Waiting for the Attic to Warm Up

January 25, 2008 | Writing

Well, it’s Friday. Yay! I’m currently writing this as I wait for my electric wood stove to heat up the attic a bit before I start. It’s minus twenty out and that room doesn’t feel much warmer than outside.

This week I managed to get a fair amount done. WIP continues to move nicely. It’s funny, this is the paranormal I put aside in July so I could really concentrate on fixing Witch. (More on that in a minute.) When I did set it aside, I was hating everything about it and really didn’t think I would finish. Then last month I started reading through and found my myself liking it again. I could see where I’d kind of written myself into predictability, probably why I felt my interest in the tale start to wan. I also had 200 pages invested. So after a little tinkering and adding a few twists (means making some changes to earlier chapters on the rewrite, but there always is) I managed to push past the hump and now I’m charging full force toward the end. Perhaps taking some time away from the project gave me the space I needed to be able to see what the problem was.

Witch is frustrating me a little more. I’m three chapters away from finally having this completely finished–again. The tricky part is having to double check all the little facts with my research. Checking for continuity errors like, when I introduced the Frasiers in chapter 6 I spelled their name with s, but in chapter 27 I spelled it with z. Grr.

On the upside, when I rewrote this story the first time, I’d organized all my character, plot notes and research into a binder with tabs and everything. This is making my life so much easier. I must admit, I’m not usually this organized. Ordinarily, each story gets its own file folder–blue for romantic suspense and red for paranormal–and all my notes get shoved in with a couple of elastic bands to keep it all together. I’m not sure why I did it differently with Witch. Maybe I needed to feel more organized while I was tying legend to the present day murders in the story. Whatever the reason, I’m glad I did it. And starting right now, every book I write will have a corresponding binder.

A Few of My Favourite Links

January 24, 2008 | Writing

Lately, whenever I can cram in a few extra minutes, I’ve been slowly updating my links section here on my blog. Rather than just stick those links in, I thought I’d just share with you the benefits I’ve found using these resources.

So in no particular order:

D.P. Lyle, M.D. The Writer’s Medical and Forensics Lab. This site has a tremendous amount of information. But you can also email him questions and he’ll provide a detailed answer . I used this while writing The Witch’s Stone. I also have his book Murder and Mayhem. It’s a collection medical and forensic question he’s answered for writers. Again, a great resource.

Romantic Suspense writer, Lisa Gardner. Aside from finding information about her latest releases, which is always a good thing, she has tons of articles for writers on her site, including two detailed lectures; one on writing romantic suspense, the other on writing a synopsis for your romantic suspense novel. Some excellent information here.

Romance Writers of America. When it comes to joining any kind of organization like this, I’m a big believer in you get out what you put in. Now saying that, am I suggestion you volunteer for all kinds of committees? No. If you want to, go ahead. But what I am saying is to know what you want to gain by joining. For myself, I wanted to learn more about market. Did I? Yes, and a lot more. There are chapters, contests, conferences, courses and networking. RWA will not magically sell your book for you, but they will certainly offer the tools to help you.

And of course, Samhain Publishing. They’ve shown great taste in the books the contract.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Need to get back to the WIP. Those vampires aren’t going to just stake themselves.

New Used Boots

January 23, 2008 | family,HellHound

We had a thaw here a few weeks ago, and all the snow melted. As if to celebrate winter’s momentary lapse, HellHound ate my winter boots. And he did it practically right in front of me. I was sitting at the dining room table talking to DH while HellHound was under the table chewing on what I thought was his bone. Imagine my surprised when I realized.

This past weekend I’d planned to buy myself a new pair, but never did get around to it. (We did, however, finally take the Christmas tree down.) So naturally it snowed yesterday, a good five or six inches and I was forced to traipse through it all in my sneakers.

Last night, I went to my mom’s to help her print up business cards for her store. She took one look at my feet and gave me that look that makes me forget I’m a woman in my mid-thirties, making me feel like I’m a seventeen-year-old instead (and not in a good way either). Then she dug out pair of her old boots to give me. They’re so weird, they look a little like old fashioned cross country ski boots–naturally, I love them.

Ah Mom, you’re the best.

The Mood Ring Is Blue

January 22, 2008 | Writing

I found my old mood ring from when I was in college the other day. Right now it is a brilliant indigo color, telling me I’m either in a great mood or my hands are hot. Hmm, the latter I think. I’m also drinking coffee at seven thirty at night. That means I probably won’t get to sleep until past midnight. But I just can’t help myself.

Today was fairly productive. First, I got my thousand words done on the WIP. Very happy about that. Second, finished rewriting chapter 14 for Blood and Bone and posted it with my crit group. This week, I am determined to finish tying those last loose ends with The Witch’s Stone, getting my thousand words done every day and posting every other day here on the blog.

Wish me luck.

Mood: Good–according to the ring.

Hump Day

January 16, 2008 | life,Writing

Progress this week has been sporadic. DS has been home with the flu since Monday. I thought he’d be ready to go back to school today, but he’s claiming his stomach is still hurting. I must admit, I suspect I’m being conned here. But even when I told him no video games, he stuck to his story.

WIP is coming along really well. I’m almost afraid to say so in case I jinx myself. I think I’ll be finished it by the end of the month. I wish I could say the same for my rewrite of Blood and Bone. This book is just dragging. I know a big part of that is because of having to set it aside while I rewrote The Witch’s Stone after my computer crashed, but I was still hoping to have it ready to begin submitting to agents this month. Not going to happen.

For this week: another 4k words on WIP
Make a list of what I need to do on Blood and Bone
Tie up loose ends with The Witch’s Stone.

There’s more stuff, but those are my top three.

Monday’s Rambling

January 7, 2008 | Reading,Writing

Happy New Year!!

Well, the holidays have come and gone. DS is back in school, DH back at work and hopefully all the decorations will be taken down this weekend. (Though since I have a chapter meeting and family birthday party this weekend, I won’t hold my breath.) The point is, it’s time to get back to work.

As I do every January, I have made a list of my long term goals followed by a list of short term goals that will, in theory, help me to reach the long term ones. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with them here. Besides, I’ve learned over time that goals are often revised throughout the year. What needs doing in January may not be such a priority come July. Never consider that your goals are written in stone. A year is a long time and a lot can change.

That said…

With my goals in mind, I should have been buckling down today now that DS is back at school. Instead, I went book shopping and to lunch with my mother. Which is why I’m just starting my writing day at 9pm. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I did manage an hour or so on the WIP this morning, getting a little more than half way to my daily count. That’s something at least.

At the book store, I bought three new paperbacks and an overpriced journal, but the latter was such pretty shade of turquoise. And for some reason I like to begin a new journal with the new year . Maybe its the idea of starting the year with a fresh slate that appeals. I also probably didn’t need to buy any new books since I still haven’t read the pile from my last sojourn to the book store. But I can’t go to a bookstore and leave empty handed. It’s a sickness really.

Mood: Mellow