Whoo-hoo! A four-day weekend looms ahead.
At first I pictured four days of writing, but then reality checked in.
I might get some writing done on Thursday; I just don’t know when. The husband and I have some errands that will take up the morning and we plan on attending a movie (“Up in the Air”) in the afternoon. By 4 or 5pm, we’re on our way to Columbus to spend New Year’s Eve with our friend.
Friday is hopeful. OSU plays at 4:15 (The Rose Bowl) and I like watching the Rose Parade in the morning. Those are the only two things for the day that I have scheduled. But if it’s quiet, I should edit Book 1. I entered it into another contest and will need to submit it by Jan 23. Those first 25 pages need to be PERFECT. Know what I mean?
The rest of the weekend will be normal (hair appt, laundry, football, & stuff). I will find time to write, though. I must. Ideas for the ending are starting to form in my head. I should at least add them to my summary or I’m sure to forget. Yes – I have found that plotting is a whole lot better than pantsing. If I had plotted out Book 1 to begin with, I probably would have had an easier time editing it. But what did I know? It was my first (and you always learn from your first of ANYTHING).
I finished the Dexter book yesterday and started "Under the Dome" by Stephen King today. Maybe I'll find time to read this weekend (ha ha ha ha).
If I don't get back here before Friday - Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Where I Write (Sometimes)
Sometimes I amaze myself at where I can write. I apparently don’t need it to be quiet when I write something new (editing is something entirely different, though).
Yesterday the Steelers played at 1pm. The same time as the Bengals. Therefore, it wasn’t on our TV at home. That meant going to Buffalo Wild Wings (a favorite place of ours) to watch the game (since we didn’t sign up for the NFL package). On these days, the place is packed with Steelers fans and it gets noisy. Now, I enjoy the game, but I don’t have to actually watch everything. Most of the time I’m bored (too much talking – which you can’t hear – and too many commercials). So I brought my laptop to write.
That’s right – I wrote at B-Dubs. And I wrote over 1,000 words. This wasn’t the first time I’ve done it, either. I’m discovering that white noise can be a great thing. Now I don’t mind spending 4-5 hours there when I know I can sit back and write (and not feel guilty, either).
By the way – the Steelers won (yea). Play-off hopes are still alive (barely).
Yesterday the Steelers played at 1pm. The same time as the Bengals. Therefore, it wasn’t on our TV at home. That meant going to Buffalo Wild Wings (a favorite place of ours) to watch the game (since we didn’t sign up for the NFL package). On these days, the place is packed with Steelers fans and it gets noisy. Now, I enjoy the game, but I don’t have to actually watch everything. Most of the time I’m bored (too much talking – which you can’t hear – and too many commercials). So I brought my laptop to write.
That’s right – I wrote at B-Dubs. And I wrote over 1,000 words. This wasn’t the first time I’ve done it, either. I’m discovering that white noise can be a great thing. Now I don’t mind spending 4-5 hours there when I know I can sit back and write (and not feel guilty, either).
By the way – the Steelers won (yea). Play-off hopes are still alive (barely).
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Movies Galore
It almost seemed like I spent the weekend at the movies. That's the one part of the holidays I love, though. Movies take to you another place and time and I love being entertained, too.
On Christmas Eve, the family went to see "Avatar". I had absolutely no idea what the movie was about, but the kids wanted to see it, and it got good reviews, so we went. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great movie - a "keeper" as we call it here (meaning we'll buy it when it comes on DVD). The special effects were pretty spectacular, too.
On Christmas, the family went to see "Sherlock Holmes". It was one we were anticipating to see. What a disappointment. My daughter and I both nodded off a couple of times in the movie. None of us cared for it and I felt like I wasted money watching that. Oh well, it wasn't the first movie that bombed in our holiday movie viewing, and it probably won't be the last.
On the day after Christmas, we (being the family minus the son and adding a friend) went and saw "It's Complicated". As I was looking up the movie times, I noticed the film was based in Santa Barbara. I was delighted and hoped to see lots of scenes of the city I grew up in. There weren't lots of scenes, but enough to make me homesick. Anyway, we enjoyed the film. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. Thoroughly entertained! I think it's a "keeper".
Now, maybe my idea of a good movie is different from reviewers, but I think the movie is good if I'm entertained and want to see it again. That's how I view my reading, too. I like to be entertained. I like to be taken for a ride. When the story starts getting bogged down with a lot of description, I lose interest. It's how I write, too. Maybe I don't have enough discription, and it's something I keep asking my readers about, but I try not to bog the story down with useless information. The reader should have an active imagination (or else they don't read, do they?) and be able to picture the scene in their head without me detailing it to death. Or am I wrong about that?
All I know is that I wrote something I like to read. I just hope to find an agent who likes it, too. Here's hoping that happens in 2010, because I am going to make a real effort at finding that agent.
On Christmas Eve, the family went to see "Avatar". I had absolutely no idea what the movie was about, but the kids wanted to see it, and it got good reviews, so we went. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great movie - a "keeper" as we call it here (meaning we'll buy it when it comes on DVD). The special effects were pretty spectacular, too.
On Christmas, the family went to see "Sherlock Holmes". It was one we were anticipating to see. What a disappointment. My daughter and I both nodded off a couple of times in the movie. None of us cared for it and I felt like I wasted money watching that. Oh well, it wasn't the first movie that bombed in our holiday movie viewing, and it probably won't be the last.
On the day after Christmas, we (being the family minus the son and adding a friend) went and saw "It's Complicated". As I was looking up the movie times, I noticed the film was based in Santa Barbara. I was delighted and hoped to see lots of scenes of the city I grew up in. There weren't lots of scenes, but enough to make me homesick. Anyway, we enjoyed the film. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. Thoroughly entertained! I think it's a "keeper".
Now, maybe my idea of a good movie is different from reviewers, but I think the movie is good if I'm entertained and want to see it again. That's how I view my reading, too. I like to be entertained. I like to be taken for a ride. When the story starts getting bogged down with a lot of description, I lose interest. It's how I write, too. Maybe I don't have enough discription, and it's something I keep asking my readers about, but I try not to bog the story down with useless information. The reader should have an active imagination (or else they don't read, do they?) and be able to picture the scene in their head without me detailing it to death. Or am I wrong about that?
All I know is that I wrote something I like to read. I just hope to find an agent who likes it, too. Here's hoping that happens in 2010, because I am going to make a real effort at finding that agent.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
I'm Ready & Free to Write
It’s cold outside. Hovering around 30 degrees. And the wind is blowing. I think I hate winter.
This morning it snowed, but we won’t be having a white Christmas. Apparently the temps will rise into the forties on Thursday and Friday, and rain is forecasted. So it will be a wet Christmas.
The only time I like snow is when I don’t have to drive in it. I had to drive in it this morning and let me tell you, I freaked out all during the 20-some miles from home to work. I drive mostly interstate, but still. Ice is ice. If it weren’t for the fact I hated my last job, I’d still be driving only six miles to work. Short commutes are worth something, but not enough to stay in that job.
So now I must drive long distances in weather that can be questionable during this time of year. Wish I were published already. Then I could quit. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening for a few years, yet (but I do see it happening – so that’s good, right?).
Came up with a better query yesterday. Refining it some more today. Need feedback from the daughter. I’m just happy I found the angle I was looking for. Why it took me so long is another matter.
I got to write last night (happy happy joy joy). The shopping is done (except for the groceries – that will happen tomorrow morning) and the wrapping is finished. I’m READY (yea!). The husband had some things he wanted to take care of last night, so I jumped all over the free time that was handed to me and wrote. Got two new pages, too (almost up to 26,000 words). I think it helped that I figured out how my query should be for Book 1 (since I’m writing the sequel in Book 2). For a while there, I thought I was going to have to re-think Book 1 and re-write a majority of it. All because I was going at the query the wrong way. UGH! It’s amazing how such a little thing can bring such dire thoughts.
Oh well, enough rambling. Merry Christmas! Keep warm.
This morning it snowed, but we won’t be having a white Christmas. Apparently the temps will rise into the forties on Thursday and Friday, and rain is forecasted. So it will be a wet Christmas.
The only time I like snow is when I don’t have to drive in it. I had to drive in it this morning and let me tell you, I freaked out all during the 20-some miles from home to work. I drive mostly interstate, but still. Ice is ice. If it weren’t for the fact I hated my last job, I’d still be driving only six miles to work. Short commutes are worth something, but not enough to stay in that job.
So now I must drive long distances in weather that can be questionable during this time of year. Wish I were published already. Then I could quit. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening for a few years, yet (but I do see it happening – so that’s good, right?).
Came up with a better query yesterday. Refining it some more today. Need feedback from the daughter. I’m just happy I found the angle I was looking for. Why it took me so long is another matter.
I got to write last night (happy happy joy joy). The shopping is done (except for the groceries – that will happen tomorrow morning) and the wrapping is finished. I’m READY (yea!). The husband had some things he wanted to take care of last night, so I jumped all over the free time that was handed to me and wrote. Got two new pages, too (almost up to 26,000 words). I think it helped that I figured out how my query should be for Book 1 (since I’m writing the sequel in Book 2). For a while there, I thought I was going to have to re-think Book 1 and re-write a majority of it. All because I was going at the query the wrong way. UGH! It’s amazing how such a little thing can bring such dire thoughts.
Oh well, enough rambling. Merry Christmas! Keep warm.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Reading
Even during the holidays and writing, I do read. Every day at work, during lunch, I read. I usually have a book in my purse, because there comes a time when I'm sitting around waiting - so I read. So in the process of all that reading, I decided to start documenting it, because frankly, I forget. How many books did I read this year? I can't remember, but I know it's a lot! So, maybe I can use this to track my reading. And if you want to tell me what you've read, help yourself. Maybe I'll find a new author (as if my TBR pile isn't big enough).
Anyway, the current book in process (started last Thursday) is "Dexter by Design" by Jeff Lindsay. I read the first three Dexter books and enjoyed them. Got my husband to read them, too (well, he's currently reading book 3). We got hooked on the series, and when I saw they were based on books, well... That's how I came to find the Sookie books by Charlaine Harris (by watching "True Blood") - and I've read all of them already.
Anyway, the current book in process (started last Thursday) is "Dexter by Design" by Jeff Lindsay. I read the first three Dexter books and enjoyed them. Got my husband to read them, too (well, he's currently reading book 3). We got hooked on the series, and when I saw they were based on books, well... That's how I came to find the Sookie books by Charlaine Harris (by watching "True Blood") - and I've read all of them already.
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