Words of wisdom (not mine)

This seems to be my day for posting other people's stuff. That's okay--I'm going to focus my brain on GG.

You want to know the secret of writing a great book? Melissa Marr's got it pegged, here.

My favorite bit: "My Advice: Just write the story that sings to you. Step out onto ledges. Dive into topics that make you feel."

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes.

Also read the comments. There are some success stories in there to bring anybody's morale up.

Frozen

OMG, this is so amazingly cool. I laughed my ass off.

Why?

Sorry guys, no crit reward. Next time I'll offer that as a prize for a contest where we'll actually have a winner. :)

And now...I have something to say.

Why do I write YA?

Because it's so much easier. Obviously. It's way shorter—why write 100,000 words for adults when you can skate by with only 60,000? You can crank one out in no time. And ya know, why mess around with themes and resonating truths and research? Teens aren't going to understand that stuff anyway, right, so why bother? Just dump some stuff on the page, make it cool, add a couple cell phones, and presto.

Is my sarcasm showing yet?

The problem I've discovered, since I started following my passion and writing YA, is that many, many people—even writers, forgodsakes—seem to think that some or all of the above is true. Cue people thinking that writing for teens isn't "serious". Or difficult. Certainly not as difficult as writing historicals for grown-ups. Not in the same class.

This was driven home for me recently when a fellow writer, who has been working on an adult historical for YEARS, decided maybe she'd just write a YA quickly and sell that. She figured she could pump it out in 4 or 5 months. And of course it was a "message" book too, because there's nothing teens need more than adults force-feeding them messages.

Yeah, I was bugged by her attitude. I did write JENNA quickly, but that was because I was disciplined, I was using my natural voice for once, and I had a good story I was passionate about. Not because I thought it was easy.

See, the real reason I write for teens is because that's what I like to read. I've always loved to dip into the kid's section, the teen section, the YA section…whatever they're calling it. I think maybe part of my brain is still 14, or maybe it's just that those issues are the ones that resonate for me. Or that I like the kick-ass honesty you see in a lot of girls that age. Even the heroine of my historical was 16. The heroine of the historical I scrapped was 13. Jenna is 15. Nat is 15/16. It's how I see the world. It's what I love.

And let the record show, for now and always, that I hate "message" books. It's all well and good to have a story that tells people something, or talks about something important (like UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld), if it flows as a natural part of the story. If the story and the characters are the primary concern. Not because you were sitting around thinking "how do I fit in something about body image, because I as an adult think teens have a problem with body image, so I must inform them about that." Um, no thanks. It will be painfully obvious that you did that. I won't want to read it, and no teenager will either.

[end rant]

Mish-mash

Ouch. The part I just had to cut, because of my recent change?

4300 words.

I'd already cut about 2000, but replaced them mostly. Now I'm back up to the end, moving forward. But the word count...{cries}

It's better It's better It's better. And of course I kept it, in a separate file. Now. {deep breath} All new and shiny from here.

I was gonna do a craft or rant post today, but caught up in my extremely challenging class. This class is kicking me hard. So now must go add pile of homework to the mix.

In good news, we're going to see Peter Pan tonight, live!

update

Hmmm. Slightly overestimated commenters.

But that's okay, I'm good at rolling with it. So...revised. I'm going to ask those who haven't commented yet to add their comments to the previous post. If I get:

1) 9 more or
2) my Statcounter visitors count reaches 20,000 this weekend--which it is MIGHTY close to doing

I will still do the draw and 5-page crit, for those who want it. Check back Monday for that.

Back with "real" post later...

Delurk. C'mon, you can do it.

Today I'm going to take a page from my favorite cynical dad blogger, Chag.

It's DELURKING DAY!

If you've never commented before, please leave a comment. If this is your first time here, please leave a comment. If you're a regular commenter or one of my BFF who read my rambles devotedly, please leave a comment. That goes for you feed readers too.

Say hi! Wave! Tell me where you're from. Tell me what you do, or what you're writing. Or just say hi and stick your tongue out at me.

Also, feel free to ask any questions you'd like me to answer on future blog posts. Because I am such the fount of knowledge.

If we get over 50 distinct commenters, I'll do a random pick and offer a prize.

(prize, prize. Thinking. I'm a little low on the cashola for a real prize. I am an editor, though, and I have a good eye. Would anybody want a 5-page crit? Hey, you can answer that too! In your COMMENTS!)

colors

Yes, I got tired of brown. Wonders never cease. {s}

Back back back

The last couple of days have been a change, writing-wise.

Sunday night I had a sudden wave-of-brain, and realized I'd stepped the wrong way in the story. Well, it's first draft, so not wrong exactly, but not best. If I took it another way the later plot would go in a much better direction, include the characters and settings I'd rather be exploring, etc.

So. Halted headlong progress. The 1500 or so words I wrote on vacation will likely stay buried in the GhostGirl2 file--I'm now working on GhostGirl3. I rewound several chapters, found the misstep, and cut about 1800 words yesterday. More will be hacked today. I also wrote 900 new words, though, and will write some more cool new stuff...so it evens out. Better now than a much more tangled later. Much better for plot.

In going back over the old stuff, though, I discovered a few things (AGAIN) about Things I Do on First Draft.

Annoying things:
--My characters breathe a lot. A lot a lot. Take a slow breath, a shaky breath, exhale a long breath. Struggle to breathe. Mind, that last is a fairly important issue for my MC during some parts, but the rest? Geez. We know you're breathing, Nat, you're still talking to us. Stop. It.

--Dialogue tag repeats. I cannot believe how often I do this. "Blah blah blah," X said. He did some random action. Every time I read through a section I have to do a delete on all those "X said He" bits. {sigh} Thank goodness for later drafts.

Positive things:
--I made myself laugh, reading bits, and I'd totally forgotten I'd written some of them and was pleased. This is a good sign, for later. After cleanup.

So what do you do in first draft, and always have to fix later? Do your characters nod too much? Walk? Grin? Do you have to yank out useless adverbs?

The Liar's Diary

This post is part of Patry Francis Day. 300+ bloggers strong are taking time on their blogs today to write about Patry Francis and her book, The Liar's Diary.

Complete details are here: http://www.litpark.com/

Patry Francis is a writer like many I know--she had a full-time job, 4 (4!) kids, and still managed to scrape time together to get the writing done. She finished a book. She found an agent. She sold the book.

And then, unfortunately, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, just as her book was due to be released.

That timing sucks. Okay, cancer sucks. My grandfather, aunt, and mother-in-law all died of cancer. My mom has cancer that must be treated regularly, with experimental treatments. I have a particularly close fear--and hatred--of that nasty bastard.

So Patry, heck yeah I'm joining in to help promote your book on its release day, so you can concentrate on getting better and beating this cancer. I'm going to go check out your book myself, once I'm done writing this.

THE LIAR'S DIARY is out TODAY in paperback! Go check it out, people! And if you want to make a blog post too, for Patry, for all the writers and non-writers you know who have had to battle cancer, yes. Please.

Checking back in

I'm back!

It's 19 degrees, snowing like a bejeesus, and blustery. Everyone is of course either blaming me for this weather, or charging gleefully into my office to ask how I like being back.

Pbbbbbt.

Though it was very hard to find vacay pictures without any of us recognizable in them*, here are a few. Yes, it was fun. Yes, I am so back at work now, back at school, and back on GG. {s}

That's us, going down the big drop on the log ride...

*One of my longstanding self-imposed rules for this blog.

Made it!

Brief update, because I'm pounding out a few more words in another window.

We made it to LegoLand. Child declared, skipping back to the hotel, that this was one of the best days of her life.

Yes.

(It is deluging again, but held off until 4 thank the weather gods. Now it can do whatever it pleases, and I don't care...)

Devil/Angel

Last night, while Child was tucked into the hotel bed and hubby was at a play, I had to make a choice. I had an hour and a half.

To my right, Spymaster's Lady was sitting seductively on the little table, taunting me. "Come read," called Annique. "You have only a few chapters left. I am in grave danger, me, and you must know what befalls me." Grey just threw me a look. "Come," he said. Just one word, but so powerful.

To my left, the laptop. The manuscript of Ghost Girl. Natalie. "Hello? I've been sitting here waiting for you for like, ever. In a mess, as usual. Will you come and help me out, please?" And then there's Tony, who's in this scene. Did I mention that Tony looks a little like James McAvoy?

Tough, right?

I'm happy to say that Tony and Natalie won. 800+ words. Finished the whole scene. Yay! And with time to spare. As a reward, guess what I got to read...

On a vacation note, it's bloody raining again. We had a great day yesterday, but it poured last night and is due to pour more today. LegoLand is looking more and more unlikely...
But Child is happy. The past couple of days she's had great fun, and right now we're going to go color the new Fairytopia coloring book with the new crayons, and that's pretty good for her. :)

vacation report

Yesterday was another rockin' vacation day. Monday was good too, but it rained, so our trip to the zoo was a bit drippy. We soldiered on, and had fun. But yesterday was perfect weather, warm but not hot. We spent pretty much the whole day at the Wild Animal Park, visiting with monkeys and okapi and lions. We rode up above the park in a hot air balloon, and had cranes and eagles swoop just over our heads in the bird show. Child enjoyed the playground best, though. :)

Today is possibility of rain. We're going to head to Balboa Park, most especially the Science Museum (excellent kid's place) and the adjoining playground. And maybe some shopping.

Side note: we are all valiantly pretending that I do not have a cold, though I've gone from scratchy throat to scratchy chest to sore throat. But nothing's wrong, no, nothing. I'm fine. {g} Actually I am, pumped up with Airborne and Super C and coffee...

Oh, and I saw Atonement. Really enjoyed it. Highly recommended for writers!

Vacation day perfection

Wow, what a perfect day.

This morning we headed out to the Stephen Birch aquarium, one of the best small aquariums ever, anywhere. Okay, I may be biased. We've been there probably a hundred times, before Child and at every stage of Child's life. I love to sit at the bottom of the huge kelp tank and stare with her at the sun shining down through the swaying kelp forest, as leopard sharks swing in front of our noses.

Then we had Mexican food for lunch (of course) and headed to see our Big Event of the trip, the Corteo show of Cirque de Soleil, which is here on tour. I loved it. It was amazing. {happy sigh}

Then Starbucks coffee, and a swim in the heated hotel pool, followed by dinner at CPK.

Hubby is out to a movie, Child is asleep, I squeaked out 200 words in half an hour...and now, Northanger Abbey is just starting on Masterpiece Theatre.

Ahhhh. Perfection. {g}

Made it.

There. Got to the 50% mark on Ghost Girl.

Now there will be a brief pause while:

(a) we go on vacation, to sunny-land
and
(b) I figure out what happens next. Some brainstorming on various plot threads and possibilities is necessary.

In the meantime, if you'd like to see some skating cowboys (and who wouldn't, really?), go here.

Mental...er, mentors

Weather: Today it's snowing steadily, big, fat flakes. Much nicer than yesterday.

Several fellow writers picked up my meme for their blogs, which makes me oddly cheerful. Proof that I have some impact, however small, on the world, I suppose. {g}

Speaking of impact, and affecting other people--I was somewhat distressed when at least two of my fellow writers declared in their meme answers that they had no mentors. Seriously. NO mentors? How? How can you survive in this crazy-making profession without having somebody to lean on? Somebody you can call when you're despairing, when you need your hand held, or when you have absolutely fabulous news and you cannot wait another single second to share it with somebody who understands?

J.A. Konrath had this to say on his blog this morning:

I'm lucky that I have half a dozen professional writers on speed dial, and if I get stuck, they're happy to help me out. Naturally, I return the favor. It's a combination of tough love, enabling, and a mutual admiration society, and it is one of the true joys of this business.

Yes. Exactly. For support, I'm amazingly lucky in that I have a small group of writer friends that I can talk to, literally, about anything. We kick each other when we need kicking, sympathize when we need that, and are always (always) ready to celebrate successes large and small.

I understand that is not exactly a mentor, necessarily. That's why for my list I chose two people who have been, and continue to be, mentors for me in specific ways.

Diana Gabaldon has shared her expertise, advice, and assistance with I don't know how many writers over the years, at the Compuserve Books and Writers Forum. I'm fortunate that I also get to see Diana in person every year at Surrey. She's been unfailingly encouraging and helpful to me. She's also fun to drink Scotch with. {g}

Vicki Pettersson is just fun to drink with.

Okay, I'll be serious. Vicki is my shining example of how this writing stuff can work if you put your heart into it. She also shows me every day how to handle successes, how to keep your head down and focus on writing, and how to never, ever forget that it's about doing your best work, in the end.

(Unfortunately, this also gives her the right to say 'I told you so' ad nauseum. If that's the tradeoff, I'm good with that.)

One of my writer friends shocked me the other day by declaring that I was her mentor. I don't see how--since I'm at the beginning of this process myself--but I sure the heck was flattered. When I get a little further along, that is definitely one of my goals. Pay it forward. Encourage others. Be the one they want to call, be the helping hand.

You gotta have mentors in this process, IMO. I know I wouldn't make it without 'em.

Brrrr

It was -9 degrees (F) this morning. My fingers and cheeks were numb for an hour. It's up to a balmy 13 now, and I have my sweater off and the window open. This is the joy of working on the 3rd floor of a building built in 1896. The heat is either on (roasting) or off (freezing). Right now, with the window cranked, it's almost right.

With the blast of arctic air, though, I'm rather glad that we're leaving for vacation soon. We always try to do a week in San Diego sometime in January or February--knowing that the winter blahs will hit right about now--and I'm sooo looking forward to it. Not least because we got tickets to the Cirque de Soleil. Huzzah!

After today's work, I just have to get 1000 more words on GG to get to my 50% goal before we leave. That I can, and will, do.

{happy}

10 Writerly Questions

A meme! Instead of 10 Things I Hate about You, it's 10 Things about You as a Writer.

I answered, and am tagging everyone who reads this, is a writer, and has a blog. I'm looking forward to your answers!

1. Your genre(s)?

Young adult, baby. All the way—I love to read it and write it. (Though I do have an adult historical under the bed, and I never rule out anything for the future.)

2. How many books have you completed?

Two. Almost halfway through the first draft of #3. By the end of 2008 that number should be 4.

3. How many books are you working on now?

One, seriously. But my mind keeps dabbling with the next one.

4. Are you a linear or chunk writer?

Linear, but I do drafts. First shitty draft, second fix-plot draft, third clean-up, and fourth language (spit and polish).

5. The POV you're most partial to?

First! Definitely. It's what comes naturally. But I've played with close third, and might try that sometime.

6. The theme that keeps cropping up in your books?

The MC finds out something special about themselves they didn't know, or has to deal with being different. No, no ties to my actual real life, of course. {cough}

7. How many days a week do you write?

Five regularly (M-F) plus whatever weekend time I can grab.

8. What time of day do you get your best writing done?

Lunch! I close the door, and the time is all mine.

9. Who are your mentors?

Diana Gabaldon, Vicki Pettersson. Both have helped me immeasurably, in different ways.

10. Who are your favorite authors to read? (different from mentors)

Right now: Joanna Bourne, Scott Westerfeld, Melissa Marr. Piles of others, but those are on top at the moment.

Now, yours!

Woot!!!

For anybody who hasn't seen the news yet...

A new anthology has been announced, with Vicki, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Kim Harrison, and Jocelynn Drake. Jocelynn's the only one I haven't read (and loved) yet, but I know I will, from the insider comments I've heard.

Wow.

I don't often go all fan-girly, but I am today. {Massive Grin}

Win The Spymaster's Lady signed copy!

Forgot to add this:

Go to Jennifer Hendren's blog to enter to win a signed copy of The Spymaster's Lady! Trust me, if you don't already have one, you want one. :)

The shape of the future

AHA!

Over the weekend I started to see the shape of Ghost Girl. I remember this happening about the halfway mark with Jenna too--suddenly what was rather vague wandering around and doing stuff begins to crystallize into plots, threads, themes, and issues. I start to see what I will need to change, strengthen, and cut. Where I will deepen characters and relationships. I feel a surge of excitement, that I can really make this a good book. It's like I've been sculpting with no idea what the final product will be, and then I just SEE.

I also see the mounds of work ahead to get there. Yes, there will be massive rewrites necessary. But this sense of shape is validation that it will work when I'm done.

For now, though, forward progress continues. I just stuck Nat in a very lovely (not) situation I'm quite pleased with. Reminder: never volunteer to be one of my heroines.

Last night--sleepless again--I also got a bit more info on the NEXT book. I had to sit on her to get her to stop telling me about it, because I just can't listen to her right now. Her name, BTW, is Melody.

Depressing news...

This was in my PW Daily today:

Harcourt San Diego Office to Close

Employees in Harcourt’s San Diego trade division were told Thursday that the office will close June 30. The announcement is the latest step in the integration of the Harcourt and Houghton Mifflin trade operations into the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade & Reference Publishers division. The San Diego office has about 65 employees.

More here from PW.

For those who don't know, I worked as an editor in the San Diego office of Academic Press, then a division of Harcourt, for 8 years. The Harcourt trade people were my colleagues, and many of them my friends. Our division was taken over by Reed Elsevier 5 years ago, and now Harcourt. {SIGH}

Winner!

And the winner is...LINDA!!

Congratulations, Linda. 4 new books coming your way. :) Enjoy!

And I hope everybody enjoys The Spymaster's Lady. I have no doubt about that. (Congratulations again, Jo!)

Last entry!

Thanks for the laughs yesterday, guys! Worked like a charm, with the addition of coffee and GOING HOME. :)

I also started a wonderful book last night, called The Spymaster's Lady. Heard of it?

Here's the last contest entry, unless somebody gets to me in the next 20 minutes. I'll do a random draw at 9 AM and announce the winner here.

From Linda:



Linda chose to take the photo with her favorite accompaniment. I highly recommend that one myself.

need a laugh!

Also...

I'm in rather a cranky and crotchety mood right now. I need diversion. What's your best cheering-up site or laugh?

Entry #4

This is from Precie, who drove to the store and purchased the book, partly (now) because of this contest. Yay!



Anyone else?

Another entry

Julianne's entry for the contest:



Okay, someone who's name does not start with "J"?

Contest rules here, update here. Remember, deadline is 9 AM MST tomorrow.

Contest entries

Triple post day. Blame coffee.

Entries for the contest!

From Jen:


From Jenny C.:



Now it's a competition. {g}

Anybody NOT named Jennifer like to enter?

Yay

Oh, I'm so happy!

One of my friends just had a writing epiphany, and I am so thrilled for her!! Whoopee!

Contest, more!

Update to contest:

1) To bring in the early purchasers, I'm changing the rules so you can also send me a picture of The Spymaster's Lady on YOUR shelf. Bring out the cameras!

2) To clarify/sweeten the pot, I'm adding the following two books to the prize:
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, a wonderful, kick-ass vampire romance. (I also love Jeaniene's blog, here)
Me and Mr. Darcy, by Alexandra Potter. This one's a fun, modern take on Mr. Darcy and women's obsession with him. Not that I {cough} suffer from this.

That's 4 free books, guys! Free shipping and handling! (I don't have a single entry so far, so you've got a really good chance here...)

Progress

Yay, 25,000 on Ghost Girl!

I do love milestones.

Only 10,000 more to go this month...

A Giveaway! For The Spymaster's Lady

I want this shirt.

Because I'm feeling all happy and buoyant today, I'm going to do a giveaway. I still have a couple books here that didn't make the giveaway list last time, so why not let someone else love them like I did?

Today's giveaway is to help promote my fabulous friend Joanna Bourne's book, The Spymaster's Lady.

I don't have the book myself yet, so I can't give THAT away (and probably won't want to give away my copy anyway!). But here's your assignment:

Go to a bricks-and-mortar bookstore. Take a picture (with your cell phone, if you're fancy like that) of Jo's book on the shelves. It would be lovely if you could turn it face out first, letting others see this fantabulous book.

Email me the photo, to susan dot adrian@yahoo.com. I'll post at least some of them here. The contest will last until Friday morning, 9 AM Montana time, at which time I'll draw a random winner. The winner will receive copies of:

--The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
--Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund (hardcover)
--a mystery book or two which I will choose from my overwhelming piles. All wonderful, of course.

Anybody up for it? Anybody want free books? :)

On Writing

I heart Stephen King.

Which is kinda weird, because I've never actually read one of his books. I have no idea WHY. I'd think that maybe it was a too-popular snobbery problem, except for that little obsessive period I had back in 7th grade with V.C. Andrews and Sweet Valley High. (I can't believe I'm admitting that!) And I did read BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (ditto!), so really, I think snobbery is out as an explanation. I think I just haven't.

Anyone want to recommend their favorite King book, in case I want to dip my toes in?

Anyway. I heart him because I'm reading ON WRITING, and bless the man, he has told the truth about writing. He talks about all the things I've tripped over on my own, the things I've gotten excellent advice on over the years, and some things I just need to listen to. It's awesome. I'm so glad I bought a copy, so I can poke into it whenever I want.

Anybody who's having trouble with revisions, OR second-guessing yourself on a first draft, buy it and read Chapter 11. Then put it back down and write. That's what I'm going to do today, freshly inspired and freed from worries. (It's okay that the first draft sucks! I can fix it later! Hooray!)

The poem

My wonderful, brilliant friend Pam Patchet Hamilton (who is a Most Excellent writer and humorist--she also wins the Surrey Silly Writing Contest EVERY YEAR) wrote this for me:

There once was a writer named Susan,
Who didn’t waste Surrey-time boozin’.
Though for some, suicidal,
Suze presented at Idol,
The buzz it created, amusin’.

On the panel, was someone named Jet,
(That’s Janet’s unique sobriquet.)
This agent did jump,
With a lightning-speed trump,
Seems her appetite, Susan did whet.

But then she forgot, our Miss Reid,
Or got busy, with some lesser deed.
But with Susan’s persistence,
Her book went the distance.
A well deserved coup, it’s agreed.

LOLOLOL! Isn't that marvelous? Thank you, Pam!!

Pam, BTW, also makes a guest appearance in JENNA. {s}

Addition to NEWS:

I neglected to say that Vicki TOLD me to go give Janet the flipping pages, even though she didn't do YA. And Vicki talked about me to Janet over breakfast, and introduced us at the banquet.

When I say in various places that it wouldn't happen without Vic, I mean that quite literally.

News (yes, finally!)

I am absolutely THRILLED to announce that as of this morning I have signed with Janet Reid, of FinePrint Literary Management!!!!!

I first ran across Janet at Surrey, as part of the panel of the dreaded SIWC Idol workshop. As in previous years, I submitted my 2 pages, this time of JENNA, to be read aloud and critiqued. Kristin Nelson stopped the reading, but Janet stood up for it, and said she loved the beginning and would have kept reading.

I didn't really consider submitting to her, though, because I knew she didn't take YAs. However, I ran into her again at the banquet, and reminded her that she'd liked my book...and she asked for pages right there. Sadly, I didn't have them hiding in my cocktail dress, but I slipped the first chapter to her the next day. She said she'd get in touch with me.

Fast forward to November. I hadn't heard from her, but I'd been submitting to other agents, and I still had her on my list as a long shot (no YAs, remember?). So I sent her a follow-up email with the first chapter again. Didn't hear right away, but that's standard. Kept submitting. In the meantime a few other agents asked for the full.

On December 18th, I got a wonderful email from Janet saying she couldn't believe she hadn't asked for the full right away, and could I please send it?

She read the whole thing IN ONE DAY and called to offer representation that night. She loved it. (okay, I feel like Sally Fields now; I will refrain)

We had to wait until the other agents considering the full had a chance to respond, which is why the long radio silence between then and now. But from the moment I talked to her that night, I wanted to sign with her. She's wonderful, and she LOVED THE BOOK. Just as it is. (yes, I did watch Bridget Jones last night, why do you ask?)

As to not repping YAs? I asked Janet that. She said "Well, we're just going to change that right now, aren't we?" :)

So there you have it. I have an agent.

Thanks to all of you for your support through everything!!

argh-a-licious

Argh.

This is my horoscope for today:

Try to adopt a 'keep it to yourself' attitude about controversies today. Play it safe, because it's quite likely that your boss or another authority figure will have different opinions than you do. It's best to just button your lip and bite your tongue -- this person is not interested in starting a debate about what whether you are right or they are right. They need you to just go along with them and not make any waves. And for today, there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing just that.

You know, I'm not a big follower of horoscopes, but sometimes they're spot on. And I really should have read that one BEFORE I made some phone calls this morning. {SIGH}

Excuse me while I pry my foot out of my mouth.

Brown Lessons

Having a kid is all about learning. We start out blank, and have to learn all that stuff about how to change diapers, how to handle tantrums, how to set boundaries, how to play with Polly Pockets for hours on end, yanking tiny little rubber outfits on and off, without screaming.

I've learned lately that for a 5.5-year-old child, boy OR girl, there's nothing as funny as poop.

I did not foresee this, when I imagined having a little girl. ANYthing that mentions poop, or farts, will cue instant giggles. She adds "poop" to any word, any sentence, any conversation, and cracks herself up. Constantly.

Yesterday she whispered in my ear, stopping often to giggle, that "if your poop had rockets in it, it would FLY!" and "if your poop was chocolate, would it come out with wrappers?" She laughed so hard she fell on the carpet.

This is not my usual favorite form of humor, so it's taking a little getting used to. (Her daddy's not having such an adjustment, but that's another story.) But I can join in, when necessary.

Last night at dinner she was telling the usual flood of poop jokes. I shook my head, serious, and said (with a straight face) "Please. That's not a-poop-riate."

I don't think we could eat for 10 minutes, we were all laughing so hard.

2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

A little bit late, but yesterday I was too busy playing with dolls, reading books, munching chips-n-guacamole and watching the Twilight Zone marathon to get near the computer.

I was a little surprised by the number of TZ episodes I didn't remember well. I kinda thought with all the years of watching marathons I'd have them memorized. But no! (hmm, or maybe I'm losing my memory. In the TZ frame of mind, that seems more likely)

I was also quite surprised by how similar one of the episodes (Number 12 looks just like you) is to the basic premise of UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld. Enough that I had to dig around to see what he had to say about it...he vaguely remembered it, and thought parts were similar. Goes to prove the adage that there's nothing new under the sun (or in plots), but it's all in how you handle it.

I'm hanging on rather tight to this adage myself, as my current WIP is a ghost story, and there seems to be a flood of them just now. The good thing is I have confidence that nobody's twisting it the same way as me.

Had a rather good idea for the next scene come to me this morning, so I'm raring to go at lunchtime today. Now I just have to figure out this odd "work" thing I'm supposed to be doing until then!

Happiness is...

(Note to say: weird, this post disappeared for a while. It must have been when I tried to revise and hit the "draft" button...)

I'm a happy girl.

I'm managing to get some (few) words in despite being home, which is rare. Child is thrilled, and obsessed in a good way, with her new dolls. We're all going out to lunch in a little bit, and then we're going to stock the fridge.

AND I just got to use my Amazon gift card. Hooray!

I ordered:

STORY by Robert McKee. I've read bits before from the library, but I want my own copy.
DREAMS AND WISHES: ESSAYS ON WRITING FOR CHILDREN by Susan Cooper, one of my favorite authors evah.
PRETTIES by Scott Westerfeld
BREATHE MY NAME by R.A. Nelson
and last but not least, a fabulous new book by a forum friend of mine,
THE SPYMASTER'S LADY by Joanna Bourne

Hoooraaaaaaaay!

yes!

I made it to 22,000. Whew.

A few recs

Goal: 22,000 by end of today. It's a stretch, but I can do it.

I've seen a couple of wonderful indie movies lately that I have to recommend. Last night's was a total surprise--we ran across it idly on the rack, and brought it home based solely on Alan Rickman's participation. Loved it. Trust the Rickman.

1. CHALK. A mockumentary following several teachers in their first years on the job. HIGHLY recommended for anyone who's ever taught. Or, you know, gone to school. I giggled.

2. SNOW CAKE. Don't read about this movie...you don't want to ruin any surprises for yourself. Just rent it and watch it blind. Good, insightful flick.

We've been on a movie kick. We've also seen The Nanny Diaries, We Are Marshall, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and many others I can't even think of right now. I lurve movies.

One more rec, for those of the book persuasion: I got GODS BEHAVING BADLY for Christmas. I haven't had much time to get very far yet, but I love it. One of the most original things I've seen in a while...and reminiscent of Douglas Adams. (high praise!)

Off to work!

Yay, 1000 words today! And a brand-new scene I'm happy with. Yay!

Oh, it was a good one

Usually, Child wakes me up with a gentle tapping on my back. Sometimes it incorporates into my dream, like the alarm buzzer, but she just keeps up the tapping, tap tap tap, until I respond.

Yesterday it was more of a thump thump thump.

"HE CAME!" she said, in a barely restrained whisper. I rolled over immediately, to find two big eyes, right there. "He CAME and you'd never believe it I've never seen so many presents IN MY LIFE!"

She bounced up and down, clutching her teddy bear, beaming.

"Really?" I whispered back, snapping out of grogginess pretty quick. "Did he eat the cookies?"

"YES! I looked, and there were only CRUMBS LEFT! And he drank all the milk except for THIS MUCH!" She scrunched her fingers together in a fist, showing me a teeny gap, and grinned. Bounce, bounce, bounce. "And I've never seen so many presents, and you have to come look, and there's a present on top that's shaped like a TURKEY! Come ON!"

There was no "okay in five minutes" yesterday. There was only a smile between me and hubby, and a quick throwing on of socks and such, and an even quicker push of the coffeemaker button.

And then it was Christmas.

The rest of the day was wonderful, filled with surprises and playing and phone calls and a lovely time with grandma and grandpa. But that...that was my favorite moment. That lasts me all year.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

My house isn't clean and shiny and sparkly, but we've been spending all our time playing together, making crafts and fudge and wrapping presents. Listening to Christmas carols. Watching the Grinch, all snuggled up on the sofa. Ticking off the days on our advent calendar. There is nothing quite like having a 5-year-old at Christmastime. Everything is vibrant, thrilling, and magical. I adore it--Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, and this one is looking to be the best of all.

Merry Christmas, everybody. May you all have a wonderful New Year.

One day

A day in the life...yesterday.

I wake thinking of snakes. I have to remember to add the snake idea into my WIP. Add in a brief mention in previous scene, longer bit in current scene, with explanation.

Realize that the water is boiling, Child is not fed yet, and I really have to put together that pasta salad for the potluck. Go do all this, dress child in fancy velvety Christmas dress with fur. Shower and clean myself up, check on husband, get everyone to sign cards for teachers, herd out the door.

Arrive at Child's Christmas program, chat with parents. Watch the rather surprising choice of a play about a child dying from the atom bomb attack, then Child ringing Christmas bells. Think idly about snakes. Wonder if I need to rework that last paragraph...something's not right there.

Abandon the hour-long line for a buffet of cocktail weenies, go out to lunch instead. After lunch, split off and go Christmas shopping (alone!). Puzzling over what happens next in the story, while driving under big lit-up bells hanging at the stoplights.

Go home, clean. Decide I need to definitely take out that last para about snakes...too telling. Don't get a chance though, because Child and hubby come home. Play.

Pack dinners, head out to basketball game. Stuff self with popcorn and candy.

Come home, rush Child to bed, zone on sofa with hubby and a movie. Go to bed at midnight. Fall asleep thinking about plot and boyfriend issues in the book, and snakes. :)

snow

YAY! It's snowing!!

Finally. I was getting so tired of looking at brown with spots of muddy ice.

If you're going to live in Montana, you should at least get a white Christmas...

A dirty secret

It's time to admit my addiction.

I tried to deny it, really I did. I tried to remove the temptation. I tried to pretend that if it wasn't right there, easily clickable, I wouldn't go look. I certainly wouldn't seek it out, right?

But oh yes, I do. I will click through three websites now to get there, daily. I snort and I giggle, and I spew coffee all over my monitor.

And in the name of facing up to it, I'm just going to add the link. No more being ashamed!

I'm a fug fan.

It's all A Novel Woman's fault.

What?

From The Onion today:

Nation In Frenzy About Little Wizard Boy And All His Little Wizard Friends

As a 30-something person who loved HP--not crazy love like some people, but I did order the thing in hardcover so I could read it before some fool told me what happened--I laughed out loud. I think maybe my husband wrote this piece, actually. :)

Looking back over my blog posts lately, _I'm_ bored. So here's the question all bloggers ask when they're tired of hearing themselves blah all over. What would you like more of? Giveaways would be good, right? What else? Craft? Gossip? Recipes?

I'm looking to inject a little life back over here, if the needle's not too big.

work and yawning

In spite of excitement, Work continues. I added another 500 words to Ghost Girl, almost making it back up to where I was a week ago. I'm still convinced it's a Much Better book for it, though.

I'm also exhausted. In fact, I think I'm only vertical because of the 2 shots of espresso I had at 2 o'clock. Think they'll last until 9 or so?

Wait for it...

I. Have. News.

Which I can't tell you yet.

(Yes, I AM a tease, thankyouverymuch, but isn't that part of being a storyteller? Making your audience wait to know what happens?)

Just know that squee below? That's nothing compared to last night and this morning!!!

Ghost Girl progress today:

cut 1000 words (ouch)
added 500 hopefully better ones

so far...

It has to come out somewhere...

squeeeeeeeeee!!!

{chewing fingernails}

That is all, for now.

Christmassy update

Someday I may start blogging regularly again.

At the moment, I feel like I'm in a holding pattern--waiting for responses, waiting for work stuff, waiting for Christmas--so I never think there's enough to report. A few things, though:

• I finished my finals! Wahoo, this term is over. I'm officially halfway through my Masters. (better start working on that thesis, huh?) I've also registered for next term. Advance warning: I'm going to be stressing about making movies next term instead of giving speeches.
• I had a Major Revelation on Ghost Girl, and figured out all this stuff I had wrong for backstory (no, most of it isn't on the pages, but it needs to be right in my head). Major changes that affect character interaction, internals, etc. So I took a brief break in forward progress and am re-writing (loosely) the first bit. I like it MUCH better.
• Our tree is up! Christmas shopping almost done, except a few stocking stuffers for my hubby and something for my mom. I think this weekend it might be time to do some baking.
• Saturday, however, will be busy. Birthday party to escort Child to, then all of us are going to the Nutcracker, then out to dinner. Yay!!

Music: Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin yakking it up with "Marshmallow Cloud in the Winter" on a Pandora Christmas swing mix.

Morbid, but not so much

I'm thinking a lot about death today.

Cheerful, isn't it?

But perfectly reasonable, considering.

Evil Knievel died last week, and his appropriately over-the-top, jam-packed, star-studded funeral is taking place in about ten minutes, here in my little Montana town. He was born and raised here, and was proud of it. Though they acknowledge his bad points, people here are proud of him too. It's definitely more of a celebration than a solemn occasion--we went to see the red, white, and blue Evel memorial fireworks last night. {s}

In counterpoint, my next-door neighbor passed away unexpectedly this weekend. Hubby and I heard the sirens at a quarter to midnight and watched, shivering, from the window as he was wheeled out on a stretcher, a paramedic straddling him, pushing on his chest. As the ambulance sat in the driveway while they continued to work on him. As the mother and son stared, blankly, as the 14-year-old daughter cried quietly in the car. The ambulance eventually drove away, the cars following, but it was pretty clear what had happened. Hubby and I couldn't sleep, of course--we curled up together on the sofa and watched a late-night movie. Ever since I have been almost constantly aware of their sadness, but at the same time fiercely joyful and grateful for my own family, for being alive today. For having love.

I wrote out Christmas cards to my friends yesterday, and am hiding a little in my office today. I just want to be alone, to think at peace. (and I want to write, at lunch. More on that tomorrow)

Woot!

Huzzah!

A good writing day--the stuff is sparse, but I was giving myself the shivers, which is always a good sign. Got 1000 words, to 30%.

I also had my first of two finals this morning, and it went really well. So yay yay triple yay.

Song on Pandora that's making me dance: Victim of Love, Erasure. I am such an 80s girl sometimes. {g}

A little change, a little stay the same

I'm here. Working on keeping my head in the new book instead of my email inbox, and making steady forward progress even if I must remind myself that this is in truth a shitty first draft.

I've been having a little trouble slipping into the skin of my MC...I get it for flashes, but mostly it's like she's not quite letting me in. I keep finding I was wrong about her--she doesn't like baseball at all (shame), she just likes to wear a Mariner's cap because her grandpa gave it to her. Oh, I say. Hmm. And must rewrite that bit. She dips in and out of being a photography buff (this I think is likely just me forgetting to keep that part in my mind).

And oddly, last night I realized I may have her name wrong. I heard a name on the radio, and suddenly something clicked in my brain and I thought, Ah. It's not X, it's Y. Maybe that's why you're fighting me, because I didn't even know you well enough to get your name right. We shall see. I'm trying out the new name today and see if I've got it this time. She seems much happier with it so far. (this last is the part where non-writers secretly think I'm insane)

I've also been reading Stephen King's ON WRITING, which has been recommended to me for years, rightly. Excellent. Most of the advice I've heard before, but it's always useful to be reminded, and in such an honest, no-bullshit, entertaining way. Actually that's probably the sum of his message, right there. Be honest. The story rules. Tell yourself the story on the first draft, tell it to others on revisions. Rock on, and keep at it. (I did meet Stephen King once, long ago at a wild Book Expo party, before he wrote this book. I was too overwhelmed to do anything but mumble.)

There's also a nice, completely true post by suricattus here about writing blahs.

Keep at it, fellow writers! Hope your holidays or pre-holidays are going well.

YAY!

I made my November goal for Ghost Girl! 15,000 words, 25%. Woo-hoo.

The story's taken off in a different direction than I expected, but that's always a good sign. I maybe get to do a little research this weekend, and then we get to the next exciting bit. {rubbing hands together, twirling mustache} I also unexpectedly came up with the beginning of another book last night. This is not the way I usually work, one book at a time, but I'm paying attention to it. It's a good beginning.

It's supposed to be -9 F tonight, which is damned cold. We haven't decided what to do yet, but I can promise you it won't be outside.

Speech done, check. Photography portfolio almost done. Work progressing apace.

Queries...still waiting. Wait wait wait wait wait. This appears to be a normal part of the process, so I shall continue...

Dash

Two quick notes about my girls!

--An AMAZING review of Joanna Bourne's upcoming book The Spymaster's Lady over at Smart Bitches Trashy Books. YAY Jo! We all knew it rocked. Now everyone else is starting to know it too!

--Vicki's over at the Romance Novel TV message board today only with her 3 co-authors to talk about Holidays Are Hell. Go say hi!

I'm not blogging because I'm:

--preparing for another speech
--working
--putting together my final project
--studying for finals
--Christmas shopping
--writing Ghost Girl
--querying Jenna

pretty much all at the same time. Later, gators!

Shows and blog posts and writing, oh my

It's show season in Montana. We saw the national tour (as hubby says, probably "a national tour" not "the") of THE PRODUCERS last night. Amazing. I actually hurt from laughing so much, and the performers were spot-on.

Yay! I love being able to see super-class productions in small-town Montana! 5 minutes from my house, with no waiting!

In reading back over my old blog posts just now, I'm embarrassed by the contrast to now. Now mostly I do random updates on my writing progress and occasional notes, with little else. I used to be much more verbose. Hum. Maybe I said everything already?

Or maybe not. I think rather I'm choosing other outlets for those thoughts, and that's okay. At least partly. You always have archives. {g}

Speaking of writing progress {cough}, I've been struggling with the writing on Ghost Girl over the past week or so, and I realized this morning why. Somehow, I'm holding back again. I'm not dumping everything into it and just having fun. I'm worrying. I think it's reflective of the rigorous query process I'm going through right now with JENNA, with all the emotional ups and downs and simply high-strung waiting that involves. There's so much guessing, second-guessing, market-consciousness etc. in that process that it's dribbling over into my current work. I'm LETTING it dribble over.

I. Must. Stop. This.

Starting today. I'll revise the first bits later if I have to, but I'm freeing it up today. Moving on deeper, but with less stress. Letting my character be whoever the heck she is, even a swearer or a little bit of a bitch, if that's what she is. For now. Remembering that this is a SFD, not a perfect first draft. That I shouldn't start second-guessing my premise at this stage. (if it sells, it sells. If not...I'm writing a story here. It's the story that matters, not whether the premise is popular.)

So there.

A moment

On Sunday night all three of us went to a wonderful show, with a pianist and a baritone, Leon Williams.

Wow.

Leon is a powerful singer, with a great stage presence and expression. He managed to connect with the audience and bring us along with him for a wide range of songs, from negro spirituals to Moon River to a kid's song Child has the book for, "Fiddle-I-Fee". His last song was the heady "Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha.

Tears sprang to my eyes. I looked over at this 5-year-old, beautiful, well-spoken, reading Child sitting next to me, watching with eyes wide, feet bouncing on the chair, and I flashed back in an instant to the first concert we ever took her to. She was 3 weeks old, still a red-faced wrinkled tiny person I still didn't have a handle on. Hubby's brother-in-law was singing the lead role in a community production of Man of La Mancha, and they convinced us to bring her. She'll be fine, they said. You need to see this. So we bundled her up and took her along, and as soon as the first notes started, she cried.

You thought I was going to say she loved it all, didn't you? But she bawled. SIL and I high-tailed it out into the hallway, where we could still faintly hear the songs through the walls. We took turns walking and rocking her for the rest of the show. And when "Impossible Dream" started at the end, I looked down at this perfect little new being in my arms, and I thought "There's my impossible dream, right there."

And here we are now, at a place I couldn't even imagine then. She's still perfect (to me), but she's BIG. She's her own individual, marvelous person. And she can sit with us, holding my hand and enjoying the song in her own way.

Life rocks, doesn't it?

Meme

Jen tagged me. I don't know if this is good or bad...but here you go.

A) Four jobs I have had in my lifetime:
1. Scientific editor
2. Bookstore manager
3. Pet caretaker, when people go on vacation
4. Telemarketer (for 4 days before I quit…awful job)

B) Four movies I would watch over & over:
1. White Christmas
2. Lion, Witch, & Wardrobe (newest version)
3. Emma
4. Sound of Music

C) 4 places I have lived:
1. Butte, Montana
2. San Diego
3. Brighton, Sussex, England
4. Penryn, California

D) Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. ER
2. Saturday Night Live (sometimes)
3. Baseball
4. Um. That's all, really.

E) Four places I have been:
1. Florence, Italy
2. Dublin
3. The Bahamas
4. Winnipeg

F) Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
1. Julie
2. Vic
3. Husband
4. Dad

G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Mexican
2. Thai
3. Salt (popcorn, chips, nuts, lime dipped in, you name it)
4. Chocolate

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
Maybe home writing/reading, but otherwise I’m good.

I) Things I am looking forward to this and next year:
1. Signing a publishing contract!! (positive visualization)
2. Attending Child's Kindergarten graduation
3. Christmas
4. Finishing Ghost Girl, starting the next one

weather report

November has finally hit. There's a scattering of snow and ice on the ground. There's a strong west wind, bending the trees and brightening our cheeks. And it's COLD. It was 9 degrees this morning.

I've completely forgotten how to deal with this. I gave in and brought my red winter coat out of the closet. Child's snowpants, hat, and gloves are dutifully crammed into her backpack, though she won't deign to wear them yet. But I must remember the Rules of Winter:

--when it's super-cold (or when you're getting used to it) don't go outside unless you have to.
--wear a COAT! Even if you're running to the next building and it looks oh-so-sunny from the windows.
--shuffle across the ice. yes, you look like an old woman, but it's better than falling and having to shuffle because you have a broken leg.
--bring a scarf to wrap around your ears. ears get cold in wind.
--boots work better for shuffling across ice than super-cute Skecher shoes.

And that is all. I think...

Mosaic Hen

I got up over 10,000 words on Ghost Girl, with a burst of "what if this happened". I love those. I almost always follow them, and they rarely let me down. Onward! At least 16,000 by the end of November, maybe more. I'm starting to really enjoy this book. I remember this giddiness when writing Jenna...and it's like drugs. Once you've experienced it, you have to go back for another taste.
(Or so I hear on the drugs. No, Dad, I don't know from personal experience.)

Longer-term goal: I want the rough draft of GG done by March. Revisions slated for April.

Writing hard is the best distraction I can think of for the query process, which is just a weird thing. In spite of myself I jump when an e-mail comes in. I run for the phone to check messages. My superstitious side is surfacing in surprising ways. But I'm also optimistic, and excited.

Good news today, baby!

Lately I've been filled with an overall thankfulness and appreciation for ALL the good stuff in my life. Husband, Child, family, friends, writing, job. I love them all; I revel in them. Opportunities for creativity. The time and space to play around with words and the people who talk in my head. {g} Food. Wine. Chocolate. (Yes, it is food, but it deserves a separate category, I think.) Other people's stories, that involve me and touch me deeply. Gargoyles. Photos. The colorful mosaic hen Child made for me this weekend.

Okay, I think I'm going to share the hen. {s} And wish you all good news for today!

more...

Yay! Another 900 words today, almost all tonight.

{tired but happy}

Keep it going

Huzzah! I got more good news yesterday, some for me, and some for Vicki...

HOLIDAYS ARE HELL just hit #21 on the NYT Bestseller List! Wa-hoodle!

And for good reason, too. I already raved about Vic's story, and now I'm reading Kim Harrison's, which also rocks.

I'm taking my co-workers out to lunch today, to thank them for all their tremendous hard work lately keeping up with our map orders. Whew. I deserve it too. {s} Hopefully I will be hungry again by then, as I've just downed a whole bag of microwave popcorn and two handfuls of M&Ms. What? I love food.

And tomorrow is parent-teacher conference day! Fortunately I already got the progress report to review before then, and it's all good. Thank God.

And last but NOT least, I got 900 new words on Ghost Girl yesterday, and am very pleased with how it's going. Should be at 16,000 words by the end of November, which is well into the plot.

Good news, people. May you have good news today too!

More on colors

This may sound obvious based on the way I keep changing my blog colors, but I've just had an "Aha!" moment that each of my books does have its own color scheme, and I'd been subconsciously changing the blog to match.

The Murderess's Tale was green and gold, like the embroidered skirt of a noblewoman's gown.

The Weirdest Thing about Jenna was blue (Jenna's color) and black and white, which echoed the theme of balance, as well as a few other related themes. {s}

Ghost Girl is all fall colors: warm oranges and reds and browns. I think that's all coming from Natalie.

Somehow this realization makes me very happy.

New colors

A new fall look for the blog. As I've said before, colors are very important to me...and my new WIP is fall-based. I'm going to be living in October for a few months at least. {s}

I had a wonderful weekend, and am still riding high on some good news and hoping for more (because I'm greedy that way). Good news today! Good news for everybody!

And speaking of good, GO GET HOLIDAYS ARE HELL. Sorry to yell, but I read Vicki's story The Harvest on Friday, and am still completely rocked. It is soooooo yummily good.

This week I'm pondering what it is to be an artist in various forms. More on this later...

stuff

'Lo.

Hope you all had a fun Halloween. Today is the second day of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead. I was in Tecate for Dia de los Muertos once (we tried to go to the beer factory and it was closed, sigh), and it is a prominent holiday in San Diego and Los Angeles. I miss seeing all the skeletons.

I haven't been blogging just because I didn't feel like it. {s} Lots going on, though...I have a bunch of targeted queries out, and am waiting for responses (good news today, good news today is my mantra). Working on Book 3, now with the working title Ghost Girl. Note the floating ghostie in my avatar. Very busy personally, with all sorts of events going on...this is when the social and concert season picks up in Montana. I'm afraid we went a little crazy (again) on a silent auction last night...now to find out what we "won"...

I have not yet made it to the bookstore to buy Vic's new anthology, HOLIDAYS ARE HELL, or Jeaniene Frost's book HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE, but I'm gonna. Today or tomorrow, hooray!

And we finally got tired of the horrible OnDemand movies, and gave in and signed up for NetFlix. Should start receiving movies today.

And you see why I haven't been blogging, because I am just a rambler. {g}

Boo!

Happy Halloween!!
(this is my very own gargoyle/flying monkey, photo taken last night. It's sitting next to me on my desk right now...)

Surrey recap

I have returned!

Exhausted, but exhilarated. Still spinning from all the face time with my girls, not to mention agent meetings, workshops, discussions, and celebrations. Long, deep discussions and short, silly conversations. Hugs, tears, lots of "you-can-do-its" and raised glasses. I love Surrey.

karen, Kathy, Julie, Rose, Pam, Vicki, Deb, Jennifer, Diana, Stephanie, geez, everyone else...you rock.

I'm not going to go into any details about agents or requests or such, because I don't believe in sharing specifics about the query process as it happens. But I'll say that I had a lot to be happy about over the weekend, and it's all good.

Now I suppose--though I don't wanna--that I really have to go practice my speech for tomorrow. I'd so much rather be working either on tweaking my first chapter or writing the next scene of Book 3. Sadly, the speech requires more imminent attention.

(reluctantly sliding away...)

And away!

Off to Surrey!

I'll see all y'all that are going, TOMORROW. Otherwise I'll see ya when I get back!!

aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

Oh. My. God.

Okay, things are a bit crazy here in Susan-ville. Yesterday a contingent of us went up to Helena to unveil the new Montana geologic map to the governor, which was very cool--though I somehow didn't quite expect the level of press. Three TV cameras, 2 newspaper reporters/photographers. Today we officially released the map for sale...and everything went crazy! The story got picked up by the AP, and orders are flowing in.

And my staff are rapidly going insane. {s}

In the middle of all this I'm trying to get ready for Surrey in two days, my presentation/critique tomorrow, and a 10-minute speech I have to do two days after I get back. Oh, and the little open house that's planned for tomorrow afternoon...

La la la la, I will be so happy when I am on that plane...

Friday!

Confidence back! {g}

I printed out the whole thing of Jenna yesterday. I love to see a whole book that I wrote in one, thick pile. Now I get to read it again, hopefully this time just to lose myself in the story.

I didn't get a chance to do much writing on Book3 yesterday, but I plan to make up for that today. Goal is at least 5% (3000 words) by the time I leave for Surrey. I'm sitting at 2200 something now, so this is eminently doable. AND the Dead Robert scene is next, yay!

There's an-almost-equivalent-to-Jenna stack of work waiting for me, so that's it for now!

Except the picture:
Yes, that's me, for a class assignment. Kreekie thinks it's freaky, but I rather like it. {g}

A little shaky

So I'm not always confident.

Last night just before I went home I printed out (and re-read) my synopsis for Jenna. I don't know what it is about synopses, but even though it tells the story, it has the voice, etc....it still makes the story sound kinda weird, all crunched down like that. I think that's what spurred the two dreams I had last night:

1. I dreamed that I got a rejection letter back from my #1 agent, and it was strange (of course, it was a dream, duh) because instead of writing her own letter, she had written snarky comments all over my query, in orange pen. The sweet part about this dream is that after feeling very disappointed for about a minute, I looked up at my husband and said "well, let's tackle the list--let's send out ten new ones today" and immediately started writing queries to other agents. Good attitude turn around there.

2. Shortly after this one I dreamed that I had to read my manuscript out loud to a class. (The provenance of this dream isn't hard, as I was observing peer critiques in a creative writing undergrad class yesterday.) Except it wasn't really Jenna, it was some mutated blog form of Jenna with illustrations I had to show everyone, and a kid's poem to start. And I had that moment of panic where I realized this was just too weird to show anyone, much less sell...

And that's when I woke up and had to get ready for the day. It left me with a little residual sense of negativity, I must say--I wish I'd ended with the first one. Must move on and write on Book 3 today, and I plan to print up Jenna in the next couple days and read the whole thing just before I leave, to pump up my enthusiasm. Hopefully. {s}

Small things I've learned about Natalie in the past 2 days of writing/thinking (that may or may not ever actually make it into Book 3). These aren't major points, just details for me to know:

• she's always late
• she likes to wear baseball caps
• she lived in Seattle when she was little
• because of this she's a Mariners fan (you're welcome, Kreekie)
• she has a soft spot for underdogs and will stand up to bullies
• she's a bit of a daydreamer
• she's not very into schoolwork, except art class

I really enjoy this part of getting to know a character. It feels like they become real, and settle into my head. And whether or not any or all of this makes it into the writing overtly, I think that if I know it about her, it makes her rounded, whole. And it makes sense if I suddenly want to write a scene and I find it starts with her watching a Mariners game. {s}

And a picture for you!

You got your peanut butter in my chocolate

I really shouldn't have bought the mini-Reese's peanut butter cups AND the dark chocolate M&Ms for the candy bowl on my desk. Bad, bad habits are being created.

Got my Book3 work done for today, on target, though it took me a little longer than I wanted it to. The good news is another interesting, totally unexpected character popped up, and I can already almost visualize a subplot with her. Writing only happens when you write. {s}

Also:
wrote and sent a press release
arranged for a playdate for Child this weekend
worked on arranging this open house we're doing next week
mailed Toad, a recalled brake van, back to Thomas & Friends (rolling eyes)
made changes to a publication and printed a few copies to get bound
made an appointment to get highlights put in my hair on Thursday

check check check. :) There are many more items on the list, but I do feel I'm getting there.

Must go do some schoolwork now to balance out, in the half hour before it's time to go home!

Monday madness

A loverly weekend. Lots of hanging out, watching baseball (though now my Angels are out of it too...boo), and even swimming. I tried a new recipe last night that didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped, but it was okay. Easy stuff tonight, soup and bread.

I was freaking out a bit this morning at the sheer volume of STUFF I have to get done before Surrey. Everything from preparing a speech to taking pictures of myself (ack) to presenting the new state map to the governor of Montana to dealing with the press to making sure I buy nylons. Sheesh. I made a list (aptly titled FREAKING LIST OF THINGS TO DO BEFORE SURREY), which makes me feel slightly better. Lists always make me feel slightly better. Are you a list person too?

Today I'm mostly doing lots of small detail-y things for work and catching up on homework. I have a class this term that is all online except for our 4 presentations--which oddly is hard for me. I leave all the assignments until the last minute. I'm not really sure why I have discipline when it comes to writing but not so much with homework? (desire? {s})

I'm still getting to know Natalie. Managed a bit more, and should make my (easy) goal of 2000 more words this week, 5000 total this month. That seems good for a first month, with Surrey. After that I'll dive into the more usual 10,000 a month goals.

That's all for today, because I have a quiz in less than an hour...except for your picture of the day.
For a textures/patterns assignment. This is a close-up of Child's laundry basket. {s}

More

Weather: Snowing. The other day was a half-hearted attempt for an hour or so, bitsy flurries just to get an "I can't believe it's snowing already" reaction from us. Today I woke up to wet, slushy snow on the ground and weighing down the trees, and it hasn't stopped, all day. {SIGH}

I have not even had time to sit and write a blog post until this very minute. Running here, running there, doing a full-scale photo shoot, two scheduled meetings, more impromptu meetings, phone calls back and forth and back (and forth) with the governor's office...

WHEW. I am sitting down with a cup of tea and a handful of mini Reese's peanut butter cups, for a few minutes. Right now. There.

I did manage to get up over 1% on Book 3 at least, and tantalizingly close to my 1000-word goal for the week, if I hadn't had to wrap up my lunch and trudge out (in the snow) to a meeting. Finished the first scene to at least "it can live for now" status, so I can move on. I'm really looking forward to the Dead Robert bits, but those are not next. Next is Tony and still vague female friend.

See, I won't share snippets or actual details, but still can pretend to tantalize you with random character names dropped here and there. Sly of me, right? Dead Robert is sooooo my favorite, though. I think I will love Dead Robert.

Did I say I was looking forward to Surrey?

The weird thing is, regarding Surrey, that I'm actually looking forward to pitching. Most writers will probably think I'm insane for even thinking that. But I _think_ Jenna will be a really great match for the agent I'm meeting with--I think it's right up her alley and she'll like it. So I'm looking forward to introducing her to Jenna, so to speak, in the same way that you look forward to introducing two friends you really like.

Of course like introducing the two friends, I might be wrong and they might not like each other at all. They might despise each other from first look. But that's okay too. I have a list of potential agents as long as my arm I can introduce Jenna to, should this meeting not go as well as I hope. I'm not all wrapped up in this one chance; I just see it as a really good opportunity. That I can't wait to get to.

Is that weird of me? Or insanely arrogant? I wonder, but don't know. At any rate I figure it can't be a bad attitude to go into the pitch with, so I'll stick with it for now. Until I stand there quivering before her, my little red folder squashed tightly to my chest...

No, seriously. Just a chance for a chat. {s}

(I'm still liking this bleagh-spill-out-my-mind style of blogging better than the stale updates. You? It does make titling them more difficult.)

I decided that I'm bored with the "Whadjya eat" thingum, because how many times can I reasonably write "we had Mexican food again" without throat-slitting becoming necessary? So since I am taking a digital photography class, and since I've been taking all these photos of minerals for our calendar, I'm hereby instituting a "photo of the day" feature instead. Voila, it is done.

Photo of the Day (which I took this morning):

wow, that's a ramble you've got there

I have added 2 new blog links to my list: Melissa Marr and Libba Bray. I know, I know, I should stop reading other writer's blogs and just get to my own writing, but since I've been on this YA kick lately (writing YA, reading YA, thinking YA), I like to hear from other YA authors. It makes me feel, no matter how self-delusionally, that I'm tapped in.

Anyway. I haven't even read Libba Bray's books yet, but somebody mentioned her blog on the forum and I looked, and I read two entries and said "I must add this!" And I loved Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely so much that I actually wrote her a fan-girl letter last week. (I have not written a fan-girl letter in like, ever, so this is big. Melissa responded almost immediately with a very nice note. She is not only an excellent writer, she is good people.)

I apparently am writing my blog free-form today. Don't question. Ride along.

I meant to not start the word counter for the new book (er...Book 3, Natalie, or something) until I had at least 1000 words, and I should have listened to myself. I looked at that 0% this morning and felt sad. Must write more to get over 1000. I realized that I'm actually having a bit of difficulty transitioning to writing all-new, first draft material again. I'm so darned used to the revision mode that I feel like I want to polish and fix, even when I only have 150 words to work with. Must. Stop. This. SFD!

Hmmm, this free-form blogging thing might help. I think I must do a writing journal entry today.

In other news (I wonder how often I say that?) I am finally relatively well, hurrah, after a full week of first cold and then stomach virus. It feels almost odd to be well, but good. GOOD. And I get to leave early this afternoon to go take Child to her ballet/tap class, which should be fun.

My coffee cup is broken, as hubby dropped it spectacularly yesterday (picture fountains of coffee spewing all over the garage floor) and dented it. Who knew this would make the coffee not come out the top? Yay, good excuse to buy a new one.

I WILL BE AT SURREY TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!!!

Yes, I will leave it there, for now.

Natalie

Okay, I got some 400 words today, and Natalie (Nat) feels right. So I'm going with that for now.

And though I won't share snips, I will share photos. This is what Natalie's hair looks like. {s}

Yeah, I know, you're fascinated.

Not Freddy

Hmph. Yesterday I contracted the "mild GI bug" that Child had over the weekend...which doesn't feel quite so mild in me. Argh. I'm feeling like it's karma just for saying that.

It's snowing, with a strong, cold wind. I am so staying inside.

That's the bad news. The good news is I started writing on Book 3 yesterday (yay). I quickly discovered, though, that the MC's name is NOT Freddy. It just doesn't fit. I'm looking for a new name, though "Natalie" keeps popping up (over and over and over), so maybe that one will stick. For now I guess I'll have to refer to it as Book 3 until I'm sure...

Will add more today!

The bleeping Padres closer blew the save and lost the bleeping game in the bottom of the 13th inning.

{rest of post censored for a huge string of nasty swear words}

Change in plans

Child had a mild GI bug over the weekend, AND it snowed, so we took it a little easier than planned. Meaning we skipped the homecoming parade and football game and went to a nice indoor volleyball game instead...though we still went to the activity-packed birthday party on Sunday. I was soooooooo tired last night. (why do birthday parties wear out parents more than kids?)

The bloody #@*The bloody #@*$& Padres lost 2 games this weekend when they only needed to win one, and so have to do a tie-breaker game tonight to try to make it in the playoffs. They better win tonight, or there will be mucho swearing in our household, at least half of it by me.
amp; Padres lost 2 games this weekend when they only needed to win one, and so have to do a tie-breaker game tonight to try to make it in the playoffs. They better win tonight, or there will be mucho swearing in our household, at least half of it by me.

I got feedback today from 2 out of 3 of my teen readers who have experienced epilepsy, and was really (really) happy with their responses, especially that they felt the epilepsy bits were spot-on. A big whew and yay.

And I brainstormed Freddy today. I now know what Freddy looks like, and am getting a sense of her. And I know where the first scene starts! I set a goal to get 5,000 words this month, and will start those this week, definitely. Hmmm, maybe 1000 this week.

Surrey is coming in only 17 days!

Whadjya eat? Steak, garlic bread, mushrooms fried with garlic and butter. I miscalculated and the steak was underdone, which made me sad. {sigh} Oh well, will know better next time!