Well that didn't work - but I'm still here

I knew - even as I was starting to post that Wednesdays were not going to play nice for long.... the middle of the week is always packed with writer and non-writer activities.

So I'm going to keep trying - probably to include updates over the weekends when there is a little more down time... does anyone even have down time anymore and if so - HOW!??

Now where were we?

WRITERLY Things:

• I'm playing with STATIC - need to find a bit of time to work some edits on that this week. I know I have changes to make in the beginning, but I want to get through before I go back.. I'm sort of obsessive like that
• Also working with an awesome CP, which is keeping me on track. Thank you!!! <3
• There are two conferences I am looking at attending this year (at least two) - one looks very doable with the timeline and schedule - I'm just waiting for a bit more information about the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Conference. The other (Philadelphia Writers Conference), which I have wanted to go to for EVER is right over graduation weekend and I want to be there. I'm still trying to figure if there is a way I can be in two places at once.

PUBLISHINGLY Things:

• Etched in Lies is officially out there and I still can't quite believe it... does this ever feel real? (Yes, I already shared this.... some things don't change) - A few reviews have come in - I'm honored that some have taken the time to tell everyone what they thought... have you read it yet?
• Getting closer to announcing some book signings and maybe a reading in a few places.
• And I'm reading Goodreads for some questions - hit me with it!

READERLY Things:

• I'm sad to say that I'm still working on the book I started before Christmas... STILL. I love it, but haven't had one of those days where I can just sit and read ad nauseaum (like THAT will ever happen) - I hope to finish it soon. I already filled my kindle with lots of books I can't wait to read.
• Hoping to get a bit more reading done now that I'm getting back on the treadmill to read... multitasking is my specialty - okay - so reading while I walk on the treadmill is my multitasking superpower - wish I had another.

OTHERLY Things:

• I'm still PiYOing and can feel results happening - more flexibility and strength - now I just have to get the diet into alignment (coughs - looks around...)
• I'm neck deep teaching Shakespeare as I always am in January and I love it...
• And trying to find time for everything else I want and/or need to do - like the laundry... so I have to call it for this week with promises of more again in the near future.

Until then....

Wrapping up 2015

Here it comes! 2016

.... whether we're ready to not!

The holidays are crazy! A great time to gather ideas for new character, but maybe not the best time to write about them... so in the moments of quiet that I find (few and far between), I'm taking a look back at 2015 and a look towards 2016.

Besides passing too quickly, with each year speeding away even more quickly, I look back without regret. Like life, there were ups and downs... but overall, more laughter than tears.

And as I look forward, I march into 2016 with several goals - things that I don't necessarily "resolve" to do... but strive to continue doing...

• to keep writing, brainstorming, drafting, editing - and dreaming
• to continue working towards a healthier me with good food & consistent workouts
• to find time for the little things before they are only memories of what could have been

What are your goals or resolutions?
See you on the other side!

What's Up Week in Review...

We're back to Wednesday so I think it's a little time for an update... 

WRITERLY Things:

• I've gotten back into edits for STATIC - altering from feedback with one critique partner and swapping pages with another. I'm liking where this one is heading, and hope to clean it up by the spring for queries.
• I'm playing around with the idea of a companion to ETCHED... there's more that needs to be told - I may have to break my November only rule (well - it's been the only time in the last few years that I have drafted) and set some of those ideas down soon....

PUBLISHINGLY Things:

• Etched in Lies is officially out there and I still can't quite believe it... does this ever feel real? Part of me hopes it does... part of me hopes it doesn't.
• It's still not to late to get your copy in time for the holidays.... (hint hint) Check out the Etched tab at the top for links to retailers from around the world

READERLY Things:

• Knocking out a few books before the end of the year - though my to read list keeps going... I'm almost afraid to finish reading my current books because I'm not sure which ones I should read next...

OTHERLY Things:

• You can feel the buzz in the air as the holidays approach - it doesn't matter that it's warm and raining...well, maybe for the atmosphere - but around school you know everyone is counting down to a longer break from everything...on both sides of the desk.
• Hoping to make some cookies soon - that might help build a little of Christmas cheer since Mother Nature is having a hissy fit.

Chat again soon!

Counting down to ETCHED: #10

In ETCHED IN LIES, 16-year-old Dylan Lord has just discovered she can physically feel the lies told to or around her... she struggles to come to terms with a world and an existence in which she must seek for the truth at all costs.

As I prepared and wrote this story, I had to do some research about lies.

To celebrate ETCHED's release on December 11, 2015, I am counting down to one with some of the fun fact and interesting ideas I stumbled upon in the name of writing... as well as a tidbit or two about how I came up with the idea....

Happy Reading!

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9.

10. Greatest Lies In History 

In my head there is totally an announcer's voice and cool echoing effect as each number is read... but that is completely beside the point... Here are some of the greatest lies ever told and/or are still discussed:

• The Trojan Horse
• Watergate
• The "Unsinkable" Titanic
• Ponzi Schemes

Weekend Review & Mashup

Obviously Wednesday's wrap up didn't happen... my procrastinator spirit was in full drive as I raced from work to liquor store and grocery story (no one can say I don't have my priorities straight...) home to finish cleaning before in invasion on Thanksgiving.

I'm also getting ready for a little release/count down fun - so be sure to check back starting on December 1 to see what's happening!

So a lot in a little space:

I'm doing one more crock pot meal for the month. Last week's turned out really well - and left overs were still good.. but there was something about the way it smelled that made me less then happy with the cool ranch chicken (sometimes it is the little things) - But this one is different. It's my twist on a lasagna soup. It took me about 45 minute to get everything ready and into a crock pot to simmer all day was the lasagna sauce (my own recipe: tomato sauce; paste; seasonings/spices; garlic; onion, ground beef) + Italian sausage (first time I tried that)
Then it will be buffet style later with gluten and gluten free noodles for the guests... hopefully this will work well?


And onto other things:

WRITERLY

I am almost done!! I have a few bits to add while I'm thinking about them - and then not thinking about them because ideas will always pop into my head when I'm NOT actively writing *grumbles* So as of Monday - I'll be done with NaNo and taking a few days off to reset the mind before jumping back into edits for STATIC

PUBLISHINGLY

We are at t-minus 12 days.... EEEEP!! I'm so excited and so nervous... and I'm working on a bit of fun for the beginning of December.

READERLY

Taking a little of that down time to get some reading started. i have a huge wish list stored for Christmas, which means I need to knock out some more now (twist my arm!)

OTHERLY

Getting ready for a crazy three weeks at work before the nice Christmas break - lots to finish in a short period of time... but if you haven't noticed, I tend to thrive a bit on chaos - so I say bring it! (remind me I said that then I'm losing it later)

So short and sweet - as I have rooms to vacuum, food to prepare and workouts to starts... and obviously words to pound

Chat soon!

Wanderings of Wednesday...

Short and sweet - this week's crock pot - the bourbon chicken was really good. I was afraid that it would be dry and  maybe too full of flavor - but it wasn't either. And leftovers have been yummy!
Now onto other things:

Writerly
NaNo is continuing to roll - some days are easy and I can knock out 8K+ - others I'm fighting to break 1K... I'm hoping to break 40K tonight so I'm in the home stretch to that goal of 50K but feel fairly certain my story will need more then 50K words - but I have time... hehehe
This NaNo continues to amaze me - some times the characters are all but screaming at me - and that's usually when I've stopped for the night and am just about to fall asleep... wow - totally just remembered that I had typed myself a note in my phone that I never reviewed...three cheers for plot help!

Publishingly
I'm trying to spread the word - let people know ETCHED is coming... I'm getting other pages on this Blog ready for release. I'm hoping to get to some local bookstores in the next few days and set up signings and other fun stuff.

Readerly
Same books - little progress... maybe I'll get them finished this weekend...

Otherly
So because of NaNo and student council conferences - I'm behind on grading and housework... and with Thanksgiving coming up, I'm trying to use my time really wisely...

So this will remain short - with the idea that in the future, I'll have more time to really expound on writer life and read life... so until then, keep writing.

Where were were 11/11/15

So before I begin this week in review, I wanted to do a follow up on Sunday's Crock Pot - it turned out well. I did end up adding extra garlic and a few other spices because I was afraid it would taste a bit bland, and the end result was very good. Naturally, my daughter was disappointed in it's lack of Disney appearance (told you she would expect to see the mouse himself...) I did try to appease her by serving it in her beloved Minnie bowl, which I think saved me this time. Next time I make it, she will be expecting the stew in the mouse... and now, for our regularly scheduled program:

WRITERLY Things:

• NaNoWriMo 2015 is still happening, but this novel is behaving differently then the others - but if I think about it, each year was some how different.
• Two years ago DEMANDED to be written grabbing huge hours of my time where I just pounded keys and the words flowed
• Last year, the characters wouldn't shut up and while I anticipated 60K, they weren't done until closer to 82K - and I'll be the first to admit that the ending is sub-par and major revisions will be needed when I return to that story.
• This year, however, wants to be written, but it isn't in a great hurry, which sort of bothers me. The characters are there, but they aren't demanding my time like the others, and the story is happy to give me small chunks each night, which honestly works better as a form, but because I'm used to the crazy write until I can't see approach, this calmer approach feels awkward. BUt I tell my students that they have to let the story speak, and listen to what it wants to do - and I like to follow my own example, so I am cranking less then 2K a night - some days I'll have a little rush and hit over 4K, but that's about it. I am ahead of the curve having broken 20K last night, but I was hoping to be further along in the story - 
• I know what's happening - the plot is there - but its just taking it's time.
• Another learning experience - which may make this first draft more user friendly for edits. Where as the others sort of threw themselves at me, this one is being a little more meticulous with pace and content...something to ponder as I move forward.

PUBLISHINGLY Things:

• One month from today ETCHED will be on the shelves - GAH! That's crazy! Are you ready? I'm not!
• The Goodreads giveaway ended last night, and I was so honored to see 879 people signed up for my giveaway. 
• The business card debacle has been fixed, and I am working at slowly disbursing them in society... 

READERLY Things:

• I am still working on the same books as last week, as I expected given that NaNo takes up so much of my time this month... 

OTHERLY Things:

• Tomorrow I leave for the PASC State Conference with a great group of student leaders - some of whom have not gone before and others who this will be their last trip to the state conference before graduation, so this past week has been busy planning and preparing not only for the trip, but also to take care of everything that needs to happen in my absence...

And for now, I think that's all. I still have to pack, and clean, and NaNo before the night is up... and maybe get a workout in... and then there sleep..... ha!

Where were we....

So here's my attempt to be more consistent with blogging and communication in general...

All things WRITERLY:

• Nano is in full swing, and yet again, this year is different. I really like the general premise for this year's stab at 50K, but my characters are not being as cooperative as usual. They're there - but they aren't as loud and ready to feed me information as they usually are. Usually, I just have to sit back and keep up. This year, its really like pulling teeth, but I think I've made a bit of progress on that front. I actually printed out a calendar for the month of July - (when my story takes place) and mapped my characters movements during that month. See, the story is really based on travel and near misses so I needed to make sure I knew where they were going. I'm hoping now that I have a timeline, they will be a little more willing to cooperate.... We'll see how that goes.
• I am also hoping (hahaha) to continue working edits for STATIC, which I'd LOVE to start querying after the new year... if its' ready. I know it needs a major rewrite in the beginning, but I'm hoping the rest isn't too messy. Time will tell!

All things PUBLISHINGLY:

• Just over a month from launch for ETCHED - eep! I have I mentioned EEEEPP!! 
• I'm sort of enjoying watching the giveaway on Goodreads. I think I feared that no one would want a copy of my book - so to see the number slowly climbing is exciting.
• And I'm navigating the new author waters, and have found and rammed into my first moment of live and learn... first of many, I'm sure. And while this one isn't major, it's annoying and will one day be laughable.
• So I pondered the idea of what to do for marketing with giveaway and other paraphernalia, and after tossing around the idea of stickers and totes, decided cute little business cards with the cover of the book and a cool tag line on the front and all relevant launch info on the back would make a lot of sense. Pass them out - they get stuck in a wallet or pocket and hopefully end up in front of a computer and not in the washer... And they came in the mail today - like a kid in a candy store - until I opened the packaging.
• They look GREAT - until you turn them over... and then they still look great. BUT (yes, there's a catch) apparently they don't flip the way you would expect a card to flip - like a book - they flip on the short end. Like I said, more annoying then disastrous, but I've learned a lesson - make sure it's EXACTLY as it should be. I did proof it, and it looked great, but I didn't pay attention to the layout of front and back

All things READERLY:

• I'd love to say I'm being really dedicated to my reading, but I'm not.
• I've been working on GIRL ON A TRAIN for several days, and enjoying it, but there so much else going on I can't really focus on reading - sad commentary on my November

ALL things OTHERLY:

• Anything else happening? Yup - but it can wait for another time - because I need more of it, and I have a book that needs my attention - after I put the little one to sleep. 

So until later -

It's November and that means Chaos!!!!

I love November, but not because that means the holidays are right around the corner.
I love November, and not because the house is now filled with bowls of Halloween Candy.

I love November because that means NaNoWriMo!

It is the time of year where writers all over the world scramble to knock out at least 50K of a new idea - and I'm right there with them!

I've been sitting on this idea so long that to finally let it free is empowering - and a little terrifying.

So here's the all those crazy writers out there who are trying to add writing a novel to their already full lives - good luck!

NaNo Prep Ideas

This year will be the fifth time I will NaNo.

I can't believe it's been that many already!

man I feel old

Over the years, there have been a few (only a few....haha) things that I have learned about writing. As time grows closer to that mad rush to 50K and beyond, I want to take a moment to share a few that have helped me over the past few years:

1. Get pictures - rummage through Pinterest or the internet until you find a picture that accurately embodies your characters and/or someone who could become a character later. I print them and glue them into my novel notebook so I don't have to search again later.
2. Get pictures of places my characters will go
3. talk to people. Are you sending your character some place that you've never been? Find out everything you can about it so the setting feels authentic
4. Have an idea - but only an idea. I'd like to consider myself a hybrid - not quite a plotser and not fully a pantser. This year, I know where I'm starting, and I know where i'd like to end - I have the last sentence in mind - but I'm not sure which of my main characters will get the honors yet - and maybe someone will shift by then
5. Write with a notebook open - once November 1 hits, the only thing that will be left on my desk - besides my laptop...and a large cup of tea - will be an open notebook and a writing utensil or two. As I write, I take note of where my characters are taking me and/or phrases/ideas that I may want to use later so I don't forget them. - I also use the notebook to track who my characters are turning into

Are you NaNoing? What tricks do you have to conquer November?