Hodge Podge

Since this is a post about random, unconnected things, it seemed reasonable to include this picture. It's a photo of my oldest child, playing his Euphonium. For unknown reasons, this is what he chose to play in band this year. Unlike the 12 boys who chose the drums, he gets a private lesson. He's the only one in the school who chose this heavy and unwieldy instrument (which I lug to school twice a week). This particular son could multiply before he hit kindergarten, and taught himself to read--all as I watched, fascinated. Although, I think it's safe to say that I watch each of my kids with fascination. Now, on to the hodge podge:


Frequent Visitors (because aren't you all reptiles from another world masquerading as peaceful friends?) may wonder why I haven't followed up with my Buy-A-Book Club recently. Well, it's because I have sheepishly over-bought in October. I think my tally topped 20 books. Once I get over my shame over being thoroughly unable to stick to a budget, I'll tell you about some of them.

Yesterday I clicked over from Northwriter's fantastically visual blog to this beautiful blog, written by Natasha Fondren while she travels across the United States. How cool is that? And, her post 'It's Not Normal' is not to be missed. I mean it. Go check it out. NOW!

I also followed a click through Editorial Ass' blog to author Aprilynne Pike's post about not just breaking into publication, but breaking in with the right first novel. Food for thought.

And today on Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog is a guest post by Henriette Power. Anyone who is a writer and rower is cool in my book.

And for anyone wondering, if I seem less lucid today, it is because the flu has completely taken over my house. Superman has been lying on the couch for 5 days now. This elicits much sadness from everyone who knows him. I think he has spent more time lying still in the past few days than he has (while awake) in his entire lifetime. It's weird to see his body at rest.

Now my Cowgirl has succumbed, and says things like "I want a cold blanket, mommy," followed seconds later with "I want a WARM blanket MOMMY!" and "That Gatorade made me sick," followed by, "I'm NOT SICK!"

So, back to the reason for my questionable lucidity--when my kids are sick, I gather them into bed with me at night. Nighttime is scary. It's when fevers spike and I feel compelled to check every few moments to make sure my sick kids are still breathing. But last night, Superman decided to sleep in his brother's room, then halfway through the night moved to the living room couch. So I was up all night wandering between him and Cowgirl. I haven't slept well in days.

And while Cowgirl is sick, I don't have the comic relief of watching her dance to this video.

But maybe lack of lucidity is exactly what I need to plunge forward into my NaNo novel. Today my MC is arriving at her Dream World.

What about your lucidity? Are there occasions that you can't write because your mind isn't in the right place? What state of mind helps you get words onto the page?

Upping the Ante

My general philosophy is that if you put things out into the universe, the universe replies in kind. I don't mean that I get back everything that I want, because I'm not omniscient (or wise enough to know what I should be wanting). But if I don't risk, then I don't gain. We're all connected, and the world works most effectively when we act that way.

The story of how my blog came to be supports my vision of connectedness--of getting what you need when you need it from the universe. (Note that I only provide examples of proof of this belief--I don't illustrate the many instances of things that just don't add up--I'm human that way.)

I started following some blogs--of an author, some industry people, some fellow writers--and decided to start my own blog privately, to journal about writing and to track my goals. It's always best for me to write things down. Things stick better when they're in black and white.

My writing partner started reading blogs, so I opened up my blog for one day, to let him take a peek. On that one day, the author whose blog I was following commented on my blog. Now I had a conundrum. It seemed too rude to close my blog again, especially when Erica Orloff (the author) was such a gracious hostess to me when I was at her blog. So, not so gracefully, I went public with my blog.

It's always great when someone ups the ante for you.

I needed a push at that moment. A push is what I got. Would I have asked for that particular push? No way. And yet the universe delivered.

But that is what writing is all about--continually upping the ante. It's what good critique partners should do. It's what every revision should be. It's what every new project is about. Upping the ante. Writing better. Taking risks. And when you can't do it yourself, I'll send Erica your way.

How are you upping the ante with your writing?

Dashings and Crashings

I just borrowed Lloyd Alexander's The Black Cauldron from the library.

Now it's your turn to ask (incredulously), "Are you seriously telling me that you don't own that book? What credentials do you have to be blogging, let alone writing?"

Let me reassure you--I indeed own this book. I own, in fact, the whole series, but sadly all my books are in boxes at my in-law's house. We did a renovation a year ago, and we haven't retrieved the books. We finally cleaned out the garage, so we could get to the bookshelves, which are finally back in the house. It's a long story.

And, perhaps this book doesn't have the same weight for you as it does for me. Perhaps you would be able to utter the above question devoid of incredulity. But not me. This novel was my FIRST.

My brother read it to me before I could read. Reading was new to him, and at times he took long pauses as he wrestled with a word. I sat fuming. Couldn't he read faster? I had to know what happened next! My brother did voices for each of the characters. A voice for Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, for Fflewddur, for Eilonwy.

And a spectacularly guttural voice for Gurgi, to say fantastic things like, "Oh, great, brave, and wise master! Gurgi is thankful! His poor tender head is spared from terrible dashings and crashings!"

I think I can manage Taran (Assistant Pig-Keeper) and Fflewddur, and I know I've got Eilonwy down pat. But I think I'm going to have to call my brother to do the part of Gurgi. It just wouldn't be the same.

I always thought it normal for a big brother to read to his younger sister (my brother is only three years my senior), but once I had kids, I realized how spectacular that nightly routine really was. I owe my brother a debt of gratitude. Taran, Eilonwy and especially Gurgi, filtered through my brother's imagination, are the reason I write today. Thanks B!

Do you remember your First?

Monday Meeting

Wow, Monday again. And last week was a piddly one on my blog--only one blog post. Some weeks are like that. I got sucked into the Halloween tornado and rode it until Saturday, and then started NaNo on Sunday. So, my goal this week is simply to add word count to my new YA fantasy, and to continue to edit my MG fantasy. Just that. And I'm pretty sure that the H1N1 has invaded my household--two sick kids. But still, I press on.

My blog this morning is actually a sign post, which reads 'Go directly to Erica Orloff's blog' (Do not pass Go...) If you are like me, you have already been there--coffee isn't coffee anymore unless I'm hanging out at Erica's. Erica has a vibrant interview with Alex M Liuzzi, a very unique and interesting writer who has carved out his own way. Go now, check it out!

Oh, before you go...what goals do you have this week?

Front and Back Burners

I have had this bizarre attitude towards writing that is unlike anything else that I tackle in my life. Normally I am doing twelve things at once. I have lists to work from, and I multitask. However, early on in my writing, I decided to only work on only one project at a time, and to see it through to the end. There have been several problems with this method.

1. I feel differently about drafting than I do about revisions. I am growing to like revisions, but I miss the fast drafting when I am thoughtfully polishing my draft. It uses different skills, and when I'm frustrated with the process, I haven't allowed myself any other writing outlet. I need the imaginative, brainstorming, let's-see-where-this-idea-takes-me thrill.

2. It feels frustrating to spend so much time on a small portion of writing. When I'm drafting, I feel as though I am getting somewhere fast, and the revision process is slow. I have spent months on revising, and know that I have a few more months to go. In part because I am still learning. And hopefully will always be learning.

3. The writing process is too long to have long periods of frustration (without an outlet), especially since writing normally gives me peace and sanity.

4. I hope to publish sometime, and I realized that authors are always writing the next thing, while waiting for edits from agents and publishers. And then revising one book while writing another. So, it is okay, and maybe preferable to write another book while I'm revising. This Aha! moment clicked in while I was reading this blog. Thanks Jessica!

So, full ahead with my plan for NaNoWriMo. And I'm not cheating on my novel which is sitting in revisionland (Revisions always make me feel as though my novel has done something naughty and has been put in time-out.)

One possible backfire is that I might end up with multiple projects in revision. I'll just have to man-up.

How about you? How many projects do you work on at once? Do you simultaneously have things on the front and back burners?