Serious Wednesday: Writing with a Time Limit

You, authors, who love deadlines and can peel off book after book living such a life---how do you do it and still keep your sanity? I mean, don't you have other responsibilities? Demands from a family you love? Activities that are either required, enjoyed or good for you? 

Now, I've already shared about keeping a schedule for most days that helps me a lot, but that doesn't stop the unexpected from hitting me high and low. Like last week and this one. It was like a meteor shower with constant something coming up or interrupting my time. I managed to get most necessary things done, but when it came to writing these two weeks, I failed. Not nearly enough words were written. So...

Why have a schedule? 

Because things will eventually calm down. 

Life will flow evenly again. 

Inspiration will hit, and I'll get those words written. 

So the days that seem futile (in my writing) or wasted, really aren't. Right now, I choose to look at them as a time of resting, refreshing my spirit and mind, thinking, plotting and getting ready to write several more thousand words and quite a few more chapters. 

So, the deadline I've set for this book is real, but I do believe I've got this, in spite of the interruptions.

 I will finish this novel!!!

Break Time!

In Case Anyone is Wondering What's Going on

with few posts lately--

I'm taking a short hiatus.

Deciding where I want to go with my blog.

What I want to keep.

What to toss.

But...

I'll be back shortly.

Hopefully,

With some new ideas.

See ya soon!

Strange and Wonderful Things

A couple of fun and strange things happened recently in my life.

Hubby and I like to share when we see wild animals, shooting stars, rainbows, etc., so when he stepped in the house the other day and said there were TWO red-headed woodpeckers in the same tree, I headed for the door to see for myself.

Sure enough, about five or six feet, one above the other, the two birds were pecking away industriously. We stood there sharing the moment and enjoying their busyness. Just a moment in time they we can remember.

Another day, Taffy, our Jack Russell, had been left outside. We have floor to wherever tall windows, and sometimes the animals (the ones not tied up) will stand at one of them and stare in trying to make me feel guilty for enjoying the air condition inside while they're outside, I suppose. Anyway. Taffy stared inside, unbeknownst to me.

Noah, who was inside at the time began barking. I was in the kitchen but went to see what he wanted. He looked at me, then at the window.

I ignored him. A little while later, he did it again.

I let Taffy in and that was the end of that. Noah was letting me know that I'd better let his little bossy friend in. That I'd forgotten her and I'd better do something about it.

She might be very annoying to him (he'll lift his paw at her to keep her in line), but he loves her.

Animals and nature are strange and wonderful things. Keeps you interested and expectant.

What will happen tomorrow?



Quote:
Fear is the prison of the heart. --Anonymous


Blessings

An Interesting Thing . . .


What catches a writer's attention.

You all know my varied interests in writing. Of course, as I informed some of my critique friends the other day, most of my novels have a touch of suspense in them, even if they're romance. Can't help it. Love that suspense. Laugh.

But, we writers have a multitude of interests. Let me give you some examples:

Three of my critique friends novels they're working on right now:

M: contemporary, a little suspense with a lot of women's fiction in it.
S: contemporary, young adult
R: historical, mafia theme
J: contemporary with military touches (altho her real skill rests w/western historical
L: contemporary, archeological suspense
C (not me): historical, (one, a jazz, twenties period; another: civil war period)

There are so many possibilities out there that at times my mind boggles. I know--just from the top of my head--I have four stories I want to work on--or finish--not counting the series that I'm writing now. Some will take a lot of research, others not so much.

Where do we get them? Lots of places. Ideas from others. Events. Places of interest and history. Maybe a news item will spawn a thought that can be developed into a novel. An accident. A name. Or a phrase.

Thing of it is, I may run out of time before I get them all down.

I'd better get to work . . .


This is one of my favorites I've loved through the years. Quote:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. --Robert Frost


Blessings

Hot Air Balloon Get-Away!


How would you like to start your married life in a hot air balloon? Starli and Joel did.

That is, in my second romance novel: Joel arranged for a hot air balloon to pick them up to leave for their honeymoon. Romantic, huh?

What kind of ideas would be romantic for a couple?

• Hot air balloons, for sure!

• What about a honeymoon on a sailboat?

• How a space shuttle trip to the moon? (Of course, you'd probably have to be an Arabic sheik!)

• What about a houseboat trip down a river?

• What about someone playing a flute or a sax (I love sax's) at your wedding . . . now, that interests me (for a novel!)

• How about using your very-much-loved pet dog for your best man. Wouldn't he look sharp in a tux? (and my Noah would add to the music with his bass barking!)

• Live in the country? Why not invite your guests to come in what they're comfortable in . . . or barefoot? And the bride and groom is barefoot!

• Or you like plays? Have your guests come dressed in their favorite characters! Whooeee! The bride and groom can go as Romeo and Juliet!
  

• You like healthy and simple? What about water instead of punch?

• Everyone uses carriages or limousines now-a-days. How about an antique car, maybe something in the 50's. Ooooh, I love it!

• What if the bride and groom put on a mini play for their guests?
  

• Or the parents of the couple sing to them?

• What if the couple reads to them from their journals--their thoughts about the other (?) or their desires and hopes for the future?

Possibilities, possibilities. What fun the imagination is!
More on hot air balloons later . . . gater!




Those who send their kids to public school should be alert to keep their kids on the top of things. Here are a few hints to give you and them a head start:

• How does the teacher grade the students? Is it mostly based on class work, home work or class participation. If you child is not doing well, ask which area needs improvement.
• When talking to the teacher find out what role you are expected to be. Are you supposed to review home work before turning in? Is there anthing that you need to help with?
• When speaking with the teacher, if something is said that you do not understand, ask the teacher to clarify. It is better to know than to not understand and have your child miss out.
• If your child's teacher says that your child needs more help with a subject, ask for suggestions about where to get the help. You can try to help your child yourself, but most of the time you will not be as effective as a stranger.
• When at all possible, take your child with you to the conference. The teacher will know exactly who they are speaking about and prevent any confusion.
• You don't have to wait for a conference to speak with any teacher. If you feel the need, contact the school directly and set up an appointment to meet with the teacher. Also give enough inforamation so that the teacher can be prepared.

Quote:
Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish. --Jean de la Fontaine


Blessings

Where in the World Do You Get Your Ideas?



Huh? The world's filled with ideas. I have people all the time ask me that. E-a-s-y! That's what it is to come up with ideas. At least most of the times.

But one of my v-e-r-y favorite way is beginning with titles. Yep. That's it. I love coming up with, or hearing, or reading, or having it jump out at me . . . a title that sounds like it would make for interesting writing.

Take these suggestions:

Behind Door Number One (or Two, Ten, Thirteen, whatever)
Something Stupid
With Music in Their Hearts
The Jungle Path of Love
Raisins for Racy
Winners Take All
The Double-Minded Heart
A Spider Beside Her
All Fall Down
Really, Wily Willie

When you've got a title, you've got all sorts of possibilities in sight. The moon is the limit. Your imagination can run in many different directions.

What type of book do you think of when you read each of the above suggestions?

Take "Behind Door Number . . .": I immediately think of mystery, suspense. What is going on behind that door? A murder? A crime about to be committed? A detective and his personal life?

But then I can think of several other ways that title could be expanded . . . A love scene? A loving family on a snowy night sharing a meal together? A children's adventure story?

Would it be set in modern days or perhaps in a war-torn era? Would it be in historic New York? Or a country village? A spooky setting in a shabby village near a swamp?

Boundless opportunities.

Then, automatically, I think of romance when I read: Something Stupid, The Jungle Path of Love, or With Music in Their Hearts.

But . . . Something Stupid could be a children's story; a clumsy child who constantly wins the laughter of his peers by his "stupid" mistakes.

The Jungle Path of Love (I've actually started this one; grin) is a romance, but it's more. Missionary adventure with danger, is planned for this gem of a title.

With Music in Their Hearts is similar; romance, danger, history, and war is bound up in the pages of this novel--almost done!

So, if you're thinking of becoming a writer; try starting with a catchy title. Let your mind wander, let your imagination soar, and don't be afraid to listen to everyday conversation or things you read.

You just never know when you'll pick up something . . . interesting -- for your next work in progress (wip) (novel)! And it might be the next best seller. Yeah!




Hints! Hints! Hints! More to do with gardening.

1. Put broken egg shells into a watering can, fill with water and leave overnight. This will extract the nutrients making an excellent and cheap plant feed.
2. When planting morning glory seeds, the package directions indicate that you need to nick each one of the seeds to enhance germination. A quick and easy way to accomplish this is with a pair of fingernail clippers. Then place the seeds on a lightly dampened paper towel, fold the towel over and place inside a plastic zipper bag for a day or so before planting.
3. To get rid of ants, locate their hill and sprinkle a liberal amount of talc powder around and on it. The ants dislike the talc and will move their colony several feet. Just continue sprinkling with the talc until the ants are moved to where you want them. Boiling water poured into/onto the nest also works quite well.

What's the answer to yesterday's trivia question? No one knows? Okay, it was Christopher Columbus. Smile. Didn't research deep enough, did you?

Today: What is reputed to be the oldest city in the world?



Quote:
Though I have seen the oceans and mountains, though I have read great books and seen great works of art, though I have heard symphonies and tasted the best foods, there is nothing greater or more beautiful than those people I love. --Christopher de Vinck


Blessings.