Clearing Out and Cleaning Up

 This time of year is special to me- 

Here's one reason why; flowers are blooming and they cheer me up after a hard, dreary winter. Spring is here and it means warmer weather and getting outside. It means, especially this year, of being with people (socially distanced, of course). It means a new start. Honestly, I think we should celebrate New Year's on the first day of Spring. Who thinks of doing anything in the middle of winter except hunkering down?

Because of flowers, warm weather, and longer days of sunshine, I'm energized. Sometimes I feel like a solar panel; in the dark I'm listless. When the sun hits, I'm all full of energy and raring to go into action. Unfortunately I can't work in my gardens because the fallen leaves are still protecting precious insects and small animals. (Once it stays above 50 degrees F, they can be cleared.) It's too soon to open the pool and outdoor bar. But there is plenty more I can do. 

1- I replaced the curtain rods in my dining room because I took down the heavy valances. More light filters through and the room feels bigger and brighter. That should make my plants grow like monsters too. 

2- I spent four hours at my church cleaning the grounds, mulching gardens, and planting pansies. We will have outdoor services from Easter on, until hopefully by September the church can be opened. Meeting fellow members and working (socially distanced, of course) gave my spirit such a lift. The hardest part of the epidemic has been the isolation. I got to catch up with church members while I got my hands into the soil and the church looked so welcoming. 

3- I bought a monitor for my laptop. I don't use a pc because I don't want to juggle and transfer stuff between two computers. The problem is my laptop, when it sits on my desk, is too low for comfortable viewing. The screen isn't high enough and my neck gets a crick after a few hours. Plus, the keyboard is not at an optimal level either. I'm tall with long arms and it's like being in a cramped airplane seat. Most things are meant for the average, shorter person. This monitor can be adjusted by heighth and angle of tilt. And yes, the larger screen is easier on the eyes. The new keyboard makes it so I don't have to have my laptop right next to me, causing cricks because I'm turned partway, trying to type and view the screen.  

4- 

I've been decluttering slowly. Last year I had a yard sale but didn't get everything sold and I've put more on the 'For Sale' pile. In the meantime, I'm listing things on Facebook's Marketplace and Neighborhood pages. It takes at least a month or longer to make a sale, but every sale means more free space in my basement or garage, and more money for the kids. (Most of the stuff I sell are their toys and sports equipment or old twin bedroom sets, so I'm dividing the money between them.) And in case you're interested, the above Christmas Poinsettia and Ribbons set has complete service for 12, with extras like a gravy boat, two salt/pepper sets, 2 extra dessert plates, 8 juice glasses, 11 cocktail glasses, all perfect condition, $75.

5- I've been throwing away old versions of manuscripts. Since some of my published books are out of print, there's no sense keeping the previous copies. Almost everything is stored on my computer and extra hard drive, and I have the bound books, so I don't need the paper copies. (I kept them in case there was ever a claim by someone that I stole their work- I could show a clear chain of creation.) Into the recycle pile and I have another clear shelf.

6- I've made a list of all my unpubbed manuscripts and am slowly going through either marking for revision, total overhaul, or to be set aside until a better time while I rethink it. I will send the revised manuscripts out on revision. And if I decide to, I can always Indie publish within a month. Either way, I'm not letting them gather dust any longer. I put a lot of hard work in them and it's time for the words to work for me.

7- My husband and I plan to eventually downsize, so I'm making (another) list of things that need to be done to get top dollar for our house. As each child moves out on their own, I'm painting the rooms and refinishing the floors. (Plus, since they're taking their stuff with them, more space!) I'm simplifying the gardens and addressing jobs like spackling a bumpy wall. It's not so overwhelming when you tackle one task at a time rather than thinking about all the jobs to be done. And, I like the satisfaction of crossing something off my list. 

Looking at all the things I want to accomplish seems a bit daunting, but I'm only looking at one or two at a time. Today, my blog is done (on time...!). Next, I'm finishing typing in the final revisions on a requested R&R (revise and resubmit for non-authors) so it's ready to go April 1st. Later I'll hike about 3 miles. Maybe I'll vacuum the family room too. So while I have four things on my list, it's okay if I don't get to the vacuuming until tomorrow. (It's not like we can have visitors....yet.) 

Hope you're feeling the renewed energy and motivation to do things that need or you want to get done-

Char

My New Best Writing Buddy

Writers have many tools, some of which are like trusted friends: a thesaurus, a computer/laptop, Spellcheck...

I have found a new one that I just want to hug:

 
Yes, it's a book; not a new software program, or an app, or anything downloaded. I'm writing a story that travels through almost 400 years of history. I wanted to include both momentous and unnoteworthy historical events. Trying to Google history decade or year by year would have taken too long. I remembered my son had a book that traced history. Actually, he had two. Not only could I get all the basic information I needed on any time period or event in history quickly through the index, BUT! The one book, The Times, edited by Richard Overy, IT HAS A TIMELINE.

It shows all the events from 700 BC, from development of simple farming to creation of major works of art and music, to every war.  At a glance, I can scan all the continents and see what was happening at any one time across the globe. There are maps and diagrams and charts, too.

For a novel about time travel, or which spans decades, centuries, or several millennia, this book is a gold mine- even though it's old school. I'll bet it's even quicker and easier to use than any computer program or Google, too.

My son no longer wanted the books, so they go on my reference shelf, adored once more. I have a lot of plans for those two. Stay tuned.

Char

Break Time!

Do you take a break between manuscripts? Don't you think your computer might like a little respite too?

Photo courtesy of Drew Williams, Pexels.

These are some of the things I like to do when I'm in between manuscripts:

1. Clean your screen and keyboard. If you're like me, sometimes when you get on a creative roll, you eat and drink at your desk (or in the coffee shop, or on the couch, or patio table, etc.) Eating means sticky or greasy fingers. Using lens cleaner or a dampened with water cloth (NO PAPER TOWELS- THEY CAN SCRATCH), clean both screen and keys.

2. Don't forget to clean INSIDE your computer: get rid of junk, old emails, copies of your kids' school papers, spam, anything you don't need. Then, do a defrag to clear out memory.

3. Now's the time to get anything fixed: replace worn out power cords, keys with no letters on them, make upgrades, etc.

4. Clean your workspace. Dust the desk, throw out papers, clean the clutter. I like to reorganize my workspace once it reaches critical: too many papers, projects, and 'stuff', like a tiny rubber shark from a book festival that just sits on my desk. Happy work space, happy worker.

5. Organize the notes and pages from the project you just finished. I keep each project in it's own cardboard box. Once the book is published and about 2 years old, I throw those notes out. I figure that's a safe period of time if anyone wants to sue me for plagiarism. I have the work product which shows my progress and that the novel is mine.

6. Since each project can span over a year (or two...) with revisions, and I'm working on several different projects, I spend a lot of time on my laptop. To help reduce eye fatigue, I enlarge the type to 125%. I can still see the entire page at this level.

7. Think about lighting. Is your space well lit? How about the background on your laptop or desktop. A little more light can also reduce eye strain.

8. Maybe you need to change the scenery a bit; add a plant, a new picture, whatever boosts your mood, and therefore, your productivity. Whatever the subject, I have a little something which relates to the work; a little figurine, a picture of a Hollywood movie star that I think my character looks like, or even a crystal or such. I put it on my desk and it can sometimes inspire me when I get stuck.

After a short rest and recharge, both you and your computer will be ready for the next project.

Happy writing!

Char

A New Arrival...

I got a new laptop.

I don't have everything up and running, and I'm bugging my sons. Somehow, my wireless printer is printing reverse- black page and white letters. It's very hard on the eyes, especially when I swam and the chlorine has me looking like a red-eyed demon. So, bear with me.

In the meanwhile, keep writing, take time to enjoy the little pleasures of the holidays, don't get discouraged, and do something good for you, and nice for someone else...

Photo courtesy Pixaby, Pexels. 

Char

5 Undeniable Truths About Life...

It's Monday, blog day. I'm keeping it short and maybe not so sweet with 5 truths that we all know:

1- If you have a front loading washing machine, to have to leave the door open to avoid that funky smell, mold, and mildew. (And they don't tell you this in product info or when you're going to buy it.)

2- The absolute BEST glass/window cleaner is a formula it took me years to figure out (without a degree in chemistry, but with simple, basic logic) - In a Windex bottle use this formula: 1/2 Windex, 1/4 white vinegar, 1/4 water. It takes a little longer for the glass to dry, but it comes out cleaner than anything I've found on the market. You're welcome.

3- Never wear any football jersey but an Eagles one if you're going to Philadelphia. You put your safety at risk.

4- No matter how many times you review/revise your manuscript, you always think you should do it 'one more time.'

5- I love Christmas but Christmas movies in July are just a big NO. You should be poolside, at the beach, hiking in the mountains, playing in the grass. There's enough time for Christmas and snow in November/December.

So I'm back to the revisions on my manuscript and praying that my laptop won't quit on me (it's been showing signs that it's end is near....)

Here's a nice pic of my front door to start your week that has nothing to do with anything I've written today, but I'm taking artistic license....

Welcome! Let's have a cup of tea!

Char

Trying to Find The Words...Or, the Letters...

I type a lot. No, A LOT. Like millions of keystrokes a year. As an author, I spend hours writing and revising on my laptop. After a year, this is what it looks like:

As you can see, some keys I've completely worn off the letters, and some the textured surface. It's cool because no one can use my laptop because the missing keys frustrates them (especially the hubs because he was never taught the proper way to type; he uses the hunt and peck system and well, good luck hunting on this keyboard. Normally, not a problem, unless I have a problem with my laptop and he's trying to fix it.).

I usually replace the keyboard because I get a 3 year warranty. But this laptop passed the three year mark and no more warranty. If I pay Geek Squad, not only will it cost a bundle, but my laptop will be out of commission for probably 3-4 WEEKS. I can't live like that. So, the youngest son had an idea....

Why not simply paint on new letters? So he bought me these. They are permanent silver markers. Brilliant! So that is what I did.

Hey, it looks pretty good! I'm not anal-retentive enough to be bothered that some keys looks different. It works and in 2, 3 years, I'll get another laptop because this one will be totally exhausted and begging for the sweet release of death.

Only.....

After using it for less than half an hour, this is what happened....

The keys got all smudgy-smeary and started to wear off even though I let the marker dry for over an hour (they are supposed to dry instantly).

Sigh.

And my fingertips are silver. A friend suggested stickers, but they wouldn't last and I'd have sticky keys. Back to square one where the eldest son is checking for a new keyboard and will put it in (he's good at stuff like this, when he has free time to do it.).

Such is a writer's life.

Char

Take a Damn Break...

My stepdad was having knee replacement surgery. That meant a lot of time in hospital waiting rooms and night hours after my mom went to bed. Lots of time to finish a revision, do a critique, write blog posts, and network on social media.

Unless of course, you forget your laptop power cord which is a unique size that has to be specially ordered and wouldn't arrive until after you went home, and home was almost two hours away- too far for a quick retrieval.

Damn.

With all my notes and material on the laptop or at home, no way could I work on anything.

I was forced to take a break.

Photo Courtesy of Pexels, Alexander Dummer

So I read a book. Played Scrabble and Dominoes with my parents. Watched TV I had no interest in with them. Walked their dog. Cooked their favorite dishes. 

It made me slow down, appreciate blessings like precious time with family, reconnect with my love of reading for pleasure, enjoy a walk in springlike weather and notice that hyacinths and daffodils would soon be here.

I need to remind myself more often to just 'take a damn break.' An energized and refreshed writer is a better writer than one who is stressed and harried, looking to simply get something done. 

With the non-productive week behind me, I'm going to be even more busy, but that's okay. My mind is sharper and I'm happier. 

So take a damn break!

Char

Ye Olde Manuscript

I'm working on a new book. (So what else is new?)

But this time, I'm doing it olde school.

I'm handwriting the entire book.

Why??? you scream? When a laptop is quicker, has instant SpellCheck, you can look up anything you need, and I'm only going to have to type the whole thing anyway?????

Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but hear (read) me out. First and foremost, I want to be thoughtful when I write this book. As my pencil (yep, really old school!) glides across the page in cursive script (and my script is really curlicue curly), I weigh each word. The process slows down to where I think about a word and consider if another would fit better. If so, I erase the inferior word and use the better one. On a laptop, I would be tapping furiously and just keep going, figuring I'd change the word when I started revising. But handwriting (which is becoming a lost skill and art), makes me order my thoughts, it forces me to almost read it aloud in my head. On a laptop, writing is as fast as my fingers can type, and sometimes that's faster than my brain thinks. There will still be many revisions required; I noticed when I picked up the project one day that I'd used the same word in two consecutive sentences. There are empty spaces where information about the time period or the setting needs to be inserted. Laptops make it too easy to become distracted on the www. For now, it's about the writing. Later it will be about correcting/adding information.

Second, I like to write poolside.

Okay, this is actually in the pool and I'm not actually writing, but you get the drift. Laptops + water + a pool bar = disaster. If my pages may get a little soggy from a splash, I leave them in the sun and they're good to go. (Another reason not to use pen, it will smear or dissolve.)

Third, I can write at the beach without fear of surf, sand, or sun blowing up my laptop, or it getting stolen. I can write in the car (until I get carsick) without worrying I'll run out of power. I can write anywhere.

Another reason to write this out longhand is it's giving me the feels, the tone of the manuscript. It's a story about an immortal being and currently, he's in the early 1900's, but he's been around since the late 1700's, and this is how they wrote manuscripts back then. The longer process helps me to think about language appropriate for the times and places; rougher, less elegant speech of a common farmer, and then the elegant, refined speech of a gentleman. When there are chapters that require a lot of dialogue, writing longhand helps me work it out as I go, so that, I believe, it sounds more realistic.

And look at how pretty these journals are! I can't remember when I bought them, but they've been sitting in my bookcase. Like most authors, we see a gorgeous journal and we must have it. We plan on writing in them, but most of the time, we don't because they're too pretty. As I declutter and think about downsizing and simplifying my life, I'm using things that I've 'saved' for one reason or another. I'm writing this book in the journals. I'm signing bills with that sparkly pen. I'm wearing perfume to the grocery store.

I don't think it will take that much longer to write the story (talking about just the basic draft) because when I use my laptop, I go back and see an error and want to fix it, and then spend more time revising and changing than I do adding more words. (That's breaking the cardinal rule of NaNoWriMo: write it down FIRST, revise LATER.) Handwriting forces me to go forward or I'd be erasing pages, and that is not happening. Sure, I might have more revisions when I'm done, but I think I can catch a lot as I type the story into in my laptop.

It's an interesting experiment, but somehow it gives me a serenity while writing that I don't get when I use the laptop. I can't rush the writing or the writing gets too sloppy making it almost unreadable, or I get cramps in my hand. Slow and easy, thoughtful and deliberate. That's the theme of this experience.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes-

Char

Pull Up a Chair, And Sit A While...

We all have a favorite chair. Maybe it's the big recliner you and the dogs can pile into on a cold night. Maybe it's the barstool at a local pub, surrounded by friends. My favorite is a lounger on a beach, under an umbrella, waves licking at my toes and a good book in my hand.

Least favorites would have to be the hard plastic one in the principal's office (whether parent or child), the dentist's pleather pit of misery, or the front seat of a VW bug (who is that short, anyway??).

This was my office chair:

As you can see it's suede, has a nice leather trim and nicely padded cushion. I added the wheels and shortened the legs because it's not really an office chair, but a dining one. It looked nice with my desk, and the height was just right.

Then I got a new desk.

The chair didn't work anymore.

It was too short, and reaching my arms up caused pain in my shoulders whenever I spent more than an hour in it working on my laptop.

So I started working on the couch. Too close to the TV, the cat, a comfy blanket.... And my productivity went down. Plus, I started getting neck pain from looking down at my laptop.

Time for a new chair. Before I bought one because it was a good deal, or because it was readily available to take home or before it looked good, I had to make sure it fit my needs. I measured the height of my desk, the height of space underneath where my long legs had to fit, and the width of the opening. Some chairs, those big executive ones, while they look really poofy and comfortable, were too wide and wouldn't fit under the desk, or even close enough to it (makes me wonder how anyone got any work done). Some had arm rests so long that prevented me from pulling the chair close enough. My arms would have been very tired after an hour of working. And really, does anyone use those rests? Some were too flat- I needed more back support if I was going to write longer than a blog post. I measured and sat in every chair in Staples. Finally I found a winner:

Yep, not much to look at, and there are no poofy cushions, but it fits all my specs, and unbelievably, is one of the most comfortable working chairs I've ever sat in. Short arms so I can be close to the desk. Adjustable height to fit my legs underneath. Adjustable back support. Quiet wheels. Mesh that has give and breathes.

     "The hard part of writing at all is sitting your ass down in a chair and writing..."
                                                       Jerry Pournelle, sci fi writer, essayist, journalist.

Sitting a lot is what writers do. We writers have a universal code- BIC which means Butt in Chair. It means working. Anyone serious about writing will do a LOT of sitting. Whether it's a Starbucks, the library, or your home, you've got to be comfortable so you're focused on putting down words, not fidgeting in your seat trying to relieve muscle pain.

Let me leave you with this thought:

     "It is the Chair in honor of all those who, however competently, embrace the impossible. Sit in
      that chair someday."                                               Robert Fulghum, author, Unitarian minister
   
 And yes, I'm sitting in my chair. We both have work to do.

Char

The Process of Painting- Or Writing

So I took a little break from writing to paint the master bathroom, only as I slapped the paint on, I realized that painting and writing are very much alike.

To paint a room/write a book you have to follow the same steps:

1. Set Up The Space.
For the room that's being painted, that means remove furniture, pictures, and other stuff. If you can't remove a piece of furniture, push it into the middle of the room and cover. Vacuum the dust bunnies.

Before you write, you need a designated space. Whether it's the kitchen table, a nook in the basement, or a private office, you need to have a table, all your supplies nearby (laptop, pencils, paper, reference books, etc.) and a comfy chair. Tea and cat optional.

2. Do The Prep Work Before You Start.
In the room, that means sand the walls, spackle holes, caulk gaps around windows and molding.

For the writer, that means Research! Outline!

3. Use The Right Tools.
A cheap paint roller won't give a smooth finish, bargain paint won't last, and using a 1" brush to paint a wall will take forever. Using plastic 'drop cloths' is not smart because paint doesn't dry on plastic so you'll probably step into the drips and track it all over the place anyway. Use a canvas cloth to catch the drips.

When you're a dedicated author, don't use a free word processing program just because it's free, it has to offer the features you need. A paperback thesaurus will give you more information than the one in a word processing program. Cheap pens skip and you'll need a ton of them so get a better grade.

4. Consult The Pros 
You're not an expert on paint; that's okay. That's why there are friendly people at the paint store who can answer questions, point you to what works for your project. Pick their brains. Read a How-To book (Is there a 'Painting for Dummies' book? Always good for learning the basics.)

Just because you wrote poetry or newspaper articles or even have been published, expert advice should always be welcome. Going into a new genre? Get informed. Writer's Digest, a class, a conference worshop- all great venues for sharpening your skills. But just like some schmo in Home Depot, beware of those who hold themselves out to be experts--and aren't. (I've gotten bad advice from people who think they knew more about paint than me.)

5. The First Effort Is Just That- The First
Usually walls should be primed then painted, but with the new paints, it's primer and paint in one so it saves you a step. But don't make the mistake of thinking you'll get away with one coat. Guaranteed there will be 'holes' in the coverage (they're called holidays by pros). Just accept that you'll need a second coat.

Writing is the same. Don't ever think that you write it and you're done. Nuh uh, no way Jose, are you crazy? Unlike painting a room where two coats will work, writing will require multiple reviews, revisions, and rewrites. You'll get a room painted sooner than you'll have a polished manuscript.

6. Stop and Fix the BIG Problems 
You're painting when suddenly you notice that there's a dent in the wall that you somehow missed.  Maybe the color looks way different than you thought and you don't like it, but you're halfway done. The paint isn't going on smoothly. You could keep on painting, but it will be obvious there's a problem. STOP. There's no sense completing the job with such a major flaw. Fix it now before the whole thing gets out of hand, even if it means starting over.

Your plot dead ends. No one like your characters. You're telling, not showing. There could be any number of problems- all you know is that it's not working. Unless you're doing NaNoWriMo, STOP. No sense completing the book with a major flaw. It's easier at this point to analyze the problem, make notes on how to fix it, then fix it.

7. Add The Final Touches 
Now that your room is freshly painted, it's time to add those things that add punch: new pillows, brightly colored drapes, interesting textures on bed, floor, walls. These are the details that add pop.

In a manuscript, the final touches are the title, specific details on setting, character quirks, showing not telling, matching your tenses, substituting action verbs for passive ones. It's the little things like these that give your story a wow factor.

If you think you can't paint a room but you can write a novel, or can paint a room but can't write a novel, you're wrong. You can do both because they follow the same process.

Time to go back to writing; I'm in the middle of prep work for this new project-outlining so I know where the story is going and I can control it. Maybe next week I'll paint the bedroom.

Stay tuned-

Char 
(the color of my name above is almost the same color I've done the bathroom- 'young pumpkin')