AS many of you know, my kids were very sick this week. It was a very rough week for me personally. I'm trying to focus on other things, but sometimes, that doesn't work. This week was one of those times. I did get some work done. But I'm not sure what is going on in the future. Not that anyone does, but my life feels very unsettled right now. I really need to paint but I'm out of Varnish. I have a special mix I use for my medium that is part varnish. Partly, I'm out of varnish because back when I got it to replace some when I was almost out, I got two bottles of varnish for acrylics. I paint with oils. That's not such a good idea.
My writing is going okay except for formatting issues! UGH I've priced down the full length novels while I fix these things. I got the print proof of Winds of Fire and almost cried. So many formatting issues. And I used their template. Instructions were copy and paste. Yeah right. I spent 8 hours fixing formatting, which I have to do again because it went wonky again when I tried to fix the other issue. and then guess what else? The template provided by Amazon doesn't put in page numbers!!! I want to scream and cry. And I don't like the cover. Maybe making my own, but they don't have the handy dandy template that's blank and let's you put stuff in anymore. At least not where I could find it.
These stories are good stories that I'm having fun with. Why does the rest of it have to be so hard? I know my work isn't perfect (if you see any errors not involved in formatting, please tell me!) but I want it as close to perfect as I can get it. I read a Harlequin romance recently that had bad errors in it and it reminded me that stuff gets missed even with experience and professionals. So I fix what I find and make it better. And I have no high-horse about people showing me errors. (not in style but in grammar. Style is personal choice.)
So, before I can really get going on my other books, I have that to do. And I got a provisional yes for a novel for a fantasy group off a synopsis and question and answering period. I HATE SYNOPSIS. I'm not big on queries either. And you know what? The person who was helping me, QUIT OFFERING WORKSHOPS. AHEM. LOOKS AT @CJREDWINE pointedly.
Not that I blame her. She has other work to kepe her busy, but I'm still not real happy about it. That last query I posted? Sounds interesting, but the book is hard, fast pace and slams you in the gut and I can't seem to get that into my query. I bet CJ could. She was so awesome and wonderful with that stuff. I'm still whining, I know. If she ever offers another query class, I'm going to sell my husband so I can afford it. Or something equally desperate :P
I haven't been posting samples of my writing lately because I was going to do it on my website. I have done some there, but I think I'm going to do some more...
How are my friends and followers today?
Showing posts with label Sick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sick. Show all posts
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Story on Meds or Waving a Magic Wand
As most of my twitter followers have gathered, I'm on a long dose of antibiotics as well as benadryl, sudafed and saline flushes. This got me to thinking. Yeah, I know, I'm weird. But since I can't focus on my writing my creative weirdness needs to vent somehow.
You see, I've read the last few hundred words I wrote while sick. Not pretty. Plot is okay, structure is okay, but there is no oomph. Apparently I write like I paint--expressionist impressionist LOL If I'm not feeling it, you'll get the impression with no real feeling.
That's what's happened in my last chapter. I may leave it and go on to finish the story since there are no major plot issues. I can fix the lack luster in edits. I'm sure my critique partner will fix the lack luster in no time :) I have a wonderfully honest, yet positive Critique Partner. Have I told you all how much I love her? Between my MIL beta reading since the beginning of my serious writing stints, my new beta readers, and my Critique Partner, I'm starting to feel like a professional writer LOL Sorry, off topic, but I heart these peeps!
As I'm moaning and groaning my way through day, trying not to be a Narcissistic Nancy, I got to looking at that chapter and wishing I could put it on antibiotics. Maybe some sudafed. And a saline flush. Figured I'd skip the benadryl since it's sleepy enough :P
How many times as a writer do we wish we could wave the magic wand? Too many. What if I could wave a wand and fix all? I wouldn't learn for one thing. My brain would stagnate. And that doesn't guarantee that a reader will like my story. Also, I'd lose that contact with my beta readers. I wouldn't have gotten so close to my critique partner who has turned into a lovely friend.
So when you're moaning and groaning about having to edit your writing, or weeding your garden (I wish, I'm ready for spring!), or plain old having to redo something, think twice about that magic wand or wishing you could flush it :) Who knows what you might miss?
Writing. It's more than a book, it'a an adventure.
You see, I've read the last few hundred words I wrote while sick. Not pretty. Plot is okay, structure is okay, but there is no oomph. Apparently I write like I paint--expressionist impressionist LOL If I'm not feeling it, you'll get the impression with no real feeling.
That's what's happened in my last chapter. I may leave it and go on to finish the story since there are no major plot issues. I can fix the lack luster in edits. I'm sure my critique partner will fix the lack luster in no time :) I have a wonderfully honest, yet positive Critique Partner. Have I told you all how much I love her? Between my MIL beta reading since the beginning of my serious writing stints, my new beta readers, and my Critique Partner, I'm starting to feel like a professional writer LOL Sorry, off topic, but I heart these peeps!
As I'm moaning and groaning my way through day, trying not to be a Narcissistic Nancy, I got to looking at that chapter and wishing I could put it on antibiotics. Maybe some sudafed. And a saline flush. Figured I'd skip the benadryl since it's sleepy enough :P
How many times as a writer do we wish we could wave the magic wand? Too many. What if I could wave a wand and fix all? I wouldn't learn for one thing. My brain would stagnate. And that doesn't guarantee that a reader will like my story. Also, I'd lose that contact with my beta readers. I wouldn't have gotten so close to my critique partner who has turned into a lovely friend.
So when you're moaning and groaning about having to edit your writing, or weeding your garden (I wish, I'm ready for spring!), or plain old having to redo something, think twice about that magic wand or wishing you could flush it :) Who knows what you might miss?
Writing. It's more than a book, it'a an adventure.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Writing while sick
I've been sick lately. Sinus infection type stuff. As I get this all the time, writing has been easy enough, and my tone has been fine. Well, it has moved into my chest. Still used to that, so wasn't to upset, but now the lymph nodes under my arms seem to be infected. Damn and double damn. I've had a full body "sinus" infection before and it's not pretty. Explains why I feel so down. Last couple of days of not enough sleep has combined to make me feel BLAH.
So, how do you keep writing when you're sick like that? I do. Sometimes, I do lots more edits. But I have a goal. I have to have rough draft finished my March 15. No excuses. Right now, I'm on pace as I'm about 25% finished and we're about a quarter of the way into this challenge. I can do it. But only if I don't slack.
What's that mean? I'm so "not in the mood" to write. I want to lay around and watch movies. I did slack of a little yesterday. I wrote only couple hundred words, and did some editing. I can't do that today. It means buckling down and writing. Period. Even if I think it sucks a$$ and erase it all later. I may get good plot point out. I may just be helping instill good habits. Who knows. The point is, I have to write today.
So, here's me, doing the routine, getting things moving, so I can write. Have y'all found your routine yet?
So, how do you keep writing when you're sick like that? I do. Sometimes, I do lots more edits. But I have a goal. I have to have rough draft finished my March 15. No excuses. Right now, I'm on pace as I'm about 25% finished and we're about a quarter of the way into this challenge. I can do it. But only if I don't slack.
What's that mean? I'm so "not in the mood" to write. I want to lay around and watch movies. I did slack of a little yesterday. I wrote only couple hundred words, and did some editing. I can't do that today. It means buckling down and writing. Period. Even if I think it sucks a$$ and erase it all later. I may get good plot point out. I may just be helping instill good habits. Who knows. The point is, I have to write today.
So, here's me, doing the routine, getting things moving, so I can write. Have y'all found your routine yet?
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sick
So that earlier sickness I mentioned? Strep throat in the worst way. I've started to blog a few times since but couldn't sit up long enough to get through my email, much less a posting of any lenght or quality. Although, with my high fever, it may have been interesting to see what I wrote!
I tried to work a bit, outlining a series, etc, but I didn't get very far. Did ask a few questions/comments and learn a few things but no real work got done.
I do believe that my short story may be turning into a novel so I'm going to get started now. Plus, outline the series better as my feverish brain only imagined it wrote things down. Of course, the way I felt, it may be written down in blood somewhere for all I know. I was in a real bad way. My kids alternated between taking full advantage of a mom who can't talk much less raise her voice (Yeah, quiet you in the peanut gallery)and looking pretty scared when they saw me. I was miserable and you could tell with barely a glance.
I am looking forward to Christmas. I did get a couple wrapped day before yesterday cuz I felt a little better, but I exhausted myself so did nothing yesterday. My son keeps asking to wrap a packing box, as he calls it, which is actually a wipies holder for the diaper bag :D I said when I'm done wrapping presents. Oh lordie, for a five year old its been an interminable wait. Finally, late yesterday, I told him if he asks again I was going to let Isaac (the baby) wrap it!
He looked at me in confusion and said, "But Isaac can't wrap!" and I said, "Exactly!" He gave me a look like I had lost my mind and fled to his room to ponder what I meant.
I'm tortuing my 16 yr old with it as he was with me when I bought his christmas present and he wrapped it himself and has spent the last two weeks bugging me to open it LOL I said NOPE. That's all you're getting. It's been funny. He's been very creative about it. Like, I could do the dishes faster if I could just use that ;;) I swear, it's been more fun than presents I've bought him in years LOL
I'm moving to WA so presents are light this year, mostly books. I think Josh present is the only exception to that, but I can't remember for sure the way my brain feels right now. Hope everything is well with the rest of y'all. :D
Merry Christmas :)
I tried to work a bit, outlining a series, etc, but I didn't get very far. Did ask a few questions/comments and learn a few things but no real work got done.
I do believe that my short story may be turning into a novel so I'm going to get started now. Plus, outline the series better as my feverish brain only imagined it wrote things down. Of course, the way I felt, it may be written down in blood somewhere for all I know. I was in a real bad way. My kids alternated between taking full advantage of a mom who can't talk much less raise her voice (Yeah, quiet you in the peanut gallery)and looking pretty scared when they saw me. I was miserable and you could tell with barely a glance.
I am looking forward to Christmas. I did get a couple wrapped day before yesterday cuz I felt a little better, but I exhausted myself so did nothing yesterday. My son keeps asking to wrap a packing box, as he calls it, which is actually a wipies holder for the diaper bag :D I said when I'm done wrapping presents. Oh lordie, for a five year old its been an interminable wait. Finally, late yesterday, I told him if he asks again I was going to let Isaac (the baby) wrap it!
He looked at me in confusion and said, "But Isaac can't wrap!" and I said, "Exactly!" He gave me a look like I had lost my mind and fled to his room to ponder what I meant.
I'm tortuing my 16 yr old with it as he was with me when I bought his christmas present and he wrapped it himself and has spent the last two weeks bugging me to open it LOL I said NOPE. That's all you're getting. It's been funny. He's been very creative about it. Like, I could do the dishes faster if I could just use that ;;) I swear, it's been more fun than presents I've bought him in years LOL
I'm moving to WA so presents are light this year, mostly books. I think Josh present is the only exception to that, but I can't remember for sure the way my brain feels right now. Hope everything is well with the rest of y'all. :D
Merry Christmas :)
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