I know this is the time of year we are supposed to give thanks but . . .
Sometimes it’s best to say “No thanks.”
Common sense tells us to say “No thanks” to that second slice of pumpkin pie. And then, there’s that other plate called life. We tend to heap that one pretty high, too.
It’s hard to say no to the people we care about. Juggling family, work, and friends is not easy. Taking on too many commitments never ends well.
So this holiday, I hope you can find the strength to say, “No Thanks.” Carve a little time for yourself and enjoy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
New Beginnings
As I take on the responsibilities as the new President of Lilac City Rochester Writers, I'd like to thank everyone for their support. I will work hard to be worthy of it.
To that effect, I'm making sure I get my blog in a little early. I'm presently in Philadelphia. My daughter has her quarterly medical-study check up at 8:30am tomorrow morning. We need to get back to Rochester before 5pm tomorrow because I have picked up the 5-8 shift waitressing at the restaurant where I'm the lunch time hostess. Needless to say, I'll be too beat after my shift to blog.
NaNoWriMo is almost over. I'm behind 15,800 words. According to my stats, I won't be finished with the 50,000 words until Christmas Day. Ugh! Didn't really want to know that. Oh well, I can't complain. At least I have 19,000 words written I wouldn't have had if I hadn't started the challenge.
How many of you who were at the meeting yesterday have taken what you learned from Chris Isaac and implemented it on Facebook? I have included the link to my new business page. It's slow going, but I'm suggesting my writer friends to it. Some of you may have already received the posts. It's different from friend requests. The link will bring you to the page and you may click 'like' and under the profile picture there is a link to 'add to my favorite pages.' This link should allow you to receive all the updates from this page.
Let's work together this coming year to promoting our group and ourselves.
To that effect, I'm making sure I get my blog in a little early. I'm presently in Philadelphia. My daughter has her quarterly medical-study check up at 8:30am tomorrow morning. We need to get back to Rochester before 5pm tomorrow because I have picked up the 5-8 shift waitressing at the restaurant where I'm the lunch time hostess. Needless to say, I'll be too beat after my shift to blog.
NaNoWriMo is almost over. I'm behind 15,800 words. According to my stats, I won't be finished with the 50,000 words until Christmas Day. Ugh! Didn't really want to know that. Oh well, I can't complain. At least I have 19,000 words written I wouldn't have had if I hadn't started the challenge.
How many of you who were at the meeting yesterday have taken what you learned from Chris Isaac and implemented it on Facebook? I have included the link to my new business page. It's slow going, but I'm suggesting my writer friends to it. Some of you may have already received the posts. It's different from friend requests. The link will bring you to the page and you may click 'like' and under the profile picture there is a link to 'add to my favorite pages.' This link should allow you to receive all the updates from this page.
Let's work together this coming year to promoting our group and ourselves.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Evolution
Evolution. What does that word mean? To me it means re-creation, restructuring, rebuilding. My writing is undergoing a re-creation. Book number two and three are going off in a different direction than I originally intended. The changes are for the better, so much that when I finish writing a scene I get all excited. Chills run through my arms and I get that rush when things gel just right.
My writing has gone through a form of restructuring as well. I'm trying to go about my writing in a more formated way, instead of by the seat of my pants. What did I know about character development? Nothing! What is a turning point? Darned if I knew.
I was talking with my son last week about what I was learning about these two writing structures and he laughed at me. "We learned that in third grade,Mom," he says. Well, I don't know about you, but I don't remember learning it in third grade or any grade for that matter.
Maybe I'm a slow learner or a late bloomer, but at least I'm making progress. I'm pleased with what I'm creating now and can't wait to get to the endings. Who knew plotting could be so fun!
My writing has gone through a form of restructuring as well. I'm trying to go about my writing in a more formated way, instead of by the seat of my pants. What did I know about character development? Nothing! What is a turning point? Darned if I knew.
I was talking with my son last week about what I was learning about these two writing structures and he laughed at me. "We learned that in third grade,Mom," he says. Well, I don't know about you, but I don't remember learning it in third grade or any grade for that matter.
Maybe I'm a slow learner or a late bloomer, but at least I'm making progress. I'm pleased with what I'm creating now and can't wait to get to the endings. Who knew plotting could be so fun!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Rochester Children’s Book Festival 2010
Rarely do writers of one genre get a personal glimpse into the professional lives of another, but that happened to me on Saturday. I was invited to attend the Rochester Children’s Book Festival because THE PERFECT FAMILY is geared to teenagers as well as women. Though the venue wasn’t right for me, I learned a lot about a genre of writing I knew little about.
First, this is a big deal! Forty-one authors and illustrators, representing a myriad of publishers sold books to about 4,000 people. That’s right, the big hall at Monroe Community College was filled with a steady stream of people from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The buyers were teachers—lots of them—and parents who happily brought their kids along. It was so much fun to see the little ones point out a book or rush over to an author they loved. They got stickers, hugs and personal drawings. The kids were in heaven. As a former English teacher, it did my heart good to see them so fascinated at a reading event. Also in attendance were sales representatives making invaluable contacts with the authors. Populating the tables were paper mache figures of characters in the book, big posters and smiling authors. Some people were walking around with puppets based on the books. Also offered were presentations and readings given every hour by the authors in attendance. Kids seemed to flock to these.
I was interested in the diversity of books, too. Some had hard pages with pull outs, some were thick tomes of fiction for middle grades, some curriculum supplements. I sat next to one author, Elizabeth Sullivan Falk, who was a fourth grade teacher and wrote her books on colonial America and the underground railroad because she couldn’t get that kind of material to use in her class. Then she found an educational publisher to put them out.
Second, the event was put on by the Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators, a group of 70 people, both published and unpublished. The former signed their books while the latter operated as volunteers. This is an active group who attracted authors for the event like Jane Yolen and Linda Sue Park. There were numerous Caldecott and Newberry winners, as well as those of other awards. The scope of the thing was so big, it took tons of work –one of the co-chairs told me the planning takes a year.
Last, I found several similarities among children’s books authors and those of my genres, romance and women’s fiction. Some were ecstatic about their publishers and agents, some had complaints about the same, some were looking for agents, some wanted to switch genres, all had stories about their path to publication.
I’m so glad I got a look at this special world of children’s books. It seems to be flourishing, too, as the sales had to be through the roof. So, kudos to the Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators!
Kathy Shay
First, this is a big deal! Forty-one authors and illustrators, representing a myriad of publishers sold books to about 4,000 people. That’s right, the big hall at Monroe Community College was filled with a steady stream of people from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The buyers were teachers—lots of them—and parents who happily brought their kids along. It was so much fun to see the little ones point out a book or rush over to an author they loved. They got stickers, hugs and personal drawings. The kids were in heaven. As a former English teacher, it did my heart good to see them so fascinated at a reading event. Also in attendance were sales representatives making invaluable contacts with the authors. Populating the tables were paper mache figures of characters in the book, big posters and smiling authors. Some people were walking around with puppets based on the books. Also offered were presentations and readings given every hour by the authors in attendance. Kids seemed to flock to these.
I was interested in the diversity of books, too. Some had hard pages with pull outs, some were thick tomes of fiction for middle grades, some curriculum supplements. I sat next to one author, Elizabeth Sullivan Falk, who was a fourth grade teacher and wrote her books on colonial America and the underground railroad because she couldn’t get that kind of material to use in her class. Then she found an educational publisher to put them out.
Second, the event was put on by the Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators, a group of 70 people, both published and unpublished. The former signed their books while the latter operated as volunteers. This is an active group who attracted authors for the event like Jane Yolen and Linda Sue Park. There were numerous Caldecott and Newberry winners, as well as those of other awards. The scope of the thing was so big, it took tons of work –one of the co-chairs told me the planning takes a year.
Last, I found several similarities among children’s books authors and those of my genres, romance and women’s fiction. Some were ecstatic about their publishers and agents, some had complaints about the same, some were looking for agents, some wanted to switch genres, all had stories about their path to publication.
I’m so glad I got a look at this special world of children’s books. It seems to be flourishing, too, as the sales had to be through the roof. So, kudos to the Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators!
Kathy Shay
Monday, November 8, 2010
Not Your Granny's Angel
Author JR Ward has done it again--convinced this hard core romantic-suspense and political thriller reader, and sometimes writer, to pick up a fantasy in "Covet".
I actually set out to read "Crave", the latest release in Ward's Fallen Angel series, but realized to really appreciate the continuing hero, Jim Heron, I probably should read "Covet" first. Duh.
After about 10 pages, I'm thinking . . . maybe this series isn't totally fantasy. It is about angels, though these guys are not the guys with wings and built like Charles Atlas from my Baltimore Catechism days. These birds come with tattoos, multiple body piercings, drive Harleys, and drink beer like Prohibition is about to be reinstated. And a few of them, and the lost souls they are charged with saving from one of the seven deadly sins, have extrasensory powers.
Totally cool.
Filled with Ward's usual unremitting sarcastic humor, 'Covet' is real tough to put down.
I give it a hands up.
Kat
I actually set out to read "Crave", the latest release in Ward's Fallen Angel series, but realized to really appreciate the continuing hero, Jim Heron, I probably should read "Covet" first. Duh.
After about 10 pages, I'm thinking . . . maybe this series isn't totally fantasy. It is about angels, though these guys are not the guys with wings and built like Charles Atlas from my Baltimore Catechism days. These birds come with tattoos, multiple body piercings, drive Harleys, and drink beer like Prohibition is about to be reinstated. And a few of them, and the lost souls they are charged with saving from one of the seven deadly sins, have extrasensory powers.
Totally cool.
Filled with Ward's usual unremitting sarcastic humor, 'Covet' is real tough to put down.
I give it a hands up.
Kat
Meeting Challenges
It’s hard to really keep to a writing schedule when life gets in the way. I went away to a conference over the weekend (not a writing one) and found too many distractions. However, I did find time to get caught up until I came home. The hardest part is making up time lost because of driving long distances. Those hours in the car were precious writing hours I lost.
Have I gotten back on track with my writing now that I’m home? No. I can’t seem to find my feet. The words I’m putting in this blog are in the hopes to get that spark back, to find my rhythm.
The best thing to come from participating in the NaNoWriMo is the new direction my third book is taking. It’s not a complete new direction, just a slight sway. I do like it though. Now I’m beginning to understand what other writers talk about. How their stories speak to them, keep them awake at night.
Even the title has changed. It’s something I have to accept. My books are not always going to come out the way I expect them to. They’ll be what they want to be, what they tell me they will be. How did I really think I was the one writing them? That’s a laugh.
On the drive home, my book wanted me to keep writing. It kept playing scenes in my head. Hopefully I’ll be able to get them down on the computer later tonight, after dinner. My competitive streak is itching to get up-to-date on my challenge if not further ahead to give me some wiggle room.
Have I gotten back on track with my writing now that I’m home? No. I can’t seem to find my feet. The words I’m putting in this blog are in the hopes to get that spark back, to find my rhythm.
The best thing to come from participating in the NaNoWriMo is the new direction my third book is taking. It’s not a complete new direction, just a slight sway. I do like it though. Now I’m beginning to understand what other writers talk about. How their stories speak to them, keep them awake at night.
Even the title has changed. It’s something I have to accept. My books are not always going to come out the way I expect them to. They’ll be what they want to be, what they tell me they will be. How did I really think I was the one writing them? That’s a laugh.
On the drive home, my book wanted me to keep writing. It kept playing scenes in my head. Hopefully I’ll be able to get them down on the computer later tonight, after dinner. My competitive streak is itching to get up-to-date on my challenge if not further ahead to give me some wiggle room.
Monday, November 1, 2010
NaNoWriMo
To write, or not to write, that is the question thousands of people have been asking themselves for the past month. Today started National Novel Writers Month. This is my first year trying it out.
Just getting set up is a little intimidating. Building a writing buddies list, reading and joining forums, getting encouragement for all quarters. My head spins thinking about it all.
I have been writing today. It's disjointed and sporadic. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to set a goal of 1,667 words per day. At the end of the month, if a person is diligent, they should have 50,000 words completed. That's enough for a full manuscript. What an idea - a book in 30 days!
Having the support and encouragement of other people in the same boat as you makes the endeavor more invigorating and exciting. Hope to find more of our group there. For those of you who are, please add me as your buddy - PattiMO. We also should be able to meet our goals for November doing this challenge.
Happy writing!
Just getting set up is a little intimidating. Building a writing buddies list, reading and joining forums, getting encouragement for all quarters. My head spins thinking about it all.
I have been writing today. It's disjointed and sporadic. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to set a goal of 1,667 words per day. At the end of the month, if a person is diligent, they should have 50,000 words completed. That's enough for a full manuscript. What an idea - a book in 30 days!
Having the support and encouragement of other people in the same boat as you makes the endeavor more invigorating and exciting. Hope to find more of our group there. For those of you who are, please add me as your buddy - PattiMO. We also should be able to meet our goals for November doing this challenge.
Happy writing!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
It's tuesday again?
I've been very busy writing and can't believe how fast time goes by. It seems every time I turn around it is Tuesday and blog day. I am also surprised that each meeting the blog calendar is filled and when it actually comes to the appointed day few who sign up actually blog. I choose each Tuesday because I have a memory like a steel sieve. I retain only that which I do repeatedly. Thus Tuesday is blog day. Now if you can't remember any better than I can maybe you should either put it in your day planner or pick Thursday or the second Wednesday of every month. It's not a big deal. But if you say you are going to do it then dang it do it. Blogging is writing, no chosen research, no characters, no plot, just writing. If you
can't do that you aren't a writer. Now that is not to say, because I do blog that I am the best writer only that I do what I say I will. If this group is going to grow and be of service to its members the members who make commitment must honor that commitment.
can't do that you aren't a writer. Now that is not to say, because I do blog that I am the best writer only that I do what I say I will. If this group is going to grow and be of service to its members the members who make commitment must honor that commitment.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Momentum
My current dilema is how to keep my forward momentum now that I've submitted my first book. I had enough work getting the manuscript ready for submission, so my time was filled. Now, there are several books wanting my attention. How do I choose?
I also have two books started with two differnt critique groups. So my best bet would be to divide my time between the two (if possible) and get the important stuff done. What's the important stuff, you might ask?
It has been brought to my attention that I need to develop my stories in a more organized fashion using inciting incidents, turning points, climaxes and resolutions. What are those, I asked? I've heard of them but never learned how to use them. Even my eighteen-year-old son laughed at me on the drive to Philadelphia Friday. "Mom, we learned about all that in third grade!" (My only excuse is I don't remember much from grammar school except the boys I had crushes on.)
So, with the start of the NaNo looming, I'm going to really work on my plotting strategies and see how quick a learner I can be.
I also have two books started with two differnt critique groups. So my best bet would be to divide my time between the two (if possible) and get the important stuff done. What's the important stuff, you might ask?
It has been brought to my attention that I need to develop my stories in a more organized fashion using inciting incidents, turning points, climaxes and resolutions. What are those, I asked? I've heard of them but never learned how to use them. Even my eighteen-year-old son laughed at me on the drive to Philadelphia Friday. "Mom, we learned about all that in third grade!" (My only excuse is I don't remember much from grammar school except the boys I had crushes on.)
So, with the start of the NaNo looming, I'm going to really work on my plotting strategies and see how quick a learner I can be.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Meeting Readers
I had the privilege of attending a ‘Romance Tea’ at the Ogden Library. Organized by The Wild Rose Press, the event brought authors and readers together.
Seven writers gained the opportunity to introduce their work to guests. Not only did the audience learn how we crafted, but we were able to ask questions also. We took a quick poll to find out what types of romance they read as well as their thoughts on e-publishing.
While most complained about small print in paperbacks, most did not own electronic readers. I believe they received valuable insight as to why the industry is going in that direction.
Overall, it was a huge success! Special thanks to Rhonda Penders for organizing the event. Sponsors stepped forward big time with flowers, beverages, and desserts.
Seven writers gained the opportunity to introduce their work to guests. Not only did the audience learn how we crafted, but we were able to ask questions also. We took a quick poll to find out what types of romance they read as well as their thoughts on e-publishing.
While most complained about small print in paperbacks, most did not own electronic readers. I believe they received valuable insight as to why the industry is going in that direction.
Overall, it was a huge success! Special thanks to Rhonda Penders for organizing the event. Sponsors stepped forward big time with flowers, beverages, and desserts.
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