Catching up

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I've blogged. No, I didn't get lost in the mountains of Tennessee. I was only there 5 days, like I said. I wanted to make sure it was at least halfway productive and took along my computer, a spiral notebook and more pens than I could hope to use.

It's hard for me to actually write on a road trip. My DH usually drives, but he likes to listen to music and talk, which isn't conducive to the concentration and immersion in the story that I need. So I brainstormed new ideas, jotting down tidbits here and there. I wanted to write something different and one idea in particular stuck in my head. I developed it a little more and when I arrived home, began to write a little.

The idea was for a historical, 1880's America, an era I'd wanted to write about for some time. At first I thought it would be a short story, but about 2K in, my CP said no way, these characters were bigger than that. Definitely a novella. After thinking about it, I decided she was right and kept writing. Now I'm at 13K and still going. Yay me! Working title is Husband Needed, Wife Wanted.

In addition, I've been scouring the Net and a couple research books I have on the 1800's for background info. I'm kind of a research as I go type gal. ;)

As for His Perfect Partner, I haven't forgotten about it. JT and Cass just threw me for a loop and I had to puzzle it out. Got that done and am ready to roll on it again. I'll probably go back and forth between the two now.

I haven't been doing anything but writing, but I promise to do a little blog hopping soon. Honest.

Now that you're all caught up with me, tell me what you've been doing while I was absent.

Back in 5...

I'll be away from the 'puter for a few days so no more posts this week. Short road trip. :)

Added several more pages this week. Finished the confession story and submitted. Now I've got to settle back into the WIP. Hopefully, I'll be able to write some while I'm gone. Fingers crossed.

Oops, wait. Can't type that way. ;)

Bad Carol, Good Carol

Wow, another whole week gone by. I'd planned to post something interesting and wonderful this week. ??? Yeah, okay. Maybe that's a stretch. But I did plan to post more. It just...didn't happen. Bad Carol!

I guess I saved all the inspiration for writing last week, because I send off 3 more contests entries with 2 manuscripts and added another 16 pages to 2 WIP's and a confession story. Not a ton, but those are fairly polished pages.

This week I'll be pushing for more, despite the fact I have woodwork and walls to paint. Oh, joy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Whatcha been doin'?

My apologies. I've been lax about posting here. Bad Carol! But I haven't been all bad. I edited about half of HUF after getting back some critiques, entered two contests and am working on getting four more entries ready. I critiqued 30 pgs and a synopsis for a friend, wrote some new material, and helped my hubby paint a garage and a bathroom.

One thing I did discover last month is that I'm not altogether a challenge person. I can do personal challenges, but apparently group ones shut me down. At least the CataU one did. Don't think I'll attempt that again. Maybe it was just a bad time to sign up, what with all the contests to prepare for, editing, etc.

Some days it seems like the world is rushing by, others the hours drag. Lately they've been in rush mode, but I'll try to post more often.

How about you? Whatcha been doin'?

American Idol - teleprompter kerfluffel

In a recent article, folks are up in arms about the use of teleprompters on the Tues and finale American Idol shows. For those people arguing that the contestants should have been more professional and learned their lyrics, I have this to say: Walk a mile in their shoes, why don't you?

Let's look at this with a little less knee-jerk and try to deal with the fact that life isn't always a neat little package of perfect, shall we?

For the two weeks prior to the finale week, the contestants were expected to pick, learn, practice and perform two songs each amidst shooting commercials, interviews, trips back home. More than likely they were also learning choreography and songs for the finale group numbers among other things like visiting makeup and wardrobe, dealing with a stage dad and oh, I dunno, maybe a brother who's battling cancer. Need I remind you they only have one week between shows to accomplish all this?

For finale week, the two David's were expected to learn, practice and perform three songs each along with all the other numbers they sang in groups and with legendary bands or singers. Talk about stress! I can't imagine how frazzled they must have been and am surprised they recognized their own names!

Get real, people!

Picture This Contest - I WON!!!

I'm so excited!

Her Unexpected Family (Claire and Travis) won the Picture This Contest (Inland Empire Chapter), which required a 1-pg setup and a 5-12 pg scene that was the "most vivid, most sensual, most exciting or most emotional". I entered with the first love scene in HUF and editor Patience Smith picked it for #1. Yay!

Good things from bad

You've read my whiny-butt crap here last week about being sick and such. During that time, I could not seem to get my head into my WIP to save my life. In order to get something productive from my writing time, I opened a couple of other WIP's that are in my "on the back burner" section. I did some tweaking on two, adding 1-1/2 pgs overall, and was reinvigorated about Bittersweet Obsession.

BO is a dual-romance story, and a light paranormal EroRom. Two couples, two stories entertwined. When I left it, some months ago, I was too mired in the details to see the big picture ending that I needed. Now that I've gained some perspective, I can see how it should end for both couples. I have a plan to finish it, which means I can write the synopsis and enter it in a contest I'd been contemplating.

Just saying that even when I'm stuck on one WIP, I try to work on others to stay in writing mode. Yes, forward progress slows down, but hopefully won't stop altogether. :)

This 'n That

I'm starting to make some progress on the CataU challenge. Not as much as I'd like, but I'm feeling much better the last couple days, less coughing and sniffling has helped a lot.

I did a bit of blog-hopping this week, feeling the need to do some catch-up. What I found was what I needed--a swift kick in the butt. Some of the posts were a tad militant for my taste, but the jist was about BICHOKing, no matter what. No whining. No excuses. Just write.

One problem I have is that I can't find the OFF switch for my internal editor. I'm thinking she's an Alpha female and doesn't have one. Years as an Exec. Admin, typing fast and having to produce the end product immediately, programmed me to correct grammar, punctuation and spelling as I go. I've learned to just accept it as part of my process and keep going.

Occasionally, I'll post a line or two from the WIP that I like. These came from today's writing:

J.T.: He just needed one freaking break. Just one. Was that too much to ask?

Cass: Yes. Well. A schmaltzy Doris Day and Rock Hudson they were not. More like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed duking it out in a boxing ring.

Yep, Hero's having a pity party and being an ass. He'll get a wake-up call soon. Heroine is plucky. I like them both, but her more than him right now.

Okay, break time is over. Back to the WIP!