Anissa Off the Record

Eep!

2011-08-16T13:34:00.003-07:00

Holy July! So another month has flown by and what do you know? School started! It seems like May was yesterday, and I'm afraid Christmas is tomorrow. But in the meantime, I spent the morning writing.

Hallelujah!

I've had a bit of an up and down year with my writing. Then I took the summer off. So now that it's back to school for Thing 1 and Thing 2, it's time for me to put the bottom in the chair and crank the words out. Helps that it's still hot as Hades outside. I have ZERO motivation to work in the yard. The plants are as wilted as I feel when I step out there. So hang tough my pretty little planties, I'll get to you in a couple months. Hopefully by then I'll have a big chunk of this here rewrite under my belt.

Now if Starbucks would just bring back the Pumpkin Spice Latte, I'd be all set. Somehow each of my stories has it own signature drink. While an expensive habit, it does help get in the mindset of the story, so no complaints here. Bring on Autumn!

Home Run Derby

2011-07-11T14:23:00.006-07:00

The fam and I are heading to the Home Run Derby in a bit. HOME RUN DERBY!!! Having the All Star Game in town has been an awesome experience. The things my kids get to do blows my mind. The hubs and I talk about this a lot. I cannot even imagine what it would have been like as a child to experience the things they have. Lucky little stinkers.

Anyway, I'm off to don the gear. In just a few hours we'll all be hoarse from screaming, "Go, Big Papi!!!"

Photo source: AP

Target doo-doo

2011-06-13T18:39:00.001-07:00

I tweeted this the other day, but can't get it out of my head. Maybe a blog rant will help.

So I went to Target with Thing 1 and Thing 2. Bear in mind I'm there for perscription nose spray (worst freaking thing ever!) to try to remedy the fact that my ears STILL feel like I'm on an airplane (though I haven't been in years--yes, I'm have been freakishly ground-bound of late). And...back to the story.

We get a cart, enter the main aisle, and I almost fall on my booty. Sliiiiiip.

What the...???

I stepped in crap. Poop. Doodie. Freaking feces. INSIDE TARGET.

Thing 2 said, "Is that poop?"

Yes. Yes it is.

I'm still totally grossed out. I actually went back today and everywhere I went, I was on poop alert. How sad is that?

On blogging

2011-06-09T12:42:00.003-07:00

So blogging. Yeah. I'm the first to admit I've fallen off the wagon. It's been a strange progression for me. I used to spend hours, sometimes full days, reading and commenting and planning posts. And I loved it. But it took a lot. More than I had. It took writing time (of which I had precious little), and I finally came to the realization that I needed to really focus on my craft.

Should doing so have meant I completely abandoned the blog? No. But I did. I felt guilty at first, but then I just pushed all that crap aside. Because really, there's enough to worry about. You know?

The one thing I've come to realize is that I miss this. I miss being here on a regular basis. I miss connecting with people, with other writers. I've made some amazing friends through blogging. Amazing.

I used to feel such pressure to come up with meaningful/insightful/funny posts. But you know what? I'm over the pressure. hahaha

It all boils down to this:
I'm back.
Only different.
I'm just going to say what I want to say. Whatever's on my mind. It might relate to writing. It might not. It'll just be me blabbing on about whatever. I'm kind of loving the idea, and I think that's what blogging's all about. Finding your voice and sharing it.

Love.

End of the year...what???

2010-12-14T09:54:00.002-07:00

I have been wanting to blog for weeks now, but every time the thought entered my head I would cringe. It's been so LONG! It's a crazy conundrum. I have things I want to share, but am so out of practice the process seems impossibly foreign.

To catch up, I did get a shiny new laptop. He's still shiny, amazingly. No coffee spills (please don't let me jinx myself) to mar his beauty. Writing has been a crazy thing for me this year. I revised the hell out of Skinwalkers. Then did it again. Another round is forthcoming, but I'm on break. And yet ideas trickle into my head. I need to write them down. For now, I'm just pushing them aside and thinking through the new story that is waiting to be written. And yet Skinwalkers issues plague me.

I feel somewhat crippled. As though the issues of one story will carry through to the next. Mainly: characterization. I need to work on it. I know this. And knowing this, and knowing the work it's going to take to fix it in Skinwalkers, has caused a brain freeze for the new story. I'm afraid to start because I KNOW I don't have a clear enough picture of the characters. I can't just throw myself in it like usual. Can I?

These are the thoughts that rush through my head and keep me from doing much of anything except online shopping.

I wanted to get a good chunk of the new story written before heading back to revise again. But the time has slipped away and for some reason I always feel like I have to hurry. "Hurry," my brain says. "Hurry and finish and send it out." But that defies the attitude I have worked so hard to cultivate this year. I WILL NOT RUSH THE STORY. So I'm slow. Come January, we'll see what words come out.

I hope you all are well out there in blog world. I will try to swing by. Until then, happy holidays and happy writing!

Quick update

2010-08-04T10:05:00.002-07:00

All right, real quick. My computer croaked. I'm stealing time here and there, but it has seriously limited my internet time. As if the summer wasn't busy enough.

I'm editing on paper and studying a few things (i.e. characters' feelings, etc).

And I'm going on vacation. Yay. Escape from the heat, that's the plan.

So...I'll be back mid August. Hopefully with a shiny happy computer. Until then, hope you're all having a happy summer!

And I do see your comments on my phone, so thanks for all the cheers. :)

Write on, my friends!

Character emotions

2010-07-20T12:19:00.002-07:00

I come back to this topic a lot. Probably because it's on my mind constantly, and I struggle with it. I struggle with the right way show my characters' emotions, with the right words to use to convey that perfect emotional note.

Emotions are the hardest part of writing for me. Showing vs. telling. Finding the truth at the heart of my characters' actions. I know the emotion is there, buried deep within these people I've created. The ultimate task for me is drawing it out.

So I'm reading, studying, learning. I am in search of emotion.

How about you? What do you struggle with in your writing journey?

Farewell, World Cup. Hello, revisions...again

2010-07-12T15:58:00.003-07:00

Dear Wesley Sneijder and company,

Thanks for the good times. You rocked South Africa, and your fans did too. I wish it could have ended differently, but alas...2nd place.

See you in 4.

Still-wearing-orange Anissa

Hello friends!

Today I reopened the WIP and cracked the whip. Ha! I crack myself up sometimes. You may all laugh at me now...

Finished?

OK! Seriously, I've been a slacker. Postless. Without topic. But then I realized...when's that ever stopped me before? Fo-shizzle (I have SO always wanted to use that word, but well, in real life it never comes out).

So I'm declaring that I'm back. My posts may not always be about writing (as if they ever were), but they'll be about something. Hopefully.

Chapter 1 currently lives in the dog house. The words just won't find their way to the page. But chapter 2, oh beautiful thing that it is (someday), is cooperating nicely. At least the first three paragraphs. Cara's finding her voice.

So I'm heading back to it. I can only hope that by the time I get through to the end chapter 1 will have decided to bend itself into the fluid scene I know it can be. If I can only find the words.

Write on, my friends, it's only 108 degrees outside.

P.S. I've discovered the ~~time suck~~ joy that is Twitter. Won't you come and tweet with me? http://twitter.com/anissaaz

Hup, Holland, Hup!

2010-06-29T10:38:00.003-07:00

I have spent the last couple weeks engrossed in World Cup, with a tiny bit of editing mixed in. *snort*

We root for the US (of course!), Italy (poor Azuri), and the Netherlands (the home country). So now we are left with only the Oranje. Hence the title. But of course Holland must face Brazil on Friday. So any of you newly converted soccer fans looking for someone to cheer for. Join me in ORANGE Friday. Please!

In writing news...I have spent countless hours trying to rewrite/perfect my opening chapter. Well really I'm still on the first page. But I had a breakthrough today. I thought my prior opening was perfect (except for the annoying detail of being too vague), so in rewriting it, I've been killing myself to get the flow right. Unsuccessfully, I might add. So this morning, upon returning to the grind, I reread the old opening.

SO NOT PERFECT! Ah...what an enlightening moment. I'm not perfect. hahahahaha!

Now it's time to get back to work. I have three days before soccer takes over my life again. *wink*

HELLO!

2010-06-06T09:17:00.003-07:00

Hey there, dear friends. I'm alive!

Quick apology for those of you whose comments got lost in moderation. I had to turn on the mod for posts older than 30 days to cut off the spammers. Never in a million years did I imagine it would take me more that 30 days to write another post. Yikes! Totally lazy blogger. Or totally busy life. You choose.

Anyway. School's out! Hooray! And with summer comes 110+ temps, which should translate to lots of computer time. I'm such a wuss when it comes to heat.

We spent the last 5 days at Disneyland. Thing 1 and Thing 2 had SO much fun. Us adults too. ;) But to see their excited little faces...very very cool. They cried yesterday morning when it was time to leave. Poor little guys.

Now my feet are in recovery and I need to eat a few extra salads. All in all, it's been a crazy busy month or so.

On the writing front, I'm going to go ahead and whisper, "My draft is finished." It's not near perfect, or submission ready, but it's complete. And it's getting closer. Now to tighten it up and smooth it into shiny goodness. I can't wait. Actually, I'm just ready to have it finished and out the door. But I REFUSE to rush it. I've put in this much time, I'm determined to get it just right.

How about you? What's going on in your world. I'm so very out of the loop!

Once a week

2010-04-23T16:44:00.005-07:00

I seem to have become a once-a-week blogger. Not by any conscious decision or anything. I think that's about the length of time when the guilt really sets in and I tell myself I cannot neglect the poor blog any longer. But with absence comes lack of topics. I am a firm believer in the writing muscle. Work it and it gets stronger, more refined. Let it languish and it deteriorates and has to be rebuilt.

I think the same goes for blogging. It is writing after all. I've discovered that the more I blog, the more ideas I have. And vice versa. Hence the lack of posts lately.

I'm convinced my schedule will not ease until school's out, but I'm hoping to recover a bit of blogging time where I can.

The writing continues. I opened the Word document again today. For the past 5 weeks I've been marking up the pages I'd printed, but now it was time to crank through the end. I'm almost there. I got through the scene that has been plaguing me for months. I actually edited the entire manuscript to delay having to tackle this scene. But it's finished! Yay! Onward to the end. I can feel the words churning in me, ready to flow from my fingers onto the page. Now I just need to stop sleeping in order to accomplish it. ;)

Happy Friday, all. I'm off!

Checking things off the list

2010-04-14T20:09:00.003-07:00

Taxes in the mail...check
Kindergarten yearbook complete...check
Edits...check (well, check through page 305)

Condition of home...don't even ask

I miss you guys. I'm trying to get around with some comments, but I'm so behind. You all are doing exciting things. I don't want to miss any of it!

I've been cooking a lot, which tends to happen when the house is in shambles. Thing 2 requested crab rangoon. Well, he really requested Chinese takeout, but I told him we'd make our own. Not bad. The collard greens on the other hand...not so good. I guess I'm just a swiss chard girl.

If any of this is making sense, I will be eternally surprised.

Better posts soon. I promise.

Taxes and yearbooks and edits...

2010-04-07T09:48:00.002-07:00

OMG. Back from Spring Break and Easter only to discover I am beyond behind in all the things I have to accomplish over the next week.

Taxes. Ick.

Yearbook pages for Kindergarten classes. Um, OK.

Mass quantities of forms for school registration...gee, thanks.

Which leaves my poor revisions down at the bottom of the list. :( I'm hoping to burn through the yearbook stuff quickly then tackle the taxes. The thought of it makes me want to nap, though it's only 9:52 in the morning.

Make that 9:57. Apparently I just zoned out for 5 minutes. Must. Get. To. Work. Hope life isn't quite so crazy in your world.

Hot vampire boys...

2010-03-30T13:32:00.004-07:00

As much as DL would like me to profess my love for hot vampire boys...(ha!) alas, Vamps aren't my thing. All that blood. Yick. I figured it'd make a good title though, since I am a bit challenged when it comes to titling anything I write.

So it's spring break in my neck of the woods, which translates to lazy mornings (hooray!) and lots of sun. We just returned from a 3-hr excursion to the park. Three hours! Holy playground patrol. Would love a nap, but the "n" word is blasphemous to the Things. Boundless energy, I'm telling you! Still have an hour of 3-year-old soccer practice to look forward to. Shoot me now...

On the writing front, I'm itching for a new idea. I need something to look forward to so I'll crank out what remains of my revisions. But wouldn't you know, the ideas all hide when you're looking for them. We shall see. I did mark up 26 pages of the manuscript yesterday. Almost dried out a green pen even!

Finally, at the request of Mystery Robin...Puppy! AKA The little digger! This was from like a month ago. He's getting big. Must take more pics.

And another week goes by...

2010-03-28T15:11:00.002-07:00

I find that any sort of break from blogging ends up blocking me big time. I start to feel like I have nothing to say. Not much going on. No updates on the revising front. Pretty much, I'm here and that's it.

So yeah, I've got blog block. Any cures out there?

I may need to motivate myself with another goal or something. Or, you know, just blog...

Vader and the Stormtroopers...

2010-03-20T12:46:00.004-07:00

As promised, here are pics of the birthday treats that took up a good chunk of my time away. Apparently I wasn't thinking clearly enough to take them out of their travel containers to take the pictures. I'm just glad I didn't forget entirely. It's happened...

As I was drawing my very first stormtropper on the homemade marshmallow fondant, I asked Thing 2 how it looked. "Well, Mama, it kind of looks like a stormtrooper monkey." They're nothing if not honest. I think they turned out OK. Though one dad at the party thought they were bugs...sheesh.

And to Lindsay who said 2 1/2 weeks of company is a long time...Amen, sister!

I'm back

2010-03-17T09:30:00.002-07:00

So I ended up taking an unexpected unplug last week. Life, in all its crazy goodness, finally caught up to me. 2 1/2 weeks of company coupled with a birthday party (and Darth Vader cake) pulled me away. It was definitely an interesting week. But now the company is gone, the cake is eaten (mostly) and the house is in shambles. Hey...life's pretty much back to normal!

How have you all been? I feel so out of touch. Any fabulous news I missed out on?

In other news, I got a Droid phone and now have email with me all the time. And Pandora. And the internet. Can you imagine? I'm never going to get anything done!

I'll post a pic of the Vader cake and Stormtrooper cupcakes later. Haven't downloaded them yet. Honestly, the only time I opened my computer was to find a recipe for dinner. And none of them included beans. ;)

So yeah...I'm back. Whee!

Nothing much

2010-03-08T16:47:00.004-07:00

I've been staring at this blank post screen for the past 44 minutes. It's worse than a blank Word document. At least then I can just start making up a story. Here I feel like I need some sort of inspiration. A topic at the very least. But I've got nothing today. Lack of sleep has wiped out my brain zombie-style.

How long until bedtime?

Seeing Green

2010-03-05T11:50:00.003-07:00

I'm sitting here trying to decide whether it's a good thing that my manuscript pages appear to be bleeding green ink. Could it be I'm trying to rewrite the darned thing a third time?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

In other words, I'm editing my way through the new box of green pens. See, all I needed was for March to show up. Have a fantabulous weekend, my friends!

Pressure's off and I'm still here.

2010-03-02T14:22:00.005-07:00

I woke up this morning and immediately thought, "What am I going to blog about today?" Then I realized February was over. But I still wanted to blog. Hooray! The pressure is off, but the desire is still there. I guess what they say is true. You can develop good habits. Though it's not like I have a ton to say today. I just didn't want to lose touch with the fabulousity that is my blogging buddies.

On the writing front, the green pen is seeing some action. At last. I'm not sure if it's just that I'm getting burned out on the project or what, but I'm being to fear it has no voice. No narrative voice to be specific. Ugh. I hope it's just me because trying to instill voice in an already-written project is next to impossible. At least for me. So I will continue to plug away. I'll let my CP break the news to me if need be.

How goes the writing on your end? What are you working on these days?

WINNERS!!!!!

2010-03-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

First, I wanted to thank all of you who cheered me on during the month of February. Your comments were the highlight of the blog party for sure. I would find myself checking email throughout the day just to see what my lovely friends were saying. It was almost as bad as when I'm querying. So that's saying something for the quality of all your thoughts. You guys rock!

I am so happy to have met so many new friends. When I came up with the idea of the Blog Party, I was hoping to use it as motivation to retrain my blogging muscle. It worked. But better than that, I met so many new people. And I got to know my existing blog buddies better too. It was an all-around win.

Funny thing. I had this $50 Amazon gift certificate that someone gave me. I figured I'd get a few new followers and someone would win the $50. Never did I imagine that we would exceed that number. But I'm happy we did! All said and done the final prize pool came in at $75. Hooray! So I decided to spread the love to three winners!

And now enough of my rambling. As if anyone read it. I know you all just skipped down here to the good stuff. ;)

Grand Prize Winner of $50 Amazon gift certificate is... Roxy!

2nd Prize Winner of $15 Amazon gift certificate is...Lindsey (AKA Dangerous With a Pen)!

3rd Prize Winner of $10 Amazon gift certificate is...Christine Danek

(If you guys could send me the email you'd like your gift certificate sent to, I'll get right on it. anissaaz (at) gmail dot com

So there we have it. Congratulations winners! But really, I think I'm the biggest winner of all. Thank you for being such fabulous blog buddies. I've had a blast! And don't think I'm crawling back into my hermit hole either. I plan to post as often as I can. I'm thinking without the pressure I may come up with even better posts.

Hello, March!

Party's coming to an end

2010-02-28T16:43:00.004-07:00

Here we are. The last day of February. For a while there I wasn't sure I'd make it with my daily posts. Just goes to show what goals will get you. Now I need to commit to a goal for my manuscript. Like getting the darn thing done! I had hoped for that to coincide with the blog party, but it didn't quite happen.

Anyway, I will count any last-minute followers that get in before midnight tonight. Then the contest will officially end and I will spend hours counting the votes. I'm very excited to find out the winners, not so much to do the actual counting. LOL.

That said, stay tuned tomorrow for the announcement. I hope it's you!

Themes

2010-02-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about themes lately. I don't set out with a theme in mind. I'm deathly afraid of coming off as preachy, which I would hate as much as the person reading my preachy nonsense. But I've found that as I revise, themes invariably appear. Somewhere in the depths of my brain, things are churning along without my knowledge. I'm OK with that. I kind of like the idea of a theme winding through the work on its own. Like a part of me is finding its way into my work. But my subconscious can only do so much. Then it's time to build on that hint of a theme, to use symbols (if appropriate) and really make the story mean something. I'm still experimenting with themes, but so far I'm liking it.

So I'm wondering. Do you plan out your themes in advance? Or do they find their way into your work when you're not looking?

2 more days...

2010-02-26T14:26:00.002-07:00

I have a child with bronchitis, another with what sounds like the beginning of the same, and company arriving in two hours.

I WILL make my goal of posting everyday in February, but don't expect anything brilliant.

In other news, I was at Target filling prescriptions and what did I buy? Three bags of mini candy bars. I couldn't choose. Yesterday's post did me in. But mmmm...100 Grand, Twix and Snickers. Also Red Vines. I must be sugar deficient or something.

Off to get the beans on the stove for dinner. Hey, family is Catholic, which translates to no meat on Fridays. Now that I can do! And I can't remember who asked, but I'd say it'll take me a couple months to get through 32 lbs of beans. I don't eat them every day. I'd like to, but the family would protest.

Happy Friday, all!

Candy bar scenes

2010-02-25T13:31:00.003-07:00

I read somewhere, a long time ago, about candy bar scenes. The author described these scenes as the big, exciting, character-altering scenes you can't wait to write. They hover out there, tempting you to write them early, to skip out of sequence and indulge. But those dangling candy bars are what get you through a manuscript. Looking forward to writing them motivates you to keep the story moving, to get the words on the page. It's all about motivation.

I use this in my writing. I know myself. If I were allowed to write the candy bar scenes first, I don't know that I'd be able to finish a novel. Having them out there, like dessert, gets me through my vegetables (no offense, veggies, I love you too).

Candy bar scenes for me are big. Something happens. Something big. The story changes because of my candy bars. My climax scene for Skinwalkers is a candy bar scene I've been envisioning for months. Now I'm starting to wonder if it's the wrong type of candy bar. Like maybe I'm trying to write a Twix and what I'm really craving is a Snickers. It just won't go down right. So I'll try out a few different flavors until I find just the right one. And then...mmmm, candy bar. I can't wait!

What about you? Do you use candy bar scenes to keep you motivated?

The bean post...at last

2010-02-24T14:31:00.001-07:00

So I think I've mentioned a few times how much I adore beans. It all started with Deb at Smittenkitchen.com made something with beans and mentioned getting them from Rancho Gordo. So I looked up this mysterious Rancho Gordo. OMG! I had no idea there were so many different types of beans. I went a little crazy. Every time I order I can't just pick a couple. I pick them all. And hominy. And ground red chile. Oooh, together with Rio Zape beans the hominy and chile make an amazing posole. So yes. I am loving me some beans. The proof is in the picture. These beauties arrived yesterday.

I must have been really excited. Look how I ripped open the box! LOL. According to UPS, it weighed 32 pounds.

So this is how the arrival of the beans went down. Box arrives, and I am so happy. Wee...happy! Hey, I think, I just signed up for twitter. I'll go tweet about my beans. *scampers off* Suddenly the sound of paper shredding interrupts the tweeting. I race to the bean box to find devil puppy digging. Inside the box. He's having a ball, shredding paper, ripping open bags. Beans are flying until. "What are you doing?!" I scream. That stopped him. Unfortunately, the damage was done. I spent an hour sorting the loose beans by type. The irony of which was not lost on me...I used to be a "bean counter" before the kidlets came along.

But the beans survived. Last night we had Escarole and beans soup made with lovely fat cannellinis. Yum.

Now, does this look like a bean destroyer to you? Getting big, isn't he?

Tweet Tweet

2010-02-23T13:45:00.002-07:00

OK, so I finally did it. I signed up for Twitter. I've been debating it mostly because I fear it will cause my fingers to permanently affix themselves to the keyboard. We shall see.

Anyway, if you're on Twitter, please let me know so I can follow you. I've found a few of you guys already, but not many.

I'm AnissaAZ if you're looking for me. See you in Tweetville.

And here it is

2010-02-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

10:00 PM and finally I am able to sit down and type a post. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't consider my morning blurb an actual post. And since this is the blog-everyday-in-February Blog Party, I refuse to let myself fail.

So, a few random facts (because that's pretty much all my mind is capable of producing):

1. Puppy is crashed out beside me right now, and he's running in his sleep. What do you think dogs dream about? I always imagine they're chasing rabbits. Lots and lots of rabbits.

2. I haven't had beans in three days. What's going on?! A new shipment is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I'll post a picture of my lovely Rancho Gordo legumes when they arrive.

3. I saw a rainbow today. A gorgeous, full, exquisitely-colored double rainbow. It was perfection. I raced home, grabbed my boys and rushed them outside. This was Thing 2's first rainbow sighting. If I could bottle that look, and the resulting feeling it gave me, I would never be crabby again. Sheer joy, people. Mouth open, wide-eyed amazement. His delight in the world around inspires me every day.

Now I must sleep.

Crazy Day Schedule

2010-02-22T09:12:00.002-07:00

At my son's Kindergarten, when it rains, they have a Rainy Day Schedule. I'm announcing a Crazy Day Schedule today at the blog. Lots to do. Not much time.

In other words, today's post will likely be very late.

Hope Monday's going well in your neck of the woods.

It's Raining What?

2010-02-21T09:23:00.005-07:00

Quick reminder. The contest is going strong. Join the fun! Send your friends. For those new to the blog. *waves* Hello! There's a contest going on the entire month of February. Followers get 5 entries plus one for every comment. The prize (Amazon giftcard or two) will be determined by the number of followers who join during the month. Currently we're at $61. That's 61 new friends! Spread the word. The more new follower friends, the bigger the prize pot!

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.

For some reason yesterday's rain made me think of this song by The Weather Girls.

And that made me remember the time hubby and I were in Spain. He was teaching a course for his company and the students came from all over the world. Anyway, we went out with them to a disco one night and at some point this song came on. Before we knew it, everyone in the room (95% men) was jumping up and down. And when the chorus came on...oh man! It was like international glee club. All these crazy accents mingled together in screaming harmony. "It's raining men!" I mean it was all out sing-a-long loud so that you could barely hear the music over the "Hallelujahs!" OMG. I was laughing so hard. It was freaking fantastic! Then hubby looks over at me and says, "Do you think they even know what they're singing?" I almost peed my pants. One look and it was clear they did not. But they were happy. They were singing. Imagine it. For one night in Spain, it was raining men. Thinking about it still makes me laugh!

Have a lovely day.

Blog templates

2010-02-20T11:44:00.005-07:00

I have a question for you all. What do you think of my blog template? Those of you who've been around for a while will remember the bright green sunflower theme I had going on before. This change was me trying to reflect the mood of my novel.

Skinwalkers is darker, moodier than anything I've written before. Plus it's set in the high desert of northern Arizona. All in all, I think this template is a good match.

I do like it. I like the atmosphere it conveys. I like the tree. But I wonder about the black background. Does it bother you? I have a hard time reading white on black, but this green on black doesn't bother me so much. How about you?

I haven't found anything I like more, but if you all scream that you can't read because of the darkness, I'll start hunting again. I wish I was technical enough to make my own, but I'm not.

Hope you're all having a fantastic Saturday. It's raining here. Yay! We get so little that it's cause for celebration every time a drop falls from the sky.

Don't forget about the contest!

In which I am in awe of you

2010-02-19T08:10:00.002-07:00

Truly. I am overwhelmed by all the kind and encouraging things you all said in your comments. I tend to be kind of a hermit, and none of the people I know in real life have any of the same interests as me (writing to be specific). So having a group of like-minded friends here has proven a life saver for me. You all understand. You get me. It's an awesome feeling. I thank you. You guys are the best!

I have been doing my best to get around to all your blogs. If I haven't been there lately, I'm coming!

So for today, I'm not going to stress. I'm going to clean a little, play a little, rest a little, and then I'm going to take that lovely stack of paper and mark it green. I can't wait!

If I Only Had A...

2010-02-18T10:42:00.002-07:00

My house is stressing me out. I need to declutter or something. I can't keep up, and the mess is slowly wearing me down. Or driving me nuts. One of the two.

Since the weather is gorgeous this time of year, the boys and I have been spending a ton of time outdoors. Where there is a ton of work to do too! Seriously, it's never ending. I cannot catch up. I have to leave the house to find a little peace and quiet. What is up with this guilt?

Ugh. I hate that I'm posting this whiny drivel, but I do so with a purpose. Do you all have a secret? Is there some way to stay ahead or am I destined to live in a messy house with a backyard full of weeds? My inquiring mind is anxious to know. In the meantime, I'm going to go stick my head in the sink.

After that I think I'll cook some beans. Have I mentioned my love of beans?

Now that's a lot of paper

2010-02-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Look what I have. Hot off the Laserjet. 366 pages of paranormal YA goodness (I hope!)

Yes, I printed out Skinwalkers. It was time. I keep scrolling through the document aimlessly editing. I needed to feel it in my hands. I need to see it as a whole. It's time.

Now I'm ready. I have a new pack of felt-tip pens,(Green is so my favorite editing color) and I'm all set.

That's 90K words, if anyone was wondering, and the ending is not yet complete. I'm hoping to cut some fat this time through, even if I only cut 5 words per page. I'm determined to keep this puppy under 90K if at all possible. My preference would be 85K.

Wish me luck. I'd love to say I'm tackling it this very minute, but alas there is housework to be done. Drat.

Write on, my friends.

Voice, voices, and (who's talking to me?)

2010-02-16T07:23:00.001-07:00

So we talked about sex in YA, which turned out to be a lively discussion. And then I hinted several times at a discussion about voice. With all that set-up, I'm feeling the pressure to put out an over-the-top post.

I'll do my best.

Voice.

(clears throat) I mean, (stretches fingers)

If you spend any time on the publishing blogs, you'll invariably come across the mention of voice. Someone's got it. We all want it. Agents love it. Publishers can't get enough. The ever-elusive Voice.

Oftentimes, I think discussions of voice get confusing. This is because, to me, people aren't always talking about the same thing.

Voice, in the truest sense of the word, is YOU. It's how you put words and thoughts together on the page. It's all your beliefs, your dreams, your hopes. You come across on the page differently than I do. Just as you speak differently than I do.

I think where we fall short is that we hold back. You can't hold back! We have to push ourselves to a limit we didn't know existed, and then we have to push farther. We also have to write. A lot. Voice comes with experience. It takes time to find that unique perspective that lives inside us all. It takes work.

Now for the other "voice."* The Narrator's Voice. To me, this is a different beast. I can make my characters be all sorts of things. My narrator might be chatty, or snarky, or quietly witty. But this is not my voice. This is my character, my creation. My voice comes through her, but her voice is not mine. Her voice is only a small part of what I have created, what I strive to achieve.

I've struggled with Voice. Both kinds. But there's no hunting it down. I think it finds you when you're ready. I've learned to stop searching and just write.

What about you? What are your thoughts on Voice?

*Not to be confused with the voices in your head. That I can't help you with.

Halfway home

2010-02-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

Look at that! Halfway through the month and I've actually managed to post everyday. I admit yesterday's post was a total cop-out, but I'm still counting it. It's a great contest.

Speaking of contests (lest anyone forget), the February Blog Party is going strong. Keep the comments coming to increase your chances to win. And don't forget to spread the word. More new friends/followers means more prizes! Full details in the sidebar ----->

I was all geared up to talk about Voice today, but that's going to have to wait for tomorrow. Look for it bright and early. Hopefully I'll be able to type it. As it is, I'm punching at the keys with all my fingers but only one thumb. During Saturday's yard work extravaganza, one of my rose bushes stabbed my poor thumb knuckle with a thorn. I thought that was the end of it, but since then said thumb has swollen into a sausage.

What is up with that?!

Needless to say, I'm in a bit of pain and poor thumby won't bend. Ugh. The things I manage to do to myself. I'm telling you.

So yeah, lame post again. My apologies, sweets. Tomorrow will be better. Promise.

Maggie Stiefvater's Awesome Linger Contest

2010-02-14T10:15:00.001-07:00

Friends of the blog! I have a contest for you. Check out the details below. ARCs people! Go now.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

Short Saturday Post

2010-02-13T14:18:00.006-07:00

Weekends are tough. Here it is already 2:30 and it just occurred to me I hadn't posted. But...I just got back from Barnes and Noble. Thing 1 had earned a lunch out for good behavior, so we headed to Tommy Bahamas after Thing 2's soccer game. Then it was on to the bookstore. My boys are just like me, in love with books.

I'd say we enjoyed a good hour soaking up the bookish atmosphere before heading home (with several in tow). All in all, a good day.

Now, since I seem to be almost recovered from the week-long virus, it's time for some yard work. I know a lot of you are buried in snow right about now, so I won't say what our weather is like. All I'll say is that come July you can all laugh in my face.

Hope you all are having a fantastic Saturday. See you tomorrow.

What haunts you?

2010-02-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

This image haunts me. It speaks to me in ways I cannot understand. Almost like I know the place, have been there before, and yet I know I haven't.

Something waits just beyond the mist. I do not know what. I only know that every ounce of my being wants to go there. I linger on the edge, a dream away from slipping through. I can feel the moisture--the dew on the ferns, the damp in the air. It is so close, and yet so far away.

I'm sure many of you recognize the photo. It is a stock image that came on my laptop. I have a group of them set as my screensaver, which means every so often this image pops up. It stops me every single time. It haunts me.

I think there is a story here. Something wants out of me. I just don't know what it is yet.

Does this ever happen to you? Do images speak to you?

Reading Surprises

2010-02-11T10:09:00.001-07:00

I've been reading a lot lately. Being sick (still!) gives me an excuse to catch up on some reading. Now I have to first say that I love reading. Always have, always will. But lately? I've grown a bit frustrated.

It seems every time I start a new book, I come to a point where I know exactly where the story is going. Or I see straight through a red herring. Or I know the new character being introduced is the villain. Does this happen to you?

I want to be surprised! I want a twist I didn't see coming. I want an ending that shocks me. Can that sill happen for me, or is this a byproduct of being a writer? Do we see the mechanics of the story more readily than other readers?

I do know that reading has changed for me since I started writing. I notice language more. I see flaws where I would have been too absorbed in the story before. It seems these days it takes an extraordinary book to sweep me away. But I so want to be swept!

What do you think?

Marshmallow recipe

2010-02-10T17:33:00.004-07:00

For all interested, the marshmallow recipe I used came from the lovely Smitten Kitchen. Be forewarned. Once you click through, you will be hungry. Guaranteed. Deb does a fabulous job of making and photographing her gorgeous food. I also love her 44-clove garlic soup. Then again, I adore garlic.

Marshmallow recipe

It might seem complicated, but it's really not.
Enjoy!

Marshmallows and rewrites

2010-02-10T12:30:00.002-07:00

I started making marshmallows just before the holidays. I'd bought this over-the-top delish hot chocolate mix, which was pretty much flakes of chocolate, and wanted some marshmallows to go with it.

I never knew you could make marshmallows. You can!

And they are fantastic! Springy and light and so very yummy.

(Excuse the poor lighting in the pic. I must have been overly excited by all that marshmallowy goodness.)

Sometimes I think about those marshmallows when it comes to my writing. Not just that I'd like to be eating them (though I would), but that here was something I thought to be impossible. I assumed marshmallows were this mystery food that could only be purchased. I couldn't make them. I was sure they required sophisticated machinery, skills beyond those I possessed.

Like the marshmallows, I remember making the decision to rewrite Skinwalkers. Honestly, I didn't think I could do it. I was convinced I would have to cut and paste scenes and fill in the blanks. I didn't think I could start from scratch and write the whole thing over. Doing that seemed impossible. How could I get my mind to forget the original story and start fresh?

At first it was hard. The original scenes were as sticky as the marshmallow goop before you sprinkle on the powdered sugar. But then something happened. A new story started to unfold. A better story. The stakes were higher; the characters more alive. And there were new characters. New subplots. I did it, and it's yummy.

As you can guess, I'm reaching the end of this rewrite. My goal is to have the revision finished by the end of the month. I'm ready for my CP to take a look. I'm dying for some feedback because I'm feeling really good about it, and I want to make it even better. It's not quite there yet, but it will be.

I feel like I took a bag of Jet-Puff Marshmallows and improved on them. I made my story new, better. I achieved the impossible.

How about you? What obstacles have you overcome? What yummy things have you made?

Medicine and birthday cakes

2010-02-09T15:15:00.002-07:00

I am amazed at this thing we call medicine. Woke up feeling totally crap, popped some Advil and voila! I was able to not only make it to the parent teacher conference, but speak intelligently. Success. Now it seems to be wearing off and I'm ready for a nap. At least I got the important stuff out of the way.

Thank you all for the get well wishes. You guys are the best! It never ceases to amaze me the outpouring of support and overall friendliness of our online community. Just in case I don't say it enough, thank you. You all rock!

In puppy news, I think he's doubled in size in only 2 weeks! Maybe that's an exaggeration, but not by much. I need to download the new pictures and then I'll let you all be the judge.

On the writing front, I plugged away at the ending a bit. Not the ultimate scene, but some set up. I must say the writing isn't fabulous, but I'm running with the notion that you can't edit a blank page. I must get it written.

On the contest front, you guys are rocking it! I'm a couple days behind on tabulating the entries, but with all your great comments, I know you're racking them up. (New visitors, see sidebar for details. Over there ------------>)

That's about it from my world. It's gearing up to be birthday cake season. Thing 2 has not yet decided what he wants his be. First he said R2-D2. Then Woody from Toy Story. I don't know which would be easier. Last year I made Super Spy from the Backyardigans (for all you parents of young Noggin watchers). Hey, there's an idea.

For your viewing pleasure, I give you...birthday cakes through the years.

My very first attempt at a character cake was Oscar the Grouch. Each balloon was a different flavor cake. One was egg and dairy free. That was the flat one.

Next came Dora. For some reason I used a Dora cake pan. Never again. Freehand is so much easier for me.

After Dora was the Strawberry cake and apple cupcakes. Thing 2 was all about fruit.

Next came Curious George with his wacky eye.

And then it was the year of Cars. First, Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks and The King

Followed shortly by Mack the Truck

Then came Pablo as Super Spy

And finally, Toad.

Somewhere in there I also agreed to make SpongeBob for a friend's son.

And there you have it. Anissa's cakes through the years. I think I've improved over time. The discovery of homemade fondant made things easier. And just so you know, the cakes taste better than they look. I make them with a super light and fluffy whipped cream cake recipe. I use buttercream frosting for the character cakes, but given the choice, I like to frost with whipped cream. Like so: Oh man! Now I'm totally jonesing for cake. May have to whip up a batch of cupcakes. Tomorrow. When I'm well.

See you then!

It's Monday and I'm sick

2010-02-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

I think I'm getting sick, which while it won't preclude me from blogging, might make my posts a wee bit nonsensical. We shall see. For now, I'm hanging tough and drinking tea.

I wanted to point you all to post Natalie Bahm had about endings. Her post really hit home for me. I am all about endings. I love, love, love a good ending. Doesn't have to be uber-happy, but like Natalie says, it does need to wrap things up--at least the majority of things.

I'm at the point in this rewrite/revision (some days I write, some days I revise. It all depends on my level of consciousness) where I need to write the end. It's climax time. Then the denouement. I'm pretty confident with the way I envision the story ending, I just have to write it. And that's the hard part. I want to get it right. I want it to shine. I want it to be the best part of the story, as it should be.

I have encountered this problem with every manuscript I've written. When it comes time to crank out the ending, I pause. And pause. And pause. It's almost like I have to really pump myself up to get it out. Maybe that's it. So far I haven't felt in the right emotional state of mind to get the scene out right. Thankfully, I have other parts of the manuscript to edit.

I can feel the time coming. One of these mornings I'll wake early. I'll let Puppy out to potty and then I'll write. The perfect ending will flow from fingers. I can't wait!

How about you? Do you struggle with endings? If not, what's your secret? I'm all ears.

Super Bowl Sunday, here we come!

2010-02-07T10:01:00.006-07:00

In anticipation of the Super Bowl and all the hilarious new ads (I hope!) I give you...

Bud Light's Clothing Drive!!!

Enjoy it, people!

Edited to add: It seems whenever I post a video my layout makes the comment button invisible. Don't know why. So if you'd like to comment on the hilarity of the commercial, simply click through to the post using the title. Then again, as soon as I post this blogger will make a liar out of me. In which case, carry on.

On TV appearances (yes, we can dream)

2010-02-06T16:42:00.001-07:00

I realized this morning that if I succeed in my quest to blog every day in February, it will exactly match the number of posts I made in all of 2009. Talk about slacking! Sheesh.

So yesterday's writing turned into editing, but hey, I consider it progress. And now, after a full day of soccer and a birthday party (which I forgot and had to run to buy a gift 10 minutes before), I'm home and just want to nap. I wish. That is so not in the cards for me. Puppy needs to run.

OK, now I'm exhausted AND out of breath.

So I have a question for all you writers out there. (And you non-writers too. Pretend you became famous another way) Say it happens. You publish your novel to great success. Bestseller. Fame! Woot! Yay you! Which TV show would you want to appear on? Your choice.

Me? I'm all about Jimmy Kimmel. Yes I know Oprah would do more for the writing career. And really, would being on Kimmel sell even one more of my YA novels? Probably not. But seriously, I love Kimmel. There's just something about that man that does it for me. I would love to sit and have a little banter with him. He would totally rock my world. No contest. He's my choice. How about you? Who would you choose?

Friday, Friday. Also, Day 5

2010-02-05T07:49:00.007-07:00

And so we arrive at Friday, day 5 in the blog every day in February challenge. But a challenge for me means contest for you. Don't forget to comment, and spread the word. Spend my money, people! Full details are in the sidebar over there -------->

I've been having a blast blogging and whirling my way through the blogosphere this week. Thanks for all your great comments. Yesterday's Sex in YA topic had very insightful comments, and I appreciate you each taking the time to weigh in.

Today I'm feeling the urge to write. Blogging and yard work do not get this WIP-pitty revised. Know what I mean?

I still have more questions to answer. Thank you! Please keep them coming. And I have a few topics up my sleeve as well. I want to talk about Voice next week. I write it with a capital V because it's so darn important.

In other exciting news, I won a signed copy of The Naughty List over at Lisa and Laura Write. Thank you, ladies! Can't wait to read it. If you don't know the Roecker sister, you have to check them out. Suzanne Young, too. Girlfriend can do the happy dance like nobody's business.

And before I forget, Kimberly Conway is giving away a vintage copy of Little Women, as well as a cool silver spoon ring. Click over to check it out.

And with that, I will say, "Happy Friday, Peeps!" I'm off to write.

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby...

2010-02-04T13:30:00.001-07:00

Specifically sex in YA novels. Now there's a controversial topic. Right up there with dropping the F-bomb in books for teens. There will always be two sides. I get that. Part of me hovers between the two. The mommy in me wanting to protect children from a reality they'll be living in before they know it; the writer in me needing to tell the truth, to help even one person deal with the crappy stuff that goes on in teen lives. But we can't have it both ways.

Teens are smart. They call bull$*^# faster than you can say, "banned book." Their lives are tough, tougher then my life was at that age. They've had to grow up so fast. Who am I to discount that? To pretend they're not faced with horrific pressure?

I think the first thing we have to do as writers is respect our audience. This isn't just about sex. It's about all sorts of topics: sex, drugs, rape, abuse, suicide. There are books out there addressing it all, telling the truth, helping teens. Call them edgy, call them whatever you want, they exist. They're tackling the hard issues because someone has to. Yeah, a parent would be a good choice in the matter, but the truth is not all teens have involved parents. And not all teens are comfortable discussing these things with their parents. What's wrong with them getting help from a novel? As a writer, can you think of anything more rewarding than knowing you helped a teen through a tough time--through a hard decision? Knowledge is power, people.

Sometimes sex in YA works, and sometimes it's gratuitous and unnecessary. It all depends on the story. To throw a blanket decision over the entire issue is to pretend that all teens are the same. That they're all virgins waiting for that perfect person. Not reality. Not even close.

Honestly, I'm pretty damn surprised by the lack of "other" intimate acts in YA novels. Hello! It's not always the big deed that's going down. (pardon the pun) There are other pressures, other decisions that aren't even being discussed. Is that realistic? I don't think so.

Do I have sex in my current WIP? No. Would I put it in if the story called for it? Absolutely. My goal is to tell the truth. To tell a story in a way that rings true for the characters as well as the readers. Ultimately, that's the only way to earn the elusive teenager respect.

Anyone care to share their thoughts?

Thanks to Carolina Valdez Miller for the question.

Blog Every Day in February - Day 3

2010-02-03T00:01:00.004-07:00

Look at those smiling new faces over there.

<------- Welcome!

I love it! I love meeting new people, and you can be sure I'll be around each of your blogs to say hello.

And as requested...Puppy!

Can't you just read his mind? "What you lookin at?"

So it's day three in my quest to blog everyday in February. Contest is going strong. Details over there ------>

Welcome new friends and old, I am happy to have you here. :) See, happy!

Today's question(s) come from Julie over at A Day in the Wife who hit me with the following: I have so many topics - I want to know if other writers have everyone they know say "OMG, you need to be published!!!" and then you get rejection after rejection from the people who would actually publish you. I want to know if there is actually a market for funny mom writing anymore, or is it too saturated? I want to know how to get the Query Fairy to come to my house and rubber stamp the perfect venue for the pieces I've written on them...is that enough? Oh, and what IS the best party you've ever attended?

Let's tackle these, shall we? Reader participation is always greatly appreciated.

I have to say, most people don't tell me, "OMG, you need to be published!!!" I wish they did. LOL! Alas, I'm not nearly as funny as Julie. Seriously. She cracks the crap out of me with every post. Even her questions are funny, as you can surely see. You should check her out. She says the things we all (well, me at least) are thinking, but are too prude to say. She's funny as hell.

But back to the questions. Like yesterday's word of the day, Patience, today also has a theme. Persistence. I think there is a market for funny mom writing. I think there is a market for everything. Nothing is off limits. It's finding that market, finding that person who can launch your career, who believes in you as a writer. Finding that person? Freaking hard! But don't give up. Julie or any of you. Do. Not. Give. Up. You hear me? Or I will hunt you down! No quitters!

As for the Query Fairy. I think girlfriend left town. Seriously, skipped out. Partying with the Tooth Fairy or Tinkerbell or something. But not to fear! I have a solution. Me! I will be the Fairy. Whee! Anyone wanting a little query critique, feel free to email it to me. I'll post it and we'll discuss in comments (and I'll take it down afterward, if requested). Now realize I'm not agented. I'm not an expert in any way, but I have had pretty good success with the queries I've sent out. Unfortunately, the novels they represented weren't up to snuff, which is why I keep working. ;) The offer stands, if you're interested.

And finally, on to the best party I ever attended. Hmmm. I guess this is where I own up to being totally lame. Not a whole lot of parties happening in my world. The best, I would have to say, was the surprise 30th birthday party hubby threw for me. Super sweet!

And so we come to the end of day 3. Woot! Remember to toss those questions into your comments. Not only do they earn you extra entries, they're fun!

Blog Party Contest! Day 2

2010-02-02T00:01:00.001-07:00

Can I just say that Puppy, ~~little devil that he is~~ in all his cuteness, appears to enjoy seeing me clean up his piddly widdlies. No sooner have I wiped up one puddle and he's back in the kitchen slurping from the water bowl. Stinker. (I'd post another picture, but Blogger's spazzing out on me.)

OK, quick contest recap. For the month of February I'll be posting every day. And if you comment (one entry per day), you get entered into the drawing for an Amazon gift card in the amount equalling the number of new followers that join during February (guaranteed to be at least $50). So spread the word!

Now to today's post, which is brought us by the letters C-H-R-I-S-T-I-N-E

Christine Danek asked: How do you deal with the topic of patience and writing?

Great question, Christine, and one I have quite a bit to speak about.

By now you've all heard that publishing is a slow business. Believe it. If you're simply writing for the joy of putting pen to paper, yay you! Patience is not a virtue you need. But (and it's a big butt), if you have dreams of publication, patience is about the only thing you do need. That and persistence.

First off, writing a novel is hard. Really hard. That's a lot of words. Patience plays a big part here. As much as the dream of publication is whispering sweet nothings in your ear, you must press on. You must finish the manuscript before you even consider testing those query waters. For reals, people. Finish that draft! Don't let the sharks get you!

But wait! What's that you say? You finished? Hooray! A beautiful 500-page first draft is in your hot little hands. Your mind is screaming, "Send! Send! Send!" And somewhere in the blogosphere I'm yelling back. "Nooooooo." Step away from the email. Hands off the agent list. It's not ready yet. You're not ready yet. Now you need patience more than ever. You need it to help you find all the problems within that honking draft. (Or, if you're a sparse writer, you need the patience to fill in the details). Revision, baby! Get to it.

Now you've done it. You polished, you shined, you sent it around the world for critique. Your baby manuscript is all grown up and ready to venture into the big, bad world. Patience, grasshopper. It's time for research. Now you must scour the internet for information on agents who like what you write. You hunt down interviews with agents whose personalities seem compatible. You pseudo-stalk until you have an idea of who might be a good fit. You make a list. And then, with trembling fingers, you send off your (also critiqued) query letter. And guess what you do next.

You wait. And wait. And wait. Meanwhile, you write another novel.

Patience.

It's not something that comes easily to me. I'm a hurry-up-and-get-on-with-it kind of gal. But the quest for publication has taught me there's no hurrying this writing thing. But that's okay because you love it. Right? You have to love it. I'm not kidding. Your love of writing needs to be stronger than your desire to be published. A million times stronger. You have to do it for the love.

Ultimately, patience is key. It takes time to develop your craft. It takes time to write the novel you are meant to write. It all takes time. And patience.

Thanks for the great question, Christine. I look forward to reading the comments (and tallying up your entries to the contest). The accountant in me is drooling at the sight of the Excel spreadsheet I've prepared.

Let's get this party started!

2010-02-01T07:00:00.007-07:00

Here it is! February 1st. Let's start the party. Thank you to all who commented yesterday and offered up your topic suggestions. Keep them coming! I need all the topics I can get. And remember, there's a bonus entry for each topic suggestion. :)

(New visitors, see contest info on the sidebar.) Contest runs the entire month of February! So party with me.

For today's post I thought I'd take a trip down blog memory lane. Back when I first conceived of Anissa Off the Record, I used to start each post with a little blurby thing. Like so:

For the record: I tell people, "Stop by anytime."

Off the record: People who really know me understand that this means, "Give me 2 hours advance notice." Because truth be told, that's about the only time housework gets done.

Now on to your fabulous questions...

Melissa asked: What is your writing schedule like?

I chuckled a little at this one. Not at Melissa, but at myself. I'd love to tell you I'm this uber-Mama who lives and dies by a schedule. Truth is, I'm a big ole mess. Seriously. This revising has kicked my butt so hard I've lost any semblance of a schedule. In the beginning of my writings, I used to get up early and draft for an hour or so. I'd crank out my 1,000 words and be content. No more. I seem to need more sleep as I age. Go figure. So these days I squeeze in editing whenever I can. 30 minutes of Olivia (that silly little pig on Nick Jr.) is a wonderful thing. Plus, I've started to work before bed. Sleepy brain isn't ideal, but I've found I can revise through it. New words? Not a chance, but right now I'm all about revision. Still. Endless revision.

Great question, Melissa. Thanks! Now I'll make it easy for you to comment by asking my own question. How do you find time to write? What tricks have you learned to squeeze it into your tight schedules?

There you have it, folks. Welcome to the party! And remember, every comment gets you an entry into the contest. Details to the right. ----->

It's a Blog Party!!!

2010-01-31T12:40:00.001-07:00

OK, friends of the blog, it's time for a party!

I'm declaring a February Blog Party here at Anissa Off the Record. And what kind of party would it be without a contest? Hmmm?

Here's the dealio:

For the month of February, I will post every day. You hear that? EVERY day. We're kicking my blogging butt back into gear!

And now for the contest details...

The Prize:

The prize will be an online Amazon gift card with a minimum value of $50. But here's the fun part, the value of the card can go up and up and up. As of today, the follower count is 76. For every NEW follower to the blog in the month of February, I will add $1 to the prize pot. (Though I will guarantee the prize to be $50 even if we don't get 50 new followers.)

How to Enter:

Every comment will earn an entry to the contest (one per day). If you're a follower, let me know in your first comment and that will earn you an extra 5 entries. New followers will get 5 entries as well. So if you comment every day, you'll earn 28 entries plus 5 if you follow. But wait! There's more. If, in your daily comment, you ask a question or suggest a blog topic, I'll give you an extra entry. (Hey, I'll be blogging every day. I need all the help I can get.)

I'm not requiring you to post the contest anywhere, BUT, if you do and it brings new followers to the blog, the prize gets bigger. Bigger! Better!

If, during the month we hit 100 followers, I'll add a second prize. If we hit 200, a third prize. And so on.

Sound fun? I think so. Now it's up to you guys to see how much money I'll be spending at the end of the month. Spread the word! I love to see new faces around the blog. :)

That said, I'll be seeing you all tomorrow. Hooray!

So long January...

2010-01-30T16:25:00.003-07:00

It's been a crazy month. A birthday, a new puppy, and tons of other time-devouring things have propelled me through the month so quickly I hardly realized 2010 had begun. But I'm back with a vengeance.

Stay tuned tomorrow for an announcement. Fun times to come, people! I'm just saying. :) Until then, I will leave you with the cutest little pup to have entered our life in a long time.

Behold the adorableness...

A chocolate question...hooray!

2010-01-18T19:53:00.008-07:00

Big thanks to Terresa who asked a question in the comments of the last post and thereby inspired this blog post.

Herewith, the question:

What is your favorite kind of chocolate?

Ah, chocolate, I love thee so. But to choose a favorite. Just one? Easier to say I what I don't like. Don't you think?

That would be orange chocolate, compliments of the Brits. It has never appealed to me or my taste buds. I think perhaps I'm anti fruity (anti fruity! *snort*) chocolate in general. No raspberry sauce on my chocolate cake, thank you very much. No chocolate-covered cherries or blueberries or raisins. Keep your fruit away from my chocolate! (No offense to the fruit, which I love in an altogether different way) Although a fresh, plump chocolate-covered strawberry is guaranteed to make me swoon.

So, in fact, I have no hard rules against chocolate. Give me dark, milk, caramel-filled, almond-studded, I'll take it all as long as it's the good stuff. What can I say? I'm equal opportunity that way.

Now, if forced to choose just one type of chocolate to consume for the rest of my life, I would have to say...Godiva. Cheating, I know, to choose a brand. What with all the variety. But really. Could you choose?

And there you have it. The answer to it all. Who knew I had so much to say about chocolate.
Fair warning: Don't even get me started on beans.

How it is

2010-01-13T21:40:00.003-07:00

Here's the deal. I seem to have forgotten how to blog. Pretty pathetic, right? I mean, hello? Writer here. And yet...no.

Every day I think to myself, "Self" (which is indeed what I call myself. Original, don't you think?) Anyway, I say, "Self, today you need to blog. And then Self says, "buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

Self sucks. Self has no idea what to blog about. Self has lost her blogitude.

When I first started the blog (back in the day), I could crank out a post no problem. I was queen of this here blog, and nobody said any different*! Check the archives. There's proof in them there numbers. But then one day, poof! Gone.

I lost the funny.

When did life get so damn serious? Seriously? *snort* I'm tired of the funk.

So I'm on the lookout for some good blog topics. I'm determined to kick Self's lackadaisical butt into gear. I want to talk about writing. I want to talk about querying. I want to talk about funny shit, and even not so funny shit. Cause, sometimes, shit's funny. Though oftentimes it's just, well, shitty.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. This is how it is. But not for long. I'm feeling the urge to kick it up a notch. Stay tuned.

And if any of you have any burning questions for me, give a yell. I'm all about giving you what you want.

*A nod to Mean Jean, the Recess Queen for anyone wondering. Love the book. Love it!

Ah, the joys of being a boy

2010-01-07T21:15:00.002-07:00

Thing 2 had an annual check-up today. He's big and healthy and looking like he'll be over 6'0 as an adult. When he heard this news, he promptly turned to me and said, "When I'm big, I'm gonna carry Mama around the house."

Bring it on. Mama could use the break. LOL!

Then the doctor informed us they needed a urine sample. He handed Thing 2 the cup.

"Think you can pee in this? It's kind of like a game," Doc said.

"Oh, I don't know," I said. "He went just before we left the house."

Thing 2's eyes perked. "I wanna play the pee in the cup game!"

And so we did.

Boys have it so easy. Let's just hope the game doesn't reconvene at home anytime soon.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T09:19:00.004-07:00

Having welcomed 2010 in style (hey, my pajamas are stylish!), I'm back to dispense some writing tips.

Actually...

I think Jackson Pearce already did a phenomenal job with that. Proof below.

So instead, I will dispense laundry tips.

1. Do not wait until the words, "I have no clean underwear," are spoken.
2. Do not wash, dry and throw load after load onto the love seat. Said seat will no longer look lovely, nor will it fold said laundry.
3. Do not say, "I'll put it away after I clean out all the closets." Just don't.
4. Do not pretend the pile of clean laundry will all be wearable. The wrinkled look went out of fashion with the invention of the iron. Just know laundry laziness will lead to more laundry.
5. It's a vicious cycle. Damn clean clothes. Suck it up. (#5 is my tip to myself, feel free to ignore.)

Happy New Year, my sweets.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T21:30:00.004-07:00

I'm signing off until after Christmas. The cookies (and cakes, and caramels, and pies) are baked, the presents are wrapped, the house is...lived-in, and I'm calling it good.

I hope all of you, my blog buddies, have a fabulous holiday. I'm planning to unplug and just enjoy the merriment. As well as the baked goods.

So Merry Christmas to all! I'll see you on the flip side.

Holiday schedules

2009-12-14T07:03:00.003-07:00

I'm convinced I won't be able to post anything coherent until after the first of the year. Somehow the days keep getting away from me and before I know it, another action-packed week has gone by.

Still, I'll try.

Thank you all for the suggestions on instilling emotion. I'm reading your links and suggestions in the hope that once the holidays chill out, I'll be able to complete this endless revision.

I've decided to write down my writing goals for 2010. First on the list, finish Skinwalkers. It's time. I feel as though I've been writing this story forever, though in reality it hasn't been all that long. And shorter still if I take into account it became an entirely new story this year. So maybe I'm not so off schedule. It feels like it though.

In other news, I'm a gift and a box of chocolates away from having my Christmas shopping complete. All I can say is I think I'm personally keeping UPS in business this year. Me alone. Amazon Prime is a wondrous thing, I'm telling you.

Lots of books going out as gifts. If nothing else, the recipients know how fond I am of the written word. And what better way to support fellow writers and the industry than to give books? So there it is.

Writing is slow. A tweak here, a new plot point there. I'm curious to see if it all jives together when the time comes to read it from start to finish. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my subconscious has been hard at work even when I'm not. Hey, a girl can dream can't she?

So how are you all? Big holiday plans? Are you ready? Share, share, share. Please.

A little wave

2009-12-06T12:38:00.003-07:00

Sheesh! Give myself a week off for Thanksgiving and what happens? I totally fall off the blog-wagon. My apologies, dearies, but never fear. I'm back.

Will commence visiting all your lovely blogs immediately. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Instilling Emotion

2009-11-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about emotions lately. Not so much in real life as in fiction. More specifically, my fiction. I don't think I have enough. There's a lot at stake for my MC, but I don't think I've given her enough room to feel it all.

I've come to the conclusion that emotion will be next on my steps toward a finished product. Right now I need to finish this round of revisions, get the plot in order. Even though I've written this story before, I feel so much like I'm in the first draft. I guess I'll call it draft 1.1, and hope next round will feel like a 2. It seems there is such a long road ahead, but I'll get there.

Back to emotions. I want to make my reader cry. Laugh too, if only once. So all you writers out there. Any thoughts on dragging the emotion out of myself? Any suggested readings? My ears are open. I'm ready to learn.

Dude, I want chickens!

2009-11-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

I think I was meant to live on a farm. Seriously. I've always wanted chickens, and now I see the trend is growing.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-11-09-urbanchickens09_ST_N.htm

But I can almost guarantee my lame-asterisk neighbors would throw a hissy. And city code says I have to have their written permission. Never mind that their dog barks like a maniac all hours of the night. (Don't get me wrong, I love dogs. But come on, stop the crazy yappin.)

I'm almost tempted to just do it. But knowing my luck, I'd get the world's loudest hen and the secret would be out. Though don't you love the feathered feet?

How about you? Wanna buy a chicken?

And the word count keeps growing and growing...

2009-11-10T14:56:00.004-07:00

.

I should rename NaNoReVisMo, NaNoAddWordsMo. Seriously. Current count comes in at a whopping 88,439.

88 freaking* thousand words. In a YA novel. Holy verbosity, Batman!

But I'm not done yet. Oh no. I'm only 1/3 of the way (not even) through the novel in this round of revisions. I'm in the 'beefing up the story; making sure everything makes sense; hello, ever heard of a transition' part of my revision process, which means one thing. More words to come.

Criminy*. After this I'm going to have to spend a month cutting.

And then, you know, rinse and repeat.

Where will it end?

*Keeping it PG, don't ya know.

NaNoRevisMo

2009-11-08T08:45:00.003-07:00

So NaNoRevisMo is going strong...when I actually get to sit down for a chunk of time and immerse myself in the story. See, I'm still at the stage where I'm tweaking the heart of the story. Of course there are times when I can't resist doing a few line edits, but for the most part I'm focusing on getting the story flowing correctly. Pacing is a big issue for me right now.

I've come to the realization that different stages of revision require different amounts of brainpower. I can line edit in the middle of the living room while Thing 1 drives trucks across the wood floor and Thing 2 goes to town on the Wii. But when it comes to smoothing the story, to adding in missing details and clues, I need quiet. And I need a chunk of time. My brain just can't immerse itself in the story when one eye is constantly on alert for a sibling scuffle.

So I'm squeezing in the edits where I can. An hour here another hour there. It would be nice if I didn't need so much sleep! I can draft in the early morning hours because my sleepy mind just lets the story flow. This revision requires analysis, and an alert brain. So sleep, at least for me, is a must.

I have to admit there are times when I just want to throw the whole thing out and start something new. It's that seductive lure of a new story. But what a waste of two years that would be. And really, no story gets to the end without massive revisions. So really I'd just be delaying the inevitable. So I persevere. I'll get to "The End" one of these days, and so will all you. See you guys on the other side. :)

Write on!

Holli's Ramblings

2009-11-04T18:00:00.003-07:00

I'm all over the place these days. There never seems to be enough time. And yet I always take a portion of my day to click through the blogs I follow. I may not always comment, but I always read. One blog in particular really grounded me this afternoon.

If you have not ventured over to Holli's Ramblings, I suggest you do so today. Her post on African missionaries stopped me cold, made me think about my own life--what's important.

http://hollisramblings.blogspot.com/2009/11/modern-mission.html

So often we stress over trivial things, we get bogged down in stuff. We forget the suffering that goes on in the world, because it's not our world. Not today.

I may never see Africa, may never set foot on her parched piece of this Earth, but I think of her struggles when I read Holli's words. And I remember. And I hope.

Hello, 1950s!

2009-11-04T12:31:00.003-07:00

I am in love with this dress. A fellow blogger (PJ over at Seens from the back of my eyelids) had a post up today with some great Christmas present ideas from a place called etsy. Maybe I'm living in a bubble, but I'd never heard of it. Me, not knowing an online store? How can it be???

Headed right over, of course. And look what I found. 1950s Love.

You can get the full experience here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33737811

But if you buy it, you have to send me a pic of you wearing it. Consider it my finders fee.

Sometimes I wonder if I was born into the wrong time...

No NaNo here.

2009-11-02T11:00:00.003-07:00

Every November the NaNo posts start popping up around the blogosphere and I find myself going through fits of hair-tearing jealousy. Of course, I could push my revision aside and start a new story. Oh, the joys of a new story! Ah...just thinking about it makes me flushed with happiness.

No. You hear me, brain? No, no, no!

It seems every November I'm revising. My timing must just be off. But, I can't give up on this story. I have to see it to the end. So I've decided that this November I'm going to take motivation from all the NaNo word count meters and bust my butt with revisions. If I could finish by the end of the month I'd be ecstatic. Ecstatic I say!

So, go go go all you Nanoers. I'm rooting for you, even if I can't officially join you. :)

Time flies and all that

2009-10-28T08:36:00.003-07:00

Three days until my company leaves. Then Halloween. November 1st my time will be my own again until Thanksgiving. I should do NaNo just to give myself that kick in the pants I always lack once I get the house back in order.

I always forget how much company wears me out. There's just another dimension there, the entertaining even when just hanging out. Last night I went to bed when the boys did. Today I'm feeling much more refreshed.

Writing suffers during visiting time. I try to sneak away and crank out some edits, but my head just isn't in it. So I read. Just finished Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. If you haven't read it, and you write YA, go get it. Becca did a fabulous job building and maintaining tension throughout. I loved it!

Reading from Nora's POV in Hush, Hush got me to thinking about my MC, Cara. All along I've been feeling a little removed from her. She's closed off by nature, but as the writer, she just shouldn't be this closed off to me. I realized last night what the problem is. At times, I'm fully there, with her. But at other times, I'm not in her head. I'm only behind her eyes. And while you can tell a story that way, the depth just isn't there. I don't want to just see what she sees. I want to feel it, live the story with her. Add that to my editorial letter. :)

It's always good to recognize where your writing is lacking. It makes me feel like I'm growing as a writer. If you can't see the mistakes, you can't fix them. This I can fix. It's certainly not going to be easy, but it will be worthwhile. Which brings me back to reading.

I think as writers we (at least I do at times) push aside the reading to work on our own stories. And yes, absolutely that's important. But so is reading. Reading a good book is motivating on so many levels. It isn't just for entertainment. Reading teaches us what works, what doesn't, and everything in between. I forget that sometimes in the push to finish a round of revisions.

So in a way, my company helped me to recognize a flaw in the telling of my story. My character can be stronger, and now that I know the problem. November will be all about fixing it.

I'll get back to the revision post shortly, but wanted to share the revelation. Read, read, read, there's a reason we love it so much.

Company

2009-10-22T19:57:00.002-07:00

Company has descended on my household. Translation: part two of my revision post does not yet exist. After fixing dinner and cleaning up all the dishes (in the same night, imagine! Cause you know my chores are never neglected or anything. *snort*), I'm pooped. So look for the post tomorrow. Now it's bath time for Thing 1 and Thing 2. Then bed for all.

Nighty night.

How I Revise (in parts)

2009-10-20T21:47:00.007-07:00

I thought it might be interesting--and timely--to talk about the revision process. The point being, my process might be entirely different from yours, and if that's the case, we might all learn a few things. Here goes...

So you have a rough draft. Hooray! Totally not being sarcastic here. Do you know how many people start novels and never finish? That first draft puts you leaps and bounds above the masses. Give yourself a pat on the back. Done? Good. Now the real work begins.

I love writing first drafts. The creating, watching the story emerge, getting to know the characters, I love it all. Revision, not so much. But...and it's a big but, it's what you do after you finish that rough draft that makes the novel sing.

For me, the first thing I like to do is make a list of all the things I know will need to be changed in future drafts. Call it my editorial letter to myself. In this letter I include everything I can think of that will need to be accomplished in edits. Big, small, astronomical, it all goes in. My current letter is five pages long, but hey, I figure when the time comes, my real editorial letter won't feel so overwhelming. I'll have had a lot of practice by then.

Examples from my letter:

Bring the setting to life. The reader needs to feel it, needs to know what it's like to live on the Rez.

Make sure Cara's character arc is a reflection of her emotional journey. Don't lose sight of the inner journey once the s*&t hits the fan.

Beef up the ____ subplot, it disappears for too long.*

What is the ____'s motivation? Convey that.*

So with the first round of revisions, I like to tackle the big things. As hard as it is, I don't allow myself to fiddle with words, smooth sentences or otherwise polish. Big picture first. Why polish a chapter that could very well end up cut?

Okay, so you've got yourself a second draft. You've incorporated all the big things you had on your list. Character arcs are arcing, subplots are flowing, nobody disappears for half the book. Good. Do a little dance, it's time for a new draft.

By now, your words are stuck in your head like a certain Vanilla Ice song. You're too close to it. Here's my advice: Step away from the manuscript. Seriously. Step. Away. Couple weeks should do it. I'll be the first to admit this is tough. All that work you've completed makes you want to push on to the end. Don't. Trust me. A little distance will work wonders for the next phase. You're going to need all that freshness to catch the nasty little writing crutches that have slipped through your tired little brain.

Tune in tomorrow for part two.

*Names withheld to keep my CP in the dark. (mwa-ha-ha-ha)

First paragraphs

2009-10-15T12:04:00.002-07:00

I did it. For years I've enjoyed Nathan Bransford's blog and contests, but have never had the guts to enter. Until now.

I tucked my nerves away and did it. I'm one of over 2000. Poor man will have permanent blurred vision by the time he's finished reading them all.

So there you go. The contest is open until 4PM (Pacific time) today if there's anyone out there who hasn't yet entered. And if you're reading this, let me know if you enter. I'd love to check out your opening. I'm number 1601.

Yay.

Author bios

2009-10-13T19:54:00.003-07:00

I love author bios, especially when they're humorous. How fun is it to learn that ______ was ___________, or ___________ was _____________? Typically, I read these facts and chuckle. Of course, I also assume them to be true. Then again, I assume most things to be true, which has not always been the best thing for me. People, it seems, lie.

Anyway, lately I've been having thoughts about author bios. Not mine personally (ha! I try not to get ahead of myself), but as they relate to me. My life, it seems, has been fairly normal. And that appears to be a downfall. That's not to say I haven't had interesting experiences, haven't known unusual people. My ________ is full. Well, full enough for me. I just haven't ________, or ________. Odd jobs don't fill my resume. Nor crazy experiences my repertoire. Does this hurt my writing? Are such crazy histories necessary to write entertaining fiction?

Honestly, I don't think so. But the more I think about it, the more I realize all of us have crazy experiences. It's all about how we market them. I don't think about the time I got lost in Amsterdam at the age of 11 as a significant life event. But it is a good story, and maybe that's the point. The bio, like the novel, is meant to entertain. Because really, who cares that I spent years as a bean counter when they can know I once peed my pants at the World Series. (Did I seriously just type that?)

All things to consider. Yeah it's a long way down the road. But as you reflect on your own crazy life, maybe there's a seed there that will inspire you. It might not make it into your author bio, it might just make it into your novel. And what could be better than that?

Riding the beach towel

2009-10-09T15:55:00.004-07:00

Thing 1 and Thing 2 have discovered the joys of riding a beach towel through the house. We have laminate wood floors throughout, which makes the perfect surface for their towel surfing. Hours of entertainment, I'm telling you.

I've been watching the phenomenon from the couch, surrounded by the plethora of toys they have chosen to ignore in favor of a beach towel.

This is a lesson for me, as a mother and a writer.

1. My children do not need so many toys. (Now there's a revelation. *snort*)

2. I can fiddle with words, craft lyrical sentences and elaborate metaphors, but sometimes all the fancy stuff just gets in the way. Sometimes all the story needs is a simple truth, an uncomplicated sentence. Sometimes, I need to push all the rules aside and ride the beach towel.

And sometimes I need to step away from the computer and ride along with them.

I'm off!

I have a squirrel

2009-08-31T13:19:00.002-07:00

And I couldn't be more excited!

Yesterday, while hunkered down in my bedroom with the laptop (dodging Thing 1 and Thing 2, don't ya know), I spotted what I thought was a very large bird hanging out under the pomegranate tree. Never one to ignore a distraction, I jumped off the bed and peered through the glass.

Say what?! A squirrel?

Now, I know to many of you this would not be cause for celebration, or even pause. But I live in the desert. In a city in the desert. Squirrels just aren't part of the habitat unless they're little burrowing ground squirrels. And I don't see many of those except at the zoo.

Anyway, ole squirrely hung out for a while nibbing on a couple pomegranates that had cracked open from the heat. I've been watching for him today, but he's laying low. Can't give the fans too much too soon. But I have my camera ready. When he comes back, I'll post a pic.

Happy Monday,

Your squirrel-loving blogger.

Summer Recap

2009-08-26T16:58:00.003-07:00

So school started, which is my world mean the end of summer. Not the end of the heat, mind you. No,Thing 2 and I get the privilege--the joy!--of hoofing it to school twice a day to drop off and then pick up Thing 1. In 110 degree heat, I might add. But I shall not complain. The boy loves kindergarten. That's all I can ask for.

So to recap my summer, numerically...

Number of children taught to swim: 2 (Who knew I was raising fish)

Number of teeth lost: 2 (Thing 1, not me. Whew.)

Number of vacations taken: 1 (Oh, San Diego...why do you tease me so?)

Number of words written: Um... (No, seriously, I wrote. I just don't really keep track of individual counts. It's just one big file that grows and grows and grows)

But I'm back now. And I have a kindergartner. How did that happen? Where did the time go? We had a great summer together. I wrote when I could and did an awful lot of playing. And swimming. Did I mention the fish? Crazy!

I'm estimating I have 10K words left until this new version of Skin is finished. This draft, at least. I'd never tackled a rewrite before. Honestly, I don't think what I used to call revision really qualified to bear the word. Now I know. Boy do I know. There is still a lot of work to be done, a lot of tweaks to be made, but I'm up for it. I'm excited. The story is much improved. By the time I'm finished, it's going to sing.

But, it hasn't made me cry yet. There's still the climax to look forward to though. Otherwise, it's back to page one to ramp up the emotion even more.

And there you have it, my summer in a nutshell. Stay tuned tomorrow for the story of the lost tooth. Maybe I can make you laugh. :)

Write on, my friends.

On revising...

2009-05-16T08:36:00.002-07:00

I've been a bit mute lately with regard to the writing. I used to blather on about status and such, but suddenly it feels like I have nothing to say. All my writing-related energy is being poured into the revision. Well, trickled in, maybe--drip by drip.

Can I just say...Writing is hard. This is a revelation for me. I used to just sit down and pound out words. Whatever came to mind. The story would just flow from my fingers and when I ran out of time, I'd save and come back the next day. Now, not so much.

Rewriting is another animal completely. For every three scenes I write, at least one gets deleted. Sometimes all three. There are decisions to be made daily, hourly even. Where do I want to take the story? Am I telling the truth? I sometime feel myself holding back, afraid to offend. That has to stop. In real life I do my best not to offend. But in the writing, I have to remind myself that truth is key. I can't pull any punches.

I hope this somehow signifies growth. The choices representing my writing mind expanding to see alternatives to every action within the story. Otherwise, I might just lose my marbles. Either way, I will finish. The story deserves that.

Skin is already better than it was. I know this. I also know it can still be improved. And that's just the first 40K words that I've already rewritten. Here's hoping the last half of the story comes pounding out of me.

I want it to take my breath away. I want it to make me cry. And not out of frustration. I want to give this little story wings.

Now back to it.

Any Kindle users out there?

2009-05-11T15:56:00.004-07:00

I totally understand now. I remember reading about the Kindle and thinking, "Sounds pretty cool, but how can the screen look like paper?"

I understand.

Wow.

The boys in my life totally tricked me, planting fake clues and slip-ups. "Mama, would you like a red notebook for Mothers' Day?" Followed by, "Oops, it's a secret."

Little connivers. :)

So Kindle 2 now lives in a red leather case and I'm loving it. But let me tell you...dangerous. One click and POOF! new book. Scary dangerous. I'm half through The Graveyard Book as I type.

So yes, I'm a spoiled Mommy. Now I just need to get my own WIP on there so I'm completely portable. Yay!

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the mamas in the house.

Sleep, glorious sleep

2009-04-27T20:03:00.003-07:00

I have to tell you--I think I'm turning back into a teenager. How such a thing is possible? I do not know. Maybe it's the fact that I am in the midst of an angst-inducing rewrite of the YA novel I've been dreaming about for years. Or maybe it's the fact that all new novels to enter my home are geared at an audience 18 and under. Either way, it seems the teenager in me has reared her head. Or...not so much reared, more like collapsed--right onto that fluffy down pillow. I can not (do you hear me?) CAN NOT seem to get enough sleep. Ever.

If I sleep 8 hours, I think to myself, "Self, today you will write when the wee child is napping." And self responds, "Oh yes, you are so right. Today we write."

Skip ahead 5-6 hours. The conversation goes more like this:

"Self?"
Snore
Yawn. "Um...self?"
Snore
"Oh, why not." snore

In an effort to fool ole self, I have tried the old 5Am rise and shine maneuver. Get up early, nap later. Used to work. I love to write in the AM. It is by far my most creative time. So the alarm blares and what do you know?

Twack! Old Self is not fooled. I smack that alarm clock into submission, only rising when the wee lad starts his morning hollering.

You see, sleep calls to me. It beacons. When I wake in the morning, my first thought is when I can sleep again. Sick, I know.

I think it's my house. I think my walls are stuffed with sleepy-time tea or something.

So excuse the yawns and the unintelligible comments that may show up on your blogs. You never know, I just might be sleep-blogging.

Nighty-night.

This gives me goosebumps

2009-04-15T10:52:00.004-07:00

Youtube has disabled embedding, but this is definitely worth the click.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

Absolutely stunning. I am so very inspired by her. Just the motivation I needed today.

Enjoy, and...

Dream big!

Rewriting, it's like writing. Right?

2009-04-02T06:59:00.002-07:00

Ha! I never imagined this rewrite would be so difficult. Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect it to be easy, but changing the story has turned out to be a giant puzzle. I'm still not sure I have all the pieces.

I started off quick, burning through 1K words a day, sometimes more. That lasted for 25 days. Exactly. Then I got stuck. The story wouldn't go on. So I stopped. Recollected. Rethought. And started over, again.

Now I'm back at 30K, and a part of me is afraid that this is just the point in the story where I'm destined to struggle. But I'm okay with struggling, as long as the story moves forward. Funny thing, I'm staring at the same scene as before. Maybe it's the problem.

This is a pivotal scene in one of the subplots. I think that's what's hanging me up. But I've learned not to push through unless I'm sure what's next. So it'll be a day or two of heavy thinking. The plot board might even be in order. ;)

So that's it in a nutshell. My writing thus far this year. Slow going, but ultimately worth it. (I hope.) I must say, I'm loving the new direction of the story.

Write on, friends!

Two months

2009-04-01T07:46:00.002-07:00

Two months of no posts. I'd have to say I have not managed to drag myself out of my blog malaise. I think about posting, then don't. I read all your feeds via bloglines, but forget to head over and comment. My brain is stuck inside my novel and I pretty much feel like I don't have anything else to say once I pull myself back into the real world.

I will try harder. But be forewarned. I may bore the life out of you.

Lost is Back

2009-01-22T14:17:00.002-07:00

DUDE! It's so good. I love it. I can't wait for next week, and the next, and the next.

Love. Ah.

As storytellers go, these dudes are awesome.

A little anatomy lesson

2009-01-14T20:34:00.002-07:00

I had to take the car into the shop today. Fun, fun. The little man came along. All went according to plan until it was time to leave.

Suddenly, sweet little child of mine felt the need to do a little sharing with the service advisor.

"Mama don't have penis."

Good Lord. How do you respond to that? Is there an appropriate comeback?

The poor man just stared. I shrugged, stuck a complimentary cookie in the offending mouth. Finally, words seemed necessary. I shrugged again. "I'm the only girl in the house."

I don't think the man said another word. Stunned into silence by a two-year-old. All I can hope is that he misunderstood the critical word. Coming from the mouth of my babe, it does tend to sound like peanuts.

Flirting with present tense

2009-01-04T10:25:00.001-07:00

The rewrite has hit a snag. False starts have sucked thousands of words from me. I’m not capturing enough of my main character. I want to feel her in the words, to know I’m doing her story justice and not just reciting events.

Each time I feel like I’m close, it stalls. I turn back to earlier drafts and wonder if I can replicate their power. But I don’t want to copy what has already been written. I want to write it fresh. Better. Ratchet up the intensity.

When I feel her voice coming through me it inevitably comes out in the present tense. Not surprising as I like to let myself go, as though she is speaking to me in my head.

Present tense. I've struggled with this in the past. Have put aside story ideas because they refused to emerge in anything but the present tense. Not that I have anything against the present. I've actually grown accustomed to it in my devouring of the young adult genre. But I’m not sure I can pull it off over an entire novel. And there is nothing worse than poorly executed present tense.

Ugh. I’m struggling here. I have a couple different starts that could work. They’re so similar anyone else would hardly notice the difference. But my new philosophy of making every word count is keeping me from choosing and moving on.

One is present. One is past. Which to choose?

Part of me thinks I should run with the present tense. Give it a go. It could add intensity and urgency to the story. It could raise the stakes. We’re talking a thriller after all. But I still hesitate. It’s outside my comfort zone.

Okay, I’m getting back to it. I’ll give past tense one more shot. If it can’t hold my interest, I’ll have a go at present.

Any thoughts? Advice? Forehead smacks? I’m all ears.

2009

2009-01-02T20:10:00.002-07:00

A new year. Holy crap! Sneaks up on me every December. I wish I could say that with the new year I was starting a new book, but alas it is not so. But don't feel too sorry for me. I am about to tackle a major rewrite of Skin. So in a way, it is a new book.

I've been thinking through the plot for the past month. No writing, just thinking. The past few days have been filled with note cards. Plot points here, plot points there. Heck, I have plot points everywhere! But it has been good. I'm excited. I'm streamlining the main plot and cutting out a couple of the subplots that didn't add enough to the story. The great thing about that is they were my least favorite parts to write. So now I get to put in a ton of new scenes about the story I really want to tell. (If I'd only known it in the beginning.)

Now this does mean a significant amount of research, but I think I'm up for it. It's a new year and all. And...I just took a trip to the area I'm writing about so the setting is fresh in my mind and on my camera. Hooray!

So that's what I'm looking forward to in the coming months. Now I just need to get back in the habit of rising before the sun to write in peace. Oh I'm going to miss that sleep. ;)

I'm not really one for resolutions, never have been. But I will venture one out there. I will post to the blog MUCH more frequently than last year. Yes, I know, I am a blog-slacker. My apologies to the two of you who faithfully check in on me. (waves) I'm glad to have you. So look forward to more to come. Some writing stuff, some random stuff, and some other things I have yet to discover.

Until then.

Ciao!

On swollen tongues and Christmas songs

2008-12-04T12:35:00.002-07:00

Sick again, hippity hop. Sick again, when will it stop?

Ha. Just felt like a rhyme.

So here's the deal. If a doctor asks you if you're allergic to a medication, which you have never taken, how are you supposed to respond. Um, I don't know. That's pretty much what I said. Thankfully, having been asked the question, I was a little more alert to my body when I did down the massive horse pill.

Um...huh, what's this feeling in my throat? Probably the cold. Drainage. You know, all the fun stuff of being sick.

So there I sat, feeling a little bit weird, just 30 minutes post pill. Up from the couch I hopped, into the bathroom I trotted. What do you know? I don't think a tongue is supposed to be that fat. Oops.

But really, how often do you look at your tongue? Me? Rarely. So I sat and studied mine until finally convinced the big fat lumpy sausage was not my normal tongue.

Calls to the pharmacist ensued. Benadryl was ingested. All is well.

Except my tongue is still freaking huge!

Let's hope that goes away lest I henceforth be known as the woman whose tongue was too big for her mouth.

In other news, years ago we received one of those singing stuffed things Hallmark sells each year. This one, a snowman and his puppy, sings Jingle Bells. The dog sings along, while wagging his tail. I hadn't thought much about it until this morning when the little man started to sing.

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way....woof woof woof, woof woof, woof woof, woof woof woof woof woof woof woof."

Time for Mama to break out the Christmas music. :)

Happy day, all!

Super speedy!

2008-11-20T16:03:00.003-07:00

I just had to share. Now, I'm the first to admit I'm not the most technical person when it comes to computers. I love them. I use them. I make them do my bidding. But when it comes to their insides and all that, yeah, not so savvy.

But...

I just upgraded my memory. All. By. Myself.

Ha!

Just call me super speedy! Yee-haw, watch me fly now...

Poor little baby laptop was totally stifled with by its piddly memory. Went from 1GB to 2.5GB. I thought I'd be going from 1 to 3, but had a surprise when I opened her up. Two 512s instead of the 1GB I anticipated. No worries. And yet, I'm wondering whether to order another 2GB and really see what she can do. Might fry the poor thing's brains. ;) Best not to push my luck. The whole static thing kind of freaked me out.

Anyway, that's it. Carry on.

Bit by the bug

2008-11-14T20:25:00.002-07:00

The Christmas bug, that is. My poor boys, I'm sure they're expecting Christmas to happen any day now.

I booked Polar Express tickets. The Grand Canyon Railroad does this whole Polar Express trip to the "North Pole" where Santa comes on board. I've always wanted to do it, but have been waiting for the little monster to have an interest. And, well, now he does. LOL! Non stop.

So then I got all into the idea of having a Polar Express train for under the tree. It will be arriving next week.

Then it seemed only fitting to start the Christmas shopping (online, of course). The poor UPS man's going to get a hernia. But I'm finished with my boys (and nieces and nephews, whew). Now I just have to hide these gifts better than I did the new basketball hoop which Thing 2 discovered last night. Oops. He sure is enjoying it though.

Oh, and I have to make sure no one changes their mind before the big day. Oh boy.

Ostrich syndrome

2008-11-07T08:04:00.003-07:00

So here's how it goes...ignore the blog long enough and it breaks. Wonder what to do, which new template to pick, essentially ignore the problem, and what do you know? Problem resolved! Ha! Score one for the procrastinator in me.

Otherwise, I've got nothing. Well, I do have a houseful of company arriving. Joy.

Now I will comment around blogtown today. I will.

Invisible!

2008-10-31T11:21:00.002-07:00

So the little man is a computer wonder, always pulling me off so he can surf Noggin. At 2, it blows my mind. Anyway, the other day I stepped away while the computer was on my logon. I came back to find him in the process of composing a Gmail message. Only later did I notice that he had adjusted my chat setting. I logged onto Gmail to be told, "You are invisible." Gee, thanks. As if the lack of emails wasn't enough of a confidence basher. ;) Anyway, I'm turning my attitude around. Maybe that'll be my Halloween costume. Invisible Mommy...sounds like a nice weekend to me.

Happy Halloween all!

Hello again

2008-10-22T16:46:00.002-07:00

Wow. Two months. Hard to believe, and yet not. I've been in a weird mood, I guess. I'm still following you all through bloglines, but every time I think to myself, "Self, I need to post to the blog," I just feel like there's nothing to say. And that's how I ended up here, two months between posts.

I must admit, Spy lured me out. ;) So thanks, Natasha, for thinking of me.

So I will recommence the posting, whether I have anything to say or not. Ha ha! Lucky you guys...all two of you who haven't given up on me.

Anyway, querying is under way. Always a roller coaster. I think that's been part of my blog silence. I'm just over here riding on my own.

But, you all were able to miss most of the family visits that I've been bombarded with. Consider yourself lucky!

San Diego was its usual gorgeous self. Every time I leave I wonder why it is that I don't live there. And yet I don't. Sigh.

Well, how's that for your random bit of nonsense? It's the state of my brain these days. But I do have a new garage door opener. Hooray! We've been parking outside for nearly 3 weeks because of my procrastination. Finally called someone yesterday, and man! That's how things get done! LOL!

So I'm off my butt and back in the game. Thanks for keeping track of me. :)

A bit of weirdness

2008-08-20T21:58:00.002-07:00

So how's this for weird...

I sat down at the computer today, determined to churn out a bit of this new story and ease my restless mind. The words came, no problem. They're not perfect, nor do they convey the scene like I want, but that's what revisions are for. The weirdness? They came out in present tense.

I have never, ever, ever written anything in present tense. I often struggle to read present tense. Now I usually adjust and begin to stop noticing it after a while, but not always. There usually comes a time when it slaps me abruptly out of the story. Anyway, what are the odds?

I think it all comes down to the fact that I'm not as prepared to tell this story as I usually am. So it's almost like my mind/character decided to just have a go of it, telling the story as it unfolds. I'm not sure what I think of this.

I'm pretty sure I'll be starting fresh tomorrow. I just don't think I can pull off an entire novel in present tense and not lose my mind.

Any thoughts?

Restless

2008-08-19T14:43:00.002-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I finished Skin. As planned, I have made an effort to focus a bit on all the housework I've neglected. How'd that go, you ask?

Well...

I'm restless. My mind is a swirling mess of nonsense. I can't focus on anything. About the only time I'm sufficiently distracted is while cooking dinner. So my family has been eating better. I've enjoyed that.

What I've come to realize is that I don't think I can stop. Honestly. I feel so unsettled, like something is missing. I don't feel like myself.

I've read a dozen books (at least), and they do distract me for a bit. But then the restlessness returns. It's quite disturbing.

So I've decided it's time to tackle a new project. The problem is I have no plot. I have a couple premises that I'm toying with, but nothing solid as far as plot goes. And I like to have a better idea of where I'm going before diving in. Typically, I need to know where it starts, and where it ends. I guess I need to channel my energy into developing a plot.

Anything to stop me flitting around the house without a purpose. Have you ever experienced this? Inquiring minds (or at least restless ones) want to know.

Olympic fever

2008-08-12T06:48:00.002-07:00

And not your typical kind either.

Strep caught me (somehow), so I've been lounging on the couch and absorbing every moment of Beijing.

I love the Olympics!!!

The one side effect is that it makes me miss playing sports. These days I mostly chase my littlest beast around the house, but once upon a time I was all about sports. Now I just want to play something. :) Or maybe just exercise. Probably best to wait till the antibiotics have run their course. Drats.

And as I'm sure you all have seen and heard the hoopla about the mens 4X100M swimming relay, but I can't help myself...HOW AWESOME WAS THAT?! I screamed, at 11:30PM, with a house full of sleeping children, and strep. Yeah, I was that excited.

Go USA!!!

Long time no blog

2008-07-23T10:31:00.003-07:00

I know, I know. Bad blogger. In my defense, I was working. Polishing up the beast in preparation for querying. We'll see how it goes.

So now it's time to finally clean the house. At least that's what I said yesterday. The homefront is in dire need of a little love. Wouldn't you know, as soon as I started this little voice popped into my head.

Now I have my next project already percolating up there, but this little voice was persistent. She doesn't have a story yet, but she has some serious attitude that just cracks me up. Of course I just had to sit right down at the computer and crank out her intro. At this rate, I will never live in a clean house.

Oh well, I guess there are worse things. :)

I will leave you with promises of more to come. In the meantime, enjoy this. It makes me cry every time I watch it. Reminds me of my big old dog that I still miss to this day.

Friday already?

2008-06-20T10:30:00.002-07:00

I feel so blah. Summer is kicking my butt like it does every year. It has been above 110 all week. Miserable. I get exhausted just going from the car into preschool and back. Heat is not my friend. Blech.

OK, enough moaning. Oh wait, one more moan. Maybe two.

I'm in serious battle with the first page of Skin. Oh yeah, there's number two...Skin needs a title. And a synopsis, but I'll worry about that one later.

So yeah, that first page. I've written it about fifty times. Still not right. Grrr...Argh...Sigh...

As the July 1 deadline approaches (self-made, mind you), I need to settle on a title. Funny, I was never really attached to Skin. Now, suddenly, it feels like it has so many meanings in relation to the story. But I can't use it. There's already a YA novel (bestseller even) with the same title. So I'm back to square one. And I suck at titles.

Anyway...

Have you seen that Amazon commercial where the lady runs out of coffee and then has mass quantities delivered by Amazon? That's me. Not on the commercial. In real life. Five cases of my coffee arrived yesterday. I'm stocked up. LOL! Maybe if I go on a caffeine binge, I'll come up with a title. And a first page. Probably I'd just end up running from the house, screaming like a banshee. Then the heat would hit and I'd lose my mind completely. Guess I'll stick to my one cup a day. Safer that way.

I'm going to try cleaning my house now. Change of pace. Won't the boys be surprised...

Writing Advice

2008-06-16T16:41:00.002-07:00

There's a lot of writing advice out there--some good, some bad. I am by no means an expert, but I thought I'd spend some time talking about what works for me and what doesn't.

First up is: Just get it down. You can't edit a blank page.
I think this piece of advice definitely has perfectionist writers in mind. I'm one of them. When I first began writing, I tapped into this tip often. But as time has progressed, I've begun to move away from it. Now, I'm not saying I disagree. Clearly, I cannot edit a blank page. But what I've learned about myself is that once the story is on the page, my brain has a tendency to latch onto that particular version. At times, it's almost as if I can't fathom the story proceeding any other way. And that's a problem, particularly in the revision stage. The other issue I've run into here is that not only does the story stick in my mind, but so does the language. I get stuck on the verbiage and have difficulty doing much beside tweaking here and there.

What I've learned about myself is this...I need to semi-silence the inner editor. I need to get the story out, but I also need to pay attention to the language, the rhythm of the words. As far as the story goes, I've come to the realization that it flows best when I'm prepared to write. That's probably another post all by itself. Being prepared to write is really the best thing I can do for myself as a writer. Forcing the words when unprepared, probably the worst.

So while I cannot edit a blank page, I don't want to edit a crappy page. Being prepared to write, to me, means knowing where the story is going from the point at which I last left off. If I stopped because I didn't know where to go next, I won't be able to continue until I figure that out. And that means taking some time away from the computer to just think about the story. Often, the first idea is OK, but the second, third and fourth are so much stronger. So I allow myself to get to the point where I can't wait to put the story down. Then the writing flows so much more smoothly. No forced words, or stilted dialogue--the characters come alive in my mind. All the better.

Being prepared to write is also my solution to what I think others call being blocked. I don't necessarily believe in writer's block. I believe in being unprepared to write. Stuck, that's what I call it. By taking this position, the problem goes from being something scary and obscure, to being something controllable. Doable. All it takes is preparation.

This is my number one rule with regard to writing. When sitting down to write, always be prepared. Hey! I guess you could say I'm a boyscout writer. *snort*

I'll tackle other advice next time. In the meantime...write on, my friends!

Nasty little critters

2008-06-06T11:39:00.003-07:00

I live in the desert. It is a fact I lament over from time to time in my yearnings for all things green. But, alas, it is what it is. There are benefits. Bugs for one.

Mosquitoes, to be more specific. Sure we get them. Not a ton, but some. Typically, they show up at the end of summer. August, September, after the monsoon storms have left a bit of stagnant water. I deal.

But let me tell you, lately I've been getting bit. And it's driving me freaking mad! Outside, inside, the bloodsuckers are after me. Not kidding here.

Now I know no one likes mosquitoes. I mean really, they're just plain disgusting. But long before the whole West Nile thing, I harbored a healthy fear of the buzzing buggers. As a child, I would wake in the night with one dive-bombing my head.

"MOM!!!"

I wouldn't allow either of us to return to our beds until the beast had come to a bloody end as a smear on the wall.

So imagine my disgust now, in freaking hot, dry June, to find myself the meal of mutant mosquitoes. Then, imagine my further disgust to find that I have been breeding the suckers.

I was under the (false) assumption that my fountain (being a running body of water) would not provide the kind of environment mosquitoes seek for their larvae. Well, it appears the top of said fountain is indeed still enough for reproduction.

Rest assured it got a healthy dose of bleach this morning. I hope no birds die in my efforts to eradicate the spawn. I don't need the guilt.

So there it is. My mosquito problem.

Now I hear that the housing decline will only make matters worse. Abandoned houses mean green pools. Lovely breeding grounds. Turns out others in the community are on top of it. They're dumping fish in the deserted pools, setting them to town on the squirming larvae. Now there's a cause I can get behind.

I may turn into a peeping Tom, bagful of fishies in hand. Watch out! I'm a mosquito mission.

The dreaded query

2008-06-04T10:24:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, I spent three hours fiddling with nine sentences. I'm still not finished. In all honesty, I do enjoy writing the pitch that goes into a query letter. I like whittling a story down to a short little teaser. But man! I want to get this one right. It's getting there, slowly.

That said, I am not looking forward to the synopsis. I'll probably wait until my next round of revisions is complete. They will be a whole lot more fun.

In other news, my child now sounds like the sea gulls in Nemo. "Mine. Mine. Mine..." Combine that with his uber-physical nature and it's like WWE smackdown around here once preschool lets out for the day. Poor older brother doesn't stand a chance.

Company, a Cars cake and a cold

2008-06-02T10:58:00.007-07:00

That about sums up the last 10 days for me.

We celebrated our second Cars-themed birthday this weekend. This time, Thing 2 chose Mack the truck from the movie. Let me tell you, balancing that monstrosity on my lap as we drove to the party was terrifying. 8 hours of work wobbled precariously in my lap the entire trip. But it made it and was a huge hit with the preschool crowd. Yay for Mama!

Here it is in all its glory...

And I don't think I ever posted the pictures of the three race cars I made for Thing 1's party a few months back. Here you have Chick Hicks, Lightning McQueen and The King.

Whew. I'm all caked out for another year. :)

The cold lingers on, but with the company finally departed, I will settle back into a writing routine. My super-duper CP had some great comments that I'm itching to incorporate into the WIP. Skin is coming together nicely, I think. I'm still without pitch, query or synopsis, so that's on the agenda too.

All in all, a busy couple weeks. Hence the repeat disappearing act. I'll be around to visit you all very soon.

Ciao!