Busy, in a good way.

Just found out I'm a finalist in another contest. (For the first 7pp of my latest novel.) I've entered a couple more contests, so I'm excited to hear back from all of them. Gold Man Review is taking off. It's been a lot of work so far, but now we're reviewing the layout. Great fun and I'm learning a lot.

Winner

I won third place with the Alaska Romance Writers 2011 Break-Up Contest. Had some great feed back from the judge. Hopefully, this will help me to make the changes that are necessary.

research

I have an imperative deadline that I've set for myself. This time, it's not arbitrarily. Willamette Writers Conference is in August and I want to pitch the novel I'm currently working on. Rule #1 for fiction, of course, IT MUST BE FINISHED! I will be finished. I think this is one of the most time sensitive books that I've ever written.

I should be writing right now. And I am actually in the middle of writing. I only came on-line to do some research. This is the first book I've written where research was so vital to the story-line. For me research is an afterthought, a check-up. I've never cared for research. But thank God for the internet or I don't know what I'd do.

Speaking of research and writing, I must get to it.

just me

Try as I might, I do not yet have a "blog" system. So I figure the first phase of system-achievement should be to actually blog. I'm going to see how that goes for a while. If that seems to be working, I'll try less randomness.

I don't know what blog readers want to read. Quite frankly. I don't get it. I'm no more a committed reader of blogs than I am of posting to my own. Don't get me wrong, I think blogs are an asset to society today. Occasionally, I find some terrific tidbit or valuable information on blogs, but I'm not a religious follower of any one single blog, not even my own.

As a writer I know it's important to have an on-line presence and I've worked to be online, but I think I've been trying too hard. Trying to sound--I don't know--bloggish. I don't even know what that means, so it's a no wonder I couldn't manage it. It's time to be just me.

Here's what's going on. My self-imposed deadline for the latest book I'm writing has come and gone and as you may have guessed, the ending, not so much. But I'm recommitted. I was trying to accomplish 1,000 words a day, so I'm back to that. I'm not reaching it consistently enough, but I'm getting close and more importantly, I'm writing.

Gold Man is coming along. My son is keeping me busy. Nice weather has finally arrived--along with the allergies. But at this point I'm going to follow my own blog rule of keeping it short. I don't have time to read long blog posts, I don't have time to write long posts. Of course, perhaps I've already broken the rule, but nottheless, I blogged today.

Good News!

I have good news. I recently placed as one of three finalists in the 2011 Break-up Contest hosted by Alaska Romance Writers. www.akrwa.org.

I have done much to advance my writing career, to both get serious and prove that I am serious. But I waited too long for contests. I have a list of reasons and excuses, but I blame only me for holding me back. I hate rejection (who doesn't, right?), but I more than hate it, I fear it. Let me correct that, I feared it. No more. People aren't going to like what I right. A lot of people. My own sister doesn't like romance, though I hope one day when I hand her my book, she will read it. But it doesn't matter. People who don't like me don't bother me. It's there problem, not mine. And the same has to be true of my writing. It's not a personal attack. The sister I mentioned before? She was excited to hear the news of my finalizing. She doesn't like to read romance, but she still supports me. Anyone who doesn't like what I write or the way I write... it's their problem, not mine. I am who I am, I write what inspires me.

I blame only me. I held me back this long. Fear was the excuse, but I was the reason. Shame on me.

New Year's Resolution

For the most part I don't parttake in New Year's "Resolutions" per say. As the New Year presents itself, I prefer to think of how I want to better myself or my life. This year I am committed to being a bit more organized. I have several items on my plate to manage and I'm not "formerly" working, although my son keeps me on my toes for sure.

My blog doesn't directy tie in with my resolution, but it definately merits attention. So far, I've been averaging about once a month. Last time I was on facebook, I still knew how to use it, so although I'm proud to have an on-line presence, I really need to be a little more present on-line. I guess that's my sub-resolution.

So Happy New Year to all, and to all the hope for a better you and a better tomorrow.

Okay, so everything I planned in the last post ...? Out the window! Well, it's still in the plan. But clearly it's not happening. I had a new idea for a book so I'm writing the notes. Plus I'm still editing "Scandal" which actually has a new title, finally. Until next time.

So, I'm learning my way here. It's tough to know what to write on a blog everyday. What people are even going to care to read. And of course, I need regularity. I'm going to shoot for two days a week to start. Today, is Saturday, so that wins Day 1. Thursdays, will be Day 2. I'll have to put this on my calendar or I'll never remember.

I'm working on "Scandal" editing. One big thing is that I've changed the name, but haven't decided on a precise title yet. But Heather and I are on schedule and deadline to get eachother's works critiqued. I've cut and cut and cut some more, so I'm down to an acceptable word count. I can definately see an improvement in my work.

On the personal front, my uncle broke is ankle going down the stairs. He's had serious leg injuries in the past and the fall was due to these previous injuries. Fortunately, he's doing well. I guess his ex fell a few days later and broke her leg, going down the stairs. Funny, huh, even though it's not. But after yesterday, it's really not. I tripped coming off my steps--feeling the most excruciating pain I think I've ever felt (next to childbirth) and with my uncle on my mind my thought was, "Oh my God, I just broke my ankle!"

I dropped to the ground screaming, but after a couple of minutes later the pain began to subside a little, so I began to realize that it probably wasn't broken. Thank God, it was only a sprain. But trust me, it's no "walk in the park" either. Still, I'm surviving. And my son is as helpful as a 1 year-old can be.

Legacy

I'm working on my blog, my site will come next, along with my overall web presence. But forgetting all that for a moment, I can't help but think what a legacy we leave for our families and loved ones. I have posts dating back to 2007. Three years of my life documented for the world to see. Granted, I haven't been the best blogger and I am working on that. But the next time you blog or read someone else's think about the legacy that's being left behind. A hundred years ago all you had left of a loved one who'd passed was a memory that faded with time and an ache the didn't. In recent years, we've been fortunate to possess photos to aid in the memories, but today, we have far more. We can have our own thoughts and feelings typed and published for our future generation. So blogging isn't just about changing the world, but changing someone's world. May each blog, someday, be able to do that and truly we will have touched millions.

LOLLIPOP Full Dell Version & Lyrics

Okay, so my sister said I should mention why I have the dell lollipop song vid on my blog. When my son was 8 months or so and they kept playing this commercial on television, he would stop whatever he was doing to watch it. At the time, it was the only thing on TV that he'd stop and watch. He loved the lollipop song.