Long time, no post! Bad writer!

Whoops! It's been awhile. But writing things have occurred in my absence.

First I emailed a copy of my book to an agent. She rejected it because my "execution did not live up to its premise." I think "promise" would have been a better word, but I agree, it ain't there yet. I am not disappointed and I appreciated the feedback greatly. Moving on to my next challenge.

Also, all three readers of the most recent version all dislike my first chapter. So this is my first challenge. And I think I have figured out what to do about it. Yeah!

And I have enjoyed some time with my grandkids and begun another year of my day job!

Working on organizing my writing group's contest too.

"Good days but busy days." is my current mantra.

A Book is Born!

I'll admit. I thought I had my YA Mirror Images written before. I found out when editing a large part of the ending was wrong, so there was about four chapters of writing instead of editing and simple revision.

But I was wrong about my novel being done. Today I finished it. And I know it was finished because I cried.

I didn't cry:
because I could now type "The End" if I wanted. I didn't-not cool.
Or because I would now get to leave my office for more than ten minutes at a time.
Or even because I can go work getting ready for school. (Summer ending and school starting is a separate tear session.)

I cried because I did it. I told the story my characters wanted to get out to the world.

Now, more editing and proofing and sharing with readers and editing some more before sending it out to agents. Hopefully that will result in more editing, but at least I know that the story is there.

And even though I was the one who wrote it, I am glad it got told. My characters deserved it!

Writing Craft-Practice makes Perfect

Here is a link recommended from one of my writing friends about another writers great advice.

Got all that? Read it and learn.

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=5097

Cutlery Alert! Favorite Knife MIA

Keep your eyes open for the knife pictured in the Artist's Rendition! On or about July, "Mom's Knife" went missing. Residents of the home claim to no knowledge about its whereabouts and the cat hasn't coughed up anything useful recently either.

Other knives were found in the home at the time of investigation, but do not appear to be talking.

In fact, one knife was thought to be the knife in question, but turned out to be a shorter, not so sharp, cousin.

One knife was found in the toy box and was considered a possible lead, but is now believed to be an imposter planted by an unnamed short boy.

Please study these photos and help bring "Mom's Knife" home. She is just broken- hearted and pleads, "Be kind to my baby. He was always so good to me during the holidays and he seemed to take a shine to me every time I opened his drawer."

Suspicous Minds

I have been thinking about a conversation I recently had with my husband. He was getting ready to fry some bacon (He gave up on me cooking regularly long ago.) and I suggested he use the flat griddle rather than a skillet. See photo of griddle. The frying bacon just an added plus for entertainment.

He replied, "No I'm not confident in it."

And now I have been wondering why? It was probably because he hadn't used it much before. (He hadn't needed to cook much until he married me.)

Had the griddle let him down in the past? Was there some secret slight or disagreement I had not been privy too?

For now I am keeping my eyes open. I'll be ready when the griddle turns on me. Until then, BACON for all.

Creative Minds

Writing and editing get my creativity going and I find myself applying it everywhere. Food, for one place. I have made gazpacho, lemon chicken, zucchini and rice with almonds, and I even made brownies. Okay, the brownies were from a box, but it is more effort than usual. Enjoy my accompanying visuals.

CAUTION: Work area ahead!

I apologize for neglecting you dear blog, but the act of writing is filling my days and evenings and thoughts when I am not writing. Or maybe I am simply editing, but I find myself having to write to do that.

Today, I decided to quickly straighten up my office before starting a marathon session. I noticed some things. My office has much in it. Forget the grandchildren's numerous belongings. (Part office-part kid's stay over room.) Just for writing I now have two TALL bookshelves full of resources, a multi-tiered desk, a temporary card table, a rolling desk chair, a recliner (ankles tend to swell), a wonderful back massage thingy that fits on the recliner (seriously, get one), a small adjustable side table, printer, phone, desktop computer, the laptap I actually write on, a light weight laptop desk-because it gets hot on my legs, a cat who likes to sit on my toes, papers spread out everywhere, my I-Pod, a coaster for my required iced tea glass, and a large plastic hunting knife, and me.

Okay, forget the large plastic hunting knife. That is my grandson's. But I'll keep it in mind in case I want to add a knife fight. Good tool for choreographing.

Whew. It sure is a lot. I also have bunkbeds and a t.v., but who has time for that!

This is my world. And now I am going to do some writing to justify all of the things now taking up space in it!