Jan 21, 2007 | Writing |
Cue Eddie Money. He sang about a rainy night, but today is a rainy day here in No. Alabama. I don't mind. Sometimes, a rainy day is perfect because you just want to sit inside with a book and no pressure to go anywhere or do anything.
Today, I hope to get some writing done. It's perfect writing weather. The rain is coming down pretty steady, the day is gray, and it's pretty. I didn't enjoy 37 straight days of rain in Hawaii (no one did), but I'm liking it here today.
I've discovered that many writers I know find rainy or snowy days peaceful and conducive to working on their stories. Why is that do you think? Is it because things seem quiet to us? Because we can't see the world passing by and we can't feel guilty for staying inside to write on a slow day?
Maybe that's why some writers work better at night too. It's quiet and peaceful. When I wrote my first book, I did it at night. I worked very well that way. I worked the day job, usually a swing shift from 1 to 10, then came home and stayed up until 6 AM sometimes writing. Since then, I've transitioned to writing during the day, though I often get my best ideas toward the late afternoon/early evening. When that happens, I keep writing, though I don't usually write late at night anymore. I think it's a matter of training the mind to work when you want it to. That can be difficult at first, no doubt about it. But I can't imagine writing through the night anymore, so I must have made the transition successfully. 🙂
So, while it's raining and the world seems quiet, think I'll immerse myself into the fictional world I've created and see what happens next. Aloha and happy writing!
Jan 19, 2007 | Writing |
I can't help it, I'm feeling quite offended over the misuse and abuse of the poor pitiful apostrophe today. Why oh why do people believe that you form the plural possessive of a word ending in S simply by attaching an apostrophe?
My husband is working with a recruiter on a document detailing his experience. I helped him write it. I wrote it correctly: “Mr. Harris's extensive experience blah blah..” The recruiter sent back an edited document (some of his edits were quite amazing, really, and I learned something about business writing just from reading the way he phrased some stuff) where he'd changed it to Mr. Harris'. Excuse me?
Would you say “Mr. Harris car”? Or is it “Mr. Harris's car”? Just say it aloud. Forget the apostrophe (which I did not attach at the end of the first Mr. Harris on purpose). I mean, puh-leeze! One makes no sense whatsoever. The other one denotes possession. It isn't that hard for pity's sake.
Who's robe is it? It's Jesus robe. Or is it Jesus's robe? Jones hat. Jones's hat. Which one sounds ridiculous when stated aloud and which one sounds correct?
Strunk and White are turning in their graves, I am sure. If that isn't enough, I see it in newspapers too. Major newspapers. Drives me crazy! I am offended for the poor pitiful apostrophe who can't speak up for itself.
Wasn't it Lynne Truss who envisioned an army of punctuation warriors gleefully correcting signs? Well enlist me in the cause. Someone must defend the dignity of the apostrophe.
What's your grammar peeve? I can stand almost anything, and really I am not nitpicky at all, but that apostrophe business drives me batty. Think I'll go sit cross-legged somewhere and say some ohms……
Jan 14, 2007 | Writing |
What a great day! I attended my first Heart of Dixie RWA meeting in Cullman, Alabama, and learned all about Tactical Units (otherwise known as SWAT). I also met the greatest group of ladies (and a couple of gentlemen) who made me feel so welcome and excited about being a part of the group. You couldn't possibly find a group of nicer people, I am certain. And that's going some when I just came from the land of aloha.
But, I do believe Southern hospitality might just edge out the spirit of aloha by a slim margin. Hard to believe, but true. I don't mean the difference between this chapter and my Hawaii chapter, but rather the difference in the population as a whole. 🙂 Folks are just friendier than heck in the South. And that's a good thing, especially since I learned that one can pack a concealed pistol here in Alabama (with a permit, of course). Not happening in Hawaii. Ever wonder why the Dog uses mace? Cause he can't carry. No one but the PD can carry in Hawaii. I kind of like that, really. 🙂
Anywho, feeling good and inspired and ready to write. 🙂 Now if I could just get some free time….
Jan 9, 2007 | Writing |
I was surfing the blogs, avoiding my WIP, and hoping for inspiration when I ran across this post over at agent Kristin Nelson's blog:
Last week I found myself in the interesting position of calling two authors but not because I was offering representation. Sometimes an agent calls but it’s not THE call. You’re probably asking yourself why I would bother if I were passing on a manuscript.
Here’s why. Sometimes the writing is just that good (and in these two instances, I was torn and seriously contemplated whether we could work on revisions with the authors), but ultimately, if I think a manuscript is fatally flawed and it would entail the author revising more than half the work, I have to pass. It’s not fair to them to say, “well, representation is contingent on XYZ first” (despite being sorely tempted).
I got one of these calls once. I was too dumb to realize how good it was. I was crushed, heartbroken, downtrodden, etc. I was convinced I was a bad writer. Never gonna write a good book, never gonna get there, blah blah blah.
Did I mention it was the first book I ever wrote? Did I mention I was in my twenties, hated my day job, and terribly convinced I was on the cusp of making it? Sheesh, I would so love to have a talk with the earlier me, to tell her to cheer up and keep going and to never, ever give up.
Something I've learned in the past few years of living is that, in the words of Yogi Berra, it ain't over 'til it's over. I had one book under my belt when I almost got the call. I had nothing else ready to go and no real vision for the future. You simply MUST keep writing new stories. Never pin your hopes on one story, never keep tweaking and tweaking and hoping the only story you've ever written will get published. You have to keep going, no matter how heartbreaking.
What would I do if I almost got the call right now? I'd probably wallow a bit, sure. But I hope I'd pick myself up in a day or two and press on. Have you ever almost gotten the call? How did you handle it? What would you do if you got it today?
Jan 6, 2007 | Writing |
How do you get into the writing groove after some time away? Or, even worse, after a major life change?
Because I've had both in the latter days of 2006 and I still haven't found the groove. Partly, having a husband home 24/7 interrupts my routine. Then again, living in someone else's house doesn't help either. I don't have my couch, my books, my things. It's strange, and somewhat disconcerting. I'm a traveler, but a semi-permanent guest as well. I have suitcases and boxes, but no return ticket.
I have a project on the burner that needs to get cooking. I'm looking at it and wondering, “Where was I going with this?” I am not an outliner or plotter, so I have no path planned. Just a few notes in my writing journal where I sketched out what I thought was happening.
I hate that I got sidetracked. I also know it was unavoidable. The last month in Hawaii was a whirlwind. Every day since we've arrived here has been by turns frustrating, busy, or monotonous. So much to do and nothing to do. We're in a hurry up and wait situation. I don't do well with uncertainty.
How do you restart the steam engine when it's sitting on the tracks waiting for things to come to a boil?
Jan 1, 2007 | General, Life, Photos, Writing |
Hope your celebrations were fun and safe. We stayed up until midnight, said Happy New Year, and went to bed. My parents were in bed much earlier, my mom sicker than a dog (having caught a bug from my dad who is now over it — I wonder if we're next).
We drank our wine earlier in the evening, with dinner, and toasted friends, family, the coming year, and our lost kitties. Miss Kitty passed on New Year's Eve 2004. Thumper joined her on Dec 26, 2006.
It is indeed a brave new year for us. We've transitioned from the military to civilian life, from the tropics to the South, from living thousands of miles away from family to living in the same house. It's been amazing.
What does the new year hold? Hopefully, new opportunities — a fulfilling career for Mike, a lot of writing and submitting for me, a new home, and continuing good health.
I don't usually make specific resolutions, so I suppose I won't start now. I intend to write more, to submit my work, to attend chapter meetings, to go to my first conference, to work harder and become more focused on my goals of publication. 2007 is the year to put up or shut up. I don't have to get a contract, but I should at least have some rejections to show for my trouble. This is the year I submit my work. No more letting time get away, no more saying I'll do it later or I need to make things perfect first. Write, submit, repeat.
How about you? (Photo courtesy of bigfoto.com)
