writing

Quickie…

/ books, writing

Last Tuesday, Chris’s (and my) grandfather passed away. It was sudden and heartbreaking. He was such a great, vibrant person, and I seriously did NOT see this coming–not so soon.

Only today am I easing into “normalcy” again. As the pastor said at the funeral on Saturday, it’s time to write the next chapter in my life… just without him.

Aidan is with my mom until February 25th, so I’m expecting to get in some GOOD writing time the next two weeks. Wish me luck!!

I got the chance to finish five books:

Sixteen – edited by Megan McCafferty
Keep In Touch (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants marketing tool–so glad I got it from the library instead of buying it)
Unscripted – Amy Kaye
The Used To Be It Girl – Amy Kaye
A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl – Tanya Lee Stone (tanyaleestone)

Dude, how sad am I that Smooch went under? They had such cute books. And Tanya’s book was amazing. I finished it in under and hour–I could not put it down.

I MUST go to the library before the 15th. My reserve for Twilight came in, and I want to read that book badly.

I’m tired. And I’m ready for my massage on Friday.

‘Til later!

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Something Fun

/ books, writing

As I cruise toward the 25,000 word mark in my WIP, I find myself:

  • Not being able to sleep due to the constant churning of ideas.
  • Becoming resentful of almost anything that takes me time and attention away from writing.

Okay, but this was supposed to be fun. :)

I like to put together soundtracks for my WIPs. They are fluid, always subject to change based on how the character grows, how the plot develops, or how sick I end up being of the song. HA.

So, for my current WIP, the songs I have on the playlist (for now) are:

Heartbeat – Annie
Why Can’t I – Liz Phair
Black Roses Red – Alana Grace
Be Be Your Love – Rachel Yamagata
Hoppilolla – Sigur Ros
Boum-Boum – Enigma
Ever The Same – Rob Thomas
Collide – Howie Day
And Then We Kiss – Britney Spears
Serious – Gwen Stefani
These Words – Natasha Bedingfield
Never Leave – Kendall Payne
Forever Love (Digame) – Anna Nalick
Deliver Me – Sarah Brightman

Other fun things I do:

I’ve recently subcribed to several “teen” oriented magazines, and I got two in the mail recently: CosmoGirl and Seventeen. I really like CosmoGirl a lot. But even though I’m sure there are nice articles I can use, I was more interested in the pictures, and I cut out pictures of what my MC’s room looks like. :) Cool, huh? Now I have something to visualize if I ever feel inclined to describe her bedroom.

I also like to nab those email surveys that come around way too often and fill them out from the POVs of my characters.

In Reading News, I finished Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty, and I am very emotionally satisfied. I’m looking forward to Charmed Thirds. Best thing? I emailed her and told her how awesome she is, and she wrote back. YAY for super cool authors. I’m going to be a super cool author. :)

I started reading TTYL, and then I put it down. Maybe I’m too old, but an ENTIRE BOOK written in IMs might be too much for me to handle. However, I bought and read Rhymes with Witches by the same author a long time ago and that book is freaky. I liked it, though. SO, I switched to Sixteen, which is a collaboration, and Sarah Dessen AND Megan McCafferty are in it, so yeah. I’ll probably finish that up before the weekend. I’m cruising right along to my 100 New Books in 2006 goal.

Alrighty then. It’s just about time for me to blow this pop stand, so ’til later! :)

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Tomorrow, I am Stealing Time

/ writing

I’ve already announced that tomorrow, when Chris gets home from work, that I’m going to the library to write. I got barely forty minutes today, and that was riddled with interruptions unimaginable. I sometimes wonder if it’s meant for me to even write this–I don’t remember having this trouble with ONLY YOURS.

Even now, I am trying to type this entry as a cute three-year old has splayed himself across me. Talk about a challenge.

And now it is bedtime. With another long commute, a long day at work, then a long commute home, and then my two hours of spending time with Aidan before I can even think of getting to work.

I envy those full-time authors. You have no idea how much I do.

In the meantime, I need to steal time to write, or I’m going to lose my mind.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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“Do You Ever Get Any Peace?”

/ life, writing

Chris asked me that yesterday when I got home from the library. I was excited because I’d gotten in an hour of good writing, despite the loud people at the Internet computers. I also managed to snag eight new books for my reading/researching pleasure.

As soon as I got in the door, and before I’d even taken my coat off, my cell phone started ringing. I didn’t pick up because hello, I’d barely had a chance to remove my gloves and hat. The house phone rang. Then after I’d finally gotten off, and settled down with my computer, I was looking forward to another hour or so of writing because Aidan was asleep. But NO. The phone started ringing non-stop. My cell phone, then Chris’s cell phone. Then the house phone. Over and over and over and over. Of course, all that ringing brought a “thump” from upstairs and a cute little voice calling “Daddy?”

I go through stages. There’s my “I LOVE MY FRIENDS AND WANT TO BE AROUND THEM ALL THE TIME FOREVER AND EVER AMEN” stage, and my “LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE SO I CAN WRITE” stage. Can you guess which one I’m in now?

I know, it’s mean. But it’s something I HAVE to do or I’ll get VERY cranky. I give give give ALL the time. I’m taking now.

Don’t worry, this is temporary. I’ll be clamoring to be a social butterfly again before long. But right now, I have to get this done.

Back to work…

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My Writing Wish List

/ writing

I’ve finished a novel, got the courage to submit queries, partials, and fulls, and signed with a super agent !!! All of that is amazing in itself. But now, I’m wishing for MORE:

– a book contract for ONLY YOURS
– to finish my current WIP (1st draft) at 50,000 words by June 1
– a new desk
– lots more writing time

Okay, so it’s not much, and I guess it’s not any different from a “GOALS” list, but hey, it’s fun to put out there, and maybe seeing it will help keep me on the right track.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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