It's Not Cheating...

It's Creative Time Management.  As I wind down my blog-a-day challenge, I'm going to share some tips how I managed to do something for every blog post.

Make a list.
When I decided to do this challenge, I knew that some days would be crazy busy, I might not be home long enough to conceive, create and post a blog. That's where making a list comes in handy. When I woke up, I have a list of subjects to choose from, thus avoiding writer's block.

Pre-write
During commercials of The Vampire Diaries or other shows that I have to watch, I draft blogs. Sometimes just a few sentences so it jiggles the mind when it's time to flesh it out. And it gives me time to think what pics or photos I need/want.

Let everyday situations inspire you.
I don't write solely about the craft of writing because that would be boring to non-writers. And no one wants constant rants. Or peeks into my personal life. But mash them all up, keep the subjects ever changing, and it makes for more cross appeal. When a situation comes up that I feel would engage a reader, I use it- like the most romantic story for Valentine's Day, or the photo of the daffodil sprouts that made me giddy with happiness. Never bore your reader! is one of my live or die by rules. You may not agree, but you won't be bored.

Keep it simple.
I don't have time, inclination, or expertise to do fancy stuff. You'll have to go elsewhere for that. I'd rather be writing than learning how to put sound effects or squiggles or whatever else on my blog. That stuff just consumes too much brain power that I need elsewhere (like those edits on three books that are screaming at me to finish them so they can go visit my agent for a bit.)

And that's my secret.

Char

Countdown!

Wednesday is the final day for my everyday-for-a-month blog. Can't say that I'll be sad when it's over. I've got a lot of things on my plate and having one less thing to do every day will be nice. (My agent is probably tapping her foot, waiting on this last project... I was working on it last night, I swear!) I even skipped the Oscars (like I was going to watch the windbags anyway.)

So, what do you want to talk about? The Oscars? Crazy stuff my cat does? How I love the summer? (Will be opening the pool in 3 1/2 months! Squee!) I'm kind of talked out (especially since there are some subjects I won't discuss, some I can't discuss and some it's better I don't discuss. It's the PC tightrope. Writers aren't always allowed to use their freedom of speech because of how it may impact them.)

Here's my list of THINGS TO DO:
-Put together swag for Sirenz Back In Fashion (This includes going to candy store, making chocolate swag, going to craft store, making stuff. Sorry, it's a surprise, no can tell).
-Reschedule son's missed dentist appointment (and hope she'll forgive me- was sick and forgot it).
-Take son to driver's test (he'd better pass, my life is too complicated)
-Do guest blog (geez, another one? I'm running out of ideas.)
-Shoe sale! (I DO need new flats, wore other ones out. And, well, spring shoe sales! Any girl will understand.)
-Vacuum- because after a weekend of company, the place is a wreck.
-Dessert for Robotics Team party (make vs. bought... hmmm, dilemma. Ok, buy. I'm too busy)
-Fencing practice, bell practice, SAT tutoring, Math tutoring,

That's just the stuff I can remember off the top of my head. NOT listed is writing at least 10 more chaps in the book. (Might be nice to finish it so it can go to the beta readers, but I don't think that's likely this week....)

And that's my glance-at-a-week.

I have to get busy, so till tomorrow- get out and enjoy some fresh air, some daffodil buds, and blue skies.

Char

You Have GOT To Be Kidding!

TAKE  DOWN.  THE. *(&^%!.  CHRISTMAS.  WREATH.


Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Ash Wednesday have passed, St. Patrick's is coming.

Enough said.


(Took this on my iPhone, so bear with me- blurry & battery dying. Martin Scorcese I am not!)

Char

Sad Face

It's not like I was expecting a deluge of responses, but I would have thought that a 'tell me your most romantic true story' contest with a gift card giveaway would have garnered more than two responses. (Thank you Sarah and Love Between Pages for responding!).  And while their stories were sweet, I didn't think they were romantic enough. We have several pairs of friends who were high school sweethearts. Nice, but nothing to get choked up about. If the husband convinced some members of the high school orchestra to play a love song like Theme From Romeo and Juliet in front of her house on Valentine's Day, or for her birthday, that would have been romantic.

So I have no winners. (My idea of romantic- see previous posts- A Priceless Gift Of Love and What Two Oceans Cannot Divide). It makes me fearful that true romance is dying. Find something romantic and redeem my faith. I might be inspired to send you that gift card.

Sometimes, you get a second chance at love...and gift cards!


Char

What Two Oceans Cannot Divide

She was born on a family farm in a remote town in Calabria, Italy.

He lived on the farm next door.

From childhood into adulthood, they saw only each other, promises unspoken by word, but made by love.

Then war came, and with it, roving bands of soldiers, looking to impress young men.

And they found him. Took him away to fight a war he didn't want, didn't believe in. Whatever food the soldiers could steal, they did, leaving the families hungry. Only unharvested potatoes, still in the ground that the soldiers refused to unearth, were left.

Away they took him, but he promised to come back to her. And she promised to wait for him.

So she worked the farm, struggling with her family through those desperate times, wondering where he was, if he was still alive.

He fought in Africa until the Allies caught him. And made him a prisoner.

The war ended. Seeking a better life than the desolate farm, he journeyed to Canada, finding work in Chrysler  Automotive plant.

He didn't forget her, but there wasn't enough money to send for her. But he could marry her--by shortwave radio. While she stood in her white wedding dress on the arm of her brother in Italy, she spoke her vow of love till death. From Canada, he promised his love.

She waited. Two years. Then came the day there was enough money for a one way journey to her new world. Leaving behind the wedding gifts, and all she knew, knowing there was little chance she'd see her family again, she traversed the ocean, not in First Class, but freighter.

Soon there was a baby girl. Eighteen months later, a baby boy, their family complete. Five years of happiness.

She ran to the hospital. His last words spoke of his children.

Alone, she emigrated to the States where she cleaned houses, worked in hotel laundries, babysat other people's children to feed her own.

For 51 years she mourned her Tomasso, keeping her vow of no one but him till death.

On a quiet day, she rejoined him and renewed their vows of love forever.


This is the story of Gilda and Tomasso, my in-laws. And I will write their love story.

Wishful Thinking...

If Sirenz ever made it to the movie/TV screen, and became only a quarter as big as Twilight, or The Hunger Games, this is what I'm going to get:

http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro-special-edition/

But make it a convertible, electric blue, black interior, only-I-have-the-keys edition.

Char

Do I Have To Finish It?

Am I talking about my mom making me eat yucky vegetables?

(As if she could in my own home. And yes, I hate artichokes, kale, collard greens, broccoli-rabe, eggplant and okra.)

No, it's a book. I hate starting books and not finishing them because I want the story resolved, even if poorly. But, now I'm in the middle of a book, and it's gotten good reviews... and I hate it. I'm 3/4 through and I'm still waiting for the major conflict. It's all building, albeit snail-a-bly (my word) s    l    o    w.  When it takes me two months to finish a book, on the 'hate' heap it goes, to be given away.

I'm not going to reveal the book because maybe it's just me. We've gotten one 'awful', a few 'not my type' and several 'meh' reviews. Understandable because Sirenz is humorous and humor is subjective, some people have no sense of humor, and some people prefer angst/zombies/vamps/despair/whatever. Not every book is for everyone. But if a book is bad enough where I don't finish it, then I'm sorry, but the editors missed this. And the cover is 'everyone's doing it' girl with flowing hair in a long dress (because we women all go around in flowing dresses and hair). There is nothing about this book, from the characters, to the cover, to the plot (is one going to reveal itself, I wonder?) to whatever ending there may be, to compel me to finish it.

And you can't make me.

Char