6/1/9 - Getting down to brass tacks

I haven't the foggiest clue what that expression means, but that's my plan for the week as I am now ON VACATION! While I always pray for beautiful weather (not too hot, and at this time of year, with my gardening to do too, certainly not too cold), I am usually thwarted. Sure enough, this morning the latest weather report has added to the 3 days of possible rain this week to make it - 5 DAYS with rain. Today was supposed to be clear until late afternoon, now a possible thunderstorm in the AM. Sheesh.

The upside? More time to write, of course!

So what am I up to? Same old, same old, actually, as has been the case for a bit. I've got my erotic vampire novella up and then my Gothic novella. And in between I am working on an erotic short piece that I hope to submit on my birthday (15 days from now). Beyond that, of course, are my longer projects (as my Grandma always said, my eyes are bigger than my stomach, and it doesn't just mean about food, either!).

Am I the only one who gets so overzealous about projects that not a single one ever reaches fruition? I certainly hope I'm not alone, but then again I wouldn't wish this on others as it is FRUSTRATING!

But I am going for the gusto, the brass ring, the gold, "Just do it!" as Nike says. And by the end of this week I will, by golly, have something to show for it!

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TGIF! A gorgeous day and I'm filled with inspiration. Having joined a number of non-RWA Yahoo groups dedicated to erotic romance, historial romance, historical fiction and World War II (mostly research there), I've got lots of creative juices sloshing around. I'm going to try not to let the nastiness as work get me down, and just get through the day so I can head home for the long weekend and relax, write, work out in the garden and generally chill.

My writing has suffered the last few months from frustration/depression/anxiety issues as well as from (gosh, what a surprise!) taking on too many volunteer responsibilities. The end of the road is in sight on that one, though, and I've SOOOOOO learned my lesson not to try to impress or garner friends by pitching in to do as much work as is humanly (or not) possible. It hasn't gotten me anywhere except into Aggravation Land and so I'll consider my 2 years of service for RWA groups, and 3 for NYC good enough.

Now it is off to the coal mines to toil for the day. Cool breezes and sun outside - ah, well. I guess I'd be outside if I was a ditch-digger, wouldn't I?

Happy Memorial Day.

Remember the brave men and women, soldiers, nurses, doctors, photographers, journalists, fliers, who have given their lives for our country and for others.

5/3/09

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." Woody Allen.

OK, so the Wood-ster tends to annoy me with his bizarre Soon-yi think (way to close to pedophilia for me, but hey, whatever floats your boat, dude - she was, after all legal age).

Whoops, here I am waxing all serious, when what I meant to say was, despite his shortcomings, you have to agree the Wood-ster is hugely amusing.

I was prompted to use this quote because I spent yesterday afternoon laughing. And it could not have been more timely, because I'd spent the day before in a rage. So all was made better by a terrifically funny Patt Mihailoff presentation about life, love, friends, foster care and writing books - romance, horror, historical, confession. She is a great entertainer and as generous with her enthusiasm as she is with her hugs and her support.

So, despite the face that the weathermen were wrong (gasp! could it be so???) and it is raining today - that sort of drizzling, spitting type of weather that means you can't sit outside or work, but it isn't terribly beneficial to anything else, either.

But what I just realized it DID mean is that I don't HAVE to go work outside, clean, rake, plant, etc. I can relax and enjoy the 1 day I do have to myself since yesterday's RWA/NYC chapter brunch, subsequent board meeting and a brief dinner/drinks gathering whereat we watched the Kentucky Derby, and I didn't get home until 9.

So today I have the chance to catch up on my blogging (I've been SO REMISS), as well as get some organizing done, cleaning, and put together a stellar list of questions for my interview of Lauren Willig.

PLUS write a chapter blog on alternative ways to write even if you haven't sold a book. Short Fiction!

But I also have to get involved in my potential, intended Blaze novel, and continue my writing and plotting. I have the overview done and know where I'm going to start and where I'm going to end and how, generally, I intend to get there, but not all the little stops and details along the way.

So I have a day to chill and indulge myself in my writing.

Hoo-rah!

4/27/09

"Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese." Billie Burke

That about sums it up. What's up with me today? My blood pressure, mostly. But despite getting nothing done, I'm throwing in the towel. Going home to sit outside on a beautiful evening and relax.

As another great lady say, "I'll think about it tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day!"

4/15/09

Tax day. Yech. That will be one of my first acts this morning (8:47 am) - to get my taxes done, copy them at staples and then drop them at the post office. It is a pain in the ass but it only will take me about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to do them.

I just watched the video of Susan Boyle, the 47 year old Scottish woman who walked onto the stage of X Factor (British American Ido) and knocked everyone on their asses by singing a most amazing version of I Dreamed A Dream. She was dowdy, unattractive (but cheeky!) and audience members and judges alike were sneering.

Until she opened her mouth and the first notes came out and Simon Cowell looked like he'd been kicked in the nuts.

She wowed them, changed their minds and had them on their feet and cheering. What an amazing scene.

But more important - Susan Boyle had to know she wasn't a beauty, wasn't a slender young hip thing, and yet she marched out there with all the courage you could possibly imagine.

And I'm going to let THAT be a lesson to ME, too.

Stop wasting time. Stop wondering what if, stop letting excuses rule my life and kill MY dream.

I Dreamed a Dream, too. And I am the only one who can make it come true.

So there.

Off to work on my dream now (after I do my taxes).

4/14/09

It's raining, chilly, they are cutting down a tree on the corner (I HATE seeing people cut down all their trees!) and I worked for a couple of hours in the garden but had to quit when it started to rain. Mercifully, you would think, so I could sit and write. Why, then am I having trouble getting down to it? I have that creative feeling after all - after yard work my Mother said she wanted to go to Pearl's Art Supply (she'd never been and envisioned it as a Michael's sort of craft store). I told her it was really an ART SUPPLY store, but away we went. Naturally I found things to buy - in particular 2 books, one on drawing fantastical creatures and one on pen and watercolor wash paintings. When I expect to indulge this artistic side of me I'll never know. I reviewed my emails and found a few new people on whose blogs I commented and I checked in with Twitter and have tried to add some folk but down't have the right names, so...

OK, so I figured how to add a couple more folks to my "followed" list. Having checked out one particular blog, however, I now have my work cut out for me as far as organization and getting shit up on my own blogs. Not to mention blogging, period.

Duh.

You know what? It's grey, raining, and the tree killers have gone away. And it is 3;30 and I'm on vacation this week so screw it, I'm gonna take a nap!

I'll be fresh and filled with wonderful ideas for my intended Blaze category novel that I'm plotting for my RWA/NYC chapter's BIAM challenge. It's been watered down to be a mini-challenge, but I'm going full bore myself. Now, to snuggle down...

04/11/09

Not to piss and moan (though "WISPing" - wallowing in self pity - is one of my best things), but I don't get a lot of support in my writing life. Mom just continues to lambast me for not finishing stuff (which is the biggest of the sticks with which I beat myself mercilessly, so I don't really need her to do it too). The people I know in my day job are clueless, with one exception - a funky gal who fits in with the rest of the mundanes about as well as I do, which is to say, they smile and say hello, but always look at me with that expression of puzzlement that says they just don't get me - and don't ever ask or talk about my writing (nor do they prod me). Another acquaintance took to blasting me, with great anger, whenever the subject of my not writing in sufficient quantity came up. I needed that like a hole in the head and have, essentially, ceased placing myself in the position of having to get yelled at. When I want the yelling fix (right), I can get it at the office. Or at home. Or on the LIRR or the subway, the buses or, hell, right on the street.

SO. I haven't got people cheering me on. Certainly no one particularly complimentary about my abilities. Except for one. One individual who is a talented, multi-genre, multi-published author who, from the very first time this person glimpsed my writing, has never stopped reminded me that my writing is good, better than good, and that I need to get on with it. Get it out there. The nudges are gentle and sprinkled with warmth, humor and support. Not just criticism. And it makes all the difference in the world.

The person in question has been a champion of me in other ways, too, and it is nice to know that there is at least one person in the world who thinks well of me.

So despite the dreary, chill start to my vacation (though hallelujah, the week's 4 days of rain forecast has changed, though the temps will be colder ... at least it will be sunny!), I've got lovely words of enthusiastic support to make my day a bit brighter and warmer and, hell, they got the old creative juices flowing.

Now THAT'S the kind of friends everyone needs at least one of
.
So, thank you, my friend.