There's no way I could do that. I just can't think that far in advance. One or two scenes at a time are all that's in me, along with a vague idea of how the book will end. How I get there is the adventure. And I'm always amazed at how my characters take me on this journey. It's their story, after all.

Am I motivated to write? Heck yes. I can't wait to see how it all plays out!

Some of it was Good, Some of it was Bad

That about sums up my weekend!

The Good: Wrote nearly 2000 words on Sunday, surpassing my weekly word goal. And the next scene is gelling in my head just fine. All's good on the writing front!

The Bad: I realized we need to replace our freezer. The door doesn't always shut completely, even when you think you shut it. When I opened it Saturday, the interior was covered in ice and the frozen pizzas were thawed (but the meat was still frozen, thank God!). If my side-by-side refrigerator could hold the pizzas, we wouldn't need the freezer (we don't fill it like we used to), so I'm considering a refrigerator that has the freezer on the bottom. The old refrigerator will go where the freezer is now and the freezer will go bye-bye. Now we just have to wait for a sale.

The Good: Our Wayne Warriors (high school football) won on Friday night in front of a small, cold crowd. That's what usually happens on an away game and it's raining. But we were there (up until the 3rd quarter when it was apparent we would win) getting wet and shivering. Yes, we're nuts!

The Bad: The Buckeyes (NCAA), Steelers (NFL), and Rams (NFL) stink! It was pitiful to watch their games. But I will continue to watch because that's the kind of fan I am.

The Good: The Detroit Lions beat the Dallas Cowboys. Not that I'm a fan of either, but I really hate the Cowboys and I'd like to see the Lions go undefeated. At least until they play one of my teams (and I don't think they are, but I've been known to be wrong before).

The Bad: We had to finally turn on the furnace (summer is over – boo hoo), but at least I wasn't the one who caved. That's not to say I wouldn't have done it, just that he got there first!

So… How was your weekend?

The Versatile Blogger Award

I received an award. I've received this award in the past, but heck – I'll take it again. Who says you can't receive it more than once? If actors can receive more than one Oscar or Emmy, and musicians more than one Grammy, why can't bloggers receive more than one blogger award? Right?

As with all awards, this one comes with rules.

1. Thank and link to the person who nominates you – Thank you, Linda. Please visit her blog (she wouldn't mind you following, either). She usually posts some funny "groaners". You'll just have to visit her to see what I mean. You can find her here: http://ldmasterson-author.blogspot.com/

2. Share seven random facts about you

• I've got a crush on Alex O'Loughlin. Not the "I want to date him" kind, because – hello! – I’m happily married. No, this crush is because he resembles my character Jack VanAllen to a T – and I envisioned Jack long before I ever really paid attention to Alex. Now I want to watch everything he's acted in. I'm posting his picture here again, because I just like looking at him. It's sad, really, but I can't help it!
• I fight changes on my computer, or anything kind of technology change (Facebook and Yahoo! are starting to get on my nerves). I use my laptop to write and read blogs. If it ain't easy to use, I usually don't. But once I discover something cool, then I'm all over it. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything cool about Word 2010, so I'll stick with Word 2003 for as long as I can. If that means I keep Vista, I keep Vista. I pray my laptop NEVER breaks!
• I've always wanted to sky dive. Ever since I was a teenager. Maybe someday I will (on one of those tandem jumps – with an experienced jumper, of course). I think it would be the greatest thrill ever!
• I love roller coasters! Anything up and down and going fast – yea!! I want to experience it. I love the thrill. We'll be going to Kings Island next month (for a work related function). I hope to ride several of them numerous times (provided the lines aren't long). It better not rain!
• I hate twirling rides. They make me sick. Tea Cups at Disneyland? Please don't rotate the handle! Those rides where the floor drops out from under you? No way, not unless you want to clean up the mess.
• I hate to cook. Well, maybe I should clarify. I hate to cook meals that have more than one item (casseroles I can handle…usually). I have a sign in my kitchen that states "I only have a kitchen because it came with the house." So true, so true. I'll NEVER get rid of that sign.
• I'll probably jinx myself here – but I have NEVER received a speeding ticket. That's not to say I haven't been pulled over for speeding. That happened only once. I was late to school (college) and I had an out of state license (California driving in Alabama). I think she couldn't find the number, but she also saw my school books on the seat, and let me go with a warning. Whew!!

3. Pass this Award along to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it! – Well, I got 7, and some of them aren't so new to me. If you've already received this award, you can repeat as I have, or ignore it. I will NOT be offended!

• Kristi – Random Daily Thoughts, a journey through life and writerdom   http://kristichestnutt.blogspot.com/
• Lizzie – Bttrfliesz Are Free http://bttrfly29.blogspot.com/
• Jennette Powell http://www.jenpowell.com/content/blog/
• Tonya Kappes http://tonyakappes.blogspot.com/
• Todd – The Verge http://the-verge-trm.blogspot.com/
• Natalie – Indulge Yourself http://nataliedamschroder.blogspot.com/
• Carey – My Own Brand of Madness http://careycorp.blogspot.com/

Go and visit these lovely blogs and maybe follow them if you're so inclined! I'm sure they would appreciate it. Now I'm off to notify them of their award.

100 Days to 2012

Can you believe there are only 100 days left in the year? Do you care?

Would you like to accomplish anything specific before 2012 arrives?

I do. I want to finish the first draft of Ghostly Liaison. It's doable if I quit fidgeting. Especially now that the book has formed in my head and scenes are starting to play out (Yay!). The writing is flowing once again, so I'm taking advantage. Well, I'm trying anyway!

I also want to get back to the gym. And I will as soon as I get the go-ahead from my doctor (2 more weeks!!). I've been away too long. It's time I went back. Now that my husband is serious about losing weight, I think it will be easier for me to start back up. We'll see if I can make it part of my routine before the year ends. At least the gym will be less crowded now compared to the beginning of the year.

That's about all I really care about accomplishing in the next 100 days. Wish me luck! And if you want to share what you'd like to accomplish before year-end, go ahead. I love comments!

Television and the Emmys

I used to be a TV junkie. The Emmys was the mark of the new TV season and I looked forward to it because that meant my shows were coming back or there were new ones I couldn't wait to discover.

When I watched the Emmys, I probably knew most of the shows up for an award because I had watched them. When the VCR was developed, I was in seventh heaven. I could watch more! What I wouldn't have given for a DVR back then.

Boy, how times have changed.

Don't get me wrong. I love my DVR and it gets full – really fast. And that's because I don't watch it every night. I'm losing interest. I have my favorites and will probably watch them until the series ends (i.e. Bones, NCIS, Castle, True Blood, Dexter, to name a few), but any new shows are scrutinized. They must be ENTERTAINING before I add them to the list. I'm not going to waste my precious time watching something that is just OKAY.

Why? Because I like to write too much.

There was a time when the cable went out, I'd feel lost. I'd be upset. Not anymore. I could write and read all day long and I'd be happy. So why don't I stop cold turkey? I'm tempted, let me tell you. Then a new show comes along and I want to watch (i.e. Being Human). I will probably always watch TV. I'm too weak to ignore it.

And the Emmys? I still like to watch it. Old habits are hard to break.