Balance

This past week has shown me I need to have balance in my life to be a good writer. I heard back from the editor assigned my three chapter submission. She asked for the complete manuscript to make a final decision.

I panicked. The manuscript isn't finished. Scrambling, I hurried to edit and transcribe everything I have written. Then I talked with a couple of published author friends. Their kind words helped slow me down and think things through.

My family has been warned finishing this book is a priority for me. However, I'm learning I can still work in time for them as well as make time to write. As of last night, I've finished the transcription. I'm at the pivotal point in the suspense and need to see it through and write the ending.

My panic is subsiding, but it hasn't gone away. Should it? No, but now I know that I will get it done, just at the predestined time, not my time.

New Horizons

Here we are almost a month out from the conference and I'm lovin' it. I finished editing a short piece and sent on to the Publisher...now I'm just killing time, doing the patience dance. Which consists of working on my WIP, plot( I know... weird huh.) and getting in touch with my writing side.
A first happened to me a few days ago I was having coffee with a few friends, when two of my characters demanded face time. A story I put away months ago because I worked myself into a corner and couldn't see a window to crawl out. And there they were with a proverbial window.  Gotta love the way the subconscious works on ideas silently in the background. 
So now I'm writing more and working more than ever. Thanks to the conference and the extra boost of writing energy. 
Here I am with a schedule, some sparse outlines and creativity dripping from my fingertips. Write On, Write ON!

Critiquing using Microsoft Office Word

Microsoft Office Word includes the option to edit and make suggestions to documents using a special editing too. It allows comments, strikethroughs and additions. If you are critiquing someone else’s work, I beg of you NOT TO USE IT.

On the surface, it is a phenomenal tool. However, it only allows the recipient an accept/reject option. Because the recipient cannot choose what portions s/he wants to keep or reject, it creates five times the work for the person receiving the critique than the simple options of normal a Word document.

I make the presumption that if you use this special feature you are familiar enough with Word to place a few important buttons on your formatting tool bar. If you do not have them there, you need to add: Highlight, Strikethrough, and Font Color. Right click on the tool bar, select customize, then commands, and finally format. Scroll down the list until you find the function that is missing, left click and hold, then drag the icon to the inside of the tool bar. It’s that simple. Now is also a good time to remove any icons you don’t use. Merely drag the icon from the toolbar to the open table. Don’t like the icon order, move them while the customize box is open. When you are done, close the box.

Now, when you want to strike out text, highlight it, and press the strikethrough button. Want to suggest text or make a comment, place the cursor in the appropriate point, select a new font color and type away. If you want to emphasize something, you can bold, italicize, underline, or even change fonts. None of this is locked so it cannot be changed by the recipient.

Fancy is nice, but when it creates more work, it’s just counter productive.

Changes

As we near the end of this president's term, many changes have been suggested. Case in point critiquing, there is talk of having a early critique session prior to the meeting. This may work well for some, but I believe it should be put to the membership for a vote. To make sweeping changes without input of the membership is a great way to alienate people. Apparently this change will be tested this next meeting. Someone implied it would be easier to do some of the preliminary critiquing online. This may be so, but to create so much structure and rules in my opinion defeats the openness of the process. I scramble to write each day and to blog every Tuesday. I do not have time to look over a body of work of another writer as part of my work day. I hold a critique session every Wednesday and anyone is welcome. Just e-mail me you are interested.
But I digress. In view of the success of our conference, with so many stepping up to the plate I believe we need fewer rules and regs. We are here to help one another not to throw obstacles on the path of the writer's journey. This is of course just my opinion and as such should be taken only as a single view. I, for one, welcome more discussion on the subject before it is cast in stone.

Going With The Flow

I've begun to feel more comfortable with the changes in my life. I can take frequent trips out-of-town with my son and still be productive and have unexpected fun.

Did a reading for a publisher while I was gone (have computer, will travel). I also had an opportunity to see a small production musical with short notice and had a great time.

Did I spazz out because I wasn't working on my book? No. Why? I knew that my time would be less structured away and allowed myself the break. I knew when I returned home to my (somewhat) normal routine, I'd have plenty of time to work on it.

My new M.O.? Take a deep breath and step away to look @ my options. If there's no actual deadline, I can get it done @ the pace I set. I'll continue to work steadily every day. When I get a request for my work, I'll be almost ready if not finished.

Why make myself sick with what if's? Not gonna happen! I know I'll be successful.

I Can’t Win For Winning, or, Too Much Of A Good Thing.

Everyone who knows me knows that my fantasy “novel” is a work in progress – at best. While I have six or seven phenomenal scenes that will help make it a Nebula Award winner, I don’t have a tale epic enough for a novel.

Last week I thought of an additional, semi-major, character that excited me. I “outlined” the rules of his magic in my story. Wrote out his plot line, knew when he would enter the story, how to place him on hold until the epic battle (or whatever) and what his involvement would be.

I determined that his part would be 7,000 to 12,000, then transcribed my notes from paper to Word and brought it to a writer’s group yesterday.

With the exception of one person who didn’t understand it (but was okay that I could) everyone loved it. Loved the character. Loved the rules of his magic. Loved him as much as I did.

So, what’s the problem? Everyone loved him too much. “The rules I set for his magic are such a ‘game changer’ he can support his own novel.” “You have to be careful to limit his involvement. He has the potential to take over your story.” “He needs his own story.”

Just fantastic. I either have to severely limit a character who could add over 10% to my novel OR I have two unfinished novels without enough material for either.

Back to the storyboard. (I don’t draw.)

It is truly possible to have too much of a good thing.

finding your niche

Many believe each of us has a purpose, and the tough part is finding what that purpose is. I've known since I was a small child (looooong time agooo) that what I wanted out of life is simply to make folks smile. If I were silly or serious did not matter, as long as someone smiled. To that end I've always tried to help folks and to make them think about some of the silly things I say. Such as (this one drives my grandsons nutz) sky blue pink. Okay you say, what's so wonderful about that? Well if you look at an evening sky and try to figure what I am talking about you will note even if you cannot find the sky blue pink you will see something beautiful. My books are an extension of this. I write fantasy and easily accept, that creatures can talk, fly or even disappear.
I'm not senile or demented I just think there is more than one way to achieve a goal. Yes, I believe in magic, the kind that makes us wonder at the wide eyed look of a child's first Christmas. The kind that makes us see the simplicity in life is really the true beauty.
My fox books are a kind of magic for me, a personal magic. I can sit in my office and go to Ireland, or Avalon or even Atlantis. Each of us has a personal magic and when you find it never let it go. Have faith in your personal magic. It will sustain you through the dark moments of life and if you cling tightly enough the dark will be only moments long.
I write what I want to read. Write what takes you away on angel wings, what makes your soul soar. If it isn't fun don't do it. We were put here to enjoy the bounties of life and to aid one another.

Panic Is Setting In

I've heard from three persons at the publishers. The publisher stated I would hear back no later than 45 days. My editor just wrote I'll hear something by next Tuesday.

Right now I'm freaking out. I sit down to write and my mind goes off on tangents and I can't concentrate.

My question to my published friends is this - How do you structure your time to get your manuscript done? Is there any tried-and-true method or do I need to feel my way through this?

There's been a shift in the story line, and I've been working to make it seamless. However, I'm beginning to question it even if it's the right direction to move in. I guess I just have to have the faith in myself that my friends have in me. This is, after all, my dream.

The Conference, the conference

Well, Sorry I forgot I was to blog on Tuesday, but I had a medium do a reading for me and the entire thing blew me away. Some very revealing stuff, anyhow that's my mea culpa.
So lets talk about the conference. I don't know what the monetary return was, but am quite sure I am aware of the learning experience. Our speaker was both highly entertaining and informative. The service at the hotel was very good. Jessica was a hoot from the get go to gone. I hope we invite her back.
If anyone did not have a good time it was their own fault, with the exception of Kat who unfortunately was ill and missed some of the festivities.
My final assessment of the conference? Let's do it again!

Post Conference Euphoria

Kudos to the LC_RW Conference Committee. I have to admit I had some concerns as to the feasibility of holding a conference at the time. Much to my delighted surprise, the whole event went smoothly and in my opinion, was a success.

The intimacy of the setting with under 25 people made the workshops very enjoyable. With pitches to a local publisher as an added draw, my time at the conference was worth every penny.

Now the conference is over. What to do? My pitch garnered me a request to submit the first three chapters of my book. Not a problem, they're polished and ready. The rest is not so ready, so I've got to plan my days with plenty of time to work on my book. I don't anticipate it to take long because the creative juices are bubbling over.

Thankfully (sorry dear) my husband just left this morning for a business trip. What does that mean? Uninterrupted time to work at my computer. The kids (23 and 18) have been told they'll need to help more as I get things moving. My goal? To be finished with latest draft by next week.

Who else has the new impetus to create as a result of the conference?