Remembering....

I'm shocked at how I remembered yesterday and yet this morning in all the rush to get ready for work and leave on time, I forgot.

And now I sit here and feel the heaviness of the events that happened seven years ago. Our lives will never be the same. Sure, for many of us, we go about things each day much the same as perhaps we did before 9/11. But for many others, we wake each day to loss and pain of the senselessness of it all.

I remember, like most everyone, where I was seven years ago. I worked at Wharton High School. It was a normal hectic high school morning like every other morning when you work with 9th - 12th graders.

My phone rang and my ex was crying. He asked me if I knew. I thought omg, his mom has passed away. She'd been very sick. But no, as horrible as that would have been, actually was when she did, this was way worse.

The next sound was my Principal screaming No. He quickly called us together. We needed a plan to allow parents to sign out or pick up their children. Yes, at that moment the kids who believe they're grown, where once again children to everyone, including themselves.

Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse the second plane struck and third plane went down, missing its target, but killing those brave people on board. Tears ran down our faces for people we didn't know and fear filled us as we each tried in vain to reach our own loved ones and friends who might be traveling by air.

Quiet descended on a normally loud group of 2300 students as our Principal spoke to them over the intercom. Anger from students who had no idea how to deal with this. After all they were American and this was the land of the free and the brave. This couldn't happen on our land. But it did.

Now seven years later, we no longer fly with the same ease, we no longer feel like it can never happen to us.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all who lost loved ones and friends and to the those of us who did not lose an actual person, but lost a part of our own freedom. The words We Will Never Forget rings on.

Maybe you're like me, and this morning you didn't watch the news and it slipped your mind for a few hours, but in all honesty, We will Never Forget.

Thank you is not an adequate word to give those who serve our country, our home, and other countries to keep us safe. You're love of this country and the people who most you will never meet is amazing and I for one am humbled by you.

Thank you and God Bless America today and forever.

Working Through the Storm Day Job Style

I haven't heard from the winner of Roxanne's book, Now You Die, so please email me your snail mail addy. If I don't hear from you by Sunday I'll need to draw another name.

Some office humor for hurricane's and friend sent to me and I thought I'd share.


Office Procedures Concerning Storm and Office Closings

As we watch the progress of the storm, the following are the
firm's guidelines based upon the hurricane's intensity:

Hurricane Category #1
No excuse for being late. Leave earlier to give extra time to
avoid fallen trees and limbs.


Hurricane Category #2
Due to the horizontal rain, you may wear jeans.


Hurricane Category #3
Whereas most of the area will be flooded we suggest you
avoid wearing open toe sandals when coming to work. Canoes will be
provided to get to the building safely without getting wet.


Hurricane Category #4
More than likely there will be no electricity. Given that, we
will have manual typewriters available to all staff members. Please take
extra caution and wear water-proof make-up if Category 4 or above.


Hurricane Category #5
Velcro will be provided to keep you attached to your chairs when
the windows blow out. For those that survive, we will have chocolate
cake at 3:00 pm in the kitchen.

Although this was an on the job humor sent to me, I am praying for everyone who will be in the path of Ike for safety for you and your families.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

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

Roxanne St. Claire Author Talk Interview

Friday Funny and Our Winner

An interesting fact I forgot to share with you on Monday is, Roxanne St. Claire is a 2008 National Reader's Choice Award winner. And really, is it any wonder, once you read any of her books?

It's time to announce the winner of the third Bullet Catcher book, Now You Die. As always, a little cyber drum roll if you will...and the winner is...Marian!!! (picture her eyelashes fluttering as sparkles of confetti land on her upturn face)

Marian, email me with your snail addy at vickilanewrite @yahoo.com and I'll get your book out to you. Major congrats and come back and let's know how you love it. :)

Here's a little Friday funny...

Single ad printed in Atlanta Journal..



SINGLE FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me.. Call (404) 875-6420 and ask for Daisy, I'll be waiting....




(Scroll down)




















………….Over 150 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society.

See you this afternoon,
Vicki

Thursday Thirteen - While You Wait

It’s been forever since I’ve done a Thursday Thirteen and this one seems to be appropriate for my life as of now. Although my oldest child is still waiting for one dedicated solely to her. This is not it.

Thirteen things to do while the queries are out there.

1. Write another book

2. Try not to freak out when you realize you forgot to change a word on page 29 and you know it’s wrong, and there is nothing you can do about it now.

3. Start your next book

4. Research your new world, cut out pictures of hot guys for your hero, and beautiful women for heroine. Paste them everywhere, especially the hot hero’s.

5. Call CP and tell her you know you’re going to die, because it’s been a few days and you haven’t heard anything yet.

6. If you’re a plotter, get those sticky notes written on the board for your new book, if you’re a pantser…hmmmm….then take some colored sticky’s and just put them on the board (yes, without words, but use colors for the H/H, black moment, sexual moments and so forth.)

7. Buy your favorite wine and watch an old movie – I mean really, what else is there in life. You’re writing must suck since it’s been what a week and still no word.

8. Wake up and smile. The character’s are beginning to take shape for the new book

9. Call your CP and tell her to get ready, you’re going to have stuff for her by the end of the week.

10. Bang head on desk as the next scene will not cooperate and you’re sure your relatively short writing career is over, turn slightly and give the disturb-me-and die look to anyone, including the dogs that enter your office.

11. Remember Nora’s famous words, “You can’t fix a blank page. Write something you can fix it later

12. Tell your DH you need more wine, chocolate, ice cream, and a weight watchers frozen meal for dinner. (you gotta counter act the calories somewhere)

13. Check your email for the hundredth time (okay maybe more) and then take a deep breath, flex your fingers, tell your muse you love her and you’re really ready and then let the words flow. Don’t worry about what’s out there, because this is new and you’ve come a long way since you wrote the first word on the manuscript that’s sitting out there waiting to be read.

What about you? Any of the above sound familiar? Leave your comments to be entered into this week’s contest.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Plot or Pants - Who Are You?

Quick reminder for anyone just tuning in: This week’s giveaway is Now You Die by Roxanne St. Claire. Leave your comments to be entered into the contest. Also, if you have questions for Rocki, leaves those as well.


The subject of this post isn’t something new, in fact it’s something we writer’s discuss a lot. You read about it on blogs, take online classes to see if you can make it work for you, and feel super excited if your chapter is doing a workshop on it.

What could it be? To Plot or Not to Plot, yes, this is a life long question of most writer’s. And it’s one that may change as you pull, okay, brace your feet on the side of your muse, and pull the next part of the story from her for all you’re worth.

Maybe that’s a bit much, but what else do you call it when you’re sitting in front of the all that white space and there’s nothing? Or you’ve typed the last 250 words at least twenty different ways and still you can’t type the next line. Nothing.

So, what do you do? Well, someone can come to the door, or the phone can ring, the spaghetti sauce boil over, or…you can kill someone. Now the killing thing might not work if you’re writing comedy. Then again, that could be a new fresh voice mixed together.

Basically what I’m saying is it’s time for action, which is great if you’re a pantser, but not so easy if you’re a plotter. I mean really, you’ve spent what, days, weeks, maybe more, getting your plotting board ready to go. You smile, turn on the computer, and start. The words flowing with ease and why not, you’ve plotted it out.

And then it happens. You can’t make the scene work no matter how many times you rework it. But you love this scene, the hero is amazing, sweet, sexy, and you know the readers are going to love it. Except it isn’t working with that plot line you’ve created.

Now if you’re a pantser, you can find yourself in the same boat, but the difference is you’re not married to the plot you’ve already created. Why? Because you don’t have the book figured out. You’re just as surprised as your heroine, when the hero throws a rock at her window and begins serenading her, with a voice that is less than perfect. Or when the shy heroine becomes the bold seductress and meets the hero at dinner with a low cut, cling in all the right places, can’t wear any undergarments, showing a lot of leg, red dress.

It’s those times that the pantser will sit back from the computer and say, “Really, I didn’t know that.” Or something along those lines.

Why am I telling you all this? I, Vicki Lane, am a pantser. I love being one and even when the block comes, I can usually make my out of it without too much pressure. My characters take on a life of their own and its fun. Sure you have to rein them in once in a while. And of course, you will have a conversation (or two) with a secondary character to remind them, this isn’t their book.

Here’s the problem. I have to plot the book I’m working on now. Make that two books. Although Annie’s is more of an outline, still there are things that must happen. But it’s the smaller book, the 55k book, which I had to plot out completely. I thought it would make it easier, but not so much for me. Now, I’m sitting in front of the computer knowing what happens next, but I’ve got to get them to that point, keeping the plot in mind.

So, what about you? Are you a plotter or a pantser? Have you tried both? Which works better for you? Or do you flip back and forth, depending on the book?

Leave your comments to be entered into this week’s giveaway. Also, if you have a question for Rocki, leave them in the comment sections.

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki