Productive

August 26, 2009 by

Doncha just love those days when you’re super productive? Oh, man, I do!

A put in a couple more hours work on Phoenixand TADA! It’s finished! It weighs in at nearly 85,000 words now and just over 300 pages (double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman). I’d been shooting for Friday but it sure was nice to get a large chunk of it done last night. That’s what made it go faster today. That and having that handy-dandy outline. (Devon, I’m convinced that is the ONLY way to go! Ms. Pantser is reformed, I think.)

Well, okay, I take that back a little. I did deviate even from the outline. LOL But I still KNEW where I was going and how to get there and just mixed it up a little. And really, you never know what these characters are going to say or do! I got a surprise from Senator Gracchus toward the end. He has a real disgust for slaves. I didn’t even know that until I wrote that scene, sat back, re-read his dialogue and went, “Huh. He’s a real pr*ck.” :D  Go figure.

The end has a great power punch of emotion now. And I *love* it. I love the way it ends so much better now. It makes so much more sense for the characters and their situation. I even toned down the sex scenes and made the story more about the gritty world Elena lives in and the life-and-death situation they faced instead about the romance. Because, when I thought about it, this story is NOT about the romance. It’s about learning to survive in a world full of deadly obstacles. Oh, sure, it helps Cassius is a real hottie and wants to whisk her off to safety.

Anyway, I really learned a lot about world building and writing better, cleaner, more emotional. I hope the next one will be easier (fat chance).

Speaking of the next one, I want to start working on that futuristic but something has been nagging me. I’ve been thinking about restructuring the MAGIC book into something totally different. Same characters, same basic plot line but totally different setting. I’m thinking urban fantasy. Maybe dark. I need to do some major research on this so I’m putting this away in my To Be Determined pile.

In the meantime, I’ve started writing up a quick synopsis for the futuristic, which is as yet untitled. See? The synopsis thing keeps creeping in. ;)

In other productive news, I went with my co-worker to the Mattel Outlet Store and can I just say CHA-CHING! I love this place. They have all sorts of Hot Wheel, Matchbox stuff for boys and of course Barbie stuff for girls. I got four things for the kiddo for his birthday but the real beauty is, I think I’m going to put a couple away for Christmas. I’m sneaky like that. One of the things I got was a Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots. I think the kiddo is going to dig those. and I can still hear the stupid commercial in my head from the 70s.

Tonight I’m making my Cuban chicken in the crock pot. Which means it will all be done when I get home. MMM. YUM!

Off to work!

Filed Under: Mom & Son Tagged With: ,

Flat Hair Day

July 28, 2009 by

So. This week, it’s decided to rain. Not that I’m complaining. It was in the 80 yesterday. But it was so humid. The kind of humid where you need gills to breath outside. No kidding.

Yesterday, I nearly froze in the office. I walk outside at lunchtime and my cold hands instantly turn clammy and gross. Ick. Plus, my hair just went flat. Not that it wasn’t already. It’s straight as a board but the humidity really doesn’t help at all. Then Man and I walked down to Starbucks in the middle of the afternoon and it was, of course, sprinkling. Which didn’t do anything good for the already flat hair. Not that I cared. It’s just a little rain, after all. We got our coffee and stopped a local store for an umbrella. Which insured it wouldn’t rain on us on the walk back. Of course, it didn’t. Because we had the umbrella this time.

Got a lot done last night. Got two contest entries judged. Now I have three print and three electronic and then I’m done. I’m really trying to get them done this week so I can concentrate on other things. Like my revisions.

I also worked on stuff for the local chapter. I needed to set up a Yahoo loop for the upcoming workshop and I got that done and invited the instructor and the moderator. The workshop starts on August 3 so I need to make sure I get it all prepared and ready.

Had to run some errands with Man. We went to Pei Wei for dinner and then Bed Bath and Beyond and we each spent about $25 on stuff for the house. Just stuff. But good stuff and stuff we need. I love stuff. ;)

By the time we got home, it was 8:30 and he had to run another errand. He didn’t get back until after 9 and as soon as he walked in the door, it started to pour down rain. That’s the second time in as many days it’s happened that way. I swear I think he brings the rain.

I love the rain. It’s nice and relaxing. It makes me sleep good. Now, can it just not do it during rush hour? Please?

Okay that’s it for me. Happy Tuesday!

Filed Under: Dusty Tome Tagged With: ,

Get Inspired – Get Writing!

July 23, 2009 by

I’m doing Candy Havens’ challenge on her Write Workshop. Yesterday’s goal was 17 revised pages and I made it through 19 pages. YAY me!

I haven’t had a chance to see what today’s goal is, but I’m going to keep plugging away regardless. I have lots of ideas to incorporate into PHOENIX to beef up the big ending of the book. I’d always felt there was something not quite right about it and now I think I’ve figured out how to fix it.

Plus I now have a kick-ass opening line. And for that one brief moment when I wrote it, I felt total brillance.

And now I’m trying not to suck again. ;)

But the workshop is inspiring me to keep going! Just keeping going and don’t stop. Plus I really need to have the majority of the revision done before I submit it to the agent. Yes, I’m dragging me feet. But in my defense, I know she has another conference to go to so I’m trying to be a tad considerate and wait until she gets back. Like it’ll make a difference right? Oh, suck it up, Michelle, and just send the damn thing!

Yes, I talk to myself. Sometimes it’s the only way to get good conversation.

So, what inspires you to get those words down?

Filed Under: Dusty Tome Tagged With: ,

Last Day

July 10, 2009 by

Today, I’m blogging at Samhain. My post will be up at 9 am, if you’d like to stop by. Click here.

And the winner of yesterday’s $10 gift card is Denise! Congrats, Denise!

I have 8 more hours to work and then I’m on vacation for SIX WHOLE WORKING DAYS. I’m really looking forward to the RWA conference next week. I realized the other day this is the first “real” vacation I’ve taken in eleven years. That’s sad.

Hard to believe my trip is so close. I’ve only been planning it for the last six months. Man has requested I type up my itenerary so he knows where I am and what I’m doing. On the off chance anything happens to me. I told him I was going to ride the Metro from the airport to the station near the hotel and I got the lecture on Train Safety 101. I also did some R&D yesterday to find out about the hotels, the Metro, and the airport. The train will only cost $2.55 as opposed to a cab. Yeah, I like that total a lot.

A group is going on the haunted DC walking tour on Friday and I’m trying to figure out everything I’m doing so I can attend. I think there’s a Samhain event that night but I can’t remember. This weekend will be about getting all that together. I have an entire folder with paperwork I need to take with me. I’m going to need a checklist, I think.

Yesterday, I got a lot of edits done on the Phoenix book. I’m about halfway through chapter six but it’s slow going. I’m trying to dig deep and get it right. My CP has been immensely helpful with her comments. Plus I’m reading her work and loving her story.

I couldn’t deal with cooking last night either, so the kiddo and I went to Rosa’s and I stuffed myself on their three chicken tacos. It was so good. Tonight I can’t deal with cooking again so I’m making pizza. LOL

And tomorrow morning is my local chapter meeting. Which reminds me… I need to print more guest packets.

Time to shower and then it’s off to work for my last work day. Woohoo! Happy Friday!

Filed Under: Dusty Tome Tagged With: , , ,

Radio Silence

March 31, 2009 by

I guess I don’t have much to report today other than I’ve been working on revising my WIP. I’m about 70 pages into the revision and I really like where it’s going.

And the contest. Oh, it never ends with the contest, does it? LOL We’re this close to getting all the scores tallied. Thank goodness.

So, how about you? What’s going on in your world? Please share. Because I’m lonely over here.

(OH! And for those of you who are a fan of Devon Ellington, she’ll be guesting here tomorrow and Thurdsay with a fantastic article. Don’t forget to come by and say hi!)

Filed Under: Dusty Tome Tagged With: , , , , , ,