Wednesday, December 8, 2010

RSS Feeds

Just now figuring this damn blog out. Yeesh...and here I thought I was computer savvy. My attempt to figure out how to use the RSS feed was a humbling experience. I'm still not certain its working properly, but I have had enough for the time being. This is a test post.

If it works....I will do a little dance.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Romancing the Blog

Blog needed a serious makeover. I am hoping the new look will help motivate me to start blogging regularly and work on increasing my online presence. Network, network baby!

P.S. I am increasingly certain (read: positive) I will not be finishing Nano. : (  While I am sad and irritated with myself, it was not a waste of my time. Not only did it motivate me to finish my first novel, it helped me lay the groundwork for a strong second novel. Always look on the bright side, right?

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Bring on the Bubbly!

Last night at 11:00 pm, I FINISHED the first draft of my novel!!!!!!!! Now, I am well aware of the mountains of revisions to come and the seemingly endless editing, but frankly, I don't give a damn. It has been two years in the making (at least), finding time to write while working 10 hour days, early mornings, late nights, but it is done....For now. : )

I would say time to edit, but I signed up for NaNoWriMo this year and I plan on "winning." It just so happens I have the perfect plot in mind.

So, this is your formal warning that I will be obnoxiously giddy the next few days and hopefully, come December, I will have TWO manuscripts to edit. : )

Thursday, September 30, 2010

New Ideas!!!!

     Okay, so it has been,like 30 years since I have posted anything! Blah. But no apologies, no excuses. Otherwise, that is all I will ever do. : )
    
   My husband, the handsome genius that he is, is always throwing new ideas at me for story or novel ideas. So not only do I have my own ideas to twist around in my brain, I get to hear his ideas and what he finds interesting. God love him.
  
    Recently, he pitched an idea at me, and I fell in love with the concept. Now, I'm not certain if it will be a short story or novel length, but it is a new direction for me.
  
    I would classify the novel I am currently working on as commercial fiction. Suspense/thriller-ish novel. It's still a work in progress, almost finished with my first draft and then EDITING!!! I'm so excited to edit. Seriously....I REALLY am.
  
    Anyways, the new novel is science fiction, which I have always loved to read. So I set about to start writing it (I had a few jumping off points I was rolling around) and instead of writing the story I ended up with something strangely like a query. I'm not complaining.
    The "query" helped me sculpt the plot of the book. I went from only having a starting point to discovering the path for the rest of the novel. Snap. Like magic. It was amazing. I never have written this way before, but I think I may start using it as an exercise when I want to start a new project. It helped show me if my story idea was even viable and helped me flesh out the rest of the idea.

   Definitely a good writing day. : )

Friday, June 4, 2010

A Quick Update with a Side of Self Motivation

Good golly miss molly! It has been a hell of a couple months and I am MORE than happy to have something that resembles a life again.

The past two months solid my husband and I have been:
     1. Packing and organizing every little thing we have ever accumulated in our five years together
     2. Renovating our new, down-sized apartment (it's coming along...hopefully soon I will no longer have a bed
         in my living room. *fingers crossed* : P)
     3. TRYING to get back into a good writing routine. You see, I have fallen off the wagon and I'm trying to  get my leg back up so I can pull myself out of this rut. I have been re-reading my novel, going over my storyboard, going over my editing notes so that I can connect with my novel again. I want to have that endless stream of thought that begs to be written. I need the rush when the story clicks and the words pour out so fast  I have to make tiny, scribbled notes everywhere just to keep up.

As I write I keep reminding myself of what other writers have told me when they get like this. One of my favorites being that in order to write a novel, you have to be willing to write a first draft.
Just write it.
Who cares whether or not you think it's crap-you were able to get your thoughts on paper and now you have a jumping off point to make it perfect... It makes me feel better anyways. : )

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Excitement!!!!...oh, and moving

It has been way too long since I posted anything, but the past few weeks have been crazy! We decided we are moving into a smaller space so that we are actually able to save money to buy a house next year. I thought having to downsize would be more painful, but really it was pretty enlightening. Hehe. Only when you have to move all of your belongings do you really realize how much crap you own and how much clutter you had around the house just for the sake of having it.

Sooooo the past few weeks my house has been filled with so many boxes boxes and bubble wrap I thought I would lose my mind! Alas! I am still here...in pain from moving, but still here. Now comes the fun part (or at least I think so). We are renovating the place we are moving into so my husband and I spent all day picking out paint, cabinets, molding,-the whole nine yards. We have a little under a month to get it ready, but I know we can do it. I'm taking before and after pics for a HGTV- style reveal.(I am a self-admitted HGTV addict) It will be awesome.

On the other hand, while my living situation is getting in order, my writing has been put on hold. I have only had time to write bits and pieces and its frustrating. Especially since I'm near the end of the book and the story has been marinating in my head for so long. Sigh. Oh well, maybe that will just make it extra flavorful. : p My that book tastes delicious! Why thank you!

Until next time ( which hopefully won't be long at all) I bid you farewell and happy writing!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Damn you, Daylight Savings

I have definitely fallen off the writing wagon this weekend.

Friday day, my husband and I worked hard to put the finishing touches on a desk we have been repurposing for a mini-bar. Between that and making a cake for a little party we had planned to celebrate a friends birthday, my time was pretty much occupied. Friday night, the so called little party led to an empty bottle of tequila, a 3 a.m. trip to IHOP, and not getting to bed until 5 a.m. (all in all a good time considering I did not vomit or pass out at any point during the evening)

Saturday-the tequila caught up with me and royally kicked my ass. Most wicked hangover EVER. I had a perma-headache from the moment I woke up until I went to bed. Absolutely dreadful. So much so I have to ask myself- WTF were you thinking?!?!? Never again I tell you. Never again.

Sunday-slept in, woke up, looked at the clock. Noon. Thought to myself- No, it couldn't possibly be noon. Wrong. Damn you daylight savings! At no point in my life do I think to myself that I need to lose an hour. What sense does this make? None. People should really ask me about these things.

Looking back at my last three posts, they all pretty much consist of the same thing. I have too much to do and no time. And this is without even having a job! I have to go back to work soon and then what will happen? Next mission: I need a schedule ASAP!

Oh and below is a before and after picture of our newly re-finished mini bar! It is soooo cute!

BEFORE



AFTER