Updates and Thoughts

January 23, 2012 - As I did my daily walk today, I came to the realization that I am not at a place and time in my life where I can crank out more than one book a year. And that is okay. I write when and as often as I can but daily life takes precedence, and that is just the way it is.

November 30, 2011 - My hero "Bran" is not acting in conjunction with how I hear or visualize him. Why?

I feel my stories are out in the vast yonder if I just listen. Maybe I'm not listening? I thought I was. Hmm?

October 24, 2011 -If your characters curse or act bad then so be it. Write the story as you hear it. (I have to quit worrying what the neighbors will think or the family. People are going to judge or not no matter what. Just write the damn story.)

October 14, 2011 - Have the title on my current WIP figured out. Finally. You know me - I have to have the title of my story. It seems to keep me focused on where I am going.

August 25, 2011 - Keep changing my title on my current WIP. I just can't seem to get it right to fit the story.

August 16, 2011 - Writing was hit and miss this summer with keeping grandkids, but school is back in session and now, I plan to get this current WIP completed by the end of November. No two full-length books per year yet. However, I am still striving to fulfill that goal.

May 13, 2011 - "What sound is to music, conflict is to story." --William Bernhardt (OWFI Writers' Conference 2011)

April 19, 2011 - If you are going to be a writer you better have a fierce love of storytelling because let me tell you-writing is damn hard work!

March 31, 2011 - Seems no matter how hard you try you will always make mistakes. I read and reread and still, I see what I want to see instead of what I've actually typed. Blah.

January 20, 2011 - Signed the contract for my latest book, An Unfair Division. Started my next WIP. Boy, I really, really, hope that I get faster at writing. I would love to be able to complete two, full-length books a year!

December 9, 2010 - My manuscript is completed and submitted as of this morning. Wish me luck! The strangest thing happens to me after I have completed a story-I get depressed for about two weeks. I guess that I am saying farewell to old friends.

November 26, 2010 - I wanted to have all my edits done by the end of this month - doesn't look as if I am going to make it. What I would give for just two weeks to myself. That is all I need! I said on March 1st how time flies, now eights months later here we are and the days and weeks in between are just a blur.

March 1, 2010 - Well folks, I thought that I would give you an update on the manuscript that I've been working on for the past year. I am glad to be able to say that I am almost done with it and just have a few more chapters to write. And I have decided that my original title fits the story afterall.

I don't know about any of you, but I can't believe that it is 2010 and the third month into the year at that. Boy how time does fly! Here is wishing that everyone has a great year.

October 25, 2009 - Update on WIP: Okay, I realize that it hasn't been that long since I last posted, however where else would I write my thoughts on my latest work in progress? LOL. So here goes. There's a second character in my current WIP that is...well, let's just say - this lady has a vulgar mouth.

Now, myself, I don't make it a practice to curse in my daily comings and goings. But, that is not to say that sometimes a well-placed curse word isn't needed, say after you stub your big toe in the middle of the night on your bedroom doorframe or you slam your finger in your car door. Then by all means curse and curse loudly.

Now herein lies my dilemma. This character of mine with the potty mouth is chattering away and when I start to put her words on paper--I censor. "You can't say that. Let me tone this down," I mumble.

Reading back through my WIP today, I realized that in the scenes where I had toned this character down-the scenes just didn't have the right feel. After I sat, and reread, and thought about my writing, I recalled what a speaker had said at a writer's conference this past summer (Be true to yourself and your writing). A light bulb came on. I suddenly realized that I wasn't being true to myself or my character.

Dear reader, I swear that I heard this fictitious character laughing the whole time I worked as I went back and rewrote several scenes, just as I hear her in my head.

"Hell, Zequeatta," she said when I finished. "It was about time you let me be me."

October 2nd - Update: As my daily writing continues on my latest book, (An Unfair Division) I am coming to the decision that I have chosen the wrong title for my Work in Progress. It just doesn't seem to fit. I write romance afterall and with the title (An Unfair Division) it seems to me that it makes my story revolve around the twin sisters in my story and their conflict and not the romance between one of the sisters and her husband.

Maybe this is why my muse is giving me so much trouble with this book. I have this strange quirk that I must have a title before I even begin writing. It seems to keep me focused for some reason. Okay, with all that said--I am now leaning toward my title being (Let Me Be Your Hero).

We shall see.