Random Musings

Unbelievable!

2012-01-13T00:00:00.002-05:00

I am exhausted so this will be a short post. The handheld game pictured on the left is the reason for my exhaustion. For years I have bought this game as a gift every time someone I know moved into a new home. Apparently, it has been awhile since I have purchased one because I was unaware that this item has been discontinued.

Horrified, I began numerous Internet searches sure that I could find one. Oh yeah, I did. A new, never been used ranges from $145.00 to $225.00. Foolish me put money into the stock market instead of scapping these up and hoarding them until a Yahtzee addict needed a fix. Used models average $55.00. Upon learning this I gently examined the last two units in my house. There was a moment I considered putting at least one up on eBay but quickly banished the thought from my head. Sadness crept over me as I realized my beloved handheld Yahtzee games may be nearing their life expectancy and therefore extinction.

I can only hope that a retro version will be issued sometime within the next 20 years and that my two will last until then. Of course by that time, my vision will be so bad that I may not be able to see the screen but I will hoard them for the next black market opportunity.

Agh! What Happened to my Waist?

2012-01-06T00:00:00.002-05:00

Yes, the holidays are finally over and the last cookie sits on a used once a year platter. I am waiting for someone to finish the cookie but no one wants it and I don't have the heart to throw it away. Of course all the good cookies have been gobbled up and the lone remain is an oatmeal raisin goodie and only one person in the house would eat it but for some reason has decided to leave it be.

Each family member has a choice of what type of treat they want and then we try one new cookie just to have something different on the table. The cookie democracy has worked well except next year poses a problem because the newly chosen shortbread was a huge hit and everyone wants it added to the cookie list and no one wants to give up their long-standing favorites.

I know Christmas is a year away but I have been mulling over this dilemma until I stepped on the scale, wept, and then tossed the scale out with the petrified Christmas tree. So what decision did I come to? No cookies next year--well except for the lone oatmeal raisin because I am sure it will still be around.

Resolutions -- Not!

2011-12-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

Saturday brings us to New Year's Eve. This holiday excites me the most because there is no shopping for others involved, I am tired of eating and so is the rest of the family so I do not have to cook, and the tree can finally come down and stop dropping its prickly needles on my carpet.

New Year's Eve is a time of reflection while New Year's Day is a time for resolutions. I do not make resolutions because I believe it puts too much pressure on a person when they are trying to embrace change.

So take it easy. Reflect and reward yourself for what you have accomplished this past year and open your arms to welcome the winds of change. I am not a superstitious person but have always believed that the frame of mind I am in when the new year rolls in will follow me throughout the rest of the year. So here is to positive thinking and may 2012 make me smile everyday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Winding Down

2011-12-23T00:00:00.002-05:00

And so it begins. The shopping is finished and the gifts are wrapped. This year I did something I never do, I shopped during Christmas week. Yes, I actually went into the malls and a few stores without so much as giving thought to what I would encounter. I was pleasantly surprised to find a convenient parking spot wherever I went and the crowds were not too bad. It felt good to get out amongst others and embrace some holiday cheer.

What I also realized is how close the end of 2011 is and how I must hunker down and bang out a manuscript worthy of submission. I know I have been slacking but it is considered research when one is not writing. Isn't it? I am not one for making resolutions...but wait a minute...I am getting ahead of myself. I am that excited to begin work on a new story, the problem is which one. I will use the remainder of 2011 to help me sort that out.

So, this week I will have cleaned the house only to mess it up again on Christmas morn as gift wrapping paper covers the carpet and cookie crumbs find their way into every nook and cranny of the living room set.

I wish you peace, love, and light as you embrace your respective holiday. And may your time be well spent with family and friends.

Music in the Air

2011-12-16T00:00:00.082-05:00

Christmas is approaching fast and my family is frantic because I refuse to tell them what I want for a gift. For some reason they do not believe that I do not want anything. The house is barely decorated. A naked tree stands in a crowded corner as lights and ornaments collect dust in the basement. It's not that I am a Scrooge but the fanfare of the holiday has lost its luster as the years go by. There is something about becoming an adult that diminished the magic of Christmas.

So this week I made a determined attempt to banish the scrooginess and give it my best to create a little magick. I vacuumed up the fallen pine needles and mentally switched gears. I lugged up the lights and tree top, all tested well except for one strand of lights so this year the tree will have to do with a little less brilliance.

As I wound the ancient strands of lights around the tree I began to hum, Celine Dion's, "The Magic of Christmas Day," thank you Dee Snider for writing such a beautiful song. I love that song (it is just slightly behind the Waitress's Christmas Wrapping, which is my all-time favorite Christmas song, even if only by seniority.) Hearing Celine's voice in my head made my heart a bit lighter and was getting me in the mood for the holiday. I checked the weather and Thursday promised to be warm enough to provide a pleasant day to hang some lights on the house.

It being too late in the night for an all out assault of decking the halls, I decided to hold off on dragging up the ornaments to save that feat for the next day. Not one to waste a moment, I decide to load my iPod with Christmas music. Thanks to numerous hard drive crashes, backups, and reinstalls, I find that I have umpteen copies of the same songs. No biggie, I choose display duplicates and discover over 2700 duplicates. I sit there staring at files and it comes to me. Yes, I do want something for Christmas after all. I want someone else to sit at my computer, go through my entire music library and delete all the duplicates--well, except for Celine and The Waitress's. Those two songs no matter how many dups there are can remain on my hard drive.

What is your favorite Christmas song?

'Tis the Season

2011-12-09T14:50:00.001-05:00

My family keeps asking me what I want for Christmas and my answer has been the same--nothing. Seriously, I do not need or want a thing. I have reached a point in my life were simplicity is key. My daughter is relentless and keeps bugging me for a clue. While I was in my neighborhood Barnes & Noble it suddenly came to me as I held open the door for someone who rushed through without so much as a nod.

Yes, I want someone to thank me when I do something nice as holding a door open so you can push in front of every customer in the store to be the first in line at the register. I quite think that we are all pressed for time. If you thank me, I promise to say, "Thank you" to you when you hold the door open for me. If you unable to hold a door open for me, at least do not swing it back because it no longer serves your purpose other than to smack me in the face.

Maybe it is age, or maybe the hectic stressful existence we are forced to live in. I hear many people complain how hard their lives are. Being third in line at a Starbucks does not seem to be a major life interruption to me. I guess I have low standards.

I do not like to write blog rants but the rudeness I have been encountering on my daily jaunts goes against how I was raised. It's a good thing my grandmother is not around to use the web as a sounding board.

I know that one cannot expect people to behave in the manner they want them to, but I refuse to buy into the negative lack of common courtesy. So I will continue to hold open a door and say "you're welcome" hoping you say "thank you." I will not cut in front of you on line to pay for an item, that I probably don't even need, because I do not think I am more important than you.

So what I want for Christmas is for people to be kinder, gentler, understanding, and patient. Trust me--someone has it worse off than you do. This may be a tall order but there is one thing I will accept from my family as a Christmas present; an enjoyable dinner prepared by all, lounging around the dining room table long after we have taken the last bite of food, and the dishes to be washed, dried, and put away because I am too cheap to buy a dishwasher.

Happy Holidays to all!

Day 3 and what?

2011-11-04T00:48:00.000-04:00

So I hit the ground running with NaNo 2011. Two days proved more than the minimum words needed to finish the challenge in time. I was so ahead that according to the convenient stat counter, I would be done with my novella in time to throw the turkey in the oven on Thanksgiving day (this would be greatly appreciated by my family) if I kept producing my two day average. And then day 3 arrived but the words didn't, well that is not entirely true 272 words were added to my NaNo count. I type this as day 4 breaks and I am obsessing over that fact that my writing buddies will peek at my stats (hey I peek at theirs) and smile as their numbers surpass mine. That's fine. That's what NaNo is all about. You have an off day and your buddies send words of encouragement to keep you going. You return the favor when their word count if off.

The problem with my story is the two whiny women my characters have become. I don't like whiny so I have to make something happen to them to toughen them up.

Hmm, I think the word count of this post has surpassed my 3rd day NaNo production. Oh, well priorities.

As Time Ticks By...

2011-10-25T23:14:00.000-04:00

For us writers, November brings us National Novel Writing Month, or as it is better known as NaNoWriMo to save a few keystrokes, or NaNo to save even more. I sit at my keyboard playing around with my blog theme, not the content theme but how unusual I can make the home page or land on a design that I like. This my friends is typical procrastination. I am beginning to believe that writer's block does not exist, an excuse I have used for years, but it is truly procrastination that keeps one from getting words on the screen. Sure I have ideas, plenty of them, maybe too many and that is the problem. So what does NaNo have to do with my blog and procrastination?

This year I am approaching NaNo in the manner it was intended for. Sit down November first and start typing away and do not stop until I have produced 50,000 words. They may not be logical or even consist of a single story but there will be words to review.

I have attempted NaNo before and never made the 50K but this year I have a master plan and that's it. I actually have a plan, a thin outline if there ever was one but one none the less. I think this is what had been lacking. Taking too long a break in between manuscripts makes it very hard to get back on track. So NaNo, I will give you the month of November to jump start this writing slump. See you at the finish line.

Is anyone else participating in Nano?

Keeping in Spirit with my Music Biography Critiques

2011-09-10T23:54:00.000-04:00

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK! I read this book in 6 hours and most of the time my jaw was hanging open, first because of what these 4 guys did but mainly that they lived to tell about it. I thought that Walk This Way from Aerosmith was an incredible read--the boys from Boston have nothing on the guys from the Crue.

View all my reviews

I found this one in my draft file also. I really have to get better at this blogging thing.

It's 3:32 a.m. - So What

2011-09-07T03:43:00.001-04:00

Yep, it's 3:30 a.m. and by the look of my blog one could tell that this is not a good time of the day to redesign, the template, theme (not that I ever had one, though it does seem to focus on music lately), pick colors... Basically, I should have left it alone 4 hours ago when I first attempted to go the sleep for the night. The truth is I do my best writing in the wee hours of the morn. Okay, maybe NOT my best writing but I am at my most productive when all is asleep except me and--well apparently only me. Even the pugs are snoring away, which helps drown out the tapping of the keyboard so the DH does not hear me.

Insomnia can be a very useful tool if managed properly. Hmm, I'll see how that works out for me when I reread this post and revisit my revamped blog design after a few winks of sleep.

P.S. A post is not a post if it is saved as a draft. Sheessh

Love Thy Neighbor

2011-08-30T16:49:00.001-04:00

First, I need to get some things out of the way. I am not religious so the title of this post may confuse people who know me, keep reading and it will make sense. Secondly, you may notice that I rarely post, mainly because I have never settled on a theme for this blog and don't know what to say. Thirdly, we Jerseyans are a hardy bunch yet we run to the stores and empty the grocery shelves at the first sign of a snowflake or idea of a hurricane, and then we complain how roads were closed for no reason when we find that our immediate area was not impacted by whatever storm was to come our way.

Today I have something to say as I sit on my deck with the sun blinding me as I write this post.

We prepared for hurricane Irene yet were quick to deny how powerful the storm would be. People were annoyed as they waited in line for a cup of coffee, the day after the storm, at the only open Dunkin Donuts for a 10 mile radius, oblivious to the fact that the other Dunkin Donuts were closed because my town has not had power for 3 days.

Losing power is an inconvenience as is having to replace the second floor bathroom ceiling that is no longer gushing water. But that is all that is is--an inconvenience, a minor one at that. It is not life changing. No one was injured and I was forced to clean out my refrigerator that should have been cleaned out a year ago, to that I thank you Irene. What is life changing is the damage to the lives of people in Cranford, NJ whose sanctuaries have been destroyed by 14 feet of water and has also ruined irreplaceable items. My heart bleeds for my best friend who cannot get into her home because the water is still too high. I pray for another friend that she will be strong enough to deal with the reality that her home has been deemed condemned because a wall caved in from the storm that most of us believed would be nothing more than a strong summer rainfall.

Last night I drove through the streets of Cranford to see if I could get to my friend's house and see if I could be of some help. Her street was blocked because the homes beyond the barricade are unihabitable. Today my husband replaced my 80 year old neighbor's failed sump pump so the foot of water in her basement could be released.

My point of this post? I am glad to have electricty so I can check my email, Facebook account, and type this post BUT I needed to take this time to encourage people to check on your neighbor who may not have visable damage to their property but within the confines of their home. So, even if you don't want to Love Thy Neighbor at least Help Thy Neighbor, one day you may be the 80 year old widow who does not have the strength or knowledge to unflood your basement before mold sets in. Or you may be the 65 year old, with high blood pressure, pulling up soaked carpet so you can bring your house back to some kind of order in time to serve your family a holiday dinner.

Wonderful Tonight

2011-07-25T00:00:00.002-04:00

Wonderful Tonight: An Autobiography by Pattie Boyd

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. The first chapter did not catch my interest but I wanted to know more about this person, mainly because of the time period the story covered, so I pushed on and I am glad I did. Here is a woman who had it all, money, status, not one but two iconic husbands, musical royalty frequented her dinner table, she had three songs written about her that have become classics, yet my heart broke for Pattie Boyd as I turned each page. I could feel the love she had for the men in her life. I cried as she did when she relived betrayals of both spouses. Reading this confirmed something I always believed, it does not matter how much money you have in the bank, what kind of car you drive, or how big your house is; if love is not true the rest is empty.

View all my reviews

Guitar Legend

2011-07-24T02:22:00.002-04:00

Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had no intention of reading this book but I came across the companion CD which I did want. I had just finished reading Pattie Boyd's (ex-wife of Eric Clapton and George Harrison)"Wonderful Tonight" and I had enjoyed it very much. What better way to see if her story matched that of Clapton, so I bought his book and the CD. Clapton's arrogance is bold and rampant throughout the book, yet as much as his arrogance frustrated me, I believed that insecurity and shyness lay beneath the surface. I found that everytime Clapton reached major success as a solo artist, he sought safety within a band.

His early life is heartbreaking, interesting, and fascinating, the later years not so much. The lack of interest for the latter part of the book could be due to the lack of arrogance that drew me in initially. To his credit, he was true to his opinion of life with Pattie. So kudos to him for being honest and supporting her version of life with Eric.

View all my reviews

I Think We're Alone Now

2011-05-19T00:57:00.001-04:00

Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells by Tommy James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have always enjoyed the music of Tommy James and have recently found myself listening to his music more than usual, so when I came across this book I just had to pick it up. If you are looking for an in depth insight to the man behind the music - you will not find it here. The book focuses on his love/hate relationship with Morris Levy, the head of Roulette Records. You get a little bit of Tommy's life in Niles, Michigan and the events that brought him into the world of music but the story is about the mob and the music, mainly the mob's control over Tommy's music and ultimately his personal life.

I found myself wanting to know more about the person and a few tidbits are sprinkled throughout but never given any focus of their own. I could not help but wonder why he as an artist tolerated the manipulation and control the record company had over him. I guess it is one of those things that as an outsider looking in, it is easy to have an opinion but only understood by the person in the situation.

In spite of the lack of a larger story, I did like the book and finished it in two days. However, my question was never answered. What does the title Crimson and Clover mean, and what is the song about?

View all my reviews

Rick

2010-10-29T18:28:00.004-04:00

Yet Another Distraction

2010-10-28T20:12:00.000-04:00

First came email, then instant messaging, chat rooms, FaceBook, and now I have discovered Twitter. I have always considered myself quite adept at learning and embracing new technology, however Twitter takes some getting used too.

I sit down to work on my manuscript and it glares back at me daring to type another word. My nightly supply of white tea warms the belly of the Raku pottery owl teapot resting on my desk. Dragon's Blood candles illuminate the room as I transition to unleash my creativity and flesh out the next bestseller. This next novel is going to be good--my best--really it is.

Um, okay the book, right back to it as soon as I check my tweets.

Enthusiasm

2010-10-24T15:43:00.001-04:00

I attended the New Jersey Romance Writers conference yesterday--overwhelming is an understatement--but in a good way. With so many workshops to choose from, it was difficult to decide on which to attend. Being new to the professional writing world, I chose workshops that provided building blocks to get me on the path to publication.

I was infused with a sense of, "yes I am right where I should be," as soon as I sat down to listen to the first speaker. Newbies sat next to professionals who listened as intently as if it were their first introduction into the world of writing. Writers of all genres absorbed the lecture, smart enough to realize that one can always take away something new.

I worked my way through new introductions and "aha" moments but it was Claudia Dain's workshop on theme that pulled it all together for me. She demystified theme and my aha moment was so huge that I immediately thought of calling my boss to resign so I can stay home and write my masterpiece that would surely produce film options. My enthusiam was quickly put in check as I realized I still needed my salary to pay for my Internet access that would be necessary to support the emails going back and forth with the Hollywood bigwigs.

Claudia doesn't know this but I was scheduled for an agent appointment without a pitch. It was because of Claudia's workshop that I was able to put together a pitch minutes before my appointment and I secured a request for my work.

Maybe I still need to keep my day job for now but I walked away from the conference with a new found sense of my ability, confidence, and desire to write. I cannot stress enough how important it is for a writer to find a support group because only another writer understands the world you live in.

Thanks to Leanne Banks I now get through my day with affirmations that will carry me through my journey. And a special thanks to Annette Blair who wrote such a wonderful message in one of her books that I purchased. I keep reading the message and it makes me realize that I can get a seat at the author table one day.

A New Season

2010-10-12T18:51:00.000-04:00

Apparently my posts seem to coincide with the change of seasons. I am not too thrilled with the choice of blog templates and I cannot get my old template back.

This has been a busy year with writers conferences and two new writing groups where I have learned so much. It's too bad I didn't find these support systems earlier in my writing life, if I had I'm sure I would be a lot further along in the process.

Another writing conference is taking place this month. I'm not sure that I am confident enough to sell my work but I get the day off from work. Nice trade off.

P.S. I see that blogger has added the spell check feature since my last post. Cool.

Ah, Spring!

2010-03-20T00:02:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful day it was. I wanted to dig my bike out of its winter home and take a quick ride through the park but I have been soooo busy that I couldn't spare the time. *sigh* There is always tomorrow.

Winter

2010-03-01T20:47:00.000-05:00

The snow was so pretty this past Friday. Pristine flakes sparkled like crystals in my backyard as cardinals, sparrows, and squirrels spent most of their day at the feeders hanging from the trees. Spring will be here in a few weeks and the snow will be gone. Yay!

One Flake, Two Flake, Three Flake, Four...Please No More.

2010-02-24T22:02:00.000-05:00

There is more snow on the way. I told my husband in September that we would have a lot of snow this winter, he couldn't figure how I knew and I couldn't tell him but I did know. If only my intuition was this accurate with lottery numbers.

Snow no longer holds the excitement for me that it once did; having lived in Alaska has cured me of ever wanting to see another snowflake. I only want snow on Christmas day, just enough to dust the ground and make the holiday festive.

READ THIS!

2010-02-23T21:09:00.001-05:00

Did it work? Do I have your attention? I'm sitting at my computer catching up on emails, blogs, and FarmVille as I transition into real writing mode. As I'm doing so, I begin to realize how difficult it is to find something new and refreshing to write about. What do people want to read about that hasn't been written before? I thought that I had stumbled upon a story that was different but would it hold the attention of the reader? The first 20 pages felt fresh and exciting and I enjoyed what shape the piece was taking, on the 21st page it seemed that a familiar pattern was taking hold and I was losing my unique spin. Are there only so many ways a story can be told? Maybe I need some more time on FarmVille to get back on track.

Wow

2010-02-21T17:23:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize that I haven't been on my blog since December 10, 2009. I knew it had been a while but I didn't think it was that long. I left off at the Nook. My opinion? It's okay, I mean it does what it's supposed to do I can download books in mere seconds, I can't get the contrast as crisp as I would like it but that can be my aging eyes. I have downloaded a few books which are free because the copyright has expired and apparently, people had similar opinions 100 years ago. I still cannot wholeheartedly embrace the technology, I like books. I like the feel, the smell, and the warmth that the page emits against my hands. The Nook is still a keeper, and not only because the return period has expired, but because I love gadgets and this is a pretty cool one. I will probably use it for short reads and x-rated material that my local bookstore doesn't carry.

That statement brings me to what I've been doing lately. I recently joined not one but two writing groups (because I'm not busy enough) and I am impressed by the welcoming and openness of the professional writers. It's a nice place to be at this stage of my writing path. What does this statement have to do with an e-reader? A lot of the writers in my group write material that is readily available in digital format AND erotic enough to warrant private downloads. LOL

I have finished revising my first book and hope that it is polished enough for an agent or editor to read through it at least once without wanting to throw it out or use it for fire starter. That magic moment comes on March 13th.

I am currently working on a different type of story, in between revising my second book. It would be great if I could sell the trilogy but I thought it might be good to have another genre in the making if the first one doesn't fly. So I am off to work on that while my husband keeps the hot tea flowing.

P.S. WHEN is Blogger going to have spell check available? Sheessh, it's 2010.

NOOK

2009-12-10T22:53:00.001-05:00

My NOOK has finally arrived. I am still on the fence about ereaders. I like the feel of a book in my hands but I am always open to new gadgets and this week my newest arrived. I have waited patiently, prepared for the delayed launch date, which did happen but usually does with new things tech. I opened the box, not knowing what to expect since I bought the reader sight unseen, and I was surprised how well it fit in my hand. It still will never replace the smell of ink and paper and feel of the warm pages of a traditional book but I have already found a practical and functional use for it. The NOOK fits perfectly on the treadmill ledge and the pages are easy to turn. It will take some getting used to the lagging page refresh but I'm sure after using it for a bit, I won't even notice it.

The first thing I played around with was the daily updates, which is kind of cool because the feature makes it more than a reader waiting for me to turn it on. It has become one more thing that I check on a daily basis. I'm already hooked on the accessories and ordered a second cover before I even received my first.

I could go on and give an indepth review and opinion on this gadget but I want to go play with it some more.

Another Nano Down...

2009-12-05T00:31:00.000-05:00

Oh well. Another Nano come and gone and I did not finish the required 50K words. I have started working on finishing my last 4 chapters to Pure Magick and I hope to get it polished enough to submit or at least secure an agent.

Nano was still a good experience because I discovered that I have a difficult time writing in first person. It's not that I have a difficult time with the tense but I find that I put too much of myself into the story. I do think it is a good idea to keep working on the story so I can finally purge the things that need to be flushed out of my writing.

With that said, I now have to find another purpose for my blog. Do people really want to follow the anguish being experienced by a frustrated writer?

Christmas Music Everywhere BUT...

2009-11-30T20:33:00.000-05:00

In Target - Christmas music.

In Walmart - Christmas music.

In Barnes & Noble - Christmas music.

In Christmas Tree Shops - Macy Gray, Rick Springfield (not that I'm complaining), and The Pretenders.

Um, what's wrong with this picture?

Let the Holidays Begin

2009-11-29T20:30:00.001-05:00

Even though I have been bombarded with Christmas music and store decorations since Columbus day, I refuse to engage in the excitement until Thanksgiving has had its day. When I was young, Christmas decorations were never lit until the day after Thanksgiving. I like it that way. Each holiday is entitled to its own celebration and I will not let Christmas overshadow my Halloween.

It is three days past Thanksgiving and I no longer change the radio station when a Christmas song begins to play. Wrapped presents are now welcome in my home and will have to wait until December 25th to be opened.

On a drive home today I began to think about the each winter holiday in its own scenario. My husband broke my train of thought with, "I miss the smell of turkey cooking in our house." For the past few years I have not cooked Thanksgiving dinner and though the lack of prep work and clean-up was an enjoyable experience, I knew what he meant. I also missed the smell of turkey baking and the traditions that I had grown up with and brought to my own family.

Thinking of turkey brought me to an idea. If Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November then there is no reason why the fourth Saturday in January couldn't be "Free Turkey Day" (the actual holiday name is still in the works.) By setting aside a special day for the free turkey I earned from ShopRite, I could still have our family holiday and fill my house with the smell of tradition. I just hope we don't have a major snowstorm.

Is A Writing Group Necessary For Your Success?

2009-11-19T23:08:00.001-05:00

In a word, No! Tonight I attended a writing group that was new to me. I expected the standard "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." That did not happen. What I walked into was a nice and accepting group of writers who were years into a project that I had no place in. That's not to say that I could not have joined in and found a way to fit in but it felt like I was the new kid in school and didn't know where to sit at lunch time.

I had many ideas for their project but felt that I was not entitled to offer my opinions. It wasn't that the group made me feel that way but the manners that my grandmother had instilled in me took control.

My point is: I have attended many writers groups with different formats and motives and have yet to find a group that will help me get my writing onto an editor's desk. And that may be the very problem with most groups, or the expectations of a writing group, I think the idea is good but somehow the process does not seem to hold steam. Maybe it's because writing is such a solitary process and only that individual thinks that what they are writing is the best collection of words to ever hit paper.

Proud until...

2009-11-17T23:03:00.000-05:00

I looked at my writing buddy's word count. I promised I wouldn't do it. For so many days I refrained from checking another Nano participant's word count.

Back at the keyboard today and proud that I have broken through the 5K mark (even though that is behind by Nano standards but others have come through in the final week--I plan on being one of them) I updated my word count with a smile and then I did it. I broke down and checked my buddy's word count and found it to be well past the 50K goal and it is just going into the third week.

No matter. I still have time and a long weekend. Fingers are crossed, determination is high, and the laptop is charged...oops Chelsea is on. After all, tomorrow is another day. :)

Half-time

2009-11-16T22:42:00.000-05:00

Half the month of November is gone and it doesn't look like I am going to make my Nano goal. I'm not giving up and will continue to write what I will because what I have is more than I had when I began.

The Truth Be Told

2009-11-12T22:43:00.000-05:00

I began my Nano story without an outline or any thought as to what I would write about. I thought that I would just let the words flow and see what took shape. Since this is my first full length work written in first person and the direction of the story seems to be pulling me into the piece as the main character, I am uncovering a lot of things that I had forgotten about.

I doubt this story will ever be presented for public review but I am finding this to be a good exercise to purging some internal blocks that may have kept me from digging deeper into my characters in my other works.

I may not complete the 50K word goal but I will keep dumping and clearing through the clutter that has been in the way.

And I only thought that my house needed a good cleaning. :)

P.S. Why doesn't blogger have a spell check function?

Nano Update

2009-11-11T23:13:00.000-05:00

Getting there slowly. My words are being used for Nano so I have few for my blog.

Time Management

2009-11-09T21:23:00.000-05:00

I find that time management, or lack of, is the real obstacle in trying to sit down at the keyboard. I used to think that the lack of topics held me back but that's not really true because if I take the time to focus on a subject, something will surface. So why is it such a struggle to find the time to sit down and write?

I'm curious to know how other writers manage their time. Feel free to comment.

Still Trudging Along

2009-11-06T23:47:00.000-05:00

The word count is not quite there but each day there are more than the last. If I could turn off the internal editor I would be doing better. I am also trying this story in first person and am finding it difficult to stay in that POV.

Sigh

2009-11-06T19:13:00.000-05:00

It's a good thing I don't write to pay my bills. At this rate I would never be able to support myself. It's amazing how one day not writing sets you back. The weekend is here and my goal is to catch up. It would have been so much easier just to stay on track.

Day 4

2009-11-05T00:05:00.001-05:00

1) I really need to stop looking at my writing buddies word count.
2) I have to believe that my word count will increase each day.
3) This laptop light is really cool.
4) I have to keep pounding out words no matter how stupid or nonsensical they are.
5) This laptop light is really cool.

Slowly Getting There

2009-11-03T23:25:00.000-05:00

As I check the word counts of fellow Nano participants, it is easy to become discouraged and wonder why I even bother. Is the goal of this exercise in frantic writing to complete 50,000 words by the end of November worthwhile? Probably. Will my life change at all if I don't keep at it? Probably not. Is it a good vehicle to keep the words flowing? Absolutely. And to keep the words flowing will I at times find myself tapping away at the keyboard in the dark as I write myself to sleep? Yes. Which brings me to another positive point about Nano. I now have an excuse to buy the laptop light that I always wanted but never thought I had a practical need for. Thank you Nano as I have discovered one more distraction to keep me away from the keyboard as I go shopping for my light tomorrow.

It's Day Two...

2009-11-02T22:47:00.001-05:00

of NanoWriMo mania. I started the day with anticipation of banging out a thousand words for today's goal. One thing a writer can count on is obstacles popping up throughout the day and giving one a reason to keep away from the story, after all we can always catch up later. That's not no easy. Those words that have been swarming around in my head all day, as I go about my day job, have to be typed out. Tired eyes and clumsy fingers make it difficult to transfer the words from head to keyboard. An unexpected delay today could have been a good excuse to put off the manuscript until tomorrow but a few words are better than none. So I sat down and added a few paragraphs to my story and felt good that I could add to my Nano word count today even if there were not as many words as I would have liked to have written.

Where to Begin

2009-11-01T20:43:00.000-05:00

It's November 1st and many people are beginning to focus on the upcoming holidays. Writers ponder whether or not to commit to Nanowrimo, a month long writing pressure cooker. For the past 3 years I have entered the competition to prove I could do it and never did. So why would this year be any different? Because I found a way to get out of making Thanksgiving dinner and I really don't care if my house is clean.

I have completed 3 novels so I know I can complete a project. I have 3 more books started, mainly due to my feeble attempts at Nano. So what am I going to do now as I watch a dust ball roll across the floor? Get cracking on my manuscript for Nano, right after I finish a game of Bejeweled.