Last Year Was a Start. Now...

When I wasn't working on or around the house, and when I wasn't selling on Ebay or planning and participating in parties, I was reading and writing - my two favorite pastimes.  As you may well know, I loved reading as a kid.  Writing came a little later, but I really got into that as well.

I found some old poems that I'd worked on when I was younger, some short stories with illustrations, and even a book I'd begun.  It's funny to look back at what I did then with new eyes, more educated eyes, and see things that I could have done better.  Thinking about it though, I wouldn't want to touch it. Why?  Because that world was seen through younger, more innocent eyes and it's interesting to see how much I've grown.  Granted, I'm what I considered ancient at that age, but if there had been zero growth, that would be a very scary thing.

Reading

I did do a lot of reading through the months in 2013, though it wasn't as much as I'd wanted.  People will call me crazy for saying that, because I actually read thirty-six books from cover to cover.  I also began four books and then set them aside - they may or may not be picked up again.  Three books a month is a good average to be sure, especially considering how life did tend to interrupt my chance at adventure through the written word.  I just wish that I'd been able to read more.

I hate finishing a book that I've immersed myself in so much so that I can visualize every detail.  Those stories are both good and bad for me.  When it's so good that I've lost track of the pages and then it ends, I feel a bit bereft.  Like I've lost a friend to talk to. 

When it's a series, I immediately move on to the next book, praying that I am not let down by the author's next decision. At times, I find that it isn't a complete series and I must wait in agony with other lovers of the series.  We agonize and want to question the author every single day.  Some do.  It's annoying; don't do it.



Then, there's the disappointments - the books that I saw countless others cheer about and praise.  You know who you are, and millions of you know exactly what I am talking about.  The book series which shall not be named, at least not by me or those that adore me.  Those people who don't know any better who cheered and praised said that they'd never read anything so good. Really?

I kept reading because I thought that I must have been missing something, but by the time it ended, I was lost as to why I even bothered to continue. I sat back in my chair and wondered what kind of reading these people could have possibly done in the past that this was the best thing they'd ever read.  Honestly, did they live in a place that had no library?

On a happier note, I did get to read draft after draft of a friend's new book series, gave my two cents worth, and prayed that she didn't dislike what I had to say.  She wrote it, allowed me to read through it and comment, and then - being the brave soul that she is - sent it out to a publisher. I am happy to say that she is going to be a published author early on in 2014 and I can not wait!  I will be telling everyone about her story, so stay tuned.

Now if only I could be that brave.

Writing

I wrote quite a bit in 2013.  I started working on my own series in June and got about eight chapters into the first book - with snippets of information for books two and three - when it all went quiet.

I was not at all happy with that turn of events until I heard a few new voices and decided to take notes. Those notes turned into structured sentences which then turned into chapters for a new book.  Thirty-two days later, I had twenty-three chapters and the beginnings for two other books.  Of course, if you've read the blog, you already know about the book.  How it's turning into a series, I haven't the foggiest except to say that the characters are speaking to me.  I enjoy them immensely!

What you don't know is that I began writing another book at that exact same time.  It was much darker and led down a road that I'm not too sure I want to go down.  It began to drain me emotionally, and I didn't know that I was ready for that yet, so it too went on a back burner. 

If you recall, November was National Novel Writing Month and I achieved the goal of 50,000 words to begin a new book.  Yes, that's right, begin.  It has its bones, but it needs to be revisited, cleaned up, and added to.  Those words didn't come easily, so I'm going to give it some breathing room and touch it again later in 2014.

Moving on to 2014

What I need to do, is revisit the book that I wrote in August and finalize it.  I need to write its synopsis, write a query letter, and get it out to indie publishers and see who bites.  Hopefully, someone bites.  The reason I am going for the small publishing houses is because I don't know that I want to worry about trying to find a literary agent to shop my book for me.  If this venture goes well, I may consider one in the future, but for now, I'm going to sit and bite my nails down to the nubs  wait patiently to see if someone wants to take on my characters.

I woke up one morning a couple of weeks ago and went about my normal routine when I got the sudden urge to sit down and begin writing.  Before I knew it, I had a brief rundown of a story, the preamble, and a few paragraphs in my main character's voice. 

This year is going to be a good year for writing.  I have plots down "on paper" and waiting for me to let the rest of the words flow.  I can't wait to see what happens to these new characters once their given life.

I hope that your year is a productive one in that you produce much joy and happiness in your own life. 

Read more to adventure more!  It's the ultimate staycation!

 
   

Books That Have Left a Mark

Recently, someone posted a little chain on Facebook about the ten books that have affected you.  Y'all it was so very difficult to choose just ten!  Do you know how many books I've read?  Well, of course you don't, but I certainly do, and it's no small number!  It's not in the hundreds, it's in the thousands, maybe passing into the tens of thousands.

I have always been a reader.  As soon as I could read, I was all over the printed word.  It didn't matter if it was paperback, hardcover, newspaper, or pamphlet, I read everything.  I LOVE reading!

When it came down to it, I did what I was told to do and chose ten.  The first ten books that popped into my mind when down in my post.  Some were more recent reads than others, but there were a couple that dated back to elementary school.  That's how profound an effect they had on me.

So my list went a little something like this:

Six Months to Live by Lurlene McDaniel was a difficult read for me at such a young age.  I believe I was ten when I first picked it up and the book was teenage angst, mixed with an illness that, back then, was a death sentence.  I laughed and cried more reading that book than any other since.  I can't tell you how many times I read it, because it was a go-to anytime I needed a good cry.  I still have that book, but recently loaned it to my fifteen year old niece.  I can't wait to see how it's affected her.  I only just found out that the author actually wrote four more books about the same character.  I will have to take the time to catch up.

Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene was my favorite checkout in the school and public libraries.  I always imagined myself partnering with Nancy Drew to solve a case.  I find myself wanting to go back and reread every single one of them, but I have since matured in age - in other words, I'm old! - to read the works of Tess Gerritsen, John Grisham, and James Patterson.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was a good coming of age story.  I loved Jo!  I thought she was bright, daring, and fun.  I felt her pain, her confusion, and want.  I only wished I could be just like her.

Persuasion by Jane Austen taught me that love transcends time.  Mister Right Now may not be what I'd want in the present, but he could one day be what I both wanted and needed.  Everything happens for a reason, even if that reason creates anxiety, pain, and wonder.

The Fish Book by Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen, and Harry Paul was a lesson in work ethic and etiquette.  It showed how my own attitude at work could affect those around me and create a toxic environment.  It was why I tried to keep a positive outlook no matter how bad a day I had or how rudely I'd been treated in a given day.  It probably saved my ass more times than not while I worked retail.  A sales manager that I'd worked for at Incredible Universe (gah, I'm old!), introduced me to the book and took me to a conference where the authors were speaking.  It was the one of the great experiences I'd had as a twenty-something adult.

Cubicles by Camika Spencer was given to me to read by a district manager of mine.  I adored that woman not only because she supported me, but she understood me.  This book makes you question how far you'd be willing to go to get ahead.  Some do it with integrity and dignity, while others lie, cheat, and steal their way to the top.  It was a good read and I identified with the book because of my own experience in corporate America.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert was an awakening on a personal level.  I had created my own toxic environment in denying myself my own happiness.  I'd found love, married the love of my life in 2002, but had been poisoning our lives with doubt and self-loathing.  I had to fix myself in order to save what was precious to me.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and yes it was made into a movie, but I read the book first and loved it!  The book didn't translate as well to the screen because you missed out on a lot of Jacob's antics.  The struggles that young man went through and the cantankerous antics of the elder version of him were enough to warm any heart.  I often laughed at his inner thoughts in dealing with his nurse and adored him all the more.  The elder Jankowski reminded me so much of my own grandfather.

Ellis Island Interviews by Peter Coan was eye-opening.  To read the stories of what many of our ancestors went through to get to America.  Why these people left their homelands was, in some cases, terrifying.  I am the great-great granddaughter of Irish immigrants and was doing genealogical research when I found this book.  It drew me in and I wondered if any of my immigrant ancestors had similar stories that had been lost over the years.

Geoducks are for Lovers by Daisy Prescott was so much fun to read.  I've read it twice so far and have enjoyed it both times.  It's a good read for those of us whom have long left our college years and may be going through life a little differently than we'd originally planned.  I easily identified with the main character who made me laugh with all her little anxieties though she tried to keep an outward appearance of calm.

A picture from a small section of one of my bookshelves.
Yes, I am a book hoarder and damn proud of it.

If you haven't read a few of these, or any of these, I certainly would recommend them all to you.

First Time NaNoWriMo Participant - The End

Well, what do you know? I did it!

50,317 Words - WINNER!

That's right!  I actually did it!  If you've read the progress reports in past posts, then you know that there were quite a few days that I had struggled through.  I didn't think I was going to make it and I wasn't alone.  I saw that there were a large number of people having the same trials I was.

My biggest obstacle was my own mind.  I doubted the path that my characters were leading me down.  I doubted my own ability in steering them through the challenges they faced.

I'm sure other writers can relate.  I've seen a few of my favorites give interviews or blog about similar issues.  I can keep telling myself to let go of the fear and doubt, but it has a way of sneaking in through the nooks and crannies and planting seeds that can take root and feed.

Thanks to a great amount of poking and prodding by some very key people, I surpassed the goal with hours to spare.  Six of them to be a bit more precise.

Here's the rub.

I'm not done!

I have 50,000+ words on a book that I need to add to in order to complete it.  I have a strong foundation to work from and characters that I have come to know and actually enjoy!  Well, except for one.  There is one secondary in particular that I'd love to kill off, but I think I'll just lock him up in a cell for a long while.  He might even have a limp.   Oh! Maybe he'll learn a lesson in basic human kindness from his cellmate.  Or he'll be fully schooled on obsessive possessive behaviors by an unwelcome stalker.

I had already decided that if I didn't get my 50k, I was going to continue on no matter what.  It was more about setting the goal, and making sure that I achieved it - right along with the other hundreds of thousands of participants.  I had only myself to blame if it didn't work out.

I could blame any number of things for not attacking the goal every single day, but the truth would have been that I didn't really apply myself.  I would have known that I hadn't from the numerous times I'd procrastinated on various sites.  I need only look at my Facebook feed, Pinterest boards, Tumblr, or Twitter.  They had all aided me in ignoring my writing altogether.  It wasn't their fault exactly, they didn't know.  I used them to hide away from the very people I'd promised that I would write about.  Shame on me.

So, now what?

Now, I finish what I had begun on November 1, 2013 and make sure that my character's story is ready to go out for review.  I also have the draft I wrote in August/September that I need to go over just once more before deciding whom to send it to.

If anything happens with either of these works, I will be sure to let you know here, and on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter.

NaNoWriMo Progress Report - Week Three

Week three, I mastered the art of procrastination.

I did everything in my power to avoid my MC story because he I was talking me myself into a circle.  Rather than combat him the issue - because I hate confrontation, don't ya know - I ignored everything that had anything to do with writing.

I was extra diligent in my cleaning, I gave my dog the extra cuddles he wanted, took a nap or two or four, watched some extra shows, and even recorded some things I probably never would have watched if I hadn't recorded them.  And yes, I took to Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, and even Ebay to get away from writing my NaNoWriMo Novel.

And now how do I feel?  Panicked!  Because at the end of week three, I was 5k words behind goal and am extremely busy week ahead.

Let's hope that the final week, sees me through to getting to that 50k mark!

I apologize for keeping this short and sweet, but, well, I should be writing a novel!

SIDE NOTE

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you that are celebrating on the 28th! Eat lots of good food and then diet on Monday to get ready for the next big holiday!

The Art of Writing

Is it an art?

I believe so and I'm not alone.

It takes an artist to be able to put into words, what they see in their mind, and then make you visualize it.  The picture they've painted on the wall that is your brain, is so deliciously perfect that you want to reach out and touch it.  The funny thing about that is that most times, the resulting image is different for everyone.  

For example, if a writer were to describe a handsome white male, with short, unruly brown hair, a jaw that bore stubble to make any woman giggle at the feel of it against her cheek, and pink lips so kissable that it was hard to keep away from him, who would you picture?  

Someone had to come to mind.  Maybe an actor you've seen and dreamt of.  (The moment I typed "unruly hair", I know who some of you chose, but I'd be willing to bet, that he's not the one I was imagining.)  Or was it the guy down the street that always smiles and waves at you as you pass each other?  What about that guy at work who looks like he could easily be on the cover of GQ?

You see the writer did the same thing that you did, but in reverse.  They had someone in mind when they were describing your new fictional boyfriend or girlfriend or best friend, only the description is just vague enough that you can place anyone you want as that character.  Why?  Because it makes them more real, drawing you deeper into the story.  Even though the love interest may not look like you, you want to be them.  Why?  Because unlike most of the guys you've come across, he's romantic, he's chivalrous, he knows how to protect you, and he knows how to turn you on.  

Yes, I went there and you know why.  

If you don't know why...keep reading.

If a writer describes a hard-nosed, voluptuous woman, with long, flowing brown hair, pouty red lips, and looked like she could drop you on your rear in a split second, who do you think of then?

They could have been describing the barista at Starbucks, the girl across the way who's always giving you the evil eye, or an actress who's known for kicking tail.  Everyone conjures up a different image.

Again, you were drawn into the story, because you could picture this person.  You know them.  If this individual just happens to be someone you know and dislike, what happens to that story that you promised you'd read because it had been on your TBR list for months?  For some of you, you put that story away. You give it one to two stars and then sell the book or even donate it.  

The moment you put a face with that character they may have become too real and seemed bitchier or more of a jerk because of it.  But if you were able to picture your ideal for that character, your flipping through pages as if your life depended on the outcome of the book.  Before you know it, it's morning and you have to work or go to school or get the kids ready or make breakfast for your spouse in three hours.

You could go to bed, but your mind is racing.  Will there be a sequel?  There has to be because you want to know more about what happened to your new friend, right?  You begin searching for the author's blog to see if there has been a sequel announced or if your character is going to make an appearance in a book related to a series the author is writing.

When nothing shows up, you want to hunt down the author and demand to know what happened and tell them that they just have to write more.  If there is an announcement you hound them or stalk every page you can find about them, waiting to hear about the next installment of that character's life.

Am I close?  

- A fellow tortured reader and future author you could have a love/hate relationship with

NaNoWriMo Progress Report - Week Two

Didn't I just post about week one?

This last week went by rather quickly, but I can proudly say that as of this posting, I broke through the halfway mark for NaNoWriMo!  That's right (or is that, write?)! I have passed the 25,000 word mark!

The way the first week went, I thought for sure that there would be no catching up.  Thanks to the encouragement of my writing sprint people at Coffee & a Good Book, my pre-reader, and a friend that wants to see me in print, I've made the first major milestone.

So, now what do I want to do?  Double it up!  I actually want to hit 50,000 by the end of week three.  I know, it's not necessary to have the 50,000 until the end of the month, but I figure that if I can do it early, I may have a full length story to tighten and begin editing by the end of the month.  Then, I will have two books to shop around with.

Honestly, I'm anxious to get back to book one and make sure that it is as clean as it could possibly be.  Alas, I have a goal.  I need to focus, get this second book out of my system, and then go back and see what I can do.  Or write another book.  I do have plot bunnies frantically hopping about.

Oh!  I began using Scrivener, and although I thought myself to be more of a lineal writer, I have to admit that being able to return to certain scenes without actually having to search for them, is an awesome feature.  Having everything easily accessible because it is on a "cork board" and ready for viewing, makes things even better.  I haven't even begun to learn all that the program has to offer, so I do look forward to it.

If you're a writer and are writing for NaNoWriMo, Scrivener is offering a free trial and 50% off when you hit the 50,000 word goal in time! It's a great offer.

No matter what your word count, just keep at it!  You can't succeed unless you try.  Nothing ever gets done, without effort.  Even if you only get a few thousand words by the end of the month, it is a start and you can write beyond November!

Good luck to you!  To all of us!

NaNoWriMo Progress Report - Week One

I wish I could say that the story flowed for me the entire week.  Truth is, I had to drag every word out of the deepest recesses of my brain.  I couldn't figure out what was holding it all back.  Then, a few nights ago, it clicked.  I was so focused on word count, that I wasn't creating anything.

I couldn't picture my characters.  I couldn't imagine them doing anything that they should have been doing.  They weren't doing their part in speaking with me either.  It was so frustrating.

The week started out alright.  The first 1800 words came out easily enough, but by the third day, I was more than 3000 words behind schedule.  I got to the point on day five, where I started avoiding the computer.  I tucked away my notepads, put the flash-drive away, and did everything I could to avoid the stinkin' keyboard.

Luckily, I have a friend that I've been writing with for years, who is very good at kicking my butt.  I also got into a group with a few other writers, and we're holding each other accountable.  It's been a great help.

Day five, I went to my NaNo page and found this little gem...

"At This Rate You Will Finish On December 16, 2013"

First thought was, "What?!?"

Then it was, "Oh, hell no!"

In the next two hours, I wrote over 1200 words.  Not quite at the speed of writing I was accustomed to, but it was coming out.

So where did I end up at the end of the week?  I was three full days behind schedule.  Am I worried?  I'm really not anymore.  I know what was holding me back and I'd also done a lot of research in that first week.

If I'm smart, I'll keep reminding myself of my own rules.

Where do I go from here?  Get in on those writing sprints, talk through my plot points that are sticking, and look at the picture of my dream cast and tell them that I need their help.  I'm looking forward to week two and can't wait to see how everyone else's stories are coming along.


If you're writing for NaNoWriMo, you may be feeling some of the same frustrations.  Feel free to voice them and get a conversation going.  Good luck to us all!