Currently Reading . . .

I apologize for missing my blog appointment the other day. Being on vacation and at the mercy of spotty Internet access is a royal PITA. If you need to know what that stands for, ask me at the next meeting.

I am not reading per se but listening to Nora Roberts' latest romantic thriller "The Search". I keep finding places to drive so I can continue listening. And, though I count La Nora among my writer heroes, I've put plenty of her books down over the past few years. She's back on top with this one. Funny, self-effacing hero, long and lanky heroine, and a really creepy villain who is a copy cat of the real deal who tormented the heroine in the distant past. Throw some enticing Labrador Retrievers [my fave breed] named Bogart, Newman, Peck and Jaws for a little comic relief and this is a honey of a story.

As far as I've 'heard', this is not the run of the mill serial killer - helpless heroine trapped on a rural island in the Pacific Northwest thriller. The dogs, whom the heroine has trained to be rescue dogs, will have to figure into the ultimate resolution and of course the hero who is kind of reluctant at the moment will step up to the plate and search alongside the animals to find where the villain has buried the heroine alive.

Oodles of humor, an uncommon bad guy [he doesn't rape or mutilate or speak or terrorize--in the usual way] and these fun dogs, makes for some great end of summer reading/listening for me.
See you in September. heh heh
Kat

Utalize all Talents

Within LCRW we have some people of extraordinary talent. And not just writing talent. What I am proposing is a pool of all these talents. Who knows how to publize? Who knows how to plot? Who knows the ways of the computer? Who knows how to get things done? Without straining my brain even a tad the answers to these questions are obvious. But I guess what I am asking is who has the hidden talent?
I would like to create a booklet that will be reviewed annually to take advantage of the new talent. It would be a part of the membership packet. I will gladly compile the information, I would like this brought up at the next meeting. I'll be there and will raise the question under new business.
Remember what you think of as a nothing skill may be far more valuable to someone else than you can possibly realize. People often ask me why I don't paint more as I am a fair artist, but for me it is as natural as walking. I suppose to another person it would be considered a skill. I am sure each of us has something to offer and I would like to have a complation of these talents at my finger tips. Can't make this program work the way I am doing it, just look in the book and find out how. Also we should make the talents known so If you are having a problem you can't find the answer to your question in the book, contact someone who can help. That is what this organization is for, to help each other. WRITE ON!

What are you reading?

I'm looking for a good series or book to read. Any Suggestions?
Typically, I have a book on the nightstand, one in the pool bag, one in the living room and one audio book to listen.
But magically I'm down to the pool bag book which is Fantasy in Death by JD Robb. Love the series have read most of the novels. I've just finish rereading the Novels of Final Prophecy by Jessica Andersen who is coming in for the Write On Rochester! Conference. Finished listening to Acheron, Sherrilyn Kenyon. Beta read a novel for a friend... a western.  But I'm looking for gripping, fun and must have some kind of romantic elements in it.  I'm feeling really low on books to read.
So I'm open for suggestions. What are you reading?

Old Dog New Trick

The longer I hang out on this planet the more I am certain I was born in the wrong era. Now I have always loved gagets, I have a lap top computer, a net computer, cell phone, plasma TV, a CD player and a computer animation tablet. And I love them all, but it seems to me that the devices were developed for some nerd that sits in a cubicle and they get sheer joy from wandering all over the screen and clicking buttons. Now if I had invented the dang things they would work much more easily. And why in Sam Hill does everything have to have a password? Heck in my first home I didn't even have a key to the door.
Now I have an alarm system and 8 times out of 10 the dratted thing scares me out of my wits cause I forgot to turn off the alarm. It only further explains my axiom of all that life consists of is simplifying the complicated and complicating the simple. The real problem is waaay tooo many people feel that they are superiour because they complicate the simple.
Me? I like straightforward ABC 123. Hell brain surgery is easy if you know how.

Why I'll be at Write On Rochester!

#5 Networking Opportunities- I can’t wait to catch up with old friends and meet new writers.

#4 I’m feeling lucky! Maybe, I will win one of the many fabulous door prizes or raffles.

#3 Punch Up Your Writing Workshop – I want my writing to knock your socks off!

#2 World Building Workshop – At the moment, I can only dream about creating a universe with clear blue lakes, towering timber, and where every kiss leads to a happy ending.

And the # 1 reason why I’m going to the Write On Rochester! conference is to ask Jessica a burning question.
'You have a PhD in genetics, you’ve been a doctor of molecular genetics, a patent agent, a freelance editor, a professional horse trainer, an author of over twenty books, best-selling and award-winning no less, balanced with a fiance and an assortment of animal. HOW DO YOU DO IT?'

For more information on this exciting writing conference, go to www.lcrw.org

Welcoming New Possibilities

Thank you for the post regarding 'cloud computing.' It was a welcomed addition to my method of saving my manuscripts. I've been transcribing my work from the computer to hard copy, but as we all know, it's time-consuming. Having my work available from any computer is a treat.

I have yet to meet my goal for the month, 'write a new chapter for IT.' The chapter has an opening and that's all. One of my ideas for one scene needed more research. Luckily I have a underused source of trivia, my lawyer brother, Mike. He collects interesting information like quotes from a wide range of public figures. One phone call and I have several search ideas yet to put to use. They'll be the next step after completing this blog.

Inspiration for our writing is all around us. We need to be open to receiving it, or even recognizing it. Our days should begin with a prayer to open our eyes, ears and hearts to the world around us to guide us along our manuscripts.

Idle Thoughts

Ignorance is bliss. Starting with a cliche is not what I had in mind when I signed up to do a blog. I tried to find a better start but couldn’t find anything better to describe my mood. The last six months I have read six or seven books on writing, the English language and struggled through critiques’ by teachers and rejection comments by editors. I want to be a writer and wanted to know how to become a good one.
Before all of this I would think about writing something for several days while walking or laying in bed at night and start to write. Once the character or characters became a picture in my head the thoughts of the previous days would start to fall in place and I would write faster as I lived the story in my head.
The last six weeks I have written only one new short story and wasn’t too happy with that. Before I didn’t know that the first sentence should be strong and grab the reader or that there needs to be a beginning, middle and end. All of the don’ts keep jumping out at me, don’t tell, don’t use cliches…
I have edited and used some of my older work and submitted and even had a story accepted by an e-publisher. The problem is I have lost the excitement of creating something that is new. I am working on a true story that needs to be finished by the end of the month. I write ten or fifteen minutes and put it aside.
Compounding this is the fact that this is a busy month family wise and commitment wise. There are too many legitimate excuses that I can use to put off writing. I seem to jump from one thing to another, not finishing one but feeling compelled to try something else and doing this over and over.
I would like to find that old freedom, to find the pictures in my head and try to turn the pictures into words that let others see pictures.

Save it for all time

“Cloud Computing” is the term used to identify the process of storing and/or backing up information away from your computer. The theory is that if something happened, the data is not lost.

There are a few sites that will help with that – some of them free for the first one or two meg. Search “cloud computing” to find them.

What I want you to do is set up an email account with gmail (or whomever you want) and not tell ANYONE (next of kin is okay) the address. (This is your archive; don’t let anyone fill it with garbage.) Then, email all your writing to that account. (The reason I chose gmail is the 750 meg of space they give for free.)

Obviously, you must come up with a unique name for each email. I always start with the name of the story and the date. It makes the list easy to find and easy to sort. Another thing I do is make a folder for each story. If you are working on a novel, the folder is the book title. Each chapter can them be dropped into the proper folder when the email arrives.

Another benefit is anywhere you are with internet access, you have access to your most current work. You will not be able to castigate that with a birch.

Where does the time go?

In the mad rush of summer, realizing the time is slipping away is always a disappointment. Here we are in mid-august, school will be starting soon and for some of us lucky the Write On Rochester! Conference is right around the corner.


Jessica Andersen is scheduled to give two workshops for LCRW on Sept 17&18 and I'm thrilled. The workshops are on World Building and Pumping up your writing. As a paranormal fiction writer these topical are right up my avenue. But this could be for any genre in any style from children's to YA to Adult to... the spectrum is broad.

If you think it's not worth it, think again. This conference isn't about an all day workshop; it's about networking. There will be editors, writers, readers and such. Support, information on what to do and what's going on. At one conference I went to in the past, they were saying it's about the elevator time. Normally you run into editors, publishers and the like at Conferences and it's the elevator time, that is important. You have 25 words to get your point across. 25 words, commercial to say what you need to say for that one person to remember your book.
Conferences are more than just the speakers, it's the experience, the knowledge you gain from going. So if you are in the Rochester area,and are a writer come out for the weekend. Find out how Jessica Andersen went from a PHD in genetics to an award winning Author and her secrets. Find out what it's like to have elevator time, to network, to pitch your ideas. Come have an experience you'll remember always.

Check out LCRW.org for more information.

Support LCRW

This group has a lot to offer writers of all kinds. However, the sickening lack of people from the group registering for the conference is beyond my comprehension. When I learn I am going to attend I register as early as possible and make my plans accordingly. I usually try to autograph books and must purchase them myself. Planning down to the last detail; I know what I am going to wear and what makeup I will use, schedule my haircut so it will not look just cut or that it needs cutting.
I have created a form that tells me how to pack, for each day.
Now I don't say I expect everyone to do things the way I do, but I do expect every member of the group to either register or tell why you cannot. There are reasons one could not attend and these are viable, but for all the time and money that has gone into this project I expect to see more participants.
Those of you who know me, know I rarely rant and in case you were wondering I am registered. I was the first.