Aahh, already I have failed my commitment to blog every day for a year. As it turns out, it's much harder to write on a blog everyday than I imagined. Between schooling, cooking 2-3 meals a day, cleaning, tending to the critters, writing... yeah...

So, here it goes, I'm trying again. (If I blog 4 times a week, I will be satisfied.)

I'm re-reading WRITER'S YEARBOOK 2012. Kristin Nelson wrote an excellent article titled, "Sidestep the Slush Pile." The basis of the article is how to get your manuscript "right" and published. It's an interesting read. She points out where she stops reading, why and gives advice. I will not give away the article, but it is worth the money, if it's still on the magazine rack.

I attended a workshop similar to this. Three agents took two-three pages of your writing, read it aloud, then stopped when they lost interest. They proceeded to say why. It was a learning experience! You learned when was a good time to send a query, when it wasn't, why, etc.  It was an experience that keeps giving!

The article Nelson wrote was similar! And I did not have to join an organization to get it. To boot, I paid $5.99 for the magazine! Score won for the bank account!

Happy Writing!

Indeed... Writing After Dark

It is... wait... 2:00 am. And yes, I am finishing up, writing after dark, while attempting to keep my 365 goal.


12,000 words. Yes, I wrote it! 12,000 words this week! And I must call it quits. For now.

So, I will go to bed reading Sherrilyn Kenyon, with "Shades of Grey" in my cue... "Shades of Grey" - I am obviously jumping the gun... but that's how I roll... I read the first chapter of the book for FREE, but I must admit, Debra Glass, Delilah Hunt, C.L. Wilson,  among others are far better writers. Yes, I know, I read ONE chapter. But the writing was not what I expected. I am used to Rice, King, the above authors. With that said, I will read it. And, as my past has proven, will likely LOVE it and think, WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Only time will tell. In a few days, I will tell... :o)

But isn't critiquing someone's book equivalent to saying if their baby is cute or ugly? We think it, but should we say it? They gave birth to it. Most likely took longer. And some may argue, harder work... yet, we do.

Happy Writing

A New Day, A New Beginning!

The Husband has inspired me! He is on a 365 day journey. For a year, he will take a picture and post it on Flickr. In my attempt for a 365 journey, I will post on this blog daily. I will also write 7,000 words a week!

My weekly goal has been met, so I'm aiming for 10K this week!

At the moment, I have a large cat (General) curled up to me, the Shar-Pei snoring, and Bilbo the Bastard (our other cat,) guarding General. If General even attempts to move, Bilbo will lunge. Bilbo got his name by reputation!

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE is my motto when writing. I never know when, in the chaos of the critters, one might land on the keyboard!

So SAVE as you go! And Happy Writing!

FYI:
The Husbands Flickr account is:  tnolyshooter

Grammar Made Easy

I am not the “Grammar Nazi.” I’m the “Grammar Duchess.” For me, this means I am a member of nobility, but not part of the monarchy. I do better than most, but I’m no Stephen “King.” And let’s face it, my blog? It’s my journal. The only time I focus on what I want to say, not technicalities, and silly things like grammar.

With that said, my cousin and sometimes editor, keeps me well-informed of my mishaps. She’s taught me how not to totally butcher the English language. In hopes of extending the same help to everyone, she started a Facebook page called GRAMMAR MADE EASY. I help with it, as well as another young lady. I hope you click the LIKE button and join us! Feel free to comment and post!!

Happy Writing!

Writing the Storm

Storms, certainly not tornadoes, help me write. It's the sound of the rain, the grumble of Mother Earth that pulls me from reality into my imagination. Perhaps this started when I was a child.

In my childhood I was absolutely terrified of storms. I would not leave my Dad's side. I remember shaking in my flip-flops praying the Giants would stop wrestling over my head. I even used my sacred wand (oak stick) to cast a spell on Mother Earth. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

When I turned 7ish, during those moments of horrific fear, I wrote or played Barbies or Glamour Gals. Either way, I spent time creating a story. I often lost myself in those moments of story-weaving. Many times I forgot it was storming, minus that occasional blinding flash of light and earth shaking rumble that followed. This became ritual to me- if it stormed- I wrote or played. Either way, I created a world far from there, far from the storm in a mystic cave, or endangered jungle or perhaps a castle in Ireland where the faeries dared me to step into their circle.

Old habits are hard to break. It storms, I write. And I write the same as I did a two decades ago (clearing throat)- with a pad of paper and a pen (pens seemed more grownup than a pencil.) There is something about feeling a good ink pen flow across paper. It's a ballet of words at best, even if it's the Hillbilly Hop version...

May each of your WRITE THE STORM!!!

Time...

I’ve had a few people ask how do I:  homeschool, volunteer on a Board of Directors, serve on various committees, work Part-time on the weekends, write and give presentations, blog (ok, we know I’m not doing this a lot!) keep up my astronomy newsletter for homeschoolers (another love of mine I’ve taken a break from,) occasionally mentor to parents on IEP’s, IDEA, etc., walk my dog, feed my kids, read, write, etc. etc.

I really don’t know how I do it all. My writing suffers more than anything. Some weeks I barely get 300 words written! Some weeks I write 7000 words! And let’s face it-- my grammar suffers on my blog! But hey, I posted something on here!  

I must say, writing this is eye-opening. Who knew I spent so much time on the Internet? Hmmm… I challenge YOU to write your schedule and see where your time goes.

Merry Writing!!

Daily Schedule

8:00-9:00                     WAKE

9:00-10:00                   Prepare for the day; work with children a bit; walk the dog

10:00-11:30                 Free time for the boys

I research, return phone calls, emails… (sighing) get on Facebook

11:30-12:00pm            LUNCH

12:00-4:00                   Strictly School. I rarely get to write during this time.

4:00-9:00                     Dinner, baths, story time, etc. etc. I SOAK up time with my boys!! We manage to cram documentaries, educational TV, educational games and many more fun things during this time too! Always homeschooling!

9:00-1:00ish am           Write, Read, Catch-up on TV shows if I have any and spend time on the Internet. Occasionally I play World of Warcraft.

TIP:  NOT WATCHING TELEVISION frees up more time than people realize!!

Writer's Block or Whining?

Want to scare a writer? Mention writer's block... Writer’s block (generally speaking) is when a writer loses the ability to write, or they think their work is inferior.  And it really scares the beegy-weegies out of me!! I stare at the screen in horror. Dread soaks into every pore on my body. I type. But nothing comes. I type more. Still nothing. Nothing but writer’s block. This does not happen often, but ask any writer— once is enough.

Sooo… I edit, thinking this will get my juices flowing... Naaa... if anything I get discouraged, lose inspiration and stop writing altogether. All this stems from my “problem,” or better yet—my dirty little secret. My writer’s block, in its most severe form, is lack of confidence. I know when I am writing, it’s good. (My blog doesn’t count. I blog to get a break from all the “rules” and “worries.) Yet when I edit I think its mega crap. And to make matters worse, I have a second problem. I edit before I’m finished, which means, I rarely finish. I get too discouraged due to the lack of confidence.  I know all this, yet occasionally I slip into the same old routine— or trap.

Lack of Confidence is suicide to writers. It certainly has hindered my writing. Now when I have the urge to edit I refrain— somewhat. Then I read. Yep, it’s true. I read my way through writer’s block! I found reading the genre I write really inspires. Unfortunately I pass a lot of time reading, not writing. I prefer to call it “research.” (clearing throat) To be perfectly honest, reading boosts my confidence. Have you read a book and thought “Wow, this got published? I know I have a chance!” Who hasn’t? Right?

My (recent) conclusion to it all? I fight the urge to edit until I actually FINISH a project. And read, read, read! It offers me inspiration and confidence! Writer’s block is a state of mind. Somewhere deep down in my soul, I know I’m good. Otherwise I wouldn’t continue down this path that started when I was a child. "So, suck it up, Ol’ Girl! Stop whining and write!” (I heard that in my grandmother’s southern voice!)

Interview With Debra Glass

1. How many books have you written?
I’ve lost count! I guess that’s a good thing. I think I’ve written over fifteen, including non-fiction, folklore, and romance. I’ve also penned articles for Fate Magazine and a couple of Civil War history mags.

2. What was your favorite to write?
I enjoy writing romance the most. My favorite, so far, is Badcock. I loved the banter between the characters and how their love relationship developed.

3. If you could be in a relationship with one of your characters who would it be?
Oh my. I love them all. Particular favorites are Benton Smith in Gatekeeper, Stede Bonnet in Watchkeeper, and Bram in Bad Kitty.

Why?
I suppose each of my heroes is some aspect of my husband and real life hero. He’s got that perfect mix of respect for me, admiration for me, desire and love for me. Those things combined make a hero a hero instead of a character.

4. When is the ideal time for you to write?
I write any time of day or night.

5. How often do you get to write?
I can write whenever I want. The TV, cat, or kids don’t distract me. I’m often working out plot points in my head during the night or even while watching a movie.

6. Do you write by word count? Page count? A schedule? When you can?
I write when I’m inspired. I’ve never found it necessary to set a goal of so many words. Some days, I might hone a paragraph. Others, I might write 10K words.

7. Do you have a strange routine? A muse? Or anything to inspire you or get you in the mood-- to write that is?
No routines.

8. Any advice for the aspiring writer?
Read what you write. Attend workshops and conferences. Learn the craft of writing. Use a thesaurus. Treat writing like a job. Submit your work!

About Debra:

Growing up in the south where the air is thick with stories steeped in legend and truth, Debra came by her love of romance novels honestly. Well…sort of. At an early age, she pilfered from her grandmother’s extensive library and has been a fan of the genre since.

A full time freelance writer, Debra especially enjoys combining history, mystery and a touch of taboo to weave stories with unforgettable, haunted heroes.

She lives in Alabama with her sexy real life hero, a couple of smart-aleck ghosts and a diabolical black cat.

Email: DebraLGlass@gmail.com
Website: http://debraglass.com/

Writing After Dark

Authors will tell you “writers write, and they write a lot.” They spend countless hours clicking away at the computer. They stay up late, and sleep in the morning. Or they write all day, and sleep at night. They write when they want. Writing is their job.

But what about the writer who punches the time clock? Or the mom with ankle biters nipping at her skirts? They write when they can, if they can. Vacations are used for writing. Nighttime is their time, and they spend it writing. Sleep? That’s a dirty word- a secret that they keep hidden from others. Or it simply does not exist.

This blog is for all writers, but specifically for those who are writing after dark.