Today I'm blogging over at Everyboday Needs A little Romance. Science Guy took me downtown to the pier on Sunday. Although I live here and the place is great, I'd never actually done more than drove by it.
Now they want to tear it down and rebuild. Go on over and check out the post and the pics and let me know what you think. Is New Always Better?
Hugs,
Vicki
Showing posts with label Life and the Writer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life and the Writer. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, June 28, 2010
A Change Is Coming
So it’s been a while since I’ve blogged with any regularity. I could give you all the reasons (most if not all of them very valid), but I’ll spare you the boring details. Trust me, they’re not that exciting.
It’s not January so it’s way too late for New Year’s resolutions. And I’m not a true believer in them anyway since it’s usually things we want to do yet most often times do them for a few weeks, or months at best.
Instead I’m starting fresh. I’ve got a new line up and I’m thinking this will keep things running smoothly.
Here goes:
Monday Musings – thoughts about Writing…it is a writing blog after all. :)
Tuesday Ten – Ten things about, well pretty much anything. And during the summer we’ll have a guest blogger, SB Jane, who will be doing the Tuesday Ten.
Wednesday Wanderings – Rabbit trail day. Anyone who knows me – knows that I’m pretty good at rabbit trails. LKap’s been known to have a few rabbit trails which I think has come about from hanging with me.
Thursday Rambling – LKap’s day to tell it like she sees it, perhaps a rant, or really anything that’s on her mind.
Friday Fun – What kind of fun? Anything from jokes to yummy eye candy to what we’re reading at the time.
Tomorrow starts our Tuesday Ten with SB Jane and she’s talking all things Twilight. Come back to read her ten things and leave your own comments.
Yes I know, I’ve just started / restarted and today’s is supposed to be about writing, but really, you got start somewhere. :)
So, what do you think about the new line up? Is there something else you’d like to see?
And if you’d like to guest blog on one of the days please send me an email at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com. We’d love to have you.
Hugs,
Vicki
It’s not January so it’s way too late for New Year’s resolutions. And I’m not a true believer in them anyway since it’s usually things we want to do yet most often times do them for a few weeks, or months at best.
Instead I’m starting fresh. I’ve got a new line up and I’m thinking this will keep things running smoothly.
Here goes:
Monday Musings – thoughts about Writing…it is a writing blog after all. :)
Tuesday Ten – Ten things about, well pretty much anything. And during the summer we’ll have a guest blogger, SB Jane, who will be doing the Tuesday Ten.
Wednesday Wanderings – Rabbit trail day. Anyone who knows me – knows that I’m pretty good at rabbit trails. LKap’s been known to have a few rabbit trails which I think has come about from hanging with me.
Thursday Rambling – LKap’s day to tell it like she sees it, perhaps a rant, or really anything that’s on her mind.
Friday Fun – What kind of fun? Anything from jokes to yummy eye candy to what we’re reading at the time.
Tomorrow starts our Tuesday Ten with SB Jane and she’s talking all things Twilight. Come back to read her ten things and leave your own comments.
Yes I know, I’ve just started / restarted and today’s is supposed to be about writing, but really, you got start somewhere. :)
So, what do you think about the new line up? Is there something else you’d like to see?
And if you’d like to guest blog on one of the days please send me an email at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com. We’d love to have you.
Hugs,
Vicki
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
She Lives...
Hey guys,
It's been a while (okay, a very long time), since I've been on. Thank goodness LKap is here. :)
The day job has been killer. Seriously killer. It's affected my writing and everything else in what's supposed to be a normal life.
But...
I'm back and will be posting more often. I've been thinking about having some theme days for the next few months to help get back in the swing. More to come on that.
Hope everyone is having a great week and I'll be back tomorrow.
Hugs,
Vicki
It's been a while (okay, a very long time), since I've been on. Thank goodness LKap is here. :)
The day job has been killer. Seriously killer. It's affected my writing and everything else in what's supposed to be a normal life.
But...
I'm back and will be posting more often. I've been thinking about having some theme days for the next few months to help get back in the swing. More to come on that.
Hope everyone is having a great week and I'll be back tomorrow.
Hugs,
Vicki
Monday, February 1, 2010
Writing and Surviving the Day Job
To say the day job has kept me crazy busy would be a major understatement. Coming home after ten (or more) hour days is not making me want to crank up the computer and write, blog, or even visit my favorite blogs. So, I'm sorry if I haven't been around so much and I'm going to be better. Promise. No really, I am.
Here's the crazy thing. I'm thinking of setting my alarm clock for 4:30 AM (oh yeah, I said AM), so I can get up early and write. I need to have more writing time and with working so many hours, it's not happening Monday - Friday. I know several people who do this and they say it's great. They say the creativity flows strong that early in the morning.
I'm still working on TLIAV, but for some reason the characters in my YA paranormal FMP has started talking and they don't seem to want to go away. As a writer, it's always a good thing when your characters talk to you. The words flow so much easier onto the screen, and hopefully you less POS when you've finished a scene.
But, when it's teenagers talking, they don't care if you really need to cook supper, or wash clothes, or anything else for that matter. They tell you what's going on and trust me, sometimes you're not really sure if you want to know. For the sake of the book, I know that Lexi needs to tell me everything (and I keep telling her it can't really all go in the book), so we've comprised. I'll write her dairy for her every day and then we'll figure out what needs to be in the book and what might just need to stay between us.
Not only is this my first YA, it's also the first time I've written a book in first person. It's not as easy as it sounds or reads for that matter. You don't want to start every sentence with "I" and you do want to make sure that the reader will know everyone's emotion, not just the heroines. Seeing things through Lexi's eyes is kinda cool, especially when she finds out that everything isn't always what she thinks it is.
Anyway, that's what's happening in my little corner of the blog world. Oh, and Science Guy's youngest sister just had a baby girl, so we're uncle and aunt again. Heehee, that also means I get to go shopping for baby stuff. :)
What's going with you? Life going crazy? If you're in the snow bound areas are you taking this time of staying inside to read or write? And are you someone who wakes up early to write? I'd love to know how that's working out for you.
Hugs,
Vicki
Here's the crazy thing. I'm thinking of setting my alarm clock for 4:30 AM (oh yeah, I said AM), so I can get up early and write. I need to have more writing time and with working so many hours, it's not happening Monday - Friday. I know several people who do this and they say it's great. They say the creativity flows strong that early in the morning.
I'm still working on TLIAV, but for some reason the characters in my YA paranormal FMP has started talking and they don't seem to want to go away. As a writer, it's always a good thing when your characters talk to you. The words flow so much easier onto the screen, and hopefully you less POS when you've finished a scene.
But, when it's teenagers talking, they don't care if you really need to cook supper, or wash clothes, or anything else for that matter. They tell you what's going on and trust me, sometimes you're not really sure if you want to know. For the sake of the book, I know that Lexi needs to tell me everything (and I keep telling her it can't really all go in the book), so we've comprised. I'll write her dairy for her every day and then we'll figure out what needs to be in the book and what might just need to stay between us.
Not only is this my first YA, it's also the first time I've written a book in first person. It's not as easy as it sounds or reads for that matter. You don't want to start every sentence with "I" and you do want to make sure that the reader will know everyone's emotion, not just the heroines. Seeing things through Lexi's eyes is kinda cool, especially when she finds out that everything isn't always what she thinks it is.
Anyway, that's what's happening in my little corner of the blog world. Oh, and Science Guy's youngest sister just had a baby girl, so we're uncle and aunt again. Heehee, that also means I get to go shopping for baby stuff. :)
What's going with you? Life going crazy? If you're in the snow bound areas are you taking this time of staying inside to read or write? And are you someone who wakes up early to write? I'd love to know how that's working out for you.
Hugs,
Vicki
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
My Paranormal World - XPosted
I’m a little late today, sorry about that. This week’s theme over on the group blog had me questioning what to write about. It’s not that I haven’t had any paranormal type incidents. I have, but writing about them makes me wonder if they’ll come back or happen again.
Okay, I could to you about the time the Quija board truly moved on its own. As in no fingers touched the board or the triangle and yet it raced across the board stopping for brief moments on letters. I think I asked it who I would marry. Hey, I was like 12 at the time.
Scared? Oh yeah, quite a bit. To the point I took it out of my bedroom and sat it outside on the back patio. When the sun came up I took a hammer and broke the thing and threw it away.
I could tell you about my sister who is three years younger than me and the time she had friend’s over and did a séance. She was eight and we were staying at a church parsonage, where our grandfather was preaching for the summer. Yeah, opened the door and right behind my sister was a ball of fire. Fun stuff.
Then there was the time I was a camp and my name kept being called.
To read the rest go here.
Come back afterwards and tell us about your paranormal fun.
Hugs,
Vicki
Okay, I could to you about the time the Quija board truly moved on its own. As in no fingers touched the board or the triangle and yet it raced across the board stopping for brief moments on letters. I think I asked it who I would marry. Hey, I was like 12 at the time.
Scared? Oh yeah, quite a bit. To the point I took it out of my bedroom and sat it outside on the back patio. When the sun came up I took a hammer and broke the thing and threw it away.
I could tell you about my sister who is three years younger than me and the time she had friend’s over and did a séance. She was eight and we were staying at a church parsonage, where our grandfather was preaching for the summer. Yeah, opened the door and right behind my sister was a ball of fire. Fun stuff.
Then there was the time I was a camp and my name kept being called.
To read the rest go here.
Come back afterwards and tell us about your paranormal fun.
Hugs,
Vicki
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Books, Glorious Books
I have bookcases! My books are unpacked (finally), and sitting proud on the shelves. Every time I walk into the family room I smile. There’s something about seeing the vibrant colors on the spines of the books that just makes me feel good. Books to read for the sheer pleasure of reading them and books for studying the craft.
It’s sort of like what came first the reader or the writer. Truth be known that’s a hard question so I called the one woman who would know and remember perhaps accurately then I would. My mom. Her answer? “You did both.”
Okay, so that’s not what I was looking for, but as we continued to talk she reminded me of how many times a book (probably a little Golden Book) would be read to me and then I’d try to write my own story. Especially if I didn’t like the way the book ended. I mean really the chicken running around saying the sky is falling just bothered me. Even at an early age I wanted to tell the chicken to wise up, the sky couldn’t fall.
So I wrote my own. Well, I scribbled what I thought were words to make my own stories until I realized that one, I couldn’t read that well just yet, and two, I didn’t know how to spell the words in my stories. Again, mom or my best friend who was older than me and could already read and write chapter books.
We’d sit and I’d tell my story. It was great. I’d changed characters and plotlines and make the big bad wolf beg for forgiveness or my favorite was when I was older and wrote the continuing tales of the Wizard of Oz. Who knew back then there were already books out there with other story lines?
The cozy teenage mysteries of my youth were the best. I loved Trixie Bleden and wanted to so bad to be in the club with Honey and Jim. And I couldn’t wait for Trixie to get old enough for Jim to kiss her. :) Yep, many of you may have guessed it. I wrote my own scenes. Very sweet and tender scenes where their hands brushed each others and Jim stared deep into Trixie’s eyes as her legs became wobbly. He’d tuck the strands of hair that were free from her ponytail back behind her ear. And then ever so slow he’d lean forward while her eyes closed and…kiss her on the cheek. Hey, I was only ten years old. Kissing on the lips wasn’t allowed just yet.
What I remembered as I unpacked books and lovingly sat them in their new place of honor is I’ve always loved to read and I’ve always loved to write. I told Science Guy that now our new home felt like a home and not a house.
It’s sort of like what came first the reader or the writer. Truth be known that’s a hard question so I called the one woman who would know and remember perhaps accurately then I would. My mom. Her answer? “You did both.”
Okay, so that’s not what I was looking for, but as we continued to talk she reminded me of how many times a book (probably a little Golden Book) would be read to me and then I’d try to write my own story. Especially if I didn’t like the way the book ended. I mean really the chicken running around saying the sky is falling just bothered me. Even at an early age I wanted to tell the chicken to wise up, the sky couldn’t fall.
So I wrote my own. Well, I scribbled what I thought were words to make my own stories until I realized that one, I couldn’t read that well just yet, and two, I didn’t know how to spell the words in my stories. Again, mom or my best friend who was older than me and could already read and write chapter books.
We’d sit and I’d tell my story. It was great. I’d changed characters and plotlines and make the big bad wolf beg for forgiveness or my favorite was when I was older and wrote the continuing tales of the Wizard of Oz. Who knew back then there were already books out there with other story lines?
The cozy teenage mysteries of my youth were the best. I loved Trixie Bleden and wanted to so bad to be in the club with Honey and Jim. And I couldn’t wait for Trixie to get old enough for Jim to kiss her. :) Yep, many of you may have guessed it. I wrote my own scenes. Very sweet and tender scenes where their hands brushed each others and Jim stared deep into Trixie’s eyes as her legs became wobbly. He’d tuck the strands of hair that were free from her ponytail back behind her ear. And then ever so slow he’d lean forward while her eyes closed and…kiss her on the cheek. Hey, I was only ten years old. Kissing on the lips wasn’t allowed just yet.
What I remembered as I unpacked books and lovingly sat them in their new place of honor is I’ve always loved to read and I’ve always loved to write. I told Science Guy that now our new home felt like a home and not a house.
Oh yeah, in case you thought I forgot about the surprise, nope just not quite ready to reveal it. Heehee
So, what about you? Since we’re all readers and many are writers, I’m sure you’ve got books. But do you feel a sense of rightness when you see them? When everything else in the world is going crazy are they the things that can help you escape if only for a little while? And what about writing? Are you like me? Did you every want to change the ending of the stories of your youth?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
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
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
Friday, February 6, 2009
TGIF
Friday is finally here. I wasn't in the office on Monday or Tuesday and still it seemed as if the end of the work week would never show up.
This weekend is writing and more writing. I've talked about house hunting, which although we've found the house, put the offer in, the sellers have accepted said offer, we are now in the waiting process for their bank to approve the offer. All of this, along with That's it. Why he shot up, I don't know. I even wrote it on the paper.
Do you think my hero would tell me? Nope. He just shot up and to make matters worse, he's sitting in a car. Now just so I don't sound like a total crazy writer, he is worried about the heroine. She did just find a very odd box outside her door and he has no clue as to who would leave it with her name scrawled across the top. But really, He shot up?
For now the line is gone and I'm moving on. I figure if Nick will tell me later if he wants too why it was there.
One thing I learned from this is to never walk away from scene in the middle of it. Otherwise when I come back to it, I may not know what was going to happen next and really, it might have been the best thing in the world.
What about you? Do you ever leave a scene for more than a week and come back to it and not remember what was going to happen next?
Oh, and speaking of the word 'next', Helen Scott Taylor will be here next week. She's giving away a copy of her book, answering questions, and there'll be an interview with her as well.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and the words flow.
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
This weekend is writing and more writing. I've talked about house hunting, which although we've found the house, put the offer in, the sellers have accepted said offer, we are now in the waiting process for their bank to approve the offer. All of this, along with That's it. Why he shot up, I don't know. I even wrote it on the paper.
Do you think my hero would tell me? Nope. He just shot up and to make matters worse, he's sitting in a car. Now just so I don't sound like a total crazy writer, he is worried about the heroine. She did just find a very odd box outside her door and he has no clue as to who would leave it with her name scrawled across the top. But really, He shot up?
For now the line is gone and I'm moving on. I figure if Nick will tell me later if he wants too why it was there.
One thing I learned from this is to never walk away from scene in the middle of it. Otherwise when I come back to it, I may not know what was going to happen next and really, it might have been the best thing in the world.
What about you? Do you ever leave a scene for more than a week and come back to it and not remember what was going to happen next?
Oh, and speaking of the word 'next', Helen Scott Taylor will be here next week. She's giving away a copy of her book, answering questions, and there'll be an interview with her as well.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and the words flow.
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Monday, January 5, 2009
Taking it Down, Putting it Away, and...Wait, It's All Still There
The holidays are officially over and my tree is still up. Yep, you read correctly. The tree, the smaller silver tree, (which is a really cool fiber optic), and the village are still glowing each night as if they’re waiting for the season to begin.
I’d planned to take it all down this weekend as I usually do, but I also needed to finish the final edits on ATB (which means I’ve cut 20,000 words out of the story). I’m happy to report it’s done. Finished. WhooHoo!!
Thought about taking it all down this evening, but after reading Hawk’s blog, I was trembling at the thought of killer dust bunnies. What’s one more night? Or two? Right?
Tonight I’ll clean my office because by the end of the book, there’s paper everywhere from edits, pics of my H/H, research notes, and just general stuff. And look at my cp’s work, which I need to critique/read through.
I’d rather be working on AToD though. I’d thought I’d give myself a few days off, but Annie is talking away. She’s ready and I don’t know about you, but when my characters are ready, my fingers get itchy to be on the keyboard.
Tomorrow I’m blogging over at Everybody Needs A Little Romance. You can find me there each Tuesday. I’m blogging along with four other writers from my GIAM group and it’s a great blog. Next week is beauty…hmmmm…can you say beauty issues. It promises to be funny, omg you didn’t do that, and a wow kind of week as each day we’ll talk about beauty and well, you’ll have to check it out next week.
So, what about you? Have you put away all your holiday decorations? Did you find a little bit of wrapping paper or bows once you thought you had it all stored away? Or are you like me and it’s still up shinning bright?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
I’d planned to take it all down this weekend as I usually do, but I also needed to finish the final edits on ATB (which means I’ve cut 20,000 words out of the story). I’m happy to report it’s done. Finished. WhooHoo!!
Thought about taking it all down this evening, but after reading Hawk’s blog, I was trembling at the thought of killer dust bunnies. What’s one more night? Or two? Right?
Tonight I’ll clean my office because by the end of the book, there’s paper everywhere from edits, pics of my H/H, research notes, and just general stuff. And look at my cp’s work, which I need to critique/read through.
I’d rather be working on AToD though. I’d thought I’d give myself a few days off, but Annie is talking away. She’s ready and I don’t know about you, but when my characters are ready, my fingers get itchy to be on the keyboard.
Tomorrow I’m blogging over at Everybody Needs A Little Romance. You can find me there each Tuesday. I’m blogging along with four other writers from my GIAM group and it’s a great blog. Next week is beauty…hmmmm…can you say beauty issues. It promises to be funny, omg you didn’t do that, and a wow kind of week as each day we’ll talk about beauty and well, you’ll have to check it out next week.
So, what about you? Have you put away all your holiday decorations? Did you find a little bit of wrapping paper or bows once you thought you had it all stored away? Or are you like me and it’s still up shinning bright?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Busy Times...
Tuesday, the second day of the work week and already it's been crazy. My mom's b-day party is this weekend, so much to plan and so little time to finish it in. Actually it's planned, but there is always the little things to do right up until the moment guest arrive. But as I said on my chapter loop, she's my mom and it's worth it all.
I'm finishing up another round of edits on ATB to send out a partial. Fingers crossed and all that jazz. :) Also, working on ML for the presents contest. Well, technically, what I needed for the contest is done and sent, but I'm working on the next part of it. And taking a workshop on paranormal, from none other than Angie Fox, who was on the blog for the book giveaway week before last. The funny thing is when I signed up for this workshop months ago, I didn't realize it was Angie who would be doing it.
Of course, there is still the day job. So all in all, I'm burning the midnight oil this week.
Next week I'll start the Tuesday check in's again for anyone who wants/needs that little extra push to meet their weekly word counts. For me the accountability is a good thing. And of course there'll be a new book to giveaway.
Check out my friend Hawk's blog. She's talking about real life hero's and doggies. Great pics too.
How about you? Is your week shaping up to be crazy busy?
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
I'm finishing up another round of edits on ATB to send out a partial. Fingers crossed and all that jazz. :) Also, working on ML for the presents contest. Well, technically, what I needed for the contest is done and sent, but I'm working on the next part of it. And taking a workshop on paranormal, from none other than Angie Fox, who was on the blog for the book giveaway week before last. The funny thing is when I signed up for this workshop months ago, I didn't realize it was Angie who would be doing it.
Of course, there is still the day job. So all in all, I'm burning the midnight oil this week.
Next week I'll start the Tuesday check in's again for anyone who wants/needs that little extra push to meet their weekly word counts. For me the accountability is a good thing. And of course there'll be a new book to giveaway.
Check out my friend Hawk's blog. She's talking about real life hero's and doggies. Great pics too.
How about you? Is your week shaping up to be crazy busy?
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
It Hasn’t Changed All That Much…
Science Guy gave this to me last night and I thought I’d share it with you. Although we might not be at an actual huge rock, when the writer’s block hits us, we might as well be.
I tried to find it on the net and it wasn’t there. So what’s a girl to do? Snag it and give kudo’s to the cartoonist.
I did, however, find John McPherson’s, the cartoonist, bio on this website. And this is his Close To Home website.
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Monday, July 14, 2008
Vicki’s Wildlife Sanctuary
Okay, maybe not so much a wildlife sanctuary, but we do seem to invite animals into our yard. We have the normal lizards, well, normal might be true. The lizards that are very dark with some spots of white running through them live on the right side of the patio and the lighter gray lizards with a black line running down their backs live on the right side. Funny thing is they know where they live and if one of them tries to go the other side then all of sudden there are several bigger lizards running to form a line as if to say, yeah, don’t go there.
Then we have two lizards that sleep in our bamboo house plant which Science Guy placed outside. Each night they come and climb up the plant, find a leaf and go to sleep.
You remember the black snake? Well, he/she was back yesterday, curling around the top of the iron fence, trying to eat a lizard. I didn't get the pic of the snake, but this is the fence it was on.
Needless to say I was sitting out there and this snake wasn’t afraid of me at all. Nope, it just weaved its way around the fence as nonchalant as you please. Science Guy did chase it away, not harming it, but away from where I sat.
And then we have a mommy duck, who is sitting on her eggs.
In the beginning she would stay for a short while and then be gone for hours. After researching it on the net, I found this was normal and she’d soon sit on the eggs without leaving them.
About a week ago, I was sitting on the patio and she flew into the pool, swam around (yes, she thinks it’s her private pool) and then flew straight to me. She was apparently hungry. Since I didn’t have duck food, I gave her hamburger buns. She loved it, but it’s basically just fatten for them. Yep, had to research the net again and found that plain Cheerio’s was good for them. So, we bought Cheerio’s.
The thing is the babies will not be able to fly for at three weeks according to what I researched. And I live in Florida. We have hawks! Okay, so lots of places have hawks, but I don’t want to see these babies be taken by them. I told Science Guy we’d need to buy a baby wading pool for them to get into until they can fly and food and maybe…call the Wildlife preserve to see if they want to come and get the babies.
Sassy and Meisha don’t understand why they can’t go out in the backyard and play with the mommy duck or just play around in general. Sassy, the 6 pound Chihuahua, saw her yesterday and began shaking like a leave in a strong hurricane, and began whining. Did I tell you she whines like a little piggy? She does. Didn’t make the momma duck to happy.
Science Guy hadn’t mowed the side of the yard where the eggs are for two weeks. A jungle you say??? Yep, it was becoming a jungle on side of the property. Florida sun and Florida rain, means cutting your yard at least once a week, maybe more. Needless to say it scared the momma duck, she flew off, and I spent the next hour worrying about the eggs. She came back. He said she would.
Now to figure how to put any of this in a book. Heehee, I’m always wondering and plotting how to incorporate something into a book. :)
So what about you? Have wildlife in your backyard? Does stuff like this make you think of how to use it in a book?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Did you notice the snake and lizards pics were smaller?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
What's In Your Old Computer Files
I was spring cleaning my computer files and found this, as well as other short snippets of, well...hmmm...just plain stuff.
I wrote this year’s ago. No, it’s not an actual story, but it flowed from somewhere deep within me. Way before I ever met Science Guy, just in case you’re wondering if it was him. Nope, not at all.
Will it end up as a scene in a book? Maybe. It depends on what Lord G and Lady E do in the next book. Yes, they are part of the paranormal world in Mallory's book.
Although the writing is not perfect, I thought I’d share it with you anyway. And yes, should I decide to use it in AToD it will be rewritten.
Written about six years ago, late on night.
The Butterfly
The day was dreary but that would be okay for it matched her heart. She stood in the meadows, the metaphoric butterfly cupped safely within her hands.
Trembling with the fear of the unknown, the Lady turned, lifting both, her face and hands towards the gray sky – slowly, hesitantly, she opened her hands, releasing the very thing that had become precious to her.
With silent tears running down her face, she sat to wait for her butterfly, not really knowing if HE would return, but hoping that she would be what HE longed for and return once more to dry the tears and stay within her heart forever….
Days passed and the Lady rose from the once beautiful meadow, now no more than a salty sea. The sky was still as dreary as her heart. Though she knew the sun would once again come out, she didn’t know if she would ever see the beauty or really feel the warmth.
Life would continue, her heart would beat, never the same, but still it would beat. Her butterfly would not come back. HE thought HE knew what was best when all the while HE left her lost and alone.
Time, they say heals all wounds. The Lady’s heart had healed but the scar left would forever remind her of a Butterfly she released so long ago.
And yes, the Lady still looks for him, no not everyday, but when she least expected it. She’ll would look at the moon or hear the train and HE would come back to her thoughts. The scar would pull with the memories of what was and what would never be.
She once read, “Don’t cry because it’s over, but Smile because it happened.” The Lady knew this was to be forever true, as she would never be sorry that it had happened, even with the pain of loneliness and lost that her heart felt. What He had given her in their short time would forever be inside her. To remember, to smile, and yes, too even sometimes still feel the dampness on her cheeks as she thinks of a Prince and prayed HE was happy and content.
~Vicki Lane
What about you? Do you find things you've written years ago and smile at the memory they bring? Or are you super clean computer woman/man and never leave anything you don't need on your computer?
I wrote this year’s ago. No, it’s not an actual story, but it flowed from somewhere deep within me. Way before I ever met Science Guy, just in case you’re wondering if it was him. Nope, not at all.
Will it end up as a scene in a book? Maybe. It depends on what Lord G and Lady E do in the next book. Yes, they are part of the paranormal world in Mallory's book.
Although the writing is not perfect, I thought I’d share it with you anyway. And yes, should I decide to use it in AToD it will be rewritten.
Written about six years ago, late on night.
The Butterfly
The day was dreary but that would be okay for it matched her heart. She stood in the meadows, the metaphoric butterfly cupped safely within her hands.
Trembling with the fear of the unknown, the Lady turned, lifting both, her face and hands towards the gray sky – slowly, hesitantly, she opened her hands, releasing the very thing that had become precious to her.
With silent tears running down her face, she sat to wait for her butterfly, not really knowing if HE would return, but hoping that she would be what HE longed for and return once more to dry the tears and stay within her heart forever….
Days passed and the Lady rose from the once beautiful meadow, now no more than a salty sea. The sky was still as dreary as her heart. Though she knew the sun would once again come out, she didn’t know if she would ever see the beauty or really feel the warmth.
Life would continue, her heart would beat, never the same, but still it would beat. Her butterfly would not come back. HE thought HE knew what was best when all the while HE left her lost and alone.
Time, they say heals all wounds. The Lady’s heart had healed but the scar left would forever remind her of a Butterfly she released so long ago.
And yes, the Lady still looks for him, no not everyday, but when she least expected it. She’ll would look at the moon or hear the train and HE would come back to her thoughts. The scar would pull with the memories of what was and what would never be.
She once read, “Don’t cry because it’s over, but Smile because it happened.” The Lady knew this was to be forever true, as she would never be sorry that it had happened, even with the pain of loneliness and lost that her heart felt. What He had given her in their short time would forever be inside her. To remember, to smile, and yes, too even sometimes still feel the dampness on her cheeks as she thinks of a Prince and prayed HE was happy and content.
~Vicki Lane
What about you? Do you find things you've written years ago and smile at the memory they bring? Or are you super clean computer woman/man and never leave anything you don't need on your computer?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
I’d Like a Side of Bad Boy with my Hero, Please
Ooh, first things first. Stay next week for a majorly exciting contest!!! The trailer alone will ROCK you. :) Nope, not saying what it is yet, but it's a great one.
Also, to those who I owe books to, I promise to get them in the mail this week. Except for the one that is an ARC, I haven't received it yet to send to you, but will as soon as I do.
Now, back to the boys.
A few weeks back on the WIP, Tawny Weber posted about the different types of men and how do we choose our favorites. Check it out. It was a great post.
Here’s the comment I posted:
I had to think about this for a bit before I could answer. I’m like most the others out there who like her some bad boys, but then I think about my family. You know like the big family get together and think, would I be able to take him home with me. Or better yet, would he even want to.
Then I thought about the GQ guy and how incredible handsome he is. Now of course, I could take him to anything family related. BUT, what about when it’s just us? Will he be so preoccupied with his own self that he doesn’t think about me? Or put me up there above his own wants and needs sometimes (hey I believe in fair play). :D
Then it happened!!! On the way home last night, I saw my guy. Okay not really my guy, because as some of you know Science Guy is my guy and I love him very much. I wouldn’t want someone else.
But since this is for the imagined hero, I’ll go back to when it happened. Basic Black rocker tee-shirt, just tight enough to make you drool, his jeans stretched taut over his extended legs. The black boots were…oh who cares about the boots. :D Dark sunglasses covered what I’m sure are amazingly sexy bed-room eyes, his tanned face staring straight ahead as the wind created by the motorcycle he was driving, blew through deep black hair. When I came along side of him, he turned my way, nodded his head and drove off, while I sat there with horns blaring behind me.
Okay so the horn part isn’t true, but everything is.
This man could so pull off the rocker, motorcycle riding bad boy and the best dress GQ man around.
That’s when I knew…I like my hero’s to be a bad boy and the GQ rolled into one. Bad to bone, sexy in bed, and eye candy when we’re out.
And yes, Science Guy is my bad boy/GQ hero. At least to me.
So what about you? What type of guy is your favorite hero to read about?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Also, to those who I owe books to, I promise to get them in the mail this week. Except for the one that is an ARC, I haven't received it yet to send to you, but will as soon as I do.
Now, back to the boys.
A few weeks back on the WIP, Tawny Weber posted about the different types of men and how do we choose our favorites. Check it out. It was a great post.
Here’s the comment I posted:
I had to think about this for a bit before I could answer. I’m like most the others out there who like her some bad boys, but then I think about my family. You know like the big family get together and think, would I be able to take him home with me. Or better yet, would he even want to.
Then I thought about the GQ guy and how incredible handsome he is. Now of course, I could take him to anything family related. BUT, what about when it’s just us? Will he be so preoccupied with his own self that he doesn’t think about me? Or put me up there above his own wants and needs sometimes (hey I believe in fair play). :D
Then it happened!!! On the way home last night, I saw my guy. Okay not really my guy, because as some of you know Science Guy is my guy and I love him very much. I wouldn’t want someone else.
But since this is for the imagined hero, I’ll go back to when it happened. Basic Black rocker tee-shirt, just tight enough to make you drool, his jeans stretched taut over his extended legs. The black boots were…oh who cares about the boots. :D Dark sunglasses covered what I’m sure are amazingly sexy bed-room eyes, his tanned face staring straight ahead as the wind created by the motorcycle he was driving, blew through deep black hair. When I came along side of him, he turned my way, nodded his head and drove off, while I sat there with horns blaring behind me.
Okay so the horn part isn’t true, but everything is.
This man could so pull off the rocker, motorcycle riding bad boy and the best dress GQ man around.
That’s when I knew…I like my hero’s to be a bad boy and the GQ rolled into one. Bad to bone, sexy in bed, and eye candy when we’re out.
And yes, Science Guy is my bad boy/GQ hero. At least to me.
So what about you? What type of guy is your favorite hero to read about?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Monday, April 28, 2008
I So Don't Do Snakes
If you read my blog friend Malicious Intently , you know she and her family very much do. Me? Not so much. They scare me. I can’t help it, they just do.
That said, when I go to a zoo, I always go to the reptile house. The different type of reptiles fascinates me and they are BEHIND glass. I can look all I want and know they can’t get me. Silly? Probably, but it’s true.
So, why am I talking about snakes? Well, yesterday I took a nap and when I woke up Science Guy asked me this question. “If I said to you, ‘I was talking to Ray and you’ll never believe what I saw’, would you want to know the rest?” I said, “Yes, although I’m probably not going to like it.”
Yeah, I didn’t. It seems we had a very large black snake (at least I hope it was a black snake), curled up on our patio. SG said it was a good 3” in diameter and long. The snake was only a couple of feet away from the chair he sat in while talking with Ray. He first saw only a part of it and wondered what in the world he’d brought out and forgot to put away. Of course when he went to see what it was, the snake (MI, I’m being really good and not calling it a thing here just for you:), it slithered across the grass and through the fence into the neighbors yard.
Okay, so there is the fairly large snake, but it went to the neighbor’s yard. Yes, I know it can come back, but let a scared woman have her dreams. I felt immensely better knowing it was not in my yard for the time being.
At least that was what I thought the first time I went outside and looked around. It was the second time I went in the backyard and watched as a much thinner (very small in diameter) snake fell from the tangerine tree and went into the scrubs.
Snakes!!! Not one snake. Oh no, that would be scary enough for me. Now in the same day there have been two snakes in my yard.
The only funny thing is in AT&B the dagger that I designed has two snakes on it and their fangs are extremely sharp. And the dagger is very important in the book.
Maybe the snakes wanted to pay homage to the fact I used them in the book. Who knows. All I know is now every time I go outside I have to check around the area before I let the doggies out and before I blindly sit down in the early morning when it’s still dark.
So, what about you? Are you afraid of snakes? Do you love them or are you like me and like them best when they’re behind glass?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
That said, when I go to a zoo, I always go to the reptile house. The different type of reptiles fascinates me and they are BEHIND glass. I can look all I want and know they can’t get me. Silly? Probably, but it’s true.
So, why am I talking about snakes? Well, yesterday I took a nap and when I woke up Science Guy asked me this question. “If I said to you, ‘I was talking to Ray and you’ll never believe what I saw’, would you want to know the rest?” I said, “Yes, although I’m probably not going to like it.”
Yeah, I didn’t. It seems we had a very large black snake (at least I hope it was a black snake), curled up on our patio. SG said it was a good 3” in diameter and long. The snake was only a couple of feet away from the chair he sat in while talking with Ray. He first saw only a part of it and wondered what in the world he’d brought out and forgot to put away. Of course when he went to see what it was, the snake (MI, I’m being really good and not calling it a thing here just for you:), it slithered across the grass and through the fence into the neighbors yard.
Okay, so there is the fairly large snake, but it went to the neighbor’s yard. Yes, I know it can come back, but let a scared woman have her dreams. I felt immensely better knowing it was not in my yard for the time being.
At least that was what I thought the first time I went outside and looked around. It was the second time I went in the backyard and watched as a much thinner (very small in diameter) snake fell from the tangerine tree and went into the scrubs.
Snakes!!! Not one snake. Oh no, that would be scary enough for me. Now in the same day there have been two snakes in my yard.
The only funny thing is in AT&B the dagger that I designed has two snakes on it and their fangs are extremely sharp. And the dagger is very important in the book.
Maybe the snakes wanted to pay homage to the fact I used them in the book. Who knows. All I know is now every time I go outside I have to check around the area before I let the doggies out and before I blindly sit down in the early morning when it’s still dark.
So, what about you? Are you afraid of snakes? Do you love them or are you like me and like them best when they’re behind glass?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
How Do You Get Back To Work?
We all know that I finished my first draft of AT&B on Sunday, December 2nd at 4:01pm. That one I shouted from the roof top. In fact, I think Bill may have heard me over in Greenwich.
I wrote so many words that weekend (19k+) I couldn’t begin too start edits as my mind would not wrap around anything for several days.
It’s now been a week and I still have not begun them. My office is a wreck, the tree needs ornaments and…give me a second, I’m sure there is something else. I even have a great three chapter crit from Maven Lacey from the Manuscript Mavens. How much more can a girl ask for?
See what I mean. I’m finding excuses to not start on it. I didn’t actually realize that until this morning. I’ve made goals for this next part of the journey and still here I sit. Every time I pick it up ready to go, I sit there and decide not just yet. Or I think to myself, you really should clean out the fridge. Clean out the fridge??? Now who thinks that?
So, how about you? What do you do when you need to start your edits? How do you get yourself to go back to page one and begin?
Side note here: If you’re not reading the Mavens blog, you really should add it to your list of daily reads.
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
I wrote so many words that weekend (19k+) I couldn’t begin too start edits as my mind would not wrap around anything for several days.
It’s now been a week and I still have not begun them. My office is a wreck, the tree needs ornaments and…give me a second, I’m sure there is something else. I even have a great three chapter crit from Maven Lacey from the Manuscript Mavens. How much more can a girl ask for?
See what I mean. I’m finding excuses to not start on it. I didn’t actually realize that until this morning. I’ve made goals for this next part of the journey and still here I sit. Every time I pick it up ready to go, I sit there and decide not just yet. Or I think to myself, you really should clean out the fridge. Clean out the fridge??? Now who thinks that?
So, how about you? What do you do when you need to start your edits? How do you get yourself to go back to page one and begin?
Side note here: If you’re not reading the Mavens blog, you really should add it to your list of daily reads.
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Monday, December 10, 2007
Monday - Weekends and Holidays, You Gotta Love Them
Wow, what a busy weekend I had. Friday, I did community service (the day job pays us to do two CS a year) with Hospice, wrapping presents at the mall. I didn’t think we would be very busy. Boy was I wrong. It’s still so much fun. People are pretty happy and love having their gifts wrapped and ready to go under their tree.
Saturday was our TARA Christmas/Holiday party. Talk about tons of fun. It’s the one time of the year you really get to mingle with everyone.
Then there is the gift exchange. Quick version here, the game has been around for ever and has many different names. You pick a number. Then the person with the first number starts. They pick a gift. The person brought the gift stands up, tells who they are, and what they write. The ornament usually has something to do with their wip or book. More often than not there are other goodies in the bag as well. Chocolate? Of course, all writers love chocolate. :) The person with number two has the option of opening a new gift or stealing the one that has been open. If they steal then that person gets a new gift. And so the game continues. The biggest rule we have is a person can only be stolen from three times. At that point their gift is off limits.
It usually takes about ten people before the stealing commences, or until the TARA Bear shows up. After the party a bunch of us went to, where else, Starbucks. Coffee or tea is the other things writer’s love/crave. Again, it was a great time to sit, chat, and catch up with each other.
Oh totally forgot…my Crit/Partner in crime, Laurie K. won the BC challenge. Everyone who finishes their manuscript, yes it can be in POS form, has to bring a copy of it with them to the party in order to receive a ticket. Once of those tickets are chosen and that person wins. I am so proud of her!! She did not think she would be finished in time and look at her now. She wrote the end before Thanksgiving and won. How cool is that? Very cool since her book is amazing.
This brings us to Sunday. Since I had not bought many presents I decided I should do some shopping. Apparently so did the rest of the town I live in. I found great deals and did manage to do most of the shopping. This started about 10:30 AM and lasted until 6:45 PM. Tired, you ask? Oh yeah, but very happy with my gifts.
I’m really picky about gifts. I can’t just buy something to buy it. I have to look and find the perfect gift for each person.
My yard is decorated and my house is done with the exception of the tree. It has lights (which I turn on at night) and an angel on top. The rest of the decorations are sitting in a box beside the tree. Hopefully tonight I’ll get them on. I mean it is only 16 days until Christmas, counting today. Oh lord, that means I need to get those presents wrapped and in the mail. Yikes!
Oh and start the revisions on the AT&B. I need to have it ready to send out by the middle of January. Major yikes!!! It was requested at conference so now I need to get it out to the agents. Side note here: I did not have an appointment, but was asked by them to pitch. I did tell them it was not finished at the time. Both of them (separate pitches) still said they were interested and would like to see it when it was finished. This is both exciting and scary. I know it could be rejected by both and while that’s not the happy place to be, the scariest part of all is…The Dreaded Synopsis. Yes, it’s time to write the real thing. If you noticed the sidebar then you’ll see I now have a revision meter. I figured I should put one up since it keeps me going.
So, how was your weekend? Did you shop? Write? Did you do anything fun? Have you finished your goals and started on new ones?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Saturday was our TARA Christmas/Holiday party. Talk about tons of fun. It’s the one time of the year you really get to mingle with everyone.
Then there is the gift exchange. Quick version here, the game has been around for ever and has many different names. You pick a number. Then the person with the first number starts. They pick a gift. The person brought the gift stands up, tells who they are, and what they write. The ornament usually has something to do with their wip or book. More often than not there are other goodies in the bag as well. Chocolate? Of course, all writers love chocolate. :) The person with number two has the option of opening a new gift or stealing the one that has been open. If they steal then that person gets a new gift. And so the game continues. The biggest rule we have is a person can only be stolen from three times. At that point their gift is off limits.
It usually takes about ten people before the stealing commences, or until the TARA Bear shows up. After the party a bunch of us went to, where else, Starbucks. Coffee or tea is the other things writer’s love/crave. Again, it was a great time to sit, chat, and catch up with each other.
Oh totally forgot…my Crit/Partner in crime, Laurie K. won the BC challenge. Everyone who finishes their manuscript, yes it can be in POS form, has to bring a copy of it with them to the party in order to receive a ticket. Once of those tickets are chosen and that person wins. I am so proud of her!! She did not think she would be finished in time and look at her now. She wrote the end before Thanksgiving and won. How cool is that? Very cool since her book is amazing.
This brings us to Sunday. Since I had not bought many presents I decided I should do some shopping. Apparently so did the rest of the town I live in. I found great deals and did manage to do most of the shopping. This started about 10:30 AM and lasted until 6:45 PM. Tired, you ask? Oh yeah, but very happy with my gifts.
I’m really picky about gifts. I can’t just buy something to buy it. I have to look and find the perfect gift for each person.
My yard is decorated and my house is done with the exception of the tree. It has lights (which I turn on at night) and an angel on top. The rest of the decorations are sitting in a box beside the tree. Hopefully tonight I’ll get them on. I mean it is only 16 days until Christmas, counting today. Oh lord, that means I need to get those presents wrapped and in the mail. Yikes!
Oh and start the revisions on the AT&B. I need to have it ready to send out by the middle of January. Major yikes!!! It was requested at conference so now I need to get it out to the agents. Side note here: I did not have an appointment, but was asked by them to pitch. I did tell them it was not finished at the time. Both of them (separate pitches) still said they were interested and would like to see it when it was finished. This is both exciting and scary. I know it could be rejected by both and while that’s not the happy place to be, the scariest part of all is…The Dreaded Synopsis. Yes, it’s time to write the real thing. If you noticed the sidebar then you’ll see I now have a revision meter. I figured I should put one up since it keeps me going.
So, how was your weekend? Did you shop? Write? Did you do anything fun? Have you finished your goals and started on new ones?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
My Life From A to Z - in lieu of T13 This Week
I read this over at Pat’s blog, who found it on Gwyneth Bolton’s, who found it on…well, you’ll have to link back to all of them because I’m sure it continues on much like the “Song that will not end”.
Thought it was pretty cool, so instead of the normal T13 this week I’m doing this one. Feel free to use it on your own blog. If you do, link to it in the comments so we’ll know to go check it out.
My Life From A to Z
A - Age: Yeah, right. I’m older that 38 and younger than 60…you’ll have to guess on your own, unless you already know. Hee hee
B - Best Friend: Laurie K. and Willis (aka Dorothy)
C - Choice of Meat: Love a really great Steak but also love, love Fish, and of course chicken. Okay, so I like most meat.
D - Dream Date: Science Guy and I having a nice dinner and then walking on the beach watching the sunset. Really, I love that.
E - Exciting Adventure: Hmmmm…I had to think about this one. Of course I agree with Pat the journey to publication is amazing but one of the things I really want to do is go see the Whales. As far as an EA that I actually done, one of them would be going to New York and Canada. I loved everything about the snow and all the fun I had playing in it. :)
F - Favorite Food: Pizza – nuff said on that one. :)
G - Greatest Accomplishment: My kids would be first and coming back to writing after so many years. There are others but I’ll leave it at that.
H - Happiest Day of Your Life: There are several, of course the birth of my children. What mother wouldn’t say that, unless she’s not right. But seriously, meeting SG was a big one.
I - Interests: Writing, Reading, Painting, Singing, Acting, and hanging out with friends who usually like to talk about Writing. :)
J - Joke: Not on this one. I mean do you want me to tell you a joke or tell you about a joke played on someone?
K - Kool-Aid: Lime or purplesuresrex (I think that one was grape and lemonade mixed together actually) and neither are easy to find.
L - Love: giving of yourself to others. Putting their feelings before you own, being able to be quiet with each other and still know that it’s all good.
M - Most Valued Possession: My grandmothers sweater and homemade quilt, my fathers flag (although I don’t actually have that anymore), Cards my family and friends have given me. Things like that are valued. The rest is stuff. Don’t get me wrong I have stuff that I really like, maybe even love but it’s stuff nonetheless.
N - Name: Vicki, V once in a while from Laurie, Vic from several people, Leon from Willis
O - Outfit You Love: Black dress and the strappy sandals that go with it.
P - Pizza Toppings: Mushrooms, black olives, onions, maybe bacon or pepperoni, but I like the first three the most.
Q - Question Asked To You the Most: Is your book finished? Or how soon will it be on the shelves to buy? I love the thought of the second one, but have to explain to them the process of first being contracted and then how long it can actually take to hit the shelves once that happens.
R - Radio Station: 94.9, which doesn’t really tell you much, but they play a little bit of everything on there.
S - Sport: Nascar! Basketball and baseball. I watch football and hockey with SG sometimes but they’re not my favorite.
T - Television Show: Hero’s and in January 24. I like several others but those are my fav's. The writers on Hero's are amazing!!! So many plots, so many important characters.
U - Umbrella in the rain?: Yes, my hair has natural curl to it when I don’t blow it dry, so I try not to get it wet once I've blown and straightened it.
V - Video: We really don’t watch a lot of video’s so I’m not sure what to put here.
W - Winter: My winter consist of sometimes a chilly and sometimes pull out the shorts days. I would love to have actual seasons; I loved the snow when I was in New York a couple of years ago.
X - X-rays recently?: No
Y - Year Born: Ummm…hello, I may be blonde but this kinda goes back to the letter A and age thing.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Your turn, any of these you'd like to tell us or are you going to do this on your blog? Link back to me so we can check it out.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Thought it was pretty cool, so instead of the normal T13 this week I’m doing this one. Feel free to use it on your own blog. If you do, link to it in the comments so we’ll know to go check it out.
My Life From A to Z
A - Age: Yeah, right. I’m older that 38 and younger than 60…you’ll have to guess on your own, unless you already know. Hee hee
B - Best Friend: Laurie K. and Willis (aka Dorothy)
C - Choice of Meat: Love a really great Steak but also love, love Fish, and of course chicken. Okay, so I like most meat.
D - Dream Date: Science Guy and I having a nice dinner and then walking on the beach watching the sunset. Really, I love that.
E - Exciting Adventure: Hmmmm…I had to think about this one. Of course I agree with Pat the journey to publication is amazing but one of the things I really want to do is go see the Whales. As far as an EA that I actually done, one of them would be going to New York and Canada. I loved everything about the snow and all the fun I had playing in it. :)
F - Favorite Food: Pizza – nuff said on that one. :)
G - Greatest Accomplishment: My kids would be first and coming back to writing after so many years. There are others but I’ll leave it at that.
H - Happiest Day of Your Life: There are several, of course the birth of my children. What mother wouldn’t say that, unless she’s not right. But seriously, meeting SG was a big one.
I - Interests: Writing, Reading, Painting, Singing, Acting, and hanging out with friends who usually like to talk about Writing. :)
J - Joke: Not on this one. I mean do you want me to tell you a joke or tell you about a joke played on someone?
K - Kool-Aid: Lime or purplesuresrex (I think that one was grape and lemonade mixed together actually) and neither are easy to find.
L - Love: giving of yourself to others. Putting their feelings before you own, being able to be quiet with each other and still know that it’s all good.
M - Most Valued Possession: My grandmothers sweater and homemade quilt, my fathers flag (although I don’t actually have that anymore), Cards my family and friends have given me. Things like that are valued. The rest is stuff. Don’t get me wrong I have stuff that I really like, maybe even love but it’s stuff nonetheless.
N - Name: Vicki, V once in a while from Laurie, Vic from several people, Leon from Willis
O - Outfit You Love: Black dress and the strappy sandals that go with it.
P - Pizza Toppings: Mushrooms, black olives, onions, maybe bacon or pepperoni, but I like the first three the most.
Q - Question Asked To You the Most: Is your book finished? Or how soon will it be on the shelves to buy? I love the thought of the second one, but have to explain to them the process of first being contracted and then how long it can actually take to hit the shelves once that happens.
R - Radio Station: 94.9, which doesn’t really tell you much, but they play a little bit of everything on there.
S - Sport: Nascar! Basketball and baseball. I watch football and hockey with SG sometimes but they’re not my favorite.
T - Television Show: Hero’s and in January 24. I like several others but those are my fav's. The writers on Hero's are amazing!!! So many plots, so many important characters.
U - Umbrella in the rain?: Yes, my hair has natural curl to it when I don’t blow it dry, so I try not to get it wet once I've blown and straightened it.
V - Video: We really don’t watch a lot of video’s so I’m not sure what to put here.
W - Winter: My winter consist of sometimes a chilly and sometimes pull out the shorts days. I would love to have actual seasons; I loved the snow when I was in New York a couple of years ago.
X - X-rays recently?: No
Y - Year Born: Ummm…hello, I may be blonde but this kinda goes back to the letter A and age thing.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Your turn, any of these you'd like to tell us or are you going to do this on your blog? Link back to me so we can check it out.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Monday, November 19, 2007
Frogs and Miracles
Willis sent this to me and I thought I'd share it with you.
Frogs
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs…who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!" "They will NEVER make it to the top."
or: "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher..
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be
negative or pessimistic... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have. (There's life and death in the power of the tongue - Proverbs 18:21.)
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be....
POSITIVE!
And above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
If you fall down 10 times,
Stand up 11 times.
In other words if you’re rejected 10 times you may need to submit something new but submit again you must. A great friend once told me never give up today because tomorrow might be your miracle. I realize that the miracle comes from hard work but you can achieve your dreams if you never, ever give up on them.
Funny thing, my Flavia calendar today said: What we've worked and hoped for doesn't show until one morning we wake to se a field of miracles.
One of the major key words there is worked. This writing journey takes work. It's not easy, but if this is your hearts desire never give up and never listen to those who say you can't do it. Be the frog, the deaf frog too them. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Frogs
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs…who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!" "They will NEVER make it to the top."
or: "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher..
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be
negative or pessimistic... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have. (There's life and death in the power of the tongue - Proverbs 18:21.)
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be....
POSITIVE!
And above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
If you fall down 10 times,
Stand up 11 times.
In other words if you’re rejected 10 times you may need to submit something new but submit again you must. A great friend once told me never give up today because tomorrow might be your miracle. I realize that the miracle comes from hard work but you can achieve your dreams if you never, ever give up on them.
Funny thing, my Flavia calendar today said: What we've worked and hoped for doesn't show until one morning we wake to se a field of miracles.
One of the major key words there is worked. This writing journey takes work. It's not easy, but if this is your hearts desire never give up and never listen to those who say you can't do it. Be the frog, the deaf frog too them. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Friday, October 5, 2007
You've Written 'The End' and It's Time to Begin The Next WIP
So you’ve written ‘The End’. Your baby’s polished and out the door to face the world of agents and/or editors all alone.
There you sit, staring at the blank screen or pad of paper before you, knowing full well its time to begin the next wip.
Oh you’ve got plenty of ideas brewing. You may even have a short outline. But now you’ve got to interview the next set of characters. Get to know them. Their likes, dislikes, and omg their conflicts. Maybe you’re on deadline. You’re fingers sit on the keys waiting and still you stare, no longer at the blank screen / paper but now off into space wondering…
Speculating how is Sam (insert your hero’s name here)? Or asking yourself, what is Abby shopping for now? (you know the drill by now, insert heroine’s name)
You see, you’ve been with them for months and for some of us years. Going through every happy and sad moment right along with them. You wanted to kill Sam when he forgot Abby’s birthday and then had tears when he made it up to her with a surprise trip including rose petals lining the pathway. (One of mine really did do something like that only it wasn’t a forgotten b-day).
The thing is you miss them. They were you’re comfort. If you had to you could write scenes out of order during this book. Some that wouldn’t happen for several chapters since you knew them so well. And now their gone.
Should you write a sequel? They could visit in. That would be lovely. No, their book really didn’t leave room for another. Besides, it’s time to let go. But how do you do that?
Take a couple of days to read, paint, watch a movie, or clean house and do laundry. All the things you’re characters didn’t let you do while writing their story. Refresh your mind. Then begin that new wip. Allow yourself to write POS (forever grateful to Nora Robert’s for that one). You can fix it later. The important thing is to write.
Look through magazines find out what/who your hero and heroine look like. Maybe go to the mall have lunch and people watch. What are they doing? Take notes as you watch their quirks; perhaps hear a snippet of conversations, and anything else that make you smile.
In other words do whatever it takes to get you into that new work. You’re muse may have stubbornly stepped out when Sam and Abby’s story was completed, but not for long. In all actuality she is just as curious as you are about the new couple. Oh, she won’t tell you that at first. No, she likes to be in charge of what words hit the paper.
In no time you’ll be back in the swing and a new story has emerged. Lives are taking shape; conflicts are getting in their way, danger, sexual attraction, odd things happening, and love / hate begins to blossom.
You sit back and smile. Once again you’ve got a new world building and new lives to get to know.
Shaking out your fingers, cracking your knuckles, and stretching your neck from side to side you back you begin typing as words pouring out. Your muse is back. She didn’t go far and she’s ready to work. You grin as the screen / page is no longer blank.
The race to the end of the book is back on with a new set of friends and family. A new baby is born.
So, what do you do when you’ve finished your book? Tell us how you get started on the next one.
On Sunday I’ll announce this week’s winner.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
There you sit, staring at the blank screen or pad of paper before you, knowing full well its time to begin the next wip.
Oh you’ve got plenty of ideas brewing. You may even have a short outline. But now you’ve got to interview the next set of characters. Get to know them. Their likes, dislikes, and omg their conflicts. Maybe you’re on deadline. You’re fingers sit on the keys waiting and still you stare, no longer at the blank screen / paper but now off into space wondering…
Speculating how is Sam (insert your hero’s name here)? Or asking yourself, what is Abby shopping for now? (you know the drill by now, insert heroine’s name)
You see, you’ve been with them for months and for some of us years. Going through every happy and sad moment right along with them. You wanted to kill Sam when he forgot Abby’s birthday and then had tears when he made it up to her with a surprise trip including rose petals lining the pathway. (One of mine really did do something like that only it wasn’t a forgotten b-day).
The thing is you miss them. They were you’re comfort. If you had to you could write scenes out of order during this book. Some that wouldn’t happen for several chapters since you knew them so well. And now their gone.
Should you write a sequel? They could visit in. That would be lovely. No, their book really didn’t leave room for another. Besides, it’s time to let go. But how do you do that?
Take a couple of days to read, paint, watch a movie, or clean house and do laundry. All the things you’re characters didn’t let you do while writing their story. Refresh your mind. Then begin that new wip. Allow yourself to write POS (forever grateful to Nora Robert’s for that one). You can fix it later. The important thing is to write.
Look through magazines find out what/who your hero and heroine look like. Maybe go to the mall have lunch and people watch. What are they doing? Take notes as you watch their quirks; perhaps hear a snippet of conversations, and anything else that make you smile.
In other words do whatever it takes to get you into that new work. You’re muse may have stubbornly stepped out when Sam and Abby’s story was completed, but not for long. In all actuality she is just as curious as you are about the new couple. Oh, she won’t tell you that at first. No, she likes to be in charge of what words hit the paper.
In no time you’ll be back in the swing and a new story has emerged. Lives are taking shape; conflicts are getting in their way, danger, sexual attraction, odd things happening, and love / hate begins to blossom.
You sit back and smile. Once again you’ve got a new world building and new lives to get to know.
Shaking out your fingers, cracking your knuckles, and stretching your neck from side to side you back you begin typing as words pouring out. Your muse is back. She didn’t go far and she’s ready to work. You grin as the screen / page is no longer blank.
The race to the end of the book is back on with a new set of friends and family. A new baby is born.
So, what do you do when you’ve finished your book? Tell us how you get started on the next one.
On Sunday I’ll announce this week’s winner.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
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