Posted by April

I Wrote Something...


Something more than my name which I seem to forget half the time lately anyway that is :o).

I know I've been absent for some time. Those who have visited my personal blog may have read that I gave myself permission to take a break a little while ago because pregnancy is a greater distraction than I had anticipated. :o) But breaks are hard for someone who started writing because she couldn't shut up the stories in her head to begin with.

Today my lovely cp, Nicole, made a comment to me. She said she was taking a break from her wip and as a form of catharsis she was going to write something just for herself. Something she had no intent of trying to publish or angled for an audience or that possibly didn't even have proper structure, but just something she wanted to write. She may not even finish it. Maybe I'm not supposed to share all of that, but it struck me and it struck me hard. I thought... that is BRILLIANT!

Writing has been nill for me in recent months. Absolutely nill. I can barely remember when I last ate or what my to-do list is (which is written down by the way, but what's the point if you forget where you put it?). I've heard of baby brain, but this is nuts.

I figure my inability to string more than two coherent thoughts together have had a lot to do with my reluctance to write. Tomorrow I won't even remember if it's a comedy or drama. :o)

I have also discovered that the hormones of pregnancy dig up lots of emotions and sometimes I'm too overwhelmed by all that is in the present to deal with removing myself from reality for a moment. But Lord knows I enjoy those escapes from reality, even during happy times. And I have missed writing so much.

So tonight I did it... I wrote just for me. It may never be properly formatted for submission, I may forget it tomorrow, it probably will never see a visit to the usps to be shipped off to editors or agents, but it sure as heck has made me happy. Really happy. So thank you, Nicole!

Have you ever tried that? Just writing for you, not for anyone else?

I also want to send out a BIG congrats to fellow Flirt, Sarah. Check out her news here.

April
Saturday, February 2::2:49 AM:: 6 comments     Post a Comment

---------------oOo---------------

Posted by Stacy Dawn

Lucky

I am one lucky woman.

It didn't hit home until recently when a writer friend of mine was frustrated because of the lack of support at home. Since day one, my husband has been behind me one hundred percent, never once saying you gotta go get a job (even though we needed me too) or telling me to put it aside because there were more important things to do.

Example: This morning I actually freaked my husband out as we lay in bed because a scene came to me so suddenlly and clearly that I gasped and sat up, reaching for my notepad beside the bed. He was all like "what's wrong" until he heard the papers shuffle. Then he punched his pillow and muttered 'writers' like it was a bad word LOL....I just laughed harder because it wasn't just funny, but it was just another little sign that he fully supported me in my dreams, even if they drove him crazy sometimes.

And now, there is a chance I might get into illustrating and again, he is there for me, no question.

Thanks sweetheart, I love you!



Just had to post this.

Sunday, January 6::7:07 PM:: 3 comments     Post a Comment

---------------oOo---------------

Posted by Stacy Dawn

I'm Going to try....

I figure with enough years proving that setting a New Year's resolution doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen that I'm not going to promise myself anything this year....that way I won't be depressed when I don't follow through.

No, this year, my New Year's Resolutions involve TRYING....

I'm going to try to be better at keeping up with blogging and promotion this year

I'm going to try to up my exercising so that I can continue to progress at my weightloss (I've been doing Weight Watchers and have lost 22lbs so far!!)

I'm going to try to keep to a writing schedual and get the projects I've been really wanting to do done

I'm going to try to give myself a break and take a bit more time to stop and smell the roses rather than clinging to the thorns life casts

What about you? What are you going to TRY to accomplish in 2008?

glitter-graphics.com

Wednesday, December 26::6:42 PM:: 3 comments     Post a Comment

---------------oOo---------------

Posted by Sarah L. Catherine

GH Entry

I am the world's worst procrastinator... or is that the world's best procrastinator?

Fortunately, I'd already paid for my GH entry, and that forced me to get it printed out and sent on Monday, December 3rd, last day to enter.

I could be a Mastercard commercial with how much it cost me, overall:

Entry Fee in November -- $50
Printing 6 copies of 52 pages at Kinkos (partial + synopsis) -- $25
CD to burn the full ms -- $5
** 4 hr courier to the GH office at the last minute, because it's in my city -- $29.50

Total -- $109.50
Relief to be done with it -- Priceless

Yikes. Good thing it's all spread out so DH doesn't notice... lol

What's the most expensive contest you've entered? Do you always curse yourself for paying twice as much in shipping at the final hour?

Tuesday, December 4::10:28 PM:: 0 comments     Post a Comment

---------------oOo---------------

Posted by Sarah L. Catherine

Happy Short Work Week!

Who’s ready for Thanksgiving?
Is it just me, or did it get here sooner this year? Fortunately, I’ve been so busy at work, I haven’t had time to get stressed about the upcoming Holidays. (You know it’s bad when I say I’m *fortunate* to be busy at work.) Holidays to me, for my married life of 10 years, don’t mean “family togetherness” they mean “family tension.”
Anyway, that’s a whole other post, which you’ve probably heard from me before. ;)

We'll be spending 3+ days at my mom's house, hosting both sides of the family on 2 different days, which means intensive cleaning in between, dh will be studying for finals... I can feel the joy already... sigh.

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Are you into the frantic Holiday spirit of cleaning and cooking and preparing?

What are you thankful for?
I’m thankful for the short work week (now, that sounds more like it… ;) ), and for my beautiful sweet girls. And for my husband being so close to law school graduation that we can taste it. :)

Monday, November 19::10:06 AM:: 3 comments     Post a Comment

---------------oOo---------------

Posted by Cole

Incredible Read

Research. Do you like it? Sometimes I do. Sometimes I think... its just part of the deal of writing, do it and move on. One of the stories I'm working on has a military element to it. I've been learning tons. You'd think with grandparents, a dad, tons of friends and a husband all in the military I'd KNOW a lot. I don't. I thought I did. I have since come to realize this is just one of those things you only truly know if you've experienced it. But that is getting sidetracked. I've found some wonderful resources and people who can personally answer my questions. =)

That having been said, I went to the library the other day on a recommendation and picked up a couple of books not expecting to 'love' anything I read. Expecting to find things interesting... yes. But it was research. Work. Something needing to be done so I could get to the next step - the fun step - the writing. =)

Therefore when I started reading one of the books and found I couldn't put it down... I was shocked and delighted and couldn't wait to tell everyone out there to go get this book and read it! I would like to mention also, I don't usually read military based books. And this was an autobiography of sorts on top of that. Another thing not on my normal list. Not that I don't like them, but usually their so serious and I usually am reading to escape... and well, you get the idea.

The book that I read was Shooter by Gunnery Sgt. Jack Coughlin, USMC, and Capt. Casey Kuhlman, USMCR, with Donald A. Davis. The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper.

This book was something else. I've tried several times to write out some description of it but the truth is, its just a good book. Some parts made me laugh. Other parts made me sad. Some made me proud to be a part of this country - the one he fought for. Others made me truly understand what a conflict it is to be a warrior. We idolize true warriors and for good reason - they are willing to give up everything to save our lives. We need true warriors. But we must remember the cost to them.

If you have a chance to get this book, I definitely recommend you read it.

And since I'm going to be gone over the next week of Thanksgiving -- For all those celebrating Thanksgiving... Have a good one! =)

Cole

Tuesday, November 13::4:46 PM:: 1 comments     Post a Comment

---------------oOo---------------

Posted by April

Oh, the insanity!

So my characters have decided to gang up on me... when I'm sleeping. Apparently, they are not satisfied with my recent progress, or lack thereof and have decided the only way to get me on the ball is to keep me from sleeping until I get to writing all I can. So, my ms is open on my laptop and as soon as this post is finished, I'm heading to it.

I'm kind of excited because I'm at a very momentous part of the story... And the first big love scene is not too far off... Hmm, maybe THAT is why they're being so pushy!

At the same time, my cp has been so supportive of me and everything that has been going on. Without her cheering me on, there are times I would have thought maybe I just needed to give up on writing all together for the time being. But she was there inspiring me and encouraging me, and it's proven just what a blessing a great cp really is. So thank you, Cole!

Let's just pray I get enough written tonight to satisfy my characters so maybe, just maybe I'll get a restful night's sleep.

Where's the craziest place your characters have chosen to bug you?

April

Sunday, October 28::8:44 PM:: 5 comments     Post a Comment

---------------oOo---------------