Got a writing gig!

Freelance world...hold on. Here I come. I got a gig to write 5 articles 400-500 words each on Thank You notes. Hmmm. Have to write them by Friday. Already have 2 of them finished. Not a bad deal on the pay either. (yeah, much better than writing for free)

Looking forward to Trick or Treat

I'm so excited! My grandson is 19 months old. We bought him the cutest Tiger outfit about five weeks ago. Then, he went through this growth spurt. Yechhh! We tried the outfit on him with sweat pants underneath and the headpiece tried to strangle him.
Off we went to the store. Sixteen bucks. Ouch. We found the cutest Tony The Tiger costume. He looks GReeeaaat in it.
I will have to post pictures as soon as possible. His baby brother is going as an ice cream cone.

Now, I have to wait a couple days. I want it to be NOW.

Move to new Domain Imminent....

I have been plugging away! Yep. Building a new site is hard work. I must admit, HTML is not the easiest thing in the world. What does it mean? It means Hyper Text Markup Language. Oh, and the choices you have to make! I could have just picked a template and thrown together a site. But, I'm not that easy to please. I like things MY way. I'm plugging away at it. Fairly soon I will have it ready and then I will launch it and make a big deal about it. For now, I am spending about 16 hours a day working on it.

A smiling addiction

I found this priceless video quite by accident. Apparently it won at the Granger Film Festival this year. The whole thing was sponsored by Lightcast Media. It was made by a church group out of Georgia. The sad thing is that it is all over YouTube and nobody is giving it the PROPER CREDIT.
At first I thought it was kinda cute. Then I watched it and realized it was sorta sad. The tune sticks with ya. Go watch it for yourself and decide.

Getting Work in Freelance

Yes, I am. After months of hard work learning how to craft better articles, better short stories and even poetry. I've taken the plunge. Paying markets...watch out. Here I come. Sure, that big Courage word still hangs around and beats me over the head a bunch. It won't win though. Perserverance is my middle name. There are more magazines and ezines out there to submit to than there are rejection slips. I've joined a few groups to help along the way, and I just signed up for a new four week course on article writing.
Never give up, never surrender. Oh, and yes, my behind is firmly in this chair and my fingers are about raw from typing. Julie Ann Amos of Exquisite writing just sent me a database page to fill out so she could determine what writing jobs I qualify for and I look forward to seeing my email fill up with freelance opportunities. Go to her site and sign up and you could be feeling this good.

Here is the site link.

Freelance Writing Organization - Int'l.
Thousands of no charge writing resources.
http://www.fwointl.com

Breaking Elmore's Rules

Why is it that writers have such hard and fast rules about writing the all American novel? Okay, I agree we should keep our use of the exclamation point to a minimum. My adherance to Elmore's 10 rules stops there. Most of his rules are more like guidelines. For example: Don't start a story with weather. I can't even count the number of books I've read where the whole first page related to some dark storm and how spooky the trees or forest were.
I'm wondering if he read any of these books.
Yes, a great many of his rules are very good. He has advice on keeping tight sentences, and not modifying verbs.... most rules I've heard from any good writer. I just get stuck on a few. Check out his site.

Sheesh, I need to get to bed. I was up half the night last night with my 3 month old grandson and here I am typing away tonight. More on writing rules tomorrow.

Courage, Fear and Writing

Is there a trend among emerging writers lately? It seems several of the bloggers who are new to Nano this year have expressed serious doubts and fears on the Forums at the nanowrimo boards. I've openly struggled with courage issues in this blog and with several of my writing friends and groups. According to Holly's site, even the best of writers struggle since writing is a lonely profession and as she points out in this article... we are selling ideas from our mind, to complete strangers.

She's right! Talk about your tough sell. It makes me wonder how I picked writing. Except I felt natural with a book in my hands as soon as I could hold one. I also wrote everything I could from the age I could write my name. I wrote my first full length poem (that was decent) when I was nine years old and I never stopped my love affari with words.

I'm embracing my fears. I figure the best way to get over what scares me the most is to educate myself. My biggest fears at this moment all center around staying stuck in the middle of my novel. How am I helping myself? I am focused on moving the plot forward.

I needed to back away from my character focus and look to fix the plot of my work in progress. The plot had a few holes in it. How could I patch the holes? If I could patch the holes I figured the character issues would be resolved along the way. Sure enough, I stopped stressing and I seem to have built up steam again. I think putting the project in the desk drawer for 7 days did wonders as well.

I spent some time doing grandma things and didn't look at my pages for several days. The power outtage helped a lot in that area. Fresh eyes have helped. I'm less stressed out and more productive.

Oh yeah, tomorrow is the Maple Leaf festival in Baldwin City Kansas. We've gone every year for the past 16 years. It rains about every five or six years. Looks like this year is going to be one of those soggy and cold years. I was really looking forward to the festival and seeing old friends. I hope the sun makes an appearance.

Every year, this clown directs traffic at the main intersection after the parade. I don't know how he has the energy. The festival wouldn't be the same without him. I hope the weather clears so we are able to go without freezing our booties. I like to shop for Christmas things at the festival. I'm not sure why I'm so broke this year!

Trying Nano again this year

Last year I got quite a bit done on my psychological thriller by signing up with National Novel Writing Month. I had some fairly severe health problems and did NOT win the 2005 version because I just couldn't meet the word count. I'm not letting that stop me. I've signed up for Nano 2006.
I plan to work on a YA novel. I'm not sharing much more for now as it is in the planning stages right now and I've changed my mind about the title, plot and characters for this four times already! (go figure)

• I've hooked up with the same Kansas group from last year.
• I've downloaded several writer freebies.
• cleaned up my computer files and organized my computer
• studied up on a few of the basics
• stocked up on food items (healthy ones)
• cleaned up all the corners of my house so I can essentially ignore it for a month! LOL
• cleared my calendar

I hope I'm ready. I can only do my best. Wish me luck.

Missed everyone during power outage.

I'm so happy to be back in the land of the bloggers and the electronic world. I had an amazing week. Monday morning, due to a lot of wind and rain.... a small branch fell on my power lines and knocked out the main line to my house. Amidst squabbles as to whether the landlord or the electric company would be responsible for the bill, we finally got an electrician out to the house and discovered the real cause of the problem.

Three days later we finally got our electricity back. Have you ever sat around for a couple days without electricity twiddling your thumbs? Each passing moment I wanted someone to get out to my house and DO something. Once the problem got solved I plugged my trusty computer back in and found my modem had been fried in the process. GRRRRRR! So, another call to have a tech come to the house. $122.00 later and I have a new modem (which has a crummy 90 day warranty) I cannot believe they can charge that much and only guarantee it for a lousy 3 months. This puppy better last a few years!!!

I have to admit, I rely on the Internet for my freelance career so the money was well spent.

It is time to catch up on my blog reading, my tons of email and so much more. I'm just happy to be back.

Expect few changes around here!

Hold onto your hats folks. I plan to make some changes around here. After the writing conference last week, I decided it was time to present myself in a better light. The good fairy was blessed me when I wished on a star, so I purchased my domain name! (Woo Woo).


I should be switching over to the new host in the next week or so.


I also have A LOT of material to share from the workshops and chats I attended. So watch for a new LOOK! I will have lots of links to share resources etc. I will be changing to a slightly different format that I hope will be easier to browse through. :)

Watching the Daily Show with your Toddler

Image from Comedy Central Website


Ready for a Funny Friday? Try watching The Daily Show with your toddler. Oh my goodness! Yes, laughter will ensue. Last night, while watching the show, my eighteen-month-old grandson Jaden decided to pay attention to the television in an attempt to avoid falling asleep. As John Stewart did his comedy bit ripping G. Dubya to bits and making fun of his Rose Garden Press Conference, my grandson began to imitate the Prez. He waved his arms about gesturing in the "Dubya" manner and had us all in stitches. Someone once happened to mention the word "Dumb Dumb" and so every time Jaden sees good ole' Dubya he shreiks "Dumb Dumb" and points to the Prez. Hilarity ensues.

I know, I know. Not very patriotic. But hilarious as all get out at 11:30 at night. I 'bout peed my drawers I laughed so hard. He must have said "dumb dumb" about 19 times in a row during the broadcast while Stewart discussed issues and continued to show pieces of the press conference.

Hey, at least we didn't teach him a "bad" word. It could have been much worse. I know I'll get tons of comments on this one so bring 'em on. It was just harmless fun.

Amazing presenters at online conference

I've been attending an online writing conference for the last couple of days. I have to admit this is a SUPER idea. The chats with the presenters have been AMAZING! Some of the presenters like Jan Verhoeff have provided invaluable handouts which I will be able to use to help with my dialogue problems. Another one, Betty Dobson, gave a talk on poetry which was very enlightening. Her website is great too.

I'll have a closer look at my handouts and see what I can add here. (of course I will give credit where it is due)

Linking to other writers and blogs

I've been doing my fair share of blog reading. Yep, I'm guilty. I comment on some. I'm not shy about using my identity on the web. After all, I don't expect anyone showing up at my doorstep. I haven't exactly given out my home address. I don't give out my last name and I'm polite. I believe in politeness.

Recently, I've noticed I have a few readers. I'm not even sure Google has me listed yet. (crosses fingers and wishes on every available star) I'm hoping some of you will want to LINK to my site. I've added a new widget. Go down the left side, below the Blogs I read and you will see a box where you can add your site. I will Gladly go to your site and read what you have to say. Most likely I will add you to my links and we will have increased both of our readerships.

By the way, I did have someone send me a note about the colors so I made yet another change. I hope this makes things a bit easier on the eyes. It is weird for me to get used to the links all being on the left now.

Did you know that Barbara Streisand used the F word at her concert last night? Apparently a proffessional heckler really laid it on thick about Bush and she dropped the word at him cuz' she was in the middle of a song and he hit a nerve. Here's the story!

She's on tour and she had an impersonator do a skit. I saw a bit of it on the news a few days ago, it was hilarious. Someone didn't think it was funny and she said, "Shut the (expletive) up!" drawing wild applause. "Shut up if you can't take a joke!" (direct quote from MSN News)

Oh, only Barbara.

Acceptance letter means Happy Dance!

I got an acceptance email today! No, it isn't about my novel. Not yet. I will have a story published about my Lupus and how it has impacted me as a person/writer in an ezine in December. It will also showcase two poems. Yes, I know there are people out there who just don't get the whole poetry thing and who are turned off by poets. However, I have my foot in the door and I'm happy so let me do my Happy Dance and don't rain on my parade.

I'm still hard at work on my novel. Still struggling with plot, adding characters and the sluggish middle, but this sure brightened up my email box tonight. I couldn't physically do the dance myself so I brought in some help from Snoopy. I hope ya'll don't object.

Oh, and by the way. I completed my chapter book for middle-school aged kids a few years back and it has been gathering dust on my shelf ever since. I've been too afraid to send out any inquiries. I mean how do I market a controversial book about AIDS to school kids?

Well, I am going to figure out a way to do it. My spirit was renewed today. Amazing what one acceptance letter can do for you.

Happy Dance. Happy Dance.

I will provide a link when the ezine comes out on December 10, 2006.

Writing is my life. I knew there was a reason I got up every morning. Yipee!

P.S. The first few chats of the online writers conference were GREAT. I learned a lot and got invited to submit to an anthology. Check out the links for presenters here.

In The Silent Darkness --My novel.

I'm excited. People are actually reading my blog. Okay, only a few, but it is a start and it makes me feel great when people send me notes telling me I have something to add to the writing world. (Can you say --Cloud 9)? Yipee!

Beth is the protagonist from my current WIP. She grew up in a highly abusive home. Now, she is a radio personality for a local radio station, is involved with an artist ( Patrick) she met at the Public Library and wants to become serious about this relationship. Old fears and feelings keep her from opening up about her past, her family and her life. After serious debate she decidedes to go to California (from Kansas) to face her past. The book meanders through her feelings and is done in flashback from the moment she steps on the plane. The reader experiences some of her worst moments since her adoption. They see her punishments, her struggles with being shy and different. The book cuts back and forth from the trip and checking in to a hotel, to being a child and teenager.

I''ve written the beginning of the story and the very climactic ending. Here's the rub.

I"M STUCK in the MIDDLE. GRRRR. I need Inspiration!

My initial plan was to have her confront her mother, have her mother lock her in the cellar as she had done once in Beth's past. This time, Beth has her purse over her shoulder and is able to call the police and FBI. There is a whole plot to rescue her going on outside while the mother, Kathryn disolves into madness inside the house, all the while threatening to kill her once estranged daughter Beth.

Some of those details are worked out. Sorta. My characters thus far are only these main characters and a few brief encounters with people at an airport counter. Can my book survive with these 3 main characters? I thought about and have tried adding a therapist without much success. Beth calls him from her hotel room and talks out some of her fears as she goes into a severe panic. I worry I have too much emphasis on her state of mind and her panic state for this to fly.

Do all author's feel this concerned when writing? Gosh I hope so.

Walks with a cane

That kinda sounds like my Sioux name, huh. "Walks with a cane" Well, there are a few people out in the real world who need to pay just a little more attention to those of us who use canes, wheelchairs, crutches, etc. I mean opening doors is Not such a big deal. Bumping into us or knocking us over IS! If I see someone who has trouble walking I do my best to help out. I always did as a child and young adult, and to this day I find myself holding doors for other challenged people. What makes it HARD for others to think of this? What is so hard?
Does that silly cane make people sooooooooooo uncomfortable? Our symptoms are not contageous. We don't bite (usually).
Be kind to everyone. That means any other person you meet. Use the manners you were raised to have.

Do the Newbie Writer Research--don't whine!

Some people say they were born to write. I get that! I've been writing stories of some type since I could hold a pencil. Here is my dillema. I put myself out here on the Internet a writer. Yes, I am trying to break into the Publishing world. I'm fairly new to it. I've written for years, I just haven't picked up a book in a store with my name on the front cover.

When I try my luck at the freelance job sites there is a huge amount of competition. Some other writers have several years of experience and a few books under their belts. I don't let this discourage me. (too much) I look for every opportunity I can find. I get my name out there, I network.

Then I end up on these discussion boards where I find the whiniest newbies on the planet. Some of them are giving the rest of us a BAD NAME. Come on. Go to the bookstore and buy a few books. Check books out of the library. Find some of the bazillion articles online about becoming a freelance writer. Do the research.
I find myself wanting to smack around a few of these newbies who want someone to spoon feed them everything.

Yes, I am struggling to compete for the jobs, the resources, the connections. I have more road blocks than many people. I cannot tell on a regular day if I will be able to stay awake and write that day due to my symptoms of my illnesses. I do what I can and plug along. I take my medications I eat right and I keep going.

I check out freelance job boards, I keep in touch with connections I have made through HARD work. I don't whine about it. (at least I hope people don't see me that way)

C'mon newbie writers.... join writing groups, get newsletters, create a website and make yourself known. Work at it. Just like I am. Nothing comes from nothing. Freelance contains the word "free" but it is hard work. Get to it and stop whining on the boards.

Oh Dear I need more Characters!

I've known for a while I needed to add more characters to my current WIP. I really cannot work with only two main characters. Sure, I have around five other minor characters who appear for a page or two or even a scene here or there. In the scope of things my two main characters don't have enough supporting characters around them.

My protagonist has her therapist, but she only speaks to them on the phone. I need face-to-face characters.

She spends so much time alone in her hotel room, then alone in her car, and finally when she is kidnapped she will spend time alone in the cellar of the house. (thus the title "In the Silent Darkness")

How can I add more characters? So far she has only come in contact with people at the airport, and at her hotel. The people she sees are strangers and customer service type people.

The basic outline is that "she" is going home to face the ghosts of her past. Beth (she) must face her mother and find out why she abused her as a child? What had she done that was so wrong?

After 25 years away from home and any reminder of family she returns to the family home. Her abusive mother is now plump and grey. She no longer looks threatening. They reminisce and then her crazy mother ends up pushing her down the cellar stairs and bolting the door to her freedom as she locks her in the dark cellar.

I have the beginning written and the highly exciting ending written. I am STUCK trying to fill in the middle. Boy do I need advice and ideas.

Diabetes diets, energy, and me.

Okay, so no more syrupy pancakes on Sunday morning for me. I'm learning. My blood sugar was 167 this morning. That ruled out anything remotely sweet. Protein was the order of the day.

Being new to all this, I went straight to my computer to see if yesterday's family blowout and all the STRESS could have been the reason for high reading. Sure enough, from what I read, cortisol gets released when you are angry or extremely emotional starting a whole string of events with your insulin and blood sugar. The site I went to suggests keeping a fairly calm lifestyle. Ha!

Okay, so the big question. I've had a few emails and I wonder about this. Should this blog be less personal? Do I reveal too much of me? Should it be more about writing?

I've been so busy with personal issues I haven't had a lot of time for my own WIP's (works in progress) My two favorite characters are being completely ignored. I have written some articles--mostly on arthritis, diabetic issues or other things to which I can closely relate, and I've been sending out poetry.

As an emerging writer (to the published world) I'm asking YOU, my readers, to let me know.