Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, March 16, 2009
Characters and planning and soundtracks, oh my!
In addition to my current WIP (work in progress), I've decided to write a short novella aimed at Nocturne Bites. A couple of my first steps when I tackle a new story are, well, finding characters for the story, duh! But I have them. They need backstories--histories. Then I work on their GMCs (Goals, Motivations and Conflicts). What they want out of life ties in with what has happened to them in their past.
While all this is running around in my head, I'm also playing with the story idea. The story has to be about something, right? Sometimes that part comes first, sometimes the characters come first. In this case, I have characters, now I have to decide what their story is.
Before I can write the story I have to write a blurb. Sort of what you'd see on the back cover of the book. That part kills me. It's hard to nail down the heart of your story in just a couple of paragraphs. But if I can do that, then I know that I have a really good grasp on the heart of my story. I also like to make a "soundtrack" for my story. Having a mix of songs to put on when you're writing can be a signal to your brain that it's time to stop being mom or maid or chauffeur and begin being a writer. So I'm spending some time digging through my iPod, paying close attention to the feelings a song evokes looking for that something that makes me think, "yeah, this fits my story!" I'll be sharing some songs with you this week. They may go on my soundtrack or they may not. Just sit back and listen and enjoy. Here's your first one, unusual video and all. :-)
While all this is running around in my head, I'm also playing with the story idea. The story has to be about something, right? Sometimes that part comes first, sometimes the characters come first. In this case, I have characters, now I have to decide what their story is.
Before I can write the story I have to write a blurb. Sort of what you'd see on the back cover of the book. That part kills me. It's hard to nail down the heart of your story in just a couple of paragraphs. But if I can do that, then I know that I have a really good grasp on the heart of my story. I also like to make a "soundtrack" for my story. Having a mix of songs to put on when you're writing can be a signal to your brain that it's time to stop being mom or maid or chauffeur and begin being a writer. So I'm spending some time digging through my iPod, paying close attention to the feelings a song evokes looking for that something that makes me think, "yeah, this fits my story!" I'll be sharing some songs with you this week. They may go on my soundtrack or they may not. Just sit back and listen and enjoy. Here's your first one, unusual video and all. :-)
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Unscheduled Lazy Blog Post
Thanks to Holly, I have found the perfect tool for those days when I don't know what to say here in the blog. Check out the Lazy Blog Post Generator. Here's the post I generated with it:
Dudes I just opened mine eyes, and lo! I have not updated this since long before Shakespeare wast a boy... You would not believe that my hands were chopped off and I was waiting for bionic ones. Unbelievable.
I am tied up with setting fire to people wearing Crocs, driving from one end of the city to the other, just generally being a pain to society in general. My day starts with the dawn patrol, from the time the light through yonder window breaks to the point I am begging my kid to go to sleep or so help me God that kid will be decorating my wall, 'Duct tape still life'. I am putting money aside so I can run away. My kids think I don't make sense any more.
I won't promise anything to you, but I will make more of an effort to blog more often--at least until the nice men in the white coats come back, or until I need your shoulder to cry on. The Piccaninnies say I have to!
Dudes I just opened mine eyes, and lo! I have not updated this since long before Shakespeare wast a boy... You would not believe that my hands were chopped off and I was waiting for bionic ones. Unbelievable.
I am tied up with setting fire to people wearing Crocs, driving from one end of the city to the other, just generally being a pain to society in general. My day starts with the dawn patrol, from the time the light through yonder window breaks to the point I am begging my kid to go to sleep or so help me God that kid will be decorating my wall, 'Duct tape still life'. I am putting money aside so I can run away. My kids think I don't make sense any more.
I won't promise anything to you, but I will make more of an effort to blog more often--at least until the nice men in the white coats come back, or until I need your shoulder to cry on. The Piccaninnies say I have to!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday Lazy Video
Yeah, it's Friday and I'm feeling kinda lazy, so you get a video. I'm a child of the 80s and I believe that this song was out in the 80s or early 90s. Anyway, I thought this new take on the video was funny, so I'm sharing it with you. Aren't you lucky?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
mp3 players
We all have iPods, all of us except my husband. I have a full size iPod, my daughter has an older Nano and my son has, well, not the newest Nano, but the one before that. They came out with the new design about a month after he got his. Doesn't that figure?
Anyway, while we love our iPods, they don't allow us to listen to audiobooks that we check out from the online branch of our Public Library. It seems that Overdrive Media and Apple don't play well together. It's never been a big problem for me because I can download the audiobooks onto my smartphone and listen to them that way, but the kids don't have smartphones. So today I picked up an inexpensive mp3 player at the store that says it will sync with Windows Media Player and will play DRM protected files. (My daughters phone will sync with WMP, but won't play DRM protected files--WTH?)
I'm sitting here listening to the radio on our new RCA Pearl mp3 player. I think it's going to be a pretty good investment. But I'll have to remember to keep the AAA batteries charged!
P.S. Someday I'll have to tell you all about taking my malfunctioning iPod to the Apple store, and how the "geniuses" behind the Genius Bar were oh-so-helpful, NOT!
Anyway, while we love our iPods, they don't allow us to listen to audiobooks that we check out from the online branch of our Public Library. It seems that Overdrive Media and Apple don't play well together. It's never been a big problem for me because I can download the audiobooks onto my smartphone and listen to them that way, but the kids don't have smartphones. So today I picked up an inexpensive mp3 player at the store that says it will sync with Windows Media Player and will play DRM protected files. (My daughters phone will sync with WMP, but won't play DRM protected files--WTH?)
I'm sitting here listening to the radio on our new RCA Pearl mp3 player. I think it's going to be a pretty good investment. But I'll have to remember to keep the AAA batteries charged!
P.S. Someday I'll have to tell you all about taking my malfunctioning iPod to the Apple store, and how the "geniuses" behind the Genius Bar were oh-so-helpful, NOT!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Better late than never?
My intention was to re-awaken this blog in January. Somehow I didn't quite make it. The truth is, I guess I didn't have much to say. Or I didn't bother to think of anything to talk about. In all honesty, I'm a procrastinator. One of the world's best! It's a problem I've been trying to overcome for years, but I don't ever seem to make progress. Or if I make any progress, it doesn't last and I slip right back into my old bad habits.
Why is it that bad habits are so hard to break and so easy to fall back into, yet good habits are so hard to establish and so easy to let go of? It's a question that has no answer, I believe. So if anybody has any new ideas or ways to break bad habits or establish good ones--please share!! I need all the help I can get.
Oh, and if you've never visited despair.com, it's a fun place to procrastinate. :-)
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Scary future?
more animals
My daughter and one of her friends were talking the other day. Since they're really too old to dress up and go trick-or-treating, but not too old to want candy, they said they were going to not dress up and trick-or-treat anyway. When anyone asked what they were supposed to be, they would reply, "The future of the country." Now that's a scary costume!!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Hey, what happened to September?
It's October. Where did September go? I don't think I was through with it yet!
My RWA CDs are in and I've transferred them to my iPod. I have hours of listening ahead of me. Some of you may think I'm crazy to look forward to them so much, I know my kids do! But I get so inspired by the talks, it's almost like being a conference again--only much cheaper. And I can listen to them in the car, or while cleaning house, and when I sit at the computer later, I am more inspired to write. Sometimes when I sit at the computer it's far too easy to waste my writing time surfing, playing games, or blogging :-) . And before you know it, writing time's been frittered away and I have to get up and do something else. So anything that makes me want to sit and get to my writing right away is a good thing!
What tricks do you use to drive away the procrastination demons?
My RWA CDs are in and I've transferred them to my iPod. I have hours of listening ahead of me. Some of you may think I'm crazy to look forward to them so much, I know my kids do! But I get so inspired by the talks, it's almost like being a conference again--only much cheaper. And I can listen to them in the car, or while cleaning house, and when I sit at the computer later, I am more inspired to write. Sometimes when I sit at the computer it's far too easy to waste my writing time surfing, playing games, or blogging :-) . And before you know it, writing time's been frittered away and I have to get up and do something else. So anything that makes me want to sit and get to my writing right away is a good thing!
What tricks do you use to drive away the procrastination demons?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Apparently, I'm somebody...
Thanks to Julie Kenner, where I found this video in the first place. But I don't have a Facebook page. hangs head in shame
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Time Flies
I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted! We're well entrenched in our school routines now and busy with soccer practice and games. On the writing front, I'm working on my partial, getting the chapters polished and writing my first synopsis. I'm also taking a few online workshops. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment! One of them is on plotting (an area where I need help), one of them is on writing a synopsis (what! I thought it would help and it has) and the last one is on writing a paranormal novel (again, thought it would help).
I also updated my MySpace page. Mom's chemo is over so I traded the pink background for one with leopards on it, since my current WIP features a leopard shape-shifter. Today momma told me that she's supposed to begin her radiation treatment soon. Oh, well. I like the leopards, so I'll leave them for now.
And I've become completely addicted to Twitter. Come on over and follow me. There's a link in my sidebar.
trish
I also updated my MySpace page. Mom's chemo is over so I traded the pink background for one with leopards on it, since my current WIP features a leopard shape-shifter. Today momma told me that she's supposed to begin her radiation treatment soon. Oh, well. I like the leopards, so I'll leave them for now.
And I've become completely addicted to Twitter. Come on over and follow me. There's a link in my sidebar.
trish
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Twilight, Teenagers and Movies
This summer my copies of the Twilight trilogy by Stephenie Meyer made the rounds. Several of my daughter's friends borrowed them, passed them around, devoured them and wound up buying their own copies. I am currently reading Eclipse, book number 3. It has been on my shelf since its release, but I put off reading it, because I have a book to write, and really--once I start with Bella and Edward, I don't want to stop until I've finished. For that reason, I haven't bought Breaking Dawn yet (which would, technically, make this no longer a trilogy).
Anyway, I have promised these eager young readers that I will take them all to see the movie when it opens. The original date was in December, but the Official Movie Site list the date as 11/21/08 now. Suits me, I'm impatient by nature. But we'll be going to see the movie without my daughter.
No matter what anyone says, no matter how much her friends beg or bargain, she won't touch these books, or the movie. Because I read them first. Because I mentioned, after reading the first one, that she would probably enjoy it. I didn't insist that she read it, didn't try to force it on her, just commented in an offhand way that I thought she would like it. I should've known better. Nobody can get her within 10 feet of these stories now.
She doesn't know what she's missing. And I've learned to keep my mouth shut.
What about you? Are you addicted to Edward and Bella too? Do you even know who they are? Are there other books you can't put down or movies you can't wait to see? (I'm also waiting for the latest Harry Potter movie!)
Anyway, I have promised these eager young readers that I will take them all to see the movie when it opens. The original date was in December, but the Official Movie Site list the date as 11/21/08 now. Suits me, I'm impatient by nature. But we'll be going to see the movie without my daughter.
No matter what anyone says, no matter how much her friends beg or bargain, she won't touch these books, or the movie. Because I read them first. Because I mentioned, after reading the first one, that she would probably enjoy it. I didn't insist that she read it, didn't try to force it on her, just commented in an offhand way that I thought she would like it. I should've known better. Nobody can get her within 10 feet of these stories now.
She doesn't know what she's missing. And I've learned to keep my mouth shut.
What about you? Are you addicted to Edward and Bella too? Do you even know who they are? Are there other books you can't put down or movies you can't wait to see? (I'm also waiting for the latest Harry Potter movie!)
Monday, August 11, 2008
I know I promised
that I'd keep a detailed journal while I was in San Francisco, but I didn't. What I can tell you is that I had a fabulous time, my editor appointment was wonderful and resulted in a request for a partial, I decided not to turn in the partial to the agent who met with our chapter, because after his talk it was apparent he wasn't looking for my type of work--and on the second day I was there I was awakened at 4 a.m. by a phone call. Momma had fallen and was taken by ambulance to the ER, where she was later transferred to another hospital and admitted to ICU. She remained in ICU for most of the conference, so I was torn between enjoyment of my time away and a pressing need to be home.
Of course, my family didn't want me cutting conference short to rush home, as Momma wasn't in a life or death situation, and when Mom was finally responsive again, she didn't either. Still, I couldn't help but be worried, and looked forward to my daily updates on her condition. She is much better now, but still in the hospital. A lot of her problem at the moment stem from infection she most likely picked up after the ruptured ulceration which led to her last stint in the hospital. But she is getting stronger every day and is looking better than she has in a long time.
This has been such a long year for her. For a woman who has never had to deal with being sick to go through so much in such a short period, well, I'll just say that she's a trooper.
Now, I should take advantage of the kids being gone and get to work. I've got a submission to get ready!! I'll be back soon with pictures!
Of course, my family didn't want me cutting conference short to rush home, as Momma wasn't in a life or death situation, and when Mom was finally responsive again, she didn't either. Still, I couldn't help but be worried, and looked forward to my daily updates on her condition. She is much better now, but still in the hospital. A lot of her problem at the moment stem from infection she most likely picked up after the ruptured ulceration which led to her last stint in the hospital. But she is getting stronger every day and is looking better than she has in a long time.
This has been such a long year for her. For a woman who has never had to deal with being sick to go through so much in such a short period, well, I'll just say that she's a trooper.
Now, I should take advantage of the kids being gone and get to work. I've got a submission to get ready!! I'll be back soon with pictures!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
I can't believe it
I really can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. I've been so busy. Writing, the day job, the kids, helping mom out when she needs it, and summer. There's something going on all the time. And now I'm getting ready to go to the Romance Writers of America National Conference in San Francisco. Okay, it's not for a couple of weeks, but I have a lot to do to get ready. I'm pitching a book to an editor while I'm there, submitting a proposal for a different book to an agent, seeing friends that I only see at these conferences, attending workshops and doing as much sightseeing as I can. It's going to be a busy, busy week and I absolutely can't wait! So if I'm scarce between now and the first of August, please forgive me! I do promise to keep a detailed journal of my time at conference and share lots of pictures when I get back!
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