Monday, August 23, 2010
I've spoken before about how Will and I are interested in international adoption. It's a very expensive process, and after all of the paperwork and emotional hurdles, the expense adds insult to injury.
A friend of mine, C.J. Redwine, has been in the process of adopting her daughter from China since 2005. That's five long years of waiting and hoping and dreaming. It's been an unbearable roller coaster for her family. Now, she expects to receive the final info on Johanna Faith sometime in September. But she and her husband need some help! It's going to cost approximately $8,000 to bring Johanna home, and if each person who gets this message skipped just one cup of Starbucks, you could help bring her home.
If you can find it in your heart to donate just $5--more if you can--your help will be greatly appreciated by a family who longs to bring their precious little girl home. What are you waiting for? Visit C.J.'s blog to donate now using her PayPal button.
A friend of mine, C.J. Redwine, has been in the process of adopting her daughter from China since 2005. That's five long years of waiting and hoping and dreaming. It's been an unbearable roller coaster for her family. Now, she expects to receive the final info on Johanna Faith sometime in September. But she and her husband need some help! It's going to cost approximately $8,000 to bring Johanna home, and if each person who gets this message skipped just one cup of Starbucks, you could help bring her home.
If you can find it in your heart to donate just $5--more if you can--your help will be greatly appreciated by a family who longs to bring their precious little girl home. What are you waiting for? Visit C.J.'s blog to donate now using her PayPal button.
Monday, August 16, 2010
I was out shopping this weekend, and Will and I popped into a furniture store on a whim. We're probably going to purchase some new furniture in the not-so-distant future, so we're sort of gathering ideas of what we like and what we don't like. Well, my husband--being the wonderful soul he is--spotted a writing desk. A real desk designed for a laptop or writing or...whatever! The top folds down and turns it into a sort of table. It really is perfect for my writing room, and the best part? It's solid wood and was only $99. Can you believe it?! Here's a picture:
So as we're wandering through the store after this great find and trying to decide whether or not to buy it, Will--being the eagle eye he usually is--discovered a FAIL worthy of the FAIL Blog! I quickly snapped a picture and uploaded it to the FAIL Blog site. I mean, who could resist? It's my first FAIL!
So as we're wandering through the store after this great find and trying to decide whether or not to buy it, Will--being the eagle eye he usually is--discovered a FAIL worthy of the FAIL Blog! I quickly snapped a picture and uploaded it to the FAIL Blog site. I mean, who could resist? It's my first FAIL!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Image via WikipediaIt's your favorite day of the week! No...really. It's Friday, and on this blog, you know what that means, right? If you don't, I'll tell you anyway. It's the inspirational music of the week! Okay, it isn't that exciting, but I do enjoy sharing the kind of music I'm listening to.Back in January, I saw the film Leap Year with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. While Goode wasn't entirely thrilled with how his film turned out, I thought it was cute, lighthearted, and fun. It's a chick flick, and there's nothing wrong with that. When the previews were running for it back in December, I heard a song on the trailer I simply fell in love with, but I didn't know what it was. Guess what? I found it! It's included in this Friday's music selections.
- "Your Life Is Now" - John Mellencamp
- "I'm Not Running Anymore" - John Mellencamp
- "Just Say Yes" - Snow Patrol
- "Heaven is a Place on Earth" - Belinda Carlisle
- "Sweet Thing" - Keith Urban
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
I'm melting.I grew up in the South, so you'd think I'd be used to it by now. But I'm not, and this is when I really start to miss those lovely Chicago summers. The autumn up there is pretty darn spectacular, too. It's winter I can't handle.
Anyway, in a few weeks, I'm headed to the lovely place in this picture--Idaho. I can't wait. Cool mountain air, low humidity, and magnificent scenery. I'm also going to do some writing while I can be inspired by all the stars in the sky.
Monday, August 9, 2010
One of my favorite phrases--and one of Will's--is, "Git 'er done!" It comes from Larry the Cable Guy, but what we love about it is the can do attitude behind it. So when we discuss finishing a house project or saving for retirement or changing the brakes on the cars (thanks, honey!), the first thing out of our mouths is usually, "Git 'er done!" And it's that same attitude I take with writing...most of the time.
This weekend, I had a meeting with another writer to talk shop about The Stolen Lady. I don't have many of these one-on-one encounters, so when I do, I take advantage. We talked about everything from plot points to brainstorming new scenarios to getting that dreaded synopsis done so that I can begin querying agents. The problem? I'm scared. I've discussed my fear of success here before, but I want this book to be nearly perfect. I don't want to give anyone the chance to reject me. The truth is there are going to be rejections. And I'm going to experience some disappointment whether I like it or not. The brazen courage I had at 18 and 19 has gone the way of the Model T, so the key is to just git 'er done.
According to my writer friend, by next Monday (8/16/10), I need to have my synopsis written, a query letter, and submit my query to five agents. Holy crap. That's seven days. Seven days to finish the first round of revisions, write a synopsis, and write a query letter. No pressure, though, right?
Right.
This weekend, I had a meeting with another writer to talk shop about The Stolen Lady. I don't have many of these one-on-one encounters, so when I do, I take advantage. We talked about everything from plot points to brainstorming new scenarios to getting that dreaded synopsis done so that I can begin querying agents. The problem? I'm scared. I've discussed my fear of success here before, but I want this book to be nearly perfect. I don't want to give anyone the chance to reject me. The truth is there are going to be rejections. And I'm going to experience some disappointment whether I like it or not. The brazen courage I had at 18 and 19 has gone the way of the Model T, so the key is to just git 'er done.
According to my writer friend, by next Monday (8/16/10), I need to have my synopsis written, a query letter, and submit my query to five agents. Holy crap. That's seven days. Seven days to finish the first round of revisions, write a synopsis, and write a query letter. No pressure, though, right?
Right.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Image via WikipediaA quick update on the writing this week before diving into my Friday music selections: I'm up to just over 90,000 words on The Stolen Lady. When I first started, the goal was 100,000 words. But as I completed the first draft, I realized I was at just about 85,000 words. That's far short of my original goal. But as I've fleshed out important scenes and added more dialogue, words have naturally been added. As a result, I'm getting closer to achieving the previous goal. Still, I am not nearly finished with revisions and expect to cut more excess before this is all said and done. The final word tally should be between 90,000 and 95,000 words at full completion. So there ya go! It's moving right along, and I am approaching 1/3 finished with revisions.
This Friday's music selections are heavily influenced by country music. I'm not usually a fan of country, but the crossover artists have definitely grown on me!
- "I Love You" - Martina McBride
- "I Run to You" - Lady Antebellum
- "Today Was a Fairytale" - Taylor Swift
- "Play On" - Carrie Underwood
- "Breathless" - The Corrs
- "Even Angels Fall" - Jessica Riddle
- "Don't Stop Believing" - Journey
- "Faithfully" - Journey
Thursday, August 5, 2010
I wasn't one of the popular kids in school. And one of the toughest times in a kid's life to switch schools is middle school, when all of the kids from the surrounding areas are being integrated into one big school. It's preparation for high school. But I did switch to a different school system in the seventh grade. On the one hand, I was quite glad to. On the other, I didn't have any friends and didn't know a single person at school. I started off from scratch.
One person took me under her wing and helped me make new friends. When we got to high school, we were in many of the same classes, had the same circle of friends, and when we were in college--even though she went to a different university--she helped me get the job that I loved until I graduated from college. We're still in touch today, and every time we talk, we pick up right where we left off. She is a friend I'll have for life, and I love the history I have with her. We may forget things about one another or we may lose touch for five years (maybe longer!), but every time, it's as though we spoke only yesterday.
Something I love about writing characters is creating their history, giving them a background of people and places, keeping them in touch with important individuals in their lives. Siblings and cousins are a favorite of mine because many of us have very close relationships with them. In my case, my friend helped change the course of how my middle school and high school years proceeded. A brother can do the same for the heroine in a novel. Or perhaps a first cousin knows exactly what to say to the hero to make him think about a decision he's making. It's what friends and relatives are supposed to do for us in real life. And I think I often write this into my books because I have close relationships with friends, probably more so than with my own siblings. They are people I trust implicitly, and whatever happens, I know they'll be there for me.
Every character in a novel should have at least one person he or she can turn to for advice and unconditional love. In a romance, it's always the hero/heroine relationship. But think beyond that. Is your husband or wife the only person you turn to when you need to talk? Or do you have a friend or relative who understands you, has a lifelong history with you, and maybe even knows what you're going to say before you say it? If so, your character should probably have someone like that, too...a confidante.
One person took me under her wing and helped me make new friends. When we got to high school, we were in many of the same classes, had the same circle of friends, and when we were in college--even though she went to a different university--she helped me get the job that I loved until I graduated from college. We're still in touch today, and every time we talk, we pick up right where we left off. She is a friend I'll have for life, and I love the history I have with her. We may forget things about one another or we may lose touch for five years (maybe longer!), but every time, it's as though we spoke only yesterday.
Something I love about writing characters is creating their history, giving them a background of people and places, keeping them in touch with important individuals in their lives. Siblings and cousins are a favorite of mine because many of us have very close relationships with them. In my case, my friend helped change the course of how my middle school and high school years proceeded. A brother can do the same for the heroine in a novel. Or perhaps a first cousin knows exactly what to say to the hero to make him think about a decision he's making. It's what friends and relatives are supposed to do for us in real life. And I think I often write this into my books because I have close relationships with friends, probably more so than with my own siblings. They are people I trust implicitly, and whatever happens, I know they'll be there for me.
Every character in a novel should have at least one person he or she can turn to for advice and unconditional love. In a romance, it's always the hero/heroine relationship. But think beyond that. Is your husband or wife the only person you turn to when you need to talk? Or do you have a friend or relative who understands you, has a lifelong history with you, and maybe even knows what you're going to say before you say it? If so, your character should probably have someone like that, too...a confidante.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
As I worked through the first draft of The Stolen Lady last night, I read the comments my beta readers made, and I had a little bit of a revelation. The first draft really is a first draft! I began to notice places where I could have added some gritty conflict or ramped up the emotion...and I completely missed the opportunities. I could have had a prince, and instead, I ended up with the frog. As I dig deeper, I'm beginning to unveil the hidden prince dressed in a frog costume.But that's what a first draft is all about. A first draft allows you to screw up, rewrite, and redo. When I finished the previous edition, my book sat at just over 85,000 words. Now, as I've discovered places where it really needs to be fleshed out and expanded--I've added several new scenes--my book is just under 90,000 words. By the time I'm finished, it may be closer to 100,000 words, which is where I initially wanted it to be. As much as I've whined and complained about revisions, I'm making a discovery about myself and about writing that I already knew: Writing is rewriting. And I don't mind the rewriting nearly as much as I thought I would. It's a bit cliché, but clichés are clichés for a reason.
My characters needed work. I already loved them, flaws and all, but if I were a reader picking this book up off the street, in its current form, I'd be disappointed. I would be screaming at the author to take those opportunities I created for conflict to take them instead of ignoring them. And I've done exactly that: ignored them. But I'm fixing it, and by the end of summer, I'll be making my first queries to agents. The fire has been reignited to see this thing through because I've got another book hankering to be written waiting in the wings!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Image via Wikipedia
I began picking up followers from the writing community. I suspect there are some RSS subscribers out there as well who don't often make their presence known. Now, I'm up to 30 Google followers--a pretty incredible number for little ol' me. After all, I'm unpublished and relatively unknown. I suspect some of my followers are Dave Ramsey fans since my day job is working for Dave, some are writers, and yet others are just curious about me. Whoever you are and whatever reason you're here, you are the reason I keep updating this thing.
I've been tempted to stop writing here many times because I don't get a lot of comments, and while I know some are reading, the Web is a big place, and it's difficult to create a presence here without a big name behind it. Still, this is a semi-daily outlet for me, and it's a place for people to go who are curious about my writing progress. And I enjoy reading your comments on my posts.
Thank you for being there. Oh, and you're the reason I didn't whine too much about not being able to attend the RWA Conference this year. ;)
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