Drama

I got away two days in a row. Can you believe it?? :D

My family is in a tight spot but we've been there before. Things are going to get better as soon as I get my tax return in. If I ever get my stubs. They were sent to address in Texas, but people living there say they didn't get them grrrrrrr. The one set was sent out before the new year!! My brother got his early on. GRRRR

I hate Drama in my personal life, yet, I can't seem to get away from it. Even if I don't know it's going on at the time, I figure it out eventually. It ticks me off because I have enough real drama (kids with asthma and a Down Syndrome baby to start with!) that I don't need any made up crap from people whose lives are apparently too boring because everything is going too well.

Okay, now that I got that rant out of my system, let us continue on happier veins. Despite matching the wrong markings, I'm getting a costume I started ages ago finished. It probably wont fit me anymore, but I'm going to finish it anyway and lose the weight so I can wear it this spring :)

I love how things are getting finished. It feels good to get things accomplished. Nate sewed an apron I had bought a few years ago for him to bbq with. Another project finished. I only helped with ironing and a tiny bit of sewing. It was a project he mainly did on his own. He is quite good at it.

Well, I have to get back to writing. Lots of corrections to make and new stories to write.

Washington

I love being in Washington! I wish things weren't so stressful while we look for jobs and stuff but otherwise, it's good to be back in my home state! I still don't have internet access at home, though, so I'm ready to go nuts.

Writing is starting to kick in as we get somewhat settled. However, I still can't find losts of the stuff I left here, so it's stressing me out a bit. I'm glad I'm getting to write again though. it feels good.

Wish me luck :)

Pins & Needles

I'm a writer, but I'm also an artist/crafter. I do many things, and yes, when I choose to, I do them well. Until recently, I thought that was normal. I mean, doesn't everyone decide they want to tat, go pick up the tools and learn to tat while eating their lunch at Taco Bell? That's pretty much what I did, although I lost the tool right away (it's so danged small!)and will now have to relearn as I didn't practice :(

I crochet, I hate knitting, but I'm capable of it. I had been taught the basics 20 yrs ago and never picked it up again until my recent appearance in Antigone. I was the queen. Now, if you haven't read the play, you might think that's exciting right? Well, it's not. The queen only shows up in the beginning, with no lines (a first for me LOL) and knits. So I got the little pack that teaches knitting and learned to knit, and I had to do it without my glasses as well.

Results? I'll probably try to keep up the skill for making socks, but that's about it. I still prefer crochet! Although, I did find that the continental version wasn't as frustrating for me so that's the route I'll keep I think.

I can make friendly plastic jewelry. It's not so popular anymore, but it was a lot of fun. It's a rubbery plastic that changes color a bit as it is heated and maneuvered. you learn how to cut the pieces the right size, etc. It's one of those skills that is getting lost in today's society.

I can cross stitch, although it is time consuming and exacting. I have made two heirloom Christmas stockings to date. Let me tell you, they are intricate and beautiful. Most people who meet me don't think I have the patience nor the skill to do something like it, but I do. It's the time that kills me :P

I like to quilt, although there are parts of it I still need to learn for doing the top stitching. I need a better machine for it, is the first problem. Anyway, I definitely don't get enough time for this with my young kids. I have to focus when piecing or I cut all the wrong sizes/shapes and I am too poor to be running about spending money on more fabric simply because I mess up.

And speaking of Fabric, (really the capitalized "fabric" is how I think of fabric) I sew costumes. I am involved in so many plays through community theatre that I have taught myself how to make costumes. I have had pointers from friends along the way, but mostly it has been trial and error for me.

Like Fabric, I'm also into paper. I taught myself to scrapbook, with friends of course, so I could do my wedding album. My wedding album came out beautifully and I have a whole array of paper and tools to play with. I combined it with my stamping (as many people have) and have enjoyed myself immensely.

Then, if I haven't missed any, there is my art. I came into it late in the game and I have found the thing that makes me happiest. Painting, oil paints in particular, help to soothe my mind and release my stress. I've changed my major from political science to art because of a chance 2 credit oil pastel class I happened to take. (They only offered it 1 or 2 quarters at the community college). It's impacted my life unbelievably. I can paint in almost any style I choose to. I am best at impressionism but I tend to through in how I feel about my subject which gives it an expressionist edge.

This lead to confidence. Confidence that I can finish hard things and learn more. Which lead to me being comfortable picking up my writing again when I lost my job. I feel the need to create in all the ways set forth here. When a particular 'mood' strikes me it is best if I follow that lead. If I try to force something else out, I usually end up with something ugh. If I don't listen to my mood or can't because of life, then I get frustrated and my stress level increases ten fold.

I've decided to make writing a career, which means I have to do it almost everyday. I have to keep learning and growing. It's more than a whim or a mood. There are days when I wish I could do all of the things I love. However, for me, if I could write and paint everyday I would get my creative edge appeased as well as the right brain satisfied.

There is so much that goes into writing that isn't about the creative process. More so than most people think. The same is true for all of the arts I listed. Most of the ones listed takes math, precision, planning and goals. You may be an artist and very good at any of the hundreds of crafts available to you, but remember, there is more to the craft, and therefore more to you, than creative moodiness :D

new story

I was reading contests etc., as I usually do, and all of the sudden, I had an idea for a new story/series :) I love it when that happens. I never thought I would be stalled with so many eggs in my basket, but I was. I can only research for so long, you know before my creative side wants a turn. Research definitely does not use the creative side of my brain. Maybe it should, IDK, but it makes me feel slow and sluggish.

It's going to be an attempt at a comedy, but, at this point in time, that is not my strong suit. I will give it the old college try :P

I have like 2 months before I'm likely to hear back on the resubmit, but I anxiously check my mail ten times a day as if I can hurry the process along by keeping my mailbox cleaned out. I so need to laugh at myself. Maybe I'll hear back sooner and really laugh at myself. who knows.

Making a stove top casserole for dinner as I have work at OLLU thiry auditorium tonight. I'm working a pageant with young skinny girls. I need to learn to laugh at myself soon as I am not skinny or young :( I wish I wasn't as big as I am, but I sure don't want to be model thin though, so I'll keep that in mind tonight.

Today

has been pretty good :) We got our van back!!!! Yeah!!!! It feels so good to be in my own vehicle. Nate got paid a little more and just in time as the van people called and said the alternator was bad too another 200 bucks (inc the belt!) so easy come easy go. ***sigh** at least he got paid so we could get our van back. Sitting enjoying our evening with new friends in San Antonio.

Nate almost done with finals one more week of work and school. Found some seriously obvious mistakes on my rewrite (obvious because they were underlined in RED LOL although to be fair, as I write paranormal and fantasy, lots of words are red) plus others that I had just written too fast on. Hi instead of he for example. About halfway through it on computer yet I know I missed some that I had caught on paper. Oh well, I'm waiting until Nate finished with paper and then I'll correct them all at once.

Catching up on blogs today and guess what? I won an ebook :) Christmas came early for me LOL That makes three free books for me. Thank goodness because thats going to be the bulk of my Christmas and I can't think of a better Christmas unless it was to hear that they sold a thousand of my books!

Isaac has been fussy so not getting a lot of what I want done but I'm still plodding away. Thank you Nanowrimo for helping me develop those skills. I'm sure my word count will be less as I'm packing to move, but at least i will be writing everyday.

I'm cleaning house as I hate moving crap and I love the feeling of freedom its giving me. Just a few odd ball things to take care of and I'll be free :P

Can't wait for the family to visit right after Christmas for the winter break. I'm so excited. I wish they could be here for the book signing. I'm having a hard time imagining them not being there:( I miss them. Oh well, I will hold ones they can attend later.

sunday 2:00, Dec 6, Barnes & Nobles off the 410 next to the Ingram Park mall. Come and have fun! I'll be there till 4ish or until my books sell out :)

Christmas

Today, I will skim my rough draft and jot down info I can research. I will be running short on actual word counts for awhile as I have beaucoup edits to do on all of my stories. Edits mean adding LOTS of words but it also means cutting LOTS of words. Typically, for every 15k in words, you could average my cut rate at 2.5k and addition rate of 4.5k+. I end up with only 2k more words, but there is a large portion of those words that are new!

I got a little bit of Christmas done last night. My husband surprised me and we got a little fake tree. It's very cute and works well in our little house here. Next year I will have a big one from Washington where we grow trees for fun. For now, I'm glad to have anything Christmas as I thought the only Christmas I was going to get was wrapping paper on the wall or something. Like I said, it's a good week:)

My husband held up manfully as I squealed halfway through the store when I found out we were getting an addition to the groceries. He had told me earlier, on that very day, that he wasn't romantic! Pshaw, I told him. You are one of the most romantic men when you choose to be. then he did that :) Christmas is my favorite time of year, full of hope and love and faith. With all that's going wrong in my life right now, Christmas is the perfect antidote.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas Season. I'm sure I'll post again on it. Like I said, favorite season :P

Days 29 and 30

Not so many as I wanted As I was sick AGAIN egg burp flu this time which I thought was better last night but wasn't (only for few hours until I tried to eat again), and my husband is going into the weeks of finals and last papers, corrected portfolios, etc. I lost a lot of computer time :( Yeah, poor me LOL. I finished the nanowrimo as a winner the first time out and I'm very proud considering the hellashish month I have had.

I also finished my rewrite few days ago, which started at 15k+ words, I cut first 2 chapters, and still ended with 19k+ words. A very big month for word count for me and I'm quite proud of myself. Drum roll please tatatata........

64009 For The Quest for Riverhand I have a LOT of detail to make up and a few things to research and a few chants to make up (part of what I need research for) but I finished the novel in a month for the rough draft. WOW WOW WOW

Still in shock in case you can't tell!!!


Everyone have a happy week, because I'm not going to let anyone or anything (ie rumors, sickness) spoil my fun LOL

day 14,15,16

Not much to say but OUCH! We got slammed with the flu here. the baby was up all night Saturday and he's too young to come close to understanding what's wrong. My 16 yr old woke up at 530 with hives all over his body. Gave him benadryl and sent him to the shower while we looked up area hospitals in case the benadryl didn't work. While printing directions/map to hospital, not only does the printer start having fits, but the internet quits working! About 8 or so, maybe 9, my eight year old gets up and throws up. Repeatedly. Right about 11, the 5 yr old gets in on the action. We had our closing show at 2, which patrick was in, until he threw up all over the stage, poor guy. Yesterday spend an hour talking to a bunch of idiots in billing until they finally let me talk to tech support. The first one was rude enough I reported her, which I usually don't do.

Finally, about 4 yesterday, I have internet and it's time to get the oldest. I had both younger boys home from school, one coughing to beat the band and the other keeping tune with his throw up. I'm sorry if you're at the gross factor at this point. If you are don't continue reading this post.

I'm next. I haven't felt well last couple days and we had the coup de grace last night with hangovers this morning. I'm so NOT feeling well. But hopefully, the worst is over and I can get back to writing!

I wrote about 1500 words (I think, through all of this, most of it Saturday morning. Course, I didn't check my previous word count. We can start again. As of now, I have 32,207. Still ahead of the game for Nanowrimo so hang on to your hats, while I try to remember where I'm at, where I was going, and how I need to get there... And no, I don't need any suggestions from the peanut gallery!

Repeat after me...

Never give up
Never give up
Never give up

seventh day

Well seventh day was short by 3000+words for my personal goal. I was four words short of 2k :( I had an epiphany about how to handle the about face I took in the book (yeah, the military jargon of the state is rubbing off).

I was a the store after dropping my kid off at Saturday school (honest he has school on sat). I was walking down the aisles looking for the lunchmeat when bam... Irealized that since I was writing in omnisicient POV I really should let the reader know a bit more about what's going on behind enemy lines. I even had an idea about how I wanted the two scenes go. do you think I had a pen? NOPE and the handheld taperecorder I bought for just such an occassion? In WA somewhere. At least I hope it is. Groan.

By the time I got home I remembered a few key points but forgot the flow/order. All I could write was Kyle and Lord McCallum talk about this or that. Or Bad happened she not killed LOL

I write out of sequence all the time. I usually write like I'm doing for NaNoWriMo, if I make myself, that is. I wrote Rebellion on Piza 7 in a month although it took about three months of editing to polish it up. I took out one plot line and inserted another. and added information where I had skipped over it.

I have a real bad habit of doing that. What does that mean for my story? It means I have to go back and write scenes I skimmed or skipped because my mind was on a different one. For instance, in Blood Traitors, sequel to Piza 7, I have the main characters looking at a body that has been murdered and the face disfigured by a futuristic weapon using lasers and stones (as in gems :P).

I originally said something like. He saw she was dead and was upset. I took one whole paragraph to say it. I think there were two sentences. My husband, the erstwhile editor, was like. "A dead body is interesting you don't describe it." or something. He said more but that's what it boiled down to.

If you read my inscription to Rebellion on Piza 7 then you know, he's the one who said MORE. He's right. So what happens in the current story? I forget to put the plot points along the way, think about them later, then write the scenes. I do not write by an outline. I have characters in my head and their story floating about, and if they live past the two hour idea thing my brain has going on, then they will harass me until their story is written.
]
Victoria and Erica (Winds of Fire, Winds of Ice) just chimed in to say, yeah, where's the rest of their story. I point at the folder with the pages printed out and say, see they are waiting for the man who says "more" to edit. That quiets them down for the moment. I've barely thought out Winds of Ice, but Winds of Fire only needs 15-25k words to be finished. Depends on how much my More editor finds to nail me on....

I made up a couple of chants last night during show. They need so much work. But you have to have chants/spells when writing about magic. Now the question is do I learn to speak Gaelic, so I know if the words actually rhyme, or do I make up my own language? I've started both to see how it feels in the story... Anybody speak Gealic?

Winds of Fire

Damn. It's been way too long. I have tried to post at least twice a week. None have gone through! So you can imagine the kinds of weeks I've been having. Everyone in the house has been sick at least once, including my baby and myself.

I've been able to get a minimal amount of editing done. Problem is, I'm cutting out so much, it's hard to make up from the last huge editing I did. I'm still 200 words shy of where I was when I started the major editing. The book is only half done, so I'm scared to think of what I've done to my story. LOL

Here is the promised excerpt from Winds of Fire.

Writer's Block

I'm having a bit of writer's block. Need to print my stories on paper so I can look at them better. It's just not the same on computer screen. It's much harder for me to see mistakes. Plus, I have an easier time finding the flow. All the wonderful ideas I had yesterday have gone with the wind. I couldn't get to the part they needed to happen with enough time to integrate the fabulous new ideas. :( Maybe I'll find them in the re-read.

I'm ready to finish the thriller and my sequel to Rebellion on Piza 7. Blood Traitors will be wonderful as soon as it's finished.

Here's an excerpt from Blood Traitors:

Eagerness and gladness warred with hopelessness and sadness. She couldn’t identify it all. When she tried to delve deeper, the scene shifted. She saw the lights of planets and stars whirling past as if she were in a roller coaster at night. She only had given impressions until she felt Daniel-Jirel’s angry outburst.
“Who would dare! This is The Martilian Royal Ship Marathon. Identify yourself immediately and stand down!” His tone held authority and power but it was lost on whoever was attacking the ship.
He was concentrating on keeping the ship from going into a tail spin from the last blast. The only answer the other ship gave was another blast. This time Savannah saw it on the obsidian screen. He maneuvered the ship and the blast missed.
He again tried to contact the attacking ship. “My readings indicate your ship and crew are from my home world and therefore know the consequences of firing on any royal ship. You will be sentenced to death if you continue as I have clearly identified myself. STAND DOWN!”

I got a comp working

although I can't work on my current hot projects, I do have material on this computer to work on. It's definitely fantasy as it has dragons, warriors mages, mages, warriors, general magic and adventure. It started as a short story which got good reviews from lots of people, but it has a lot of passive voice that slows down the story. It is a good story with a good premise, so It's worth the fix. :) I'm also applying like mad to all kinds of places.

I did an oil pastel Sunday night. It's my niece from my brother Isaac. It's his first girl and I was inspired by the pic I got. It's pretty cool. One day I'll figure out how to get post pics on this. For now, I'm trying to figure out how to get pics off my camera. I don't seem to have the proper cord. And the adapter for my itty bitty disk is packed - SOMEWHERE. Maybe my friend will have one.

The kids are all doing OK, except Isaac (my baby with Downs) has a cold or something. It's a little worrisome but so far he seems okay. School will start soon, and with the advent of school, I'm hoping for more writing time. Yeah!

Today is it, I hope

The car is slated to be finished today! can we say yeah....

I'm so excited to be moving to our new life. I'm missing a few things left behind, and still have things that have to be dealt with, but for the most part, things are for the better. Even my husband and I seem to be changing. Our attitudes and stresses are not the same as they were. Don't get me wrong, there are a few things that haven't changed, but we both are bringing new outlooks to the table. This has been good, and in some ways, I believe it's helping me deal a little more with my grief over my brother's death.

I'm not getting a lot of support from my family, partially due to my sister pushing me out. But largely due to the fact that "Leona's dealing with it better than anyone else." People close to me are like, "duh, she's had to deal with a lot more than the rest of you." My family seems to think it means I don't need any help or support in dealing with my grief. My husband and I went through a rough patch at that time, so I've felt very alone until recently. I've started reaching out to my husband and talking about it a little more.

Mostly, I've just been announcing it, like a news feed. Maybe, I'll be able to start moving along with my healing processes. My grief comes and goes and some days are harder than others. If I can write and immerse myself into my stories, or paint and focus on the paintings, I'll have better days. Lately, however, those days have been few and far between and the grief is welling to the surface more and more with less activities to help channel it. It's almost a set back to closer to the time he died. It's been three months, but sometimes, it feels like yesterday.

I know he'd be thrilled for our move, and I catch myself wishing I could get on facebook and tell him stuff. When we made the final decision to leave, I listed him in the people to contact page. I almost cried right there in Costco!

Wish me luck in finding time to channel that emotion into writing and painting. I do some of my best work at those times.

Off to clean the hotel room. Watch out TEXAS, here we come!

Keep on going

I’m long winded and generous with my advice so here goes:

I’m an artist as well as writer. This morning I was telling my husband about the AH fiasco. I told him I kind of understood it, although I don’t want to know how many flies I caught when I saw the personal telephone number listed of the reviewer.
As an artist, I paint what I want to paint, everything from landscapes to the surreal. In my latest art class, I became a palette knife artist. I hated the knife on my previous attempts, in and out of class, so it was a big surprise.
In between classes, I picked up art instruction books, art history books, looked online, and practiced. It had been five years from the last class I was able to take and my recent one. I didn’t stop painting because I wasn’t in class and it became something I craved when I couldn’t do it.
Because of my health (asthma, allergies) I would have to put my paints away for awhile, sometimes months. When I’d go back to the painting, I’d see things I had missed the first time. Why? Because I didn’t spend my time away from my paints away from art. Because of all the reading and learning I’d done, I was able to apply it to the paintings when I’d go back.
I also started writing. I applied the same principles to my writing. I keep learning even if I can’t write. I read voraciously, all genres. I read writing blogs and magazines. When I went back to my MS I could apply those principles that I’d picked up since I last looked at it.
It’s been 1 and ½ years since I started writing seriously (as in finish a novel) and I’m published. I may not make it big off my first book, but I’ve learned a lot in the process of getting there.
Applying these lessons helps you to get ahead and makes your next work that much better. If you believe in your work, keep querying, keep learning, and apply all of it to your next book. I took a six month hiatus due to health issues from everything except the care of my family. I had a baby with Down Syndrome (November 1) and had to move my family of seven around the holidays.
However, I’ve managed to write three novels, one published, four short stories, and I’m working on three others. Why? Because I didn’t spend my time away from writing away from the industry. If writing is your dream, don’t give up no matter what gets in the way. Keep learning and keep trying.

Whatever your dream is, don't give up because life gets in the way. Go around life and come out on top!

I put up more posters today. For my book signing and the play I'm in. I can't wait to have my book signing. It's another milestone to being an author. I've been published, I've seen the book online, it's at a physical bookstore (looking good!) and them comes the signing! I'm excited and can hardly wait.

I was writing this blog, holding the baby. He loves to 'help' me type. He's fascinated with words. First kid I've had who wanted to do more than eat the book. He wants to look at the words (no kidding either. He likes pages full of words, with or without pics) and will watch for a while.

He was holding my hands as I was typing and then spit up on the keyboard!!! I've got that cleaned up and he's over playing on the floor now :)

Writing is making me crazy - rather, the lack of time to write. The ideas are pouring in, but if I can't get them down, the impact may be lost, if not the complete idea. Here's to lots of words today cheers!