Writer's Conference Just Around the Bend

I am gearing up for the Midwest Writer's Workshop the end of July. I love the comaraderie of getting together with other writers in all stages of writing. I come back energized about my craft.

I need to sit down this week and finish my current novel. It's been in the computer long enough. I need to bring it to a close.

I meet with the Writer's Bloc on Thursday. I'm looking forward to that. I have acquired three new possible starts for novels from our last three sessions. This one should bring me another.

I am reading Dave Haslett's book on how to write faster. I hope to incorporate some of his ideas so that I can put out two to three novels a year. His goal is to put out ten a year. Since I am working full time, I thought I'd shoot for small rather than try for ten off the bat. I hope to work up to that goal.

So for anyone who wants to follow their writing dream try writing something about the following words: ghost, fire, frustration. Let your mind go and just write. Write every day. Fill notebooks and journals with your thoughts, feelings, and impressions. Read about writing. Then write some more. The more you write, the better you become. Keep your dream alive.....write.

Time to find spring

I am hoping to find my house, finish my novel and enjoy spring. Not such novel ideas, unless you consider that I have a throat infection, am tired, under pressure to get everything done for the end of the year, and the weather is anything but spring like.

On an up note, the new book is about seven good days from being finished. I can hardly wait. I am entering the first chapter of my fourth novel in a couple of contests. We'll see how that goes. I am looking for a new publisher...one that is not POD. I want to be seen as a "real" author not just someone who needs to see their name in print.

Had a wonderful spring break. I am seriously considering a move to North Carolina for the winters. I cannot describe how the mountains call to my soul. They have done that since the first time my parents took me into Kentucky and Tennessee. Although I do not want to live in them. I want to live in a holler. For those of you who don't know what a holler is, it is a valley nestled between the mountains. I want to sit on my porch and look up at the majesty of the mountains every day. North Carolina winters are much milder than Michigan's . I am so tired of the snow this year.

So, find yourself some inspiration. Open the dictionary, close your eyes and drop your finger. Wherever it lands that is what you write about. Just think you can increase your vocabulary while you are at it. No cheating and picking a different word. If that doesn't work for you try writing about one of the following words: happiness, mother, birth, paranoia, or witchcraft. You will be amazed what you can write if you just let your mind go.

Happy reading and writing.

I've Made it to the Big Time

Imagine my surprise when I learned that the library in Curtiss, Michigan has a waiting list to read Out of the Flames. Okay, so I'm not making money on it, but maybe just maybe those people are telling their family to read it. Maybe just maybe their family lives elsewhere and they need to get it in their library. I'm at least getting my name known.

Usually it's authors like Sue Grafton and Mary Higgins Clark who have their books on waiting lists. Guess I'd better get the next one finished.

On a sad note, my granddaughter's gymnastics career has ended after six years. It was a combination of things that started with one of her coaches before Christmas and culminated at a meet in Indianapolis last week-end. I am sad to say the coach remains and Megan's talent goes untapped. He had ruined the sport for her.

Knowing Megan as I do, I am sure she will recover and move on to something else where she can excel. At the moment she is greatly missing the friends she's made over the years at the gym. It has been her life for six of her ten years on this earth. It will be a big family change as younger brother, Jason, has been in the gym since he was six months old and the gym is all he knows.

I'm sure one day a story will evolve out of this. Just as I am sure Megan will rise out of the ashes to make something wonderful of herself.

Stay warm. Find a good book and curl up with a cup of cocoa.

Just Plain Blah

Feeling a bit blah today. Had mouth surgery on Monday, am still on liquid diet. Some pain yet, mostly just annoyance. I'm mad at the oral surgeon. No prescription for pain, just a couple of motrin before I leave the office. When they call later to check on me they want to give me Tylenol #3...oops read the chart I'm allergic to tylenol. Gee, the doctor doesn't usually write for anything other than that or Vicodin (which also contains Tylenol) can I wait until tomorrow to see if I still need something. What I want to say I don't I just politely hang up the phone. Then in my mail on Friday I discover that my insurance company has paid the doctor $57.00 of the first visit....gee I paid all $85 of that visit. Think they owe me some money? And the check was cut 4 days before my surgery. Do you think I'm going to complain next week???? I can hardly wait until the stitches come out...YUCK! And dentists and oral surgeons wonder why people hate them.

Browsing my blog I found that some people do actually read what I put here. Was beginning to wonder if I was writing for nothing. In answer to the questions posed: No I do not live on Mackinaw Island. I am about two hours south of there. I have an old farmhouse that has lilacs run amok on the south side of the house. Unfortunately I am on a main road and I must be in a snowmobile zone. I like my privacy and hate when it is invaded.

I vow each time I write here that I will post more often. Each time I let myself down. I'm going to see what I can do to write more often. What on earth does one write about? I'm sure my trip to the oral surgeon will make a short piece at some time. I am currently researching and writing about autoimmune disease. Funny topic for a mystery writer and poet, however I am affected by several autoimmune diseases and cannot find a doctor to treat me. Now it's my turn to write a tell-all book. I'm telling all about how very important it is to know your family medical history. Autoimmune diseases mutate each generation. You never know what mutation they will take until you are hit by one. I'll keep everyone posted on when that book will be available.

In the meantime, make some cocoa and curl up with a good book.

NaNo Has Come and Gone

National Novel Writing Month has come to a close for another year. I did manage to get 7200 words written on my newest novel. While I have a start, the novel itself has a long way to go before it is ready for my reading public.

Speaking of which, my youngest niece, Savannah, called me tonight to ask if I was writing more books. If I am she wants to be sure I send one for her and for her mom. She has just finished Out of the Flames and has read the first nineteen pages of Secrets. She liked Out of the Flames. She wanted to be sure she knew the names of my two works in progress too. All of this is boring until you learn that Savannah is not yet 8 years old.

November turned out to be much busier than I had anticipated. I ended up with a job interview....unfortunately I didn't have enough experience to get the job. Thanksgiving came and went. Then I left for the Instructional Professional Development conference, that I have attended for the past three years. Although attendance was down, it was a great conference. I also squeezed in a state gymnastics meet for my granddaughter, Megan, where she took the Silver Medal. I had to admit to being very proud of her.

Now I am into the the holiday season. I have slipped this year and my shopping is not done. I have a couple of catalog orders I am waiting to have arrive. I see a shopping trip or two in my future.

In the meantime, I hope you have plenty of books for reading.

NaNo So Far

Well, this is day three. I am a bit behind as I fell asleep at the computer on Nov. 1. I do have 2765 words at this point. I have been going at it off and on today. I am checking maps and making sure I have things accurate as I go.
I've also found myself getting the bare bones down, adding to my word count then going back to fill in things to make the story flow. A lot of background has to be built for this story to make sense. Especially since there is some paranoia going on.
Hope all of you are busy reading or writing. I am supposed to be keeping a daily journal with my daughter. I don't think I've made an entry since last Sunday and she thought she was being a slacker. I will have to get back to that today too.
I missed Writer's Bloc on Thursday for a school in-service. I think it was a good training. I will try to find a way to incorporate it into my routine. I am a bit overwhelmed this year so find that I am treading water just to stay on top of things.
Happy reading.

National Novel Writing Month begins at Midnight

Although I don't plan to be up for the beginning of this year's kamikaze writing marathon, I do intend to participate. I am working on the end of my fourth novel and will be starting my fifth with the NaNo book. I have to admit I am looking forward to making my self crazy. The new book has some endless possibilities. I am calling it Who's Watching Willow.

The current book I am working on is called Trouble in Timberview. I am not sure who will be publishing it, so I have no date for it's premier. Keep watching my blog for that information.
I'm going to try to post weekly to the blog so that you will know the status of both books. I can tell you that Trouble in Timberview is over 33,000 words right now....we are building to the climax of the story and the final stages of the plot. I figure it should be done in about another 20,000 or so words.

For those of you knew to writing. A 175 page novel is approximately 50,000 words. Just think how many words J.K. Rowlings had to write to get the Harry Potter books done. While I do not always stick to word count it does give me a good measure. My second novel has only about 40,000 words. That doesn't make it any less a novel.

If you are just starting writing, keep a journal, open the dictionary, close your eyes and point to any word on the page. That's the word you write about. Let yourself mull the word over and then write anything and everything you can about the word. That's where the idea for Who's Watching Willow came from....just one word. Oh, and what was the word??? Why it was paranoia. What can you write on that word?

Stay tuned for more word ideas. I have a multitude of places where I am finding words. I'll try to add one to each of my posts.

Happy writing.