Wordcount 12/31/07: 3536
Good things this year:
- My son and I have become close again.
- I wrote my first novella by invitation and it was a number one bestseller on my publisher's website
- I attended two fabulous writers' conferences
- Two new independent bookstores opened in Bend
- My graphic design business has been a huge success (relatively speaking)
- I'm just a few pages away from finishing my urban fantasy novel that I started writing in October of this year
- My mom's condo finally sold
- I actually managed to send out Christmas cards this year
- I discovered the Fang, Fur and Fey LJ community
Things I've learned:
- Don't mix merlot with table wine (ick)
- I can write while a football game plays on tv in the background
- Having 3 kitties is one of the most wonderful things in the world
- Don't ignore the crazy sister's phone calls or she just gets worse
- Saying "no" is a good thing
- It's okay to put myself first once in a while
- I don't read enough, and when I do, I read very, very slow
- Self promo blows
- I'm holding out for publication with a Big Publisher this time
- I have a habit of getting in my own way
- I write better on the couch than I do in my office
- A dirty house won't kill me
- Hot Flashes suck!!!
Interesting factoids that stick in my mind:
- The annual Christmas dinner of choice is carp in Slovakia (thank you, Jan, for that fascinating piece of information)
- The game called "Apples to Apples" ROCKS! You've gotta play it
- The DaVinci Code fails as a book, but the movie is pretty good
- Elk Lake Resort is a fabulous vacation spot, and the price is right
- The Best of Bend is the single most BEST advertising source in Central Oregon
- Most tv shows can be watched online, virtually commercial-free
- Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers is a better writers' organization than any other writers' group in the country
- I'm not getting any younger (bwahahahahaha!)
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
If ever a wiz there was
Wordcount 12/23/07: 2312
Have you noticed the plethora of holiday movies on television this season? I suppose it's no different than any other year, but what is different is that I actually watched a few of them this time. My husband and I saw Mary Poppins the other night and it was so refreshing to see a youthful Dick VanDyke and Julie Andrews. That's such a sweet movie, filled with wonderful magic. A favorite for most every child. Then last night I watched The Wizard of Oz for the first time in what's probably been twenty years.
The Wizard of Oz. Wow. I again experienced the thrill of fear when the wicked witch of the east made her first appearance. That orange smoke, and then the flames. Eeek! I cringed as I watched, reliving the emotions of childhood, and that wasn't all that had scared me when I was little (though I'd secretly loved it at the same time). The apple-throwing trees made me jump, the first time Dorothy and the gang met the lion in the forest made me shiver, and their first meeting with the wizard was terrifying! The image of those flying monkeys stayed with me my entire life. In fact, I modeled one of the gargoyles in my current work in progress after those monkeys. Except that the wings of my gargoyle are more like a bat, not feathered like the ones in the movie.
I honestly think, after watching WoO last night, that it had had a major influence on me writing the genre I write today. I've always adored fantasy stories, contemporary and otherwise. The other-worldliness of imagined creatures and old legends coming to life thrills me to no end. The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite fantasy stories of all time.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Home Stretch
Wordcount 12/20/07: 6503
But that's the number of words since the 9th of December, which was 11 days ago. So I've averaged less than 600 words per day since the last time I reported in. Not good enough.
A lot has transpired within those 6500 words that I've written in the last week and a half. A character died who wasn't supposed to. A fallen angel stopped time and blew up the Fatherhouse. A secret is revealed that could potentially solve the story question posed at the beginning of the book. So all in all, it's been a productive week, just not a prolific one.
I'm a bit hung up over total wordcount. I tend to write tight, and have to go back through a manuscript to fill in and flesh out the narrative. That's just how I write. But still, I can't help worrying that I won't have enough words when I reach the end. I'd anticipated about 100,000, but that's not going to happen. I'm thinking now of 70,000 to 80,000 words, tops. I've run the ending of this book through my mind a number of times. I'm on the downhill side of the roller coaster as pivotal scenes make their appearance. It's an exciting time. 8^)
But that's the number of words since the 9th of December, which was 11 days ago. So I've averaged less than 600 words per day since the last time I reported in. Not good enough.
A lot has transpired within those 6500 words that I've written in the last week and a half. A character died who wasn't supposed to. A fallen angel stopped time and blew up the Fatherhouse. A secret is revealed that could potentially solve the story question posed at the beginning of the book. So all in all, it's been a productive week, just not a prolific one.
I'm a bit hung up over total wordcount. I tend to write tight, and have to go back through a manuscript to fill in and flesh out the narrative. That's just how I write. But still, I can't help worrying that I won't have enough words when I reach the end. I'd anticipated about 100,000, but that's not going to happen. I'm thinking now of 70,000 to 80,000 words, tops. I've run the ending of this book through my mind a number of times. I'm on the downhill side of the roller coaster as pivotal scenes make their appearance. It's an exciting time. 8^)
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Catie's Interview
Writer pal Catie Murphy (aka C.E. Murphy) is interviewed at The League of Reluctant Adults. She's a fabulous writer and a fellow member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Go on over and give it a looksee. 8^)
Meme in 2s
Word Count 12/8/07: 994
Two Men I’d Love to Date if I Were Single (and they were single):
-A genie who would grant all my wishes, including the one "I wish for more wishes."
-A millionaire tycoon who loved to travel
I Am Wearing...
-my favorite hoodie sweatshirt (that seriously needs to go in the laundry)
-no nail polish (on either fingers or toes)
Two Things I Would Want in a Relationship:
-Respect
-Patience
Two of My Favorite Things to do:
-Watch back to back episodes of tv shows on DVD from my laptop
-Read great novels that actually hold my attention for more than an hour at a time
Two Things I Want Very Badly At the Moment:
-To finish writing my book (I'm getting so close now)
-For my husband to get over his cold.
Two things I did recently:
-Wrote a letter to a friend who just moved to Slovakia
-Looked up a new saying to put on the front of my hero's latest t-shirt: I had a handle on life, but it broke.
Two things I ate today:
-French toast (it's still early so that's all I've had so far today, unless you count coffee as food, which it kind of is for me).
Two things I’m doing tomorrow:
-Writing
-Addressing Christmas cards
Two Favorite Holidays:
-Christmas and Thanksgiving
Two Things about me, things you may not have known about me:
-I ride a unicycle
-I've never had wisdom teeth
Two of my Favorite Foods:
-Thai peanut shrimp with noodles and cucumbers
-Anything from Bend Fish Company
Two Men I’d Love to Date if I Were Single (and they were single):
-A genie who would grant all my wishes, including the one "I wish for more wishes."
-A millionaire tycoon who loved to travel
I Am Wearing...
-my favorite hoodie sweatshirt (that seriously needs to go in the laundry)
-no nail polish (on either fingers or toes)
Two Things I Would Want in a Relationship:
-Respect
-Patience
Two of My Favorite Things to do:
-Watch back to back episodes of tv shows on DVD from my laptop
-Read great novels that actually hold my attention for more than an hour at a time
Two Things I Want Very Badly At the Moment:
-To finish writing my book (I'm getting so close now)
-For my husband to get over his cold.
Two things I did recently:
-Wrote a letter to a friend who just moved to Slovakia
-Looked up a new saying to put on the front of my hero's latest t-shirt: I had a handle on life, but it broke.
Two things I ate today:
-French toast (it's still early so that's all I've had so far today, unless you count coffee as food, which it kind of is for me).
Two things I’m doing tomorrow:
-Writing
-Addressing Christmas cards
Two Favorite Holidays:
-Christmas and Thanksgiving
Two Things about me, things you may not have known about me:
-I ride a unicycle
-I've never had wisdom teeth
Two of my Favorite Foods:
-Thai peanut shrimp with noodles and cucumbers
-Anything from Bend Fish Company
Friday, December 7, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Holiday Shopping
Wordcount 11/24 thru 12/5: 2188
I've been writing every day, I really have, just not very much. Not as much as I wanted. Aside from work stuff going on, the holiday's are creeping up on me. I'm not ready. I'm never ready. I always feel overwhelmed with the shopping and the card sending and the decorating. Last year I didn't decorate or send cards. My mother had passed away the summer before and I was missing her, and the last thing I wanted to think about was Christmas. My M.O. is to just blank out whatever's bothering me. I can't help it, that's just how I am.
I still miss Mom, but I'm making an effort this year to be better at embracing Christmas. I'll decorate the house, but no tree. A tree would be too much and my youngest cat is a climber so I don't want to give her the opportunity to trash my ornaments. So I'll just hang a few on the houseplants. Lord knows we have enough of those in the house. Who needs a Christmas tree? And cards, yes, I bought some really pretty ones at Costco last week. Sitting down and actually addressing them is another matter, but I'll do it this weekend. Seriously.
I went shopping today. I was actually looking forward to it and had kind of a list started. Most of the people I'll shop for are out-of-state, so this task needs to be accomplished quickly. I don't relish standing in line at the post office and paying more for postage than the value of the gift, but that's the way it goes. I accept that. What I don't accept is how tough it is to shop when there are too many choices!
I walked into Bed, Bath and Beyond because I needed a new shower squeegee and I figured I'd find something cool in there for my sister as well. When I walked through the doors, the sights, sounds and smells about knocked me off my feet. Too much! It was even worse at World Market. I went to Sees Candy to get my sister her favorite Molasses Chips, and even that store was loaded with more choices than I could handle. Lucky for me I went in there for just one thing.
I got home and thought, okay, let's shop online. That should be easier, right? Search for something, have a couple of items pop up on the screen, pick one, there you go. Easy. Ha! It was even harder than the brick and mortar stores! I was looking for those whacky Transformer action figures for both my grandsons and about fifty of the crazy things popped up. I can't win. I'm going to have to either eenie-meanie-minie-mo this stuff, or have someone do it for me. Sight.
I've been writing every day, I really have, just not very much. Not as much as I wanted. Aside from work stuff going on, the holiday's are creeping up on me. I'm not ready. I'm never ready. I always feel overwhelmed with the shopping and the card sending and the decorating. Last year I didn't decorate or send cards. My mother had passed away the summer before and I was missing her, and the last thing I wanted to think about was Christmas. My M.O. is to just blank out whatever's bothering me. I can't help it, that's just how I am.
I still miss Mom, but I'm making an effort this year to be better at embracing Christmas. I'll decorate the house, but no tree. A tree would be too much and my youngest cat is a climber so I don't want to give her the opportunity to trash my ornaments. So I'll just hang a few on the houseplants. Lord knows we have enough of those in the house. Who needs a Christmas tree? And cards, yes, I bought some really pretty ones at Costco last week. Sitting down and actually addressing them is another matter, but I'll do it this weekend. Seriously.
I went shopping today. I was actually looking forward to it and had kind of a list started. Most of the people I'll shop for are out-of-state, so this task needs to be accomplished quickly. I don't relish standing in line at the post office and paying more for postage than the value of the gift, but that's the way it goes. I accept that. What I don't accept is how tough it is to shop when there are too many choices!
I walked into Bed, Bath and Beyond because I needed a new shower squeegee and I figured I'd find something cool in there for my sister as well. When I walked through the doors, the sights, sounds and smells about knocked me off my feet. Too much! It was even worse at World Market. I went to Sees Candy to get my sister her favorite Molasses Chips, and even that store was loaded with more choices than I could handle. Lucky for me I went in there for just one thing.
I got home and thought, okay, let's shop online. That should be easier, right? Search for something, have a couple of items pop up on the screen, pick one, there you go. Easy. Ha! It was even harder than the brick and mortar stores! I was looking for those whacky Transformer action figures for both my grandsons and about fifty of the crazy things popped up. I can't win. I'm going to have to either eenie-meanie-minie-mo this stuff, or have someone do it for me. Sight.
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