Until...

since I've posted - whew! Ever since doing BEDA (Blog Every Day April), I've been very absent from blogging. In retrospect - when I was a kid, it took me almost an entire summer to get up the nerve to jump off the 10-foot tower at the swimming pool. There were many false starts (and kids laughing at me as I walked back down the steps instead of jumping into the water.) One day, I just did it. Up the steps, jump, swim to the ladder, get out - up the steps, jump, swim to the ladder, get out...over and over and over until it was time to go home. I never did it again. I guess I just had to prove to myself that I could if I had to... and I did. I do not intend to let blogging take that same dive (pun intended! lol)

So - to get back into the blogging groove - here are some pics of my kitties (under the cut)

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This is so awesome! Be sure to watch 'til the very end. It's absolutely beautiful!

My most awesome bff and crit partner, marybethkelsey  , invited me over to her fabulous, new house yesterday for a writing date! So, I wrapped up my macbook in a fluffy towel, stuffed it in my pannier (that my DD is letting me us) and biked about a mile down the road to MB's!

First, of course, I had to see all the plantings that she's been doing. (Her yard is looking soooo nice!) Then we had some grapefruit juice and Perrier (what a refreshing combo!) And then. we went up to her new office (it is so great!) I settled into a big comfy chair with my laptop and MB sat at her desk. We wrote/revised for about an hour. I so needed that committed writing time. When I'm at home it is too easy to get caught up in all the yard/garden work that needs done - or laundry - or house work - or cooking - or anything but writing. (I find this to be especially true when I am avoiding what feels like difficult revisions!)

After we wrote, we hopped on our bikes and rode downtown to get some dinner at the Laughing Planet (which has arguably the best vegetarian naked burritos in the world.) 

It was great to spend time with MB and to get writing done, exercise on my bike (the first significant riding I've done since Bike the Drive), and get to eat a yummy dinner that I didn't have to cook!

So - thank you, thank you, thank you, Marybeth! You're the greatest!

No - not mine...but my main character in my current work that I'm revising. I wrote the whole novel as an Upper Middle Grade - with my MC turning 13 in the first third. But, in revising I find that she keeps wanting to be older. Although it will change at least one key plot point - I find that I must make her 15, turning 16 (the birthday is important.) 

Not only that - but another minor, albeit key, character is now going to take a much more prominent roll - actually becoming one of the main antagonists.

I feel a bit daunted with this new task at hand - but, I also feel a bit exhilarated that the story is coming into its own. I think what may have been a mid-level story is moving into high-level with the additional twists and turns that are making themselves known. Now... I just have to get butt-in-chair and make it happen!

Glad it's Friday - lots of writing time this weekend. Well, I do want to see Star Trek - but might have to put it off. If it's as good as I've heard, I will probably spend way too much time thinking about it, instead of writing. But, then again... it's playing at THE DRIVE-IN - OMG - how much fun would that be? Choices, choices, choices...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/05/22/edmonton-lucy-elephant-authors.html

Lucy is a lone elephant in a Canadian zoo. Several Canadian authors are urging the zoo to let Lucy move south to The Elephant Sanctuary.  You can go here and send a quick note to the Mayor of Edmonton and ask for his assistance in getting this to happen.

Elephants belong with other elephants - not in zoos where they are prisoners of tiny spaces and often in solitary. That is just plain wrong.

Not sure where to start writing about such a fun weekend. And, not just fun - but setting a personal goal and reaching it. 

First off - It is a fact, when you go to Chicago on Memorial Day weekend there WILL be a parade blocking all routes to the hotel in which you are staying. (mental note - go up two days before!)

Secondly - don't rely on the fact that it feels like the parking garage you finally found (because you had to go to the bathroom sooooo bad!) is relatively close to the hotel. (uh... relative means nothing when your legs are crossed and you're doing the bathroom dance!)

Thirdly - jot down EVERYTHING you need to take from the car to the hotel on your bike - and check off each thing. If you don't, you will make many trips to the car during the course of the next several hours. (Although, riding up and down the ramps in a parking garage on your bike is kinda fun - heheheheh!)

Fourth - TRAIN before undertaking a trip such as this - especially if you have never ridden your bike more than five miles at one time.

Fifth - Check out the terrain ahead of time. (Well, maybe don't, because if I'd known there were as many hills on Lake Shore Drive - well... I might not be writing this.)

Sixth - When you've finished fifteen miles (the first half of which were not just up some major hills, but it was into a strong headwind the entire way) - do NOT be so eager to take the second route - (the second half of which is uphill ALL the way, and that headwind is still blowing down Lake Shore Drive.)

Seventh - When you see riders walking their bikes 3 miles from the finish - and you are so tempted to join them, because your thighs are SCREAMING, your hands are numb from the cold, the wind is battering you, your biking friend is who-knows-where in the crowd and No One Would Know if you gave up and walked for a bit... Go inside and tell yourself - "I would know."

And so you pull out some strength you didn't know you had inside you, you go on...and you DO IT! (all 30 miles!)

(but, next year - I WILL train!)

 I didn't realize that dear, sweet Bunny passed the day before Ned (the elephant in my previous post) did.  This video will probably bring tears to your eyes - but they will be bittersweet tears because a wonderful being has moved on to heavenly realms

Namaste, Bunny!

This makes me so sad... if he had gotten help sooner, would he still be alive? Elephants do not belong in circuses or zoos - period.

One of my favorite things to read when I'm biking at the gym is Donald Maass' Writing the Breakout Novel. Since I am in the middle of revisions (will it never end!?!) this is a good thing to do - although it does make me go back and re-revise. That is not a bad thing. One of the things I latched onto yesterday is an area where I definitely need help - and one that I love when it's well-done in books! That is - a sense of the setting of the novel.

Certain books spring to my mind immediately as giving an awesome sense of place - just to name a few

             1. Harry Potter - all books - Hogwarts, Hagrid's Hut, Diagon Alley
             2. The Hobbit - Bilbo Baggins' hobbit hole
             3. Alice's Adventures through the Looking Glass & Alice in Wonderland
             4. The Secret Life of Bees
             5. Jane Eyre
             6. A Christmas Carol
             7. Suite Scarlett
             8. The Magic Thief
             9. Shadowed Summer
             10. Tracking Daddy Down

How can I, as a writer, learn from these books and expand my 'sense of place' in my novels? Since I tend to write on the 'spare' side - it is a push for me to give an expanded sense of place. Under the cut, I will explore how to do that with an example...

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It may not be the best, but hopefully it's better. So, how is your novel's sense of place? Are you taking your reader right into the scene? Is he feeling that sweat running down his back, too? That reminds me of The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I remember reading it in the middle of summer - tucked under a blanket because I was freezing right along with Laura and Pa, et al. What books pull you into their places?

Masterpiece Mystery! is one of my favorite TV shows - ever. And still is, even though I'm not watching TV anymore (I watched this online.) 

I have enjoyed countless iterations of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple (looking forward to the new one with Julia McKenzie, although I loved Geraldine McEwan's ,Jane Marple), David Suchet's, Hercule Poirot is impeccable, Jeremy Brett's, portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, awesome...I lost my heart to John Thaw as Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse and both portrayals of P.D. James' Adam Dalgliesh (Roy Marsden and Martin Shaw) were good in their own right - and then there is Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley (swoon-worthy Nathaniel Parker.) I do love good British TV!  

Anyway - adding to this list of fictional detectives who have made it to the BBC TV series screen is Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander, as portrayed by Kenneth Branagh. If you did not catch the original airing this past Sunday on PBS - get yourself here NOW and watch this episode, which will be available for on-line viewing until Saturday.

I had no idea what to expect from a Swedish police detective... but.( spoilers beneath the cut )
And, I also can't wait to read the series!

Please go to Shari's link at the bottom of this post - copy her blog post (like I did) and then go to Maggie's blog and say that you did!  

Shiver! It could be OURS!

Maggie Stiefvater is having a contest and I need YOUR help!!! Please. The person who gets the most people to post this wins. But you will win too! Here are the prizes:

Winner gets:

- a signed ARC of SHIVER ( I will share this! I will draw a name from those who post for me and give them the ARC)
- 4 signed copies of LAMENT ( I will share these too! Same Way!)
- and for each of the friends that you got to comment, a critique of the first 5 pages of any of their manuscripts(WE ALL GET THIS!!!!)

And if any single person manages to get over 50 friends to comment, I'll make it 3 ARCs of SHIVER and 8 copies of LAMENT. (MORE TO GO AROUND! I wonder if she will have time for 50 / 5 page critiques!)

 Here is what to do:

All you have to do is copy and paste everything from below here onto your blog! Then go to Maggie's blog and tell her you did it. Don't forget to mention I sent you!

 

 

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the  protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human…until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace forever.

 

Pre-Order Shiver Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Shiver-Maggie-Stiefvater/dp/0545123267/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241744679&sr=1-2

Posting because of

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Blech! The weather is gray and my physical condition is, too. Hacking, sneezing, blowing, sniffing and sleeping...(but no compulsion to wallow in a mud hole, thank heavens!)...it's all I've been doing for the past two days - well, other than having to be at work. Although, I did go home early yesterday & will probably do the same today.

What this does for my writing is no good thing. So, I have been reading.  My usual MO for illness was to lay on the couch in front of the TV and pig out on mindless programs.  But, with no TV (I unplugged mine several months ago) - I just went to bed, propped my little self up, surrounded by kitties, tissue boxes and a glass of water - and read. I'd love to say that I read something great - but that's not the case. What I did read, however, got me to thinking big-time about series and what works with them and definitely what doesn't!

Several years back I got into a particular series of cozy mysteries. However, a couple of years ago, I read the latest books and was very disappointed. When I came across almost identical paragraphs within five pages of each other (where pertinent information was being dispensed)- and the plot line was so thin it was transparent... I began to lose faith. At the bookstore the other night, I saw a hardcover of the latest in this series - it was deeply discounted, so I decided to give it one last try. Big mistake!

Although it was soothing enough for my sick self to read - it was really bad. There was basically no plot - several loose ends were not tied up (including solving the murder!)  But, it appears to be the swan song for the series. There was re-introduction of every single character who has graced the pages of previous books (it's set in a small town with lots of local color), the main character waxed poetic (literally), a short "theater of the absurd" play written by said MC comprised one chapter... and... I could go on - but, I won't. I was so, so disappointed! And sad...

As a writer, I hope if I craft characters who are lucky enough to gain a following and spawn a series - that I will not over-write their story. I think Harry Potter is an excellent example of a series that came to a timely end. Twilight is another. The Lord of the Rings, too. I'm sure there are others that aren't readily coming to mind (remember - my mind is still bleary! lol)

This series makes me see that you can take an idea and wear it out. That everything has its proper stopping place. And, that it is very sad to see someone go beyond that point.

 Love that song (especially Johnny Cash's version.)  And, I was reminded of it because I'm heading out to my garden to work this morning. And, later today I am weeding my manuscript. You can read my writing/gardening metaphor here if you missed it.

Yesterday I spent some time at the library with marybethkelsey  , and we worked diligently on our respective WIPs. The day before, when I was at the gym, I read a snippet from Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel on conflict. It made me go back and take out a whole lot of one of my scenes - too much information, not enough conflict. Also got me to put back in a following scene that adds conflict. 

Writing the Breakout Novel is one of my favorite writing reference books. I have gleaned a ton of info from it!  Thank you, Donald Maass!

I took myself out for a nice dinner last night and my dining companion was Nation by Terry Pratchett. I was going to write that I am really enjoying it - but that's not a good word for the way it's making me feel. I am quite taken with it - he's a fabulous writer.

Off to the great outdoors for a bit...

Sometimes when we have temporary events in our lives - like vacations, friend/family visits, special projects (writerly things like BEDA or NaNoWriMo) - as soon as they are over, we might think, "That was fun (hopefully), but now I can get back to normal."  But, I don't think it has to be that way - or that you ever really can go "back to normal" or "back to the same ol', same ol'...)

Endings are, after all, new beginnings in disguise.

I've been thinking about that in relation to BEDA. I set a goal (thanks to Maureen Johnson - yay!) and achieved it! Woo! I successfully blogged every single day in April. 30 days = 30 posts. Yay!  I could conceivably go back to my old ways - but, I can't really. I have proved to myself that I have "writing" time every day. And, oddly enough, with the additional writing burden of BEDA (okay, it wasn't really a burden, except for a couple of days when I wanted to work outside instead of write) - I still found time to get back into revisions on my current novel. So, I discovered that I have "untapped" writing time! (yippee!) Therefore - normal has been compromised, changed to a different reality of normal. So - I am off on my new normal.

I think I won't be blogging every day anymore, but, I made a couple of discoveries along the way of BEDA. 1) When I become a published author, I am sure that I'll be able to start and maintain a dialogue with my readers through blogging!  2) I need to work on my blogging "writer" identity.

On the identity side of things, maybe I can start working on that now? The things that inspired me as I was working on my first novel are things I could address in my blog - i.e., issues like, women's body rights, media mind control, dangers of complacency with government, sexual issues for teens, love and growing up.

That aside - to touch on how things are never the same after you have an "event." When we do something out of our "ordinary," we are changed. It has to be that way. It's completely natural and totally unavoidable. We can ignore the changes - but even the act of ignoring them means that we've brought a component into our lives that requires action (whether it's action to embrace or reject) and thereby, we have changed even if we think we haven't.

So - those are my current BEDA thoughts & BEDA has not left me where it found me. Often a simple challenge (blog every day for 30 days) opens up doors we didn't even know were there. Hooray!

 One more day of blogging every day - whew! I have to admit, I'll be glad when it's over. Although, I bet I'll be blogging more than I was before.

I have been finding time every day to work on my revisions and it is really making a difference. The story is coming along & the plot is thickening. I'll be glad for a couple of rainy days (that's what's on the weather menu for tomorrow and Friday) - because then I won't feel guilty about not being in the garden.

A neighbor roto-tilled two garden areas for me and as soon as they are dry enough, I have to start planting. So, I want to get as much revising as possible under my belt before that happens. Usually a fast-approaching deadline (or event) will get my revising mojo revved up into triple time. And, getting things into the garden before it's too late is a pressing deadline!

So - I'm out to plant a few flowers (oh, my marigolds that I planted on Saturday are already pushing their first little leaves up through the dirt - yay!) And, then get to writing.

I don't normally do these - but since I"ve been so productive on my revisions, I thought I'd share a bit...  contemporary young YA fantasy. 

A little scene-setting - MC is 13 year old Em Watson (who's only recently discovered she is a witch), Grace is her bff (who doesn't know anything about Em's witchy-ness), Callum is a new boy at school (who does know), Mr. Spencer suspects and is trying to confirm that Em is a witch, Em's sister, Johnna, hates her little sister (for what seems like a good reason, even to Em) and the hot boy is Mr. Spencer's son. Limo aside, the Spencers are not good people... and Em doesn't trust that their interest in Johnna is harmless.

“Emmaline Watson.” The man extended his hand.

Em opened hers, revealing a piece of gum stuck to her fingertips. “Oops!” She smiled, hoping it didn’t look like the smirk she was actually feeling.

He pulled back, his upper lip curling in disgust. “I was going to introduce you to my son. I see now is not the time.” He nodded slightly and walked away, his back straight and stiff.

“Who's he?” Grace said. “And, I thought you hated gum.”

“Mr. Spencer and I do.” Em did her best to ball up the sticky wad and left to dispose of it in the nearest trashcan.

On her way back, she observed that Callum, like most guys, was falling under Grace’s spell. She smiled. Who wouldn’t like Grace? That girl fairly exuded sunshine, from her blonde curls to her sparkling smile. Plus, she was friendly and really listened to people. No wonder she and Em had been best friends forever.

“To Van’s?” Em said when she joined them.

“You lead the way,” Callum said.

“Wait a sec,” Grace said, “Isn’t that Johnna with that man?” 

Em glanced across the street. Her sister was flanked by Mr. Spencer on her left and the hot guy from the limo, who must've been Spencer's son, on her right.  
            “I’ll tell you later.” Em turned on her heel and strode purposely across the street.

            “Hold on,” Callum snagged Grace’s arm, pulling her along as he tried catching up with Em.