Not NaNo-ing and I'm OK with that!

Hey friends! Don't think I've been neglecting my writing even though I've been neglecting my blog :)

I've gotten some progress into my WIP revisions and I'm excited about some new directions it's taking. 

Now, you might think Nano is the perfect time to jump in and make the most of some new idea or finishing up this nagging last project but this year...

I'm not NaNo-ing :) 

and I am okay with that.

Well, yes Cahleel. It seems every writer in the blogosphere and beyond is writing there booties off and I say more power to ya!

 I'm here doing the same amount of writing as I usually do, periodically getting excited about all the writing sprints and thinking "Yes! I will!" but in all reality. No. I won't.

I still love to write. I'm still going to finish my book but this year I'll be a cheerleader for the writing sprinters of the world, and a mom, and a seamstress, and a cook, yeah, you get the idea.

Happy more than halfway through all you NaNo-ers and to the rest of us...

Happy writing!

Follow Your Nose

Mmmm... What a way to wake up in the morning! 

My daughters have taken to making waffles every morning. They smell amazing! Not that they're any good for my current food plan, but I love breathing them in all morning. 

I feel like I'm in the 80's fruit loop commercial with Toucan Sam floating through the house looking for the source of that amazing smell. Yeah, they make me happy. 

I'm sure I've read somewhere that good smells can cause an actual physical reaction. I'd find you the quote, or website but who needs it I stand before you as proof.

Done.

I'm all about good deeds.

Aren't you happier :) Go find a nice bakery to sit inside of and breathe deeply. 

Maybe it will inspire you.

Better bring your laptop.

In the Zone. Love the Zone. Feed the Zone.

I've hit the writing Zone :)

My daughter interrupted my writing the other day and I was grumpy for at least half an hour. During which, I was subject to much teasing of being caught in the Zone. 

Well, so. Geez! Why is everybody so needy! 

It's my belief that you should only be allowed to tease if you also have been to the Zone.

It's a happy place, full adventures and imagination! Of course, there is also the typical and not so typical tragedy. It's definitely my happy place! 

I saw Josi Kilpacks story for the second time and it made me smile and waltz my way back to the computer and into the Zone once again. This time she gives it along with a recipe for her secret sauce! It involves one particular secret ingredient... stick-to-itiveness

Yes! I knew that ingredient would come in handy one day!

She talks about her confidence and getting shot down and picking herself up every time! It's a fantastic story that makes me happy to pick up my project write some more words. Adding a little of my long stored stick-to-itiveness. Thank goodness that stuff doesn't have an expiration date! 

Don't you love the Zone. The keep writing, keep dreaming, happy place. I love it here. It's a whole lot of fun floating in the Zone.

My dirty little secret

Hello friends, I'm here to share a secret.

 A nasty one I like to keep hidden away. 

Its confession is painful but it's for a good cause. You see, today is Jordan McCollums blogfest for her new novel I, Spy!
And bonus! She's giving away prizes! So read, comment, and find out what your freebie is!

Here goes confession time - 

I pulled into the driveway already in a cold sweat. I'd spent the afternoon a mix of exhilaration and panic filtered through a crush of bodies and freedom that sometimes felt out of place.

I scanned the totes, that on my shoulder had felt more than heavy, but now lay heaped in the back seat. They gave no hint of the forbidden contents. I looked at them wanting to be pleased with my decisions, but my deep calming breaths had been replaced with hyperventilation.

The man of the house wasn't home, or, at least his car wasn't around. I opened the garage door. The concrete floor was clearly visible. Exposed, free of shadows and black rubber tires. I released the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and I rolled into the garage.

The car filled with the smell of tires, and stale air. I closed my mouth, holding my breath, to keep the sent from overcoming my senses. I hit a button on the car door and cringed. The smooth whirring brought the image of sharpening blades as the window rolled to it's closed position. I hefted the massive bags from the backseat and half carried, half dragged them inside.

Inside it was quiet and clean but I'd never felt so out of place in my own home. Well, maybe not "never", this wasn't the first time. I swallowed and looked for witnesses. By some miracle of fate my children were absent. The faint hum of the television could be heard in the basement. The neglect etched a spot next to my anxiety, but I pressed on. 

I removed my shoes at the door, a guise of obedience, but grateful for the silence it afforded me.  Around the corner of the stairwell I hurried to the bedroom and its carpeted floors. A thump resonated in the empty rooms as I smacked into the door jamb as I hurried past. I scolded my carelessness and checked for damage. Everything was still as it had been and I stepped further into my room.

Beyond the bedroom I found an empty space in the closet. I moved stacks of long dresses and gently released my hold on the totes that burdened my soul. I stared longingly at the evidence of what I'd done.

A door slammed, and I jumped, knocking my head on the low hanging closet rod. Keeping an eye on the door I re-positioned the clothes. With a quick glance around I hurried to the bed pouncing on it as casually as I could.

Footsteps sounded in the hall, "Hillary!"

"I'm in here." I pulled my phone out and clicked into my email and leaned back on a pillow as he walked through the door.

"Hey love!" I clicked the phone off and stood my body tight and panicky.  I walked over and raised my arms to hug him and paused. He shimmered with sweat and the smell of salt and heat dripped from him. He grinned behind black sunglasses. The pause only lasted for a moment but my stomach rolled as it had the first time he'd come home like this. I'd kissed him then trying to be a good wife and assuming I'd get used to it.

I didn't, but considering what I'd just done, I lowered my arms and tried again. I touched his damp chest with just my fingertips and leaned up tapping the obligatory kiss on his lips.

"I'm so glad you're home! How was you're ride?" Lies, all lies. I didn't care about his ride and I wasn't glad he was home. Not right now anyway, guilt drifted from the closet like a mist.

"It was okay. Did you do anything this morning? Did the kids vacuum their rooms?" Crap. The rooms.

"Uh, I told them too. I think Livvy did, you know how they are." I could classify this as, not definitely a lie. He walked into the closet disappearing in the mist of guilt I'd left hanging there. I held my breath listening. He was silent as he dropped backpacks and opened drawers.

The shower turned on in the adjoining bathroom. Relief dropped me, like a water fall had opened in the ceiling, I fell back onto the bed breathing normally for the first time since the sight of the neighbors green suburban lawns and carefully pruned hedges. He hadn't seen the bags.

I hurried to check on the kids bedrooms as I contemplated how long I'd have to wait before I could wear the lacy green top in the bag. It would be longer for the boots. He tends to notice shoes. It's a curse. The stack of new things for the kids would be easy. In a few days I can pull a couple things out and feed him a line about how long it's been "just hanging around", but I could do that. They were worth it and, for now, my secret is safe.

Okay, so hiding shopping isn't the most thrilling secret, and this is a bit extreme :) but I think it's safe to say we've all got a secret or two! Happy blog hopping!

And go check out Jordan's novel, "I, Spy" and her prequel novella "Mr. Nice Spy"

Which just for reading you can get "Mr. Nice Spy" FREE!!! Yay!
Here's a quote from Jordan herself-
Just for reading a blog fest post, you can get a free e-copy of the novella Mr. Nice Spy, a prequel to I, Spy! Use the coupon code SECRET on my site store here! (Coupon code good through July 26, 2013.)

A Midwest Experience

Come one, come all! Storymakers Midwest is calling!

Storymakers is a one day event of fabulous writers and amazing information gifting to the brains of all us anxious conference attendees.

We hover like bees on a summer day ready go class to class, gathering all the info we can till our brains are so heavy with information we can hardly move. Then we set it all down in our lovely notebooks and take to the sky!

The best part is not a one of the other attendees will sting you!

It's either that or the networking with authors who have been throw the same wringer we're currently running ourselves through. Or the class options that seem to fit every level of writer and energize you to set off into that great honeycomb of book theories in your head, finally able to make sense of the glory that awaits the potential of that one special idea.

I think i need to get outside.

Perhaps at Storymakers!

This was most of the group last year! I really can't say enough about how great these authors are!

Details -

Date: Saturday, September 21st, 2013

Time: 8 am – 9 pm

Location: Holiday Inn in Overland Park, KS

So excited! The conference is only $105 dollars and my return was definitely worth the value! 

It's kinda like EFY for writers and only a day long, so, you get to go home and see your favorite cheerleaders sooner than later!

I say story, you say makers!

Story!

(makers)

Story!

(makers)

Yay! Rah, rah, sis boom bah!

OK now I'm just slipping into a sad little glory days moment only I never was a cheerleader. 

It's my Uncle Rico moment.

Oh and so you know, here's a link to the classes, and one for the registration and speaker's list as well!

I Love a Challenge!

While I was at the lake having my lovely vacation my phone had a rare moment of internet connectivity and I checked my email. Hmm, isn't that a strange thing to do. 

Well, I got a message that the lovely Tristi Pinkston was hosting another of Tristi's challenges!

Woohoo!

Well, I was excited see that email. I had signed up for one before, and then completely lost the site, I couldn't remember my goals, and it was just a complete bust!
This time I was determined to accomplish something and use this challenge to really do what I've been telling myself for the last year+ that I can.

So I signed up, bookmarked the page, and have been writing like a crazy girl, checking in and freaking out every time I hit another word count that I never thought I would make it to.

You know, I learned to speak positively to myself a long time ago, but telling myself something and really believing it is different, and a little tricky.
Now I can see it happening, and by golly I am eating that elephant, one bite at a time! Or in this guys case a giant strawberry larger than half your body, either way, it's goin' down baby!

My goals were to write 1,500 words 5 days a week with a total of 7,500 a week. So, far I've kept up or at least managed to catch up for each weeks goals and last week I hit 40,000 words! 

This week I've made it past 50,000!

I'm so excited!!!

I know it's only a first draft but this is my first first draft that's actually getting completed! And I'm freaking excited! I've already got plans for my first round of edits but I'm holding off till my last few chapters are written and I can officially say, "Why yes, of course I've written a book."

The Founding Fathers Agree!

Let's go celebrate!

John Adams said so!

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America," Adams wrote on July 3, 1776. "It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Of course we're a couple days late every year :) the second was the day they voted to declare independence. The fourth is when John Hancock signed the declaration. 

This makes me smile. I love a party and apparently the founding fathers did to!
Happy 4th of July!

Freedom to Choose the Write!

Writing is a source of happiness for me. I am very grateful that as a country we are free to choose. That as Gods children we have a freedom that is born in us.

 I am not required to do what my husband wants me to. 

What the cashier at the grocery store wants me to,

 or even what my Mother believes and has taught me to do. 

It's up to me to choose happiness. 

I've never really been un-happy. Growing up I've been blessed with everything I need. I didn't grow up in a wealthy home but I had intelligent parents and lots of siblings who love each other and care about each others happiness. Today I'm living in my own home with my own family, who have what seems like a thousand needs I can't ever seem to fill. I worry day in and day out about their happiness and it's been draining my own reserves.

This is where writing comes in. When I found writing and started regularly practicing and making it a part of my own happiness it was a wonderful thing. Till it started to cause problems with the happiness of those I love. Problem is giving it up would be like giving up a part of my heart.

I did a lot of crying when I thought that was the direction I was headed and I'm still not certain I'm out of that zone. but today my husband is learning about this other love and today I am trying to share and control the effects it has on my life and because of the great freedom I've been blessed with I am free to choose the things that make me happy.

It's been a bit of a revelation learning that I can choose writing and my family won't fall apart. That caring for my creativity does not mean that my family is moved out of that number one spot. I still have to learn how to give time to all those I love but I'm choosing to keep writing in that circle. 

We've all had days when the world falls apart and sometimes weeks and years. I'm deciding that I hate that and I choose happiness. 

So, happy 4th!

And happy freedom to choose!

Choose whatever is right for you. 

I take great joy today in choosing to write!

This has been a message from your friendly chapter of the Insecure Writer's Support Group!

Write on friends!

A Lake Of Inspiration

I get to spend the 4th of July here. 

Swimming.

Sleeping. 

Boating.
Loving my kiddos.

Hangin' with the cousins. 

Writing...

What could be better?

P.S. Yes that pic was taken tonight as I stared at the amazing sky and water, and sure you can come by anytime!

I love the sample table!

Nothing better than hitting Sam's Club or other big bulk buying type stores, around lunch time.

The samples hit the floor, and I forget my entire shopping list, while I scout the new foods.

Samples are fun for everyone and today I have a sample for you!

Tamara Hart Heiner has a fabulous book up for free for 3 more days!

Inevitable

I reviewed it a while back when it first came out, but just incase you missed it I loved it.

For me it was one of those books that wraps up beautifully but has so much potential that I can't stop thinking about it!

It's a quick read with some super fun twists along the way!

So if you haven't already gotten it, go pick it up! If you have, go post a review and tell a friend!

Scales of Goodness

My friend just posted a review scale that I love.
It's like the breath of heaven for my crazy stressed out brain!

Charity Bradford has a review up that I thouroughly love and at the bottom she rates it then gives a rating scale definition. 

Aaaaah!

The clouds part, angels sing, and golden light is shines down to bless us all!

Yes there's been a scale in my head but there's one in your's and your's and in that guys head over there too. So how do you know what my scale looks like. Well now it's written down and you can see it. Thank you everyone and thank you Charity. 

It's one of those why didn't I think of that moments. 

This is an insecure Writers post because that moment of posting a number to a review has always freaked me out. I want good numbers, they want good numbers. Please dear Father! Bless my fingers as they click the right ones! Now, at least, I get to explain myself :)

Here's the lovely scale I speak of -

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3:  I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Don't take no shortcuts

Wow, I knew this already but I've had a reminder lately that it takes a long time to write a novel. 

It's sometimes really weird to me that I'll get all excited and start making really good progress writing everyday and then look at what still needs to be done and I think, 

"Wow. This is gonna take forever."

I mentioned that to my fabulous friend Tamara once and her answer... "Yeah. it does." 

Well okay then.

 Buckle up cause were in this for the long haul :)

Don't have a clue what I'm gonna write about.

I did 5 hours of Zumba today. It was for elementary school PE classes so there were breaks, but I'm tired. Watching Bill Cosby. He is a genius.

My daughter is preforming marvelously in a play right now.

My writer friends are out selling books at a craft fair.

I can't quite decide where I'd like to be right now.

But I'm here and I'm enjoying myself regardless.
Sitting with my honey, watching Bill Cosby, and thinking about books. in the off moments anyway :)

ROFL

Okay, truthfully I've never used that acronym but it totally fits my thoughts today!

Last night was critique group night. That coveted night of all nights, I smile a lot on critique group nights! And last night we were dying! There was so much more than smiling going on! 

Keli over at Keli Wright's Open-Faced Sandwich wrote about it and it got me thinking about how good it is to laugh! 

I haven't done a lot of reading at critique group lately because I'm working on a rough draft of a new book. But for some reason everyone had been kinda dead on the writing front. (It happens!) 

Well, I was not going to let my coveted evening run short! So, I pulled out a couple pages that at least resembled the intended storyline. I apologized, emailed, apologized again, and then read. 

After the first couple mistakes, we giggled, but as we went on some of the mistakes were so ill placed or took on such a different context than they were intended to be, that we were full out belly laughing in the back of the yogurt shop we were meeting in. It was amazing!

I think part of my willingness to laugh had to do with the fact that it was such a raw story. When you've worked tirelessly for months pouring your heart and soul into a story, it's painful even to show it to a close friend. Much less send it out to be critiqued and torn apart! (Even if they are still close friends :) ) But at this stage we simply laughed. 

We knew there would be changes, we knew the story would change, maybe even dramatically, so for now, we let it clean through our perfectionist souls and we simply relaxed and enjoyed the beginnings of writing that so many stories take! 

In fact I woke up today feeling better than I have in ages! I'm not saying I'll make a regular habit of this but it was sure a great night!

The Feeling of Getting it Right

Aaahhh, Joy.

Words come together like a giant puzzle, and when the last piece fits, it's joy. 

One word. Joy. 

Never mind that we'll usually try and see if the puzzle can be improved by adding another piece or two to the final project.

 Sometimes we think another 200 pieces is all it needs and then it will be perfect :)

 but, eventually we scrape off all the excess and see our words for what they are. 

Then a scene becomes happy and complete.

Yup, I get a little giddy at that point. Then I re-read and smile... a lot! 

Only then am I allowed to sweat and worry about whether everyone else will agree, but for the moment... joy!

If only :) meant, "Gosh, I'm happy today!"

I'm feeling happy today :) and wishing emoticons had an appropriate place in literature. 

I'm not the least :-} when I say I think they're a fabulous way to express emotion!

Instead of saying

 "Joy radiated from her face as she flung her body at him. Six months was way to long." 

Just tell us her thoughts about missing him and plug in a giant smilie! :D 

Then "He held her around the waist twirling them both as other airport travelers scattered. She squealed squeezing him tighter till she landed and stood giggling and swatting at him for his reckless behavior, but he refused to let go."

Do we really need all that, I ask you? It's so much tighter to tell that he twirled her she squealed at him and then show off a nice little :P Then you know exactly how she's feeling! Am I right?

Yes I think I'm ready to bring about this new age and technique in literature. The time has come. 

You might be feeling :-| or :-O but no worries ;) 

Dont be X( or :s There will still be a place for everyone! So no :'( among writers. Write on and we'll see who wins >:) 

If you'd like to join me, here's a link with an immense list of emoticons for your future writing purposes in this brave, new world we can create together!

:^o

Am I a little late for April Fool's?

Hello My Insecure Buddies!

OK I had no idea that this even existed! I'm new to writing and have just started learning about this great and marvelous and terrifying process. I'm a little afraid to get into all my insecurities because that just opens a major can of worms... but whatever I'll try to keep it small for now.

I love writing, and I love my writing friends. Today I want to talk about how terrifying it is to read my writing in front of my lovely sweet and kind friends. 

.

.

.

Well, that's it really.

It's freaking terrifying to open myself up like that. I've only done it a couple of times and my heart falls down in my chest and I notice every minuscule mistake. I usually stop and offer some form of apology when they are noticed. Then I crawl in to a hole hoping nobody laughs or that somebody will. Please, please, please, let there be something positive that can be said about this strange in process piece of literature that I've just laid out before you. 

Aah, that actually is quite nice to say out loud. Much easier than reading my most recent piece of first draft fiction. I've been told we all feel that way but when somebody turns to you and says it looks like it's your turn. Forcing myself to swallow and say "Sure!" Is about the hardest thing I've ever done!

But we do, and we survive, and I've not known anyone to die during this rare form of self inflicted torture. And what do we get of this situation? better. We get better. At reading, at writing, at listening. Submitting to the open minds of our friends who've been there and want nothing more than to help you is one of the best things we can do for those gravel rough pieces of crumbling fiction, that want nothing more than to be cleaned up and discovered. 

I think we can help them with that. 

Going Healthy! Outside-out!

I've been loving writing! I write all day and I walk away saying, 

"Wow! I did something amazing today!" 

However, it only happens a couple times a week. 

See, when I step away from the computer it's usually onto a pair of soggy pants left in my room by my son, and around the corner lies half the contents of my daughters bedroom, and my dinner dishes are mingling in the kitchen, with the forgotten breakfast and lunch leftovers. Oops! 

Anyhow I've been thinking it's time to turn things inside out and make a plan to get it all done! Everyone I know has a plan, my books even need a plan, if I ever intend to get to the end. 

So, why not me.

Then my friend started posting about a Summer Ready Health Challenge. 

Not weight loss, just health. It even had a spiritual component.

 I loved the idea of getting ready for summer inside and out! 

I was totally in! And it started today. 

Whew! It's been a little crazy trying to remember how to be healthy!

On top of the body and spirit portion of the challenge, I've added mind. I've given myself a personal challenge of daily writing to go along with the rest of it!  Not all day daily writing but some, even if it's just a little. I'm so looking forward to the next 8 weeks! I'm planning to come out of this with some new healthy habits for my body and mind!

Really it's not such an inside out approach, but I'm taking what I've already got out there and I'm gonna use it if I have to turn myself inside-out, or right side-in, or "outside-out" as my little guy would say :) 

As a writer, how do you turn yourself inside out?

 You write! You write so many words they are spilling out your fingers, and over the bound edges of your books! Then you gather a few up, and keep writing till they're exactly where they're supposed to be! 

I'm super excited! 

Here's to summer of outside-out books and lives!

10 Days of Truth

It's been ten days since I posted last and I've thought about that post everyday since.
So, today I'm posting some of my thoughts back to you.

 First off we have Day one - Sluffing the Real Stuff was posted. 

Hmm.... Instant guilt.

 My main thoughts these past ten days have been about how writing is the real stuff and even though I mentioned that a tiny bit at the bottom of my post it's not how I was feeling that day. 

 To really be an author I have to remember what the real stuff really is.

 Day two - Support network.

 Get one where ever you can so you don't end up a puddle on the bathroom floor.  

I'm still remembering and feeling pretty bad. Unfortunately my husand doesn't love my going off to write. Fortunately I have fabulous friends who encourage, and eventually even my husband comes around... for awhile. 

 Day three - Be proud of the writer that you are. 

 We're all at different levels of learning. 

After wallowing in my self destructive thoughts for a while I started telling myself that I'm an author and it's ok to be proud of that. Even when there is no book with my name on it backing me up. 

Being an author with nothing to show for it is no easy task. True no one can judge you but at the same time no one can really make up their mind about you at all. So it's like your status of author is really just a figment of the imagination, theirs, yours, it doesn't matter because it's not really there.

 However, I'm learning to be proud of the fact that even though I'm still learning, I love being an author. I think I'm good, hopefully getting better, and I can be proud.

Day four - Be proud but not stubborn 

Not being able to learn how to be a better writer is just stupid. 

We join critique groups and ask peoples opinions. Then we say no that's the way I intended it, or but I really liked that part, or I like it the way it is. Nobody's perfect, so, listen and assume that these wonderful people we've surrounded ourselves with might actually know something!

 Day five - Do It!

The difference between people who succeed and people who don't is the success stories actually did it.

I realize writing is a job for an author. I've come to terms with this in several other aspects of my life, but it was interesting to me that I had to realize this for my writing as well. You think you know something but a few days after my post I was thinking about "the real stuff" and realized I hadn't opened my laptop since I typed up all my guilt on day one. So, I remembered my thoughts that having talent doesn't make you a success. Acting on it and finishing does. Of course with a few other details involved :) 

 Day six - Be positive. 

There is no wagon so you can't fall off. Just keep going.

 Somewhere around this point I was starting to feel pretty good about writing and my books. It was kinda nice. Truthfully negativity has it's place in anticipating and solving many problems but being positive about our writing helps us keep at it, and that is something we all need.

 Day seven - Life happens whether you write or not so write 

Life started getting busy about this point and despite my husbands upturn in support, and my positivity, I was was losing out on writing time.

 So, write when you can and steal some moments to write even if you don't think you can. 

The world keeps turning no matter what.

 Day eight - Work on what you've got. 

Write down your new ideas but for goodness sake go finish something!

I've had several new ideas lately and they're all very exciting, but I was watching my daughter start on her third, fourth, or fifth new story and I couldn't help myself. "Ally! Finish something!" I whined to her. Yeah it was kinda whining, because frankly I want to read the end of some of those stories, but I couldn't help thinking of my own half finished stories as I said it. 

So, yeah. Go finish something!

 Day nine - Goals are achievable!

 All you have to do is make them and fight for them! And I do mean fight :)

Goals are a little scary too, because they make us accountable, but if we don't have a goal we don't know where we're going do we. That's even worse than Dorthy's misleading yellow brick road. 

So, fight for it! The Emerald City is waiting!

 Day ten - It's Dew Time

Hehe, I love DEW time. It's so easy! Thirty minutes and no guilt! More than thirty minutes is pure joy! Check out this post if you don't know what DEW time is, I'll write my own later :) Now, go DEW it!

Sluffing The Real Stuff

My toes are buried under a pile of laundry on my unmade bed, there's a stack of papers next to me and what am I doing?

Sitting under it all typing away on my story! What a happy way to start the morning :)

Haha, OK! It would probably be happier with all of it done but it won't last long. I'll sluff it for a moment, then have to get up and take care of things because life happens and has to be dealt with. 

Who's to say I'm really sluffing anyhow?

 It all depends on your frame of mind. There's a story full of very real imagery and experiences to the people inside it. They and I deserve to have that story told! Writing and stories fill my head and for the moment I'm reveling in it. 

So am I sluffing the real stuff, or sluffing what's really the background to living life? 

Yeah, I said it. Laundry is the monotony of a life un-lived.

 Of course nobody wants to live that life naked. 

So, this'll be me later today but for now...

just give me five more minutes... 'kay.

Where's Chloe today: Talkin' with her momma and hoping not to choke mid convo!

Fine I'll Read Another Book

So I love reading. Surprise :) 

My girls read and a couple have even been writing as well. (I so love this! When they read their work my chest puffs up and a batter from the world series couldn't knock the smile off my face.) 

Reading allows me to escape but writing swallows me whole. When I start writing I can't escape my story for days. My characters follow me around and every conversation inspires something. Unfortunately that inspiration can be less than focused and I usually get several new book ideas while listening to peoples own epiphanies, but, what's been strange for me, is when reading becomes work. 

I currently have a stack of books to read. Granted, much smaller than an editors, but way larger than I'm used to piling up and my rainy days are seriously lacking! So I've got to knock some of them out. Not to mention the fifteen million other things on my list such as, taxes, kid pick ups, kid drop offs, taxes (April is coming really fast this year), bills, dinner, lunch, breakfast, clean up from the previous three, etc. And, my kids like to imagine that some day I might stop and play with them! How dare they :) 

I don't know what people are talking about when they say that time flies! OK that's a lie, but how else am I supposed to justify sticking my kid in front of a video game or saying "Mommy will be down in a minute!" When I really mean a few hours, if I can escape the computer by then, and not have some other urgent to-do item come up. 

So what to do because the weather has taken a turn for the worse and I'm looking at some rainy days, and frankly I'd like to put the to-do list away, shove the stack of books behind the piano, and just write. 

The picture has no real tie to my post :) I just happen to love old bookstores, old bikes, the architecture. 

Well it looks kinda rainy, so there, I tied it in!

The problem with spinning theories.

Seriously, I get way to caught up in theory spinning. Fan fic flies in my head the minute I finish a good book.

Right now it's driving me nuts, I'm supposed to be packing and instead I'm surfing around looking for people reading Inevitable, by Tamara Hart Heiner and spinning theories anywhere someone will listen to me. 

That's the real problem with reading a good book. It makes me spend way to much time on the internet and I waste my day away... 

...so, anyone want to dish? :)

Ode to the Pen

I've been struggling with a laptop that doesn't want to cooperate with my on the move style of writing.

• I want to write everywhere. It prefers being plugged into the wall.
• I want to access my work in a more easily view-able format. It doesn't like to save in dropbox. (Or maybe it just refuses to update what it does save. I can't decide)
• I move from one thought to the next very quickly. It thinks I need time. Probably to contemplate the nature of every possible story line before continuing on with the plot. (Jerk. I guess it doesn't trust me.)

Oh well, in any case I was inspired by a post at  QueryTracker Blog by Jane Lebak She wrote about writing in notebooks and after reading it I stared at my stack of neglected notebooks and was kinda surprised at how similar my feelings are about writing in them. 

I still need the computer, obviously, but I really believe I write better when it's come from my brain, to the paper. Like somehow my heart is attached to those tools and when I insert a keyboard between my fingers and the story, I lose feeling. Maybe I think about things to much, or not enough, but in any case I'm pulling out the notebooks and pens and going to work... again :) 

Go check out her post and her friends posts as well if we want to be all unbiased and junk, and get inspired!

If you really want that ode...
Oh the glory of this thine ink!
Why must the words thou holds be hid from me?
Spill them, spill them forth that I might joy in their wonder!
Share thy secrets with us all.
The glory that thou holds.

Hehe, Share an ode with me! I'm totally not being serious in writing that. Honestly...
 I don't even know what an ode really is! So don't think just write and share your ode to writing!

Current WIP - Today I'm hoping to find out some dynamics in the conflict between Chloe and her father. 

Movement for the hips, Makes time for the hands

I've been Zumba-ing like crazy lately and while it's made me feel incredibly busy all this week, today... 

all I want to do is write!!! 

All week I've been stressing over not being home long enough to brush my teeth and shower so today it's now 10 o'clock and I've barely tiptoed out of bed, but my laptop is looking pretty darn good!

My little people are cuddled in the bed with me and if you ask me it's shaping up to be a pretty darn good day!

So hurrah for all those busy, crazy, things we do! They wear us out and exhaust us but, maybe when that day off comes, it will mean more writing for you!

What are some of the things that keep you to way to busy! 

You know it's happened at least once!

An Inevitable Favorite!

Hey everyone! I'm feeling the need to share some book love! 

I found out about a party that I want to invite you all to! Aren't I such a good friend! :)

Well, I'm not exactly throwing the party, but hey you can be grateful for that too! Party planning is not one of my best skills. So, no, not throwing it... but I know the fantastic author who is! 

Tamara Hart Heiner is having a launch party on Feb. 1st 

for her new eBook "Inevitable"!

 It's fantastic story that I never wanted to end, with characters that I couldn't stop thinking about! I loved it!

Then, since it's Tamara Hart Heiner, besides a fabulous book you're getting a fabulous party! 

Go check out her blog or read up on it through this Facebook event page. 

There will be lots of prizes, free books, eBooks  and more! And what's a book launch without some serious reading time! That's where you'll find me in a couple days!