Help! Will Write For Time

Okay, so that’s kinda messed up, but if you’re a writer you probably understand where I’m coming from. We’ve all been there. The black hole that sucks every second of time out of our day, week, or month(s).

That’s where I am. Between moving (love my house and yes, still promise to post pictures), work being crazy for several months, getting sick, RWA nationals, then major sick afterwards, time is not my friend. Yep, very long sentence, but hey, it the nothing can steal my time, then I write a long sentence. Kinda like bread crumbs to find my way.

But I digress.

I used to have a fabulous schedule. I worked the day job, came home and worked on my wip. I’m not an early morning writer and yes, I bow to those of you who can get up at 4:00 AM and write for several hours before the kids wake or it’s time to get ready for the day job. Nights are my time. Or at least they were.

Now it seems that each evening I have something to do in the new house that must be done. Which being sick with the flu didn’t help. My energy went to zero and my writing…yeah well, let’s just say there wasn’t any writing to speak of.

You know it’s a habit. Do it every day for three weeks and it’s easy to settle in. Miss it for a week and somehow it doesn’t fit.

Science Guy and I are almost through unpacking and now he wants to take out one of the walls in the kitchen. Although this is great, it’s also going to mean more time away from the computer. He says he can do it on his own, but really, I know me. I have this need to help thing that makes it hard to leave him to do it on his own.

I’ve promised myself that starting Saturday I’m going back to the old 100x100. Write at least 100 words a day for 100 days. Doesn’t sound like much and really 100 words isn’t much. A half page at best. But the thing is this, once I start and make it past that dreaded three week mark I’ll be back in the swing of things.

And can I add that the request that I received at nationals means rechecking one more time before I send them out. If you’re like me, rechecking also means making some edits and additions where you thought the manuscript was already shinning like a new toy.

I really do love this life of a writer, but sure do wish life would stay out of the way, and I’d find a way around that dread black hole that eats my time.

So, what about you? Do you find your time disappearing? What do you do to keep it from falling off into the abyss?

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Amazing and It's Our Earth

These are some amazing landscapes. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Now if we could just plan a vacation to visit.


Avenue of the Baobobs, Madagascar




Bungle Bunngles, Australia



Chocolate Hills, Phlippines



Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina



The Pinnacle Desert, Australia

For all the problems our earth faces, we live on a planet that's full of awesome sites. Maybe for today we can forget about the bills, the neighbor who drives us nuts, the kids fighting, or the words not hitting the page just in the right way and just enjoy the beauty around us.

Hugs,

Vicki

Back from RWA - D.C.

To say that I had a fabulous time is an understatement. I met so many new authors, agents and editors my head is practically spinning. And I already have reservations on the bench with V and M.B. for next year. I can hardly wait. Water and Pink lemonade for everyone!

I’d love to hang out with all of these wonderful people more than once or twice a year, but to be honest I’d probably fall apart if I did. Yes, there were parties. Yes, there were a few drinks, and yes a lot of great conversations till the wee hours of the morning. Many I will remember forever.

That being said it is probably why I still don’t have my voice back. Well, that and the fact that our room never reached above 65 degrees at any time day or night. I’m not sick, just exhausted. I must say it sucks to get old. LOL

So here is my ramble….

Being a romance author opens you up to all kinds of odd conversation. Not within the community of writers. Because if you are one, you’ll totally understand this.

There were a few moments where I actually wanted to deny that I wrote romance only because I knew what was coming. So here we all are sitting around having great chats and someone not associated with the conference asks if we’re romance writers. (Can you see me cringe?)

Well at one point we were told about this person’s sex life. Now, honestly I don’t want to know about that. It’s a little TMI even when you’re among friends – ya know what I’m sayin’. But the person was either looking for advice or thought it would end up in a book, either way I must say it creeped me out a bit.

Another time—same question—we were told how in love this person was, and had to listen to their song. Now I love a good love story, and this was love of the deepest kind…or as deep as it could be in a month’s time. But it was the forever kind ya know??? And yes I’m being a bit of a smart ass here. Lust I understand in that early stage of the game. But I think it took me 10 years, a lot of ups and downs to really appreciate my HHB, and be so in love with him I couldn’t imagine life without him in it. (sorry got a little mushy there)

I did find it ironic that perfect strangers felt comfortable enough to tell us very personal aspects of their lives, just because we wrote romance. What other business can you get to know people so quickly? What other business gives you instant commonality?

Really, I wouldn’t change it for the world – I dig this business and in 10 years I might actually love it! LOL

So anything like this ever happened to you? Tell me I want to know.

XOXO
LKap

We're Back...

DC was fabulous! LKap and I had a blast and meeting MB was amazing. I can't wait till next year to hang out again. Yes, even on the night of the Rita's. Heehee. Pink lemonade and water.

Back to the day job and trying to catch up from being out last week which is always fun.

Sometime this week I'll post pics from the trip and tell you more about it. For those who I met for the first time, wow...it was great and yep, missing MB. For those who I only see once a year...I miss you so much already.

Hugs,
Vicki

Washington DC

Ready or not, here we come. L and I are leaving tomorrow for RWA's national conference. Of course I'm not packed. Nope, not a single item.

I've made a list (did not check it twice), but that's as far as I've made it. Well, I did spend plenty of money this weekend on things to take with me to nationals. A new dress, hey it's the Rita's baby, new shoes, new purse...okay so that just for Saturday night.

So there are a couple of new pairs of shoes. I see you there wincing. Trust me, these are the comfortable, but major cute (always need the major cute part), flat sandals. I learned the first year I attended conference that flats are the way to go.

And really I'm not sure why, but I have to have new under things. It's not like anyone is going to see them, or that the ones I currently have are fine, but still I must take new ones with me. Add to that travel size bottles, camera, phone, laptop, (netbook), and all the chargers that go with said items and you've got a small suitcase there.

Yeah, L said she was going to try to do a carry on only...I'll let her tell you the outcome of that one. We'll just suffice it to say, we're girls who like to have choices.

This is the conference were we get little to no sleep and really don't feel it until we board the plane on Sunday to return home. We have a ton of fun seeing long distance friends. Having drinks with an editor and/or agent who we actually don't pitch to them, just talk to them like normal people is always great.

We'll post some happens along the way. I'm not sure what time they'll be posted, more than likely around the 3:00 AM time zone. You know, the zone of the nearly dead.

Anyway, if you're going to nationals hopefully we'll catch up with each other. For any of our friends web or otherwise who aren't attending, we'll miss you bunches.

Last but not least, check back for books and pictures in the next few weeks. :D

Hugs,
Vicki

What's Your Gift

I know I've been absent lately, but I'm finally feeling better and the house is almost unpacked. Yay!!!

Next week Lkap and I leave for nationals and I'm hoping to blog while we're there. A little what's happen 09 type of thing. I'll be on twitter some for sure.

So, for today here's a fun quiz for you.

Your Gift is Imagination

You are constantly dreaming. You are always thinking about what could be. You love to express yourself in many ways. You have a way with words and tell vivid stories. You love to be amused. You are good entertaining yourself, and other people find you hilarious. You're the type of person who finds staying happy easy. There's always fun to be had!

What's" Your Gift?

So, what's your gift? Do you think it matches you?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Hugs,
Vicki

Rabbit Hole………

So I’m feeling like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. “I’m late, I’m late, I’m late for an important date.”

I’m not late for anything in actuality, but I’ve got so much I feel like I need to do and so little time left to do it in.

It’s not just getting ready to go to Nationals in D.C., because in all honesty I’m about ready to just shove whatever comes in contact with my hand into the suitcase and hope for the best.

Its work and home that have me frazzled beyond belief. Why you ask? Well, no matter how stupid it is I’m one of those people who has to have the house clean before I leave. I used to make fun of people that did this—but I’m one of them, and just realized it. Work, well that is what it is, and I’m trying to make sure everything is done, but if it’s not, well then I guess it will wait.

Because after the day I’ve had…….."I’m late, I’m late, I’m late for an important date.”



Do you think he ever made it to whatever appointment he had? Hummmmm.

XOXO
LKap

4th of July……….

I know I’m late...as always. First let me say, we were supposed to get out of work early today. Yeah that didn’t so much happen for me. Plus I totally blanked out that it was Thursday. Crazy I’m losing my mind it seems. But I do seem to remember the past well enough.

Perfect segue….

The 4th of July means fireworks and celebrating our country’s independence. It’s a day off of work to celebrate this milestone with family and friends. And 25 years ago on the 4th of July I did just that.

It also happened to be the day I met my HHB. We were both teenagers. I had just graduated that June, him the year before. And we were celebrating with our respective friends.

He lived in a town about 15 miles away, and I had a date that night with a musician who was playing at the 4th of July celebration there, so I was just hanging out with my friends till then.

Needless to say, when a cute guy on a motorcycle yelled for us to come over, I was a bit apprehensive (not knowing him and all – but knowing of him). My friend knew them so we went. (Yes, it was a pick up) :-)

One thing led to another, we hung out and took his bike for a ride in the country, where he kissed me for the first time – and yes I saw fireworks. They were real, not imagined, but they were there!

I knew that night, he was the one. Oh and side note - I was bad - I stood up the date I did have for HHB!

Love at first sight? Well I’m not sure about that, but it was certainly lust at first sight. But you know what, we’ve been together for 25 years and we still celebrate the 4th of July like we did the first one...

Kissing under the fireworks.

So I didn’t so much get independence on the 4th of July, but I got something much better.

How did you meet your significant other?

HAVE A GREAT 4TH – I HOPE YOU ALL SEE FIREWORKS WHEN YOU LOOK INTO YOUR LOVERS EYES.

XOXO
LKap